Blogs and Stories
Top Five Moments From Obama's Press Conference
Health care was the focus, but a question about the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. turned it into great political theater. See Obama’s answer and other moments from Wednesday’s press conference.
Will Obama Regret Remark as 'Stupid'?
We’ll give you the best moment first: After every reporter pretty much stuck to the agenda and asked Obama about health care, Lynn Sweet decided the room needed a little less wonk and asked about the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. Obama gave his most relaxed and confident response of the night—even joking about what would happen to him if, like Gates, he attempted to break into his own home. But did Obama go beyond presidential propriety in saying the Cambridge, Mass., police acted “stupidly”?
Obama Calls Out Bill Kristol
There are many things one expects at a presidential press conference, but firing back at a staffer of The Weekly Standard isn’t one of them. Several days ago, its editor, Bill Kristol, said conservatives should “go for the kill” when it comes Obama’s health-care plan. See Obama’s response below.
When You Say Doctor, I Hear Ninja
No Obama presser is complete without a joke or two. This outing was a little drier than his previous prime-time appearances, but he did manage to crack one good joke about his own level of health care. “I’m the president of the United States, so I’ve got a doctor following me every minute.”
The Right Dumps Carrie
Jacob Bernstein is a senior reporter at The Daily Beast. Previously, he was a features writer at WWD and W Magazine. He has also written for New York magazine, Paper, and The Huffington Post.
Sarah Drops the Act
Tina Brown is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast. She is the author of the 2007 New York Times best seller The Diana Chronicles. Brown is the former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Talk magazines and host of CNBC's Topic A with Tina Brown.
Palin's Gold Mine
Duff McDonald is a contributing editor at New York magazine and a former contributing editor at Condé Nast Portfolio. His book, Last Man Standing, about Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, was published by Simon & Schuster in October.
20 Outrageous Oprah Moments
The Daily Beast Video curates the most essential and entertaining video, and brings you original and exclusive productions from our talented contributors.
Palin's 7 Best Moments on Oprah
The Daily Beast Video curates the most essential and entertaining video, and brings you original and exclusive productions from our talented contributors.
November 15, 2009: Top 7 Moments From Sunday Talk
The Daily Beast Video curates the most essential and entertaining video, and brings you original and exclusive productions from our talented contributors.
You mean someone can actually find top moments?
I think there was one top moment... when he shut up and walked away...
otherwise it was a bunch of gibberesh.
Of the net tax payers, I would wager that 90% are ok with the system that we are dealing with. As the DNC ad's argue that 5 million Americans are without Health Care insurance; which most are not Net tax payers, and can still get every critical service needed from their local hospital without a JOB. Although the DNC has idnetified the wealthiest job creators in the country ot pay for this initiative; i believe that 90 % of the "taxpaying", weather wealthy or not, are stisfied with their care and glad that the USA of is the leader in health care R&D. Under this plan we can all kiss R&D good bye and hope that mexico, russia and canada will pick up where we left off.
For every job the president thinks will be created by this massive transfer of wealth, there will be two jobs lost from the private sector,
If sharing this most important national intiative with every US Citizen is so imprtant toady; why are the TOP1% tax payers going to pay for all of it. If it is so important; why don't we all pay for it?
Yes, 47 million fellow Americans don't have health care. That's just gibberish (ish not esh). Maybe he should have spent an hour or two displaying his birth certificate. Would that have been a good enough topic for ya philipjames? You my friend are a total D Nozzle.
Actually 47 million don't have healthcare at some point during the year. Only 18 million don't have it at any given time. Of those, 50% can afford it and 50% qualify for Medicare/caid, they just haven't signed up. Getting this number straight is important because it SHOULD impact how we approach the problem. Overhauling everyones insurance to help 5% is using a sledgehammer on a nail and increases the risk of causing more harm than good.
su2lly
It's actually over 52 million Americans who have no health care now.
5 million more have been added since September 2008 due to job losses.
