Posted on 02/24/2009 10:12:45 AM PST by pissant
President Barack Obama won’t speak until prime-time, but his aides fanned out to the morning shows Tuesday morning to talk up his first speech before a joint session of Congress. And the word they used to preview it: “Reaganesque.”
“The president believes very clearly that we have to be honest with the American people about where we are,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“He will,” Gibbs said, “tell the country that we’ve faced … greater challenges than the ones we face now, but we as Americans always meet those challenges. But in the Reaganesque words, there are always better days ahead.”
It was a full-on rollout, befitting a State-of-the-Union-style speech to Congress, at a moment of economic peril for the nation.
Gibbs appeared on all six morning shows. Senior adviser David Axelrod is scheduled to do more interviews later today. And a slew of other administration officials are scheduled to make the cable rounds as the speech nears: Duncan again, Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina Romer, and Vice President Biden’s chief economic adviser, Jared Bernstein.
Their goal? To quell suggestions that Obama is taking on too much just a month into his presidency, and to insist that he’s not down on hope.
“He still believes deeply in the ultimate success of this country,” White House senior adviser David Axelrod said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “But it’s important that people know where we are today and how we get out of the situation we’re in so it is a balance that he has to strike.”
Axelrod strode just a few yards from his West Wing office for the appearance on Morning Joe, which was taping on the North Lawn of the White House Tuesday. Gibbs made the trek before him to sit in 11-degree wind chill for a segment. Education Secretary Arne Duncan went out to tout education.
Obama’s speech comes as a trio of polls show he’s still enjoying the very favorable opinion of Americans.
His job approval ratings range from 63 percent to 68 percent, according to surveys by CNN, Washington Post/ABC and a New York Times/CBS. The Washington Post/ABC poll found that nearly seven in 10 Americans believe Obama is making good on his promise to bring change to Washington.
Having Morning Joe air from the White House was akin to another public relations boon. The hosts praised the administration’s willingness to engage in debate. For his second segment on the three-hour show, Gibbs got to highlight a White House that offers casual, everyman hospitality.
He gave hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski a tour of his West Wing office.
“This is where it all gets done,” Gibbs said, entering the “lower press” area where aides were at their desks. “I’ve never seen them all on the phone at the same time,” he noted.
In his office, Gibbs had a collection of his now-signature festive ties on his desk and even opened up his closet to show a selection of extra shirts - “in case I spill my lunch on myself” – and the press secretary hand-me-down flak jacket.
He chatted about not seeing his family as often as he’d like and getting to the office by 6 a.m. When talk turned to Obama, Gibbs said, “I have a great relationship with him. I talk to him often.”
BHO isn’t in the same league as RR. Reagan was a great man who valued American freedoms.
Hussein is a little child who disdains freedom.
Trouble is, they mean Ronald Reagan, Jr.....
New tag line: "The ship of state has a cargo of fools."
Reagan was never condescending when he spoke to the American people. He never talked down to us. 0bama can’t help but to do that. He’s no Reagan, that’s for sure.
Well, if Jindal is responding, I’ll tune in to watch him! I don’t bother watching or listening to That One, because I don’t like being lied to.
President Obama is still trying to vote “present” during a time when the country needs leadership.
Not that this comes as any surprise to any of us conservatives.
“Mr. Gibbs, I knew Ronald Reagan, Ronald Reagan was a President of mine, Obama is NO Ronald Reagan.”
Tet68.
Barry boy, you could only dream of being like Ronald Reagan. You are no Reagan and you never will be. You are and always will be a floppy eared, low life, Marxist, community organizer, thug.
“Well, he’s got to attach himself to someone’s greatness. Heaven knows, 0bamaesque doesn’t mean cr@p.”
I don´t know about that.
For instance, I had a Teaching assistant (TA) for one of my classes freshman year who used to do nothing but read from the text book as their teaching method, but was popular with the class because they graded easy. I didn´t learn a thing.
I´d say that teacher could be described as “0bamaesque;” charismatic, bad for your future, and caused (grade) inflation.
I´d say that teacher could be described as “0bamaesque;” charismatic, bad for your future, and caused (grade) inflation.
So, you're saying that 0bamaesque actually does mean "cr@p?"
Emmanuel told reporters that the inaugural speech would harken back to JFK’s speech. Ha. It was a big dud.
Obama’s folks had better learn how to under-promise, because they make their boss look like an idiot.
O’Bama couldn’t carry “The Gipper”’s jockstrap.
The only similarity is that they both speak English.
“cr@ppy.” yes.
Uh...ummm...he might have a ....ummm...teleprompter going.
If only he were alive to outlaw dangerous idiots sitting in the White House.
Unless Obama is talking with the brothers. Then he switches to ebonics.
Obama: just be the “real obama”, you’re not Reagan.
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