Posted by John Romano in Politics on January 7, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. (YBH.ME) – Below is a video clip featuring Press Secretary Robert Gibbs sidestepping questions from reporters about the President’s explicit promise during the 2008 campaign to broadcast health care negotiations on C-Span.
In recent days, the President and his staff have backed a plan by Congress to sidestep the traditional Conference Committee process and come up with a compromise behind closed doors between leaders of the House and Senate. The move would effectively cut out the American people, Republicans, and even fellow Democrats from slowing down Mr. Obama’s health care juggernaut.
The President has made clear his intent is to get a health care bill to his desk as fast as possible, even if it means seemingly breaking a promise he made on the campaign trail fully eight times.
Press Secretaries are often tasked with the ugly job of deflecting questions an administration doesn’t want, or isn’t ready, to answer. Relations between the press that largely backed Mr. Obama’s campaign have grown contentious in the year since Mr. Obama took office. The video above is exhibit A. of that soured relationship.
#1 by Lonni on January 8, 2010 - 1:59 am
Wow…testy. And the usual Gibbs gaffe'n'gaggle. If I ever heard a straight answer out of Gibbs I think I would faint. The man is just not slick even though he tries his best. And the answer to the question, reporters, is "yes. Obama has broken his CSPAN promise." Simple enough.