I would like to know where ThinkAgain gets his/her information. This is the first I have read these numbers, and I think I am a pretty well informed person.
Just a guess, but are you a member of the insurance lobby?
Did you even hear what he said? I think there is one thing that most liberals and reasonable conservatives concede and that is the system is broken. Healthcare costs are already breaking the backs of small business which is the engine for our economy. Providing a public option is the best way to keep insurance companies in line. Or do you want to continue to pay more and more for your insurance? It is an unsustainable scenario.
Lynn Sweet should not have asked the racially charged question and Obama should have refrained from answering the question because it was not relevant to the healthcare issue which was the topic of the press conference. Lynn Sweet is always asking Obama questions about race.
Obama acted inappropriately and very un-Presidential in claiming the Cambridge police officer acted "stupidly". It's an ongoing investigation and it's irrelevant what the President "thinks". He was not there and therefore not a witness.
If Obama truly wants to be "post racial" he needs to start behaving post racial himself. Stirring the racial pot is unfair and unwise. Politically, very unwise.
Obama's friend Prof. Gates appears to be combative on tv. I, for one, appreciate cops looking out for my home and like to see them in my neighborhood. Maybe if Prof. Gates has been grateful for the house check despite the misunderstanding instead of copping what appears to be an all too familiar attitude "they are out to get me" the outcome may have been different.
Obama's press conference was a snooze fest, he really didn't detail the plans for health care reform and didn't answer the questions in detail either. A missed opportunity for him. As the Obama network, MSNBC said, Obama appeared tired and lackluster and really failed to make his case for health care reform. I agree.
The simple fact is that most Americans already have health insurance coverage and do not support paying more and receiving less so that those without health insurance coverage can have some. Some reforms are needed but not the house plan, it's terrible, at least what we know of it.
The government has failed to properly and efficiently run the health care programs currenly under their direction, Veterans Healthcare and Medicare and Medicaid. Why would we or should we be asked to trust them with OUR healthcare?
A single payer government run healthcare system would be a DISASTER! NO THANKS!
What happened to the promised transparency????????
Bush was bad and Obama is proving to be far worse.
Hillary 2012!!!!!!
************************************************************************ ************************************************************************
Are you kidding? Obama is proving to be worse than Bush? How about the Iraq War we got suckered into? How about the fact that he relinquished his Presidency to those under him who lied to the American people about the purpose of the war in the first place? He addressed the American people only to rationalize Cheney and Rumsfield's war agenda. Are you on Medicare? If not, then shut up about it. Both of my parents are alive today (in their late '80s) because they have healthcare coverage and prescription benefits thanks to Medicare. I don't hear you complain about Social Security, another government run program. Wait until you need it.
Except for the part where they arrested a man in his own home even after he tried to identify himself. That sounds like a grade A fuck up to me.
Not an on going investigation, all charges were dropped, as the President said.
You must work for the Healthcare lobby.
BTW, Hillary, if you remember was behind a major push for Heathcare reform
in the 1990's. Hello??
This user is no longer registered.
How can the President or anyone provide specifics when there aren't any. Specifics are exactly what's being hammered out in both hosues of Congess and among party members. Why is that so hard for so many to understand.
Plus, if the yet unaccepted specifics were leaked the media and talking heads whould have a field daying picking out the most "news worthy" and tearing them to shreds.
The president has REPEATEDLY laid out the core principles of accessiblity, affordability, choice and deficit neutral.
People with little understand of the facts keep screaming for specifics. Once there is a bill on the way to Mr. Obama's desk you'll have all the specific you would ever want. The questions is will you care? Or do you just like railing at an imagined "enemy.'
Exactly. Read the proposed bill (available on line) and realize that it has become a boilerplate, bending and changing as Obama tries to incorporate ideas from the Blue Dogs. It will be a bill very different from the one originally proposed by the Democrats BECAUSE OF the accomodations they are trying to make to satisfy conservatives. Stop making this about politics. There were just as many people against Medicare and even Social Security when it was first introduced. You have to suck it up and make some sacrifices for the good of all.
