Posted on 02/24/2009 10:12:45 AM PST by pissant
President Barack Obama wont 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 MSNBCs Morning Joe.
He will, Gibbs said, tell the country that weve 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 Bidens 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 hes not down on hope.
He still believes deeply in the ultimate success of this country, White House senior adviser David Axelrod said on MSNBCs Morning Joe. But its important that people know where we are today and how we get out of the situation were 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.
Obamas speech comes as a trio of polls show hes 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 administrations 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. Ive 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 hed 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.
Yeh..and exactly the Opposite of what the ZerO is all about.
Shouldn’t there be a “puke” or “hurl” warning for this thread?
Notice how Big O wants to be associated with past Republican presidents... Lincoln, Reagan....don’t worry George Washington...you’re excluded since you had dark skinned servants.
Where is the projectile vomit alert?
Or is this implied?
Gonna be uppity tonight...probably not going to use the southern dialect.
That was last week.
Wake me up when he gets to Millard Fillmore.
Obama couldn't even say anything as well as Reagan. As to the matter of content, Obama and Reagan are polar opposites. Reagan would have choked before saying government was the solution to anything.
This is Hilarious and Embarrassing to me as a U.S. citizen. First off, we know he believes in nothing,O.K.? HE has no "Core Beliefs" like Ronald Reagan had. (To suggest Barack Hussein Obama would even be capable of wiping Ronald Reagans boots, much less give a speech like him is a complete fallacy) Now in office just over a month, he's already sending out the succulents to say that HE is not "DOWN ON HOPE". Amazing! They couldn't possibly have considered phrasing it in any positive way now, could they? No, they couldn't. I can hear it now: "...Darn it Rahm, you get some people out there and tell them the topic is "I'm Not Down On Hope!" How truly embarrassing a position to find oneself in. At least it's happening to the biggest pedestrian on earth, our current POTUS.
Just the other day some Obama loving dork tried telling me Reagan was a moderate.
Good to see the Bizarrobama staff are aware of the need to raise expectations before the event.
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