If you thought the press conference was BS then you don't take the issue seriously, and frankly, you've already made up your mind.
The real problem in Washington is that each and every act becomes an Omnibus bill loaded with pork and pet projects that leave the original intent burried among wasteful spending. By the time the bill gets back to Obama's desk he will have to either veto it altogether or break his promise of "paygo" procedures. Both parties are at fault and the President is helpless to change the behavior.
"So let me be clear: This isn't about me. I have great health insurance, and so does every Member of Congress."
Obama left out the part . . .
And Ah, and Ahh,
that the rest of you, the American People won't have access to.
What government official will actually CHOOSE to use the same
healthcare system the rest of us will be FORCED to live under ?
sophia
You got me thinking, did you ever hear Bush say the words "it isn't about me"?
jdx60009
Never heard Bush say "it isn't about me,"
but of course it was all about him,
and Cheney, and Halliburton, and their war for oil.
i thought it was a fine press conference - i'm an obama supporter. however, he should have dodged the gates question. it seemed out of place and inappropriate for this forum.
i've been sympathetic to gates, but as this story drags on, it appears that he went overboard in his reaction to the situation, as then, did the cop. it wasn't a race issue until the good professor made it one by his incessant yelling to the cop, who was required to investigate a possible burglary in progress.
the cop can't take the word of a person who appears to have just disabled a front door, no matter who he is. in this case, it wasn't a race issue as much as it was "i am the lord god harvard professor - don't you know who i am?"
which reminds me of the story of john lennon's lost weekend with harry nilsson. john and harry were being loud and obnoxious one evening in an L.A. restaurant/bar. john grabbed an unopened tampax from may pang's purse, unwrapped it, and placed it on his head. the party raged on when a waitress appeared to ask them to tone it down.
lennon reared back in mock haughty tone and said something to the effect of: "my dear, DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"
and the waitress replied: "yeah, you're the asshole with a tampon on his head."
I too thought it was a fine press conference. Health care reform is definitely needed. I unfortunately do not know enough to take part in the debate but know we cannot continue as it is. I am self-employed, my insurance costs continue to increase and in exchange receive minimum coverage. I am fortunately in perfect health but know if anything bad happens to me, I can be denied coverage and lose everything.
As for the comment on Boston police, I think Pres. Obama spoke his mind and was sincere in his answer. I too would be mad if arrested in my own home. I think the cops owe Prof. Gates an apology -as does the person who called the police. I am conviced that if Prof. Gates had been white this person would not have called.
the person who called the police thought she saw someone breaking into his house. she was protecting his house by calling police. next time, of course, she'll think twice about it. and next time, i imagine the police will put his address on the slow ride for investigations of possible burglaries in progress.
I think that the writer of the article is stupid for posing this stupid question. First of all the Cambridge Police Department spokesperson called the arrest of Gates stupid. Second, Obama is always careful in what he says- look at the video. He pauses right before he says the word stupid. Obama never regrets the words he chooses even the "cling to the guns" remark.
As for TK- if Obama is stupid, what does that make Hillary? She works for the man.
And, I am for one am glad Obama didn't duck the question. Who on earth calls the cops on two men, one an old man wearing a polo shirt and using a cane and the other in his limo driver uniform at high noon screaming burglery.
And Gates was in his own house which I thought was the last vestiage of being your castle. And legally, a police officer can not enter your home without a warrant or invite. The police officer got mad that a black man was acting uppity and thought he would teach him a lesson. But if everyone who insulted a cop got arrested -half the country would become one big jail cell.
Number 6 again....this can't be good.
Anyhoo, thank you Mr. President for the 'stupidity' remark regarding the Police. We need a National Academy on par with West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs and New London specifically designed to educate Police NOT to bully the Public and to give them time to READ the U.S. Constitution, which they appear NEVER to have encountered before. People are sick of it. Black and White. The only uppity person in the room was the COP. If we do not get this done, our Police and our Judges will remain the property of the MOB and not The People.
On another point. THE BRITISH HAVE BEAT US TO THE PUNCH AGAIN. God dammit. They turned on the Electricity.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8164070.stm
Can you please get your Advisers off their bum and GET TO WORK on this 21st Century Revolution, in lieu of playing 3-Card-Monty with the Financial System. ALL of the trains in the country should be converted. This is not a difficult Engineering conversion and will pay for itself easily. It will also give the Banks a chance to be Banks instead of croupiers in a Casino. If the Banks cannot Finance this and make a reasonable profit, then they should not be Banks and should have their Charter's pulled. A joint Federal, State, NGO approach will get the job done quickly. The plans are already on the shelf ready to go. They have been there for at least 30 years untouched, undusted, and ignored all of this time. Big Mistake. It's Daddy 'fix it' time.
President Obama is so good that people can't believe it. They can't believe that this man, who came from humble roots, is articulate and isn't afraid to answer questions openly. The Cambridge police officer should not have arrested someone after showing proof that it was their house. He did act in a very stupid way. There was no need to arrest someone and inconvenience them like that. How would you like it if you were arrested after showing proof that you lived at your home? You people act as if a man doesn't have the right to be upset after being arrested. Being arrested is a humiliating and demeaning experience. It's ok, if you don't mind going through that so that you can satisfy the police officer. But the last time that I checked, this is a free country and we should not have to comply with whatever someone else says if they are wrong. Even if it's a police officer. That's why blacks don't like police officers. They are too quick to arrest first and ask questions later, even in light of overwhelming evidence contrary to their position. Stop hating and start praising the fact that you have an intelligent man in the White House. And try to have compassion for others. Put yourself in their shoes.
I agree with some strategists that felt that Obama needed to show more fire in his approach. There were wonky moments that didn't resonate with the American people. I am truly for this reform but I didn't feel the excitement that Obama has for pushing ahead with his program. He needed to talk "Harry and Louise" stories, several of them. The young boy whose parents couldn't pay out of pocket...the elderly woman who needed heart bypass and could not afford it...stuff like that. When you personalize the issue, people listen.
Duh............ They did act stupidly!
The police did act "stupidly"
Wallysmom - Here's the way I see it. You're right that this health care bill has a way to go before the final version. However, not one reporter asked Obama what he wants to see, specifically, in the bill - how will it really be funded, what cuts in other entitlements (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, etc) will be necessary to fund the bill, who will eligible (illegal immigrants?), how will it be administered and the cost of administration, medical insurance reform, etc.
He should be able to contribute to the national conversation on this issue with more specifics than what is coming out of Congress. What it tells me is that he doesn't have any; he's relying on Congress to do the job and he doesn't need to insert his ideas. I fear his "empty suit" qualifications are coming back to bite him in the rear.
Link to Radio Interview of Cambridge Police Sgt Crowley.
http://audio.weei.com/m/25432556/stg-james-crowley-cambridge-police.htm< br /> Obama got the facts wrong. Gates was away in China after a earlier break-in. Why didn't the Harvard University Real Estate Division repair his door while he was away? Harvard owns his house. If the door was broken and he entered through the rear door why did Gates try to force the front door? The woman who reported Gates to the police is an employee of Harvard Magazine which is three doors away. How does a Harvard professor with the Mayor, the Governor and the President announcing him as their friend cry victim-hood? One more upper class black exploiting the discrimination toward poor blacks? First Obama was an economist. Then he was an auto engineer. Then a banker and now a doctor and a police officer. Is there nothing that this omniscient deceiver will not claim he knows when he doesn't?
menckenlite
I don't think he'll go for Indian Chief.
maybe obama should just do nothing all day in the oval office..oh wait thats what king george use to do
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.
Please log in to leave comments.