Gibbs Denies That White House Is Giving Up On Bipartisanship

as horton would say, say what you mean and mean what you say; but don't ask those of us who worked so hard to get you elected, to believe our lying eyes.

when rush limbaugh first loudly broadcast what became the gop mantra, "we want you to fail," it was not just the ranting of a far right wing radio talkshow host.

when grassley said even if he were given all he would want in a health care reform package, he would not vote for it; he was not just saying one thing for the public consumption and honestly negotiating for a passable compromise behind closed doors.

when dick armey on meet the press conceded what the gop really wants is the abolition of medicare and social security, he was honest.

Yeah, I'm not reading too much into this. It's basically saying: Hey, if you guys want to come aboard and work in good faith, hop on. Of course, the White House knows it's not going to happen, and of course the GOP isn't going to go for it. This is for public perception.

This statement sounds eeriely like ole Ari Fleischer's statements on how the Bush White House would "love" to have a bipartisan approach by bringing on "like-minded" Democrats.

Which, in this context, is a good thing.

If they can get a Snowe on board with our plans, fine. But I don't think this signals taking it in the shorts for a Grassley non-committal committal. I think the White House has seen the writing on the wall. That Rubicon is crossed, methinks.

Well I have. A long time ago. So F*** You Gibbs.

C

The purpose of talkingpointsmemo, as I understand it, is to report on talking points. Which means that they are in the unenviable position of publishing something different nearly every nanosecond--as often as the White House or some beltway ring leader opens his or her mouth. I guess it's important to separate real news from talking points. Both are PR and spin, but there are different audiences for all these quotes by Gibbs and Sebelius and Emanual--we can't expect that they're always talking directly to, or responding directly to us.

So grain of salt all around.

Somebody please remind Gibbs (and his boss) about the definition of insanity.

He added that President Obama would do whatever it takes to get a bipartisan bill.

Can you say, "one-term President"? I knew you could!

Bipartishinship? What part of bipartisanship is the "hitler/nazi" messaging, "death panel" lies, gun toting protesters, and scripted "town hall" screamers represent bipartinsanship?

What's the middle ground? ... Stop portraying Obama as a Nazi and we'll drop the whole health care thing. If I was confronted with some gun toting protester, I would not only drop my liberal position on health care, but also give him all my money.

in all the confusion and noise, i realize i am still backing this president and this team. man, what a lot of heart...can you imagine waking up everyday and tackling what they are tackling..
i think we have to step up and show support as well as advocate
issues.
I believe we were/are in danger of becoming the silent majority here.
letting the extreme right toe hangnail shout louder than the whole body.
so, body, get moving !

Sorry Bobby, the Kitchen Table wing has taken over the GOP.

It's not bipartisanship if all the giving is by one faction in the face of the other's declaration that it won't vote for anything no matter what you come up with - it's idiocy.

Folks need to calm the hell down. It sounds as if some of you have no idea what White House Press Secretaries are for. It's Gibbs' job to read the official White House spin. Which hasn't changed since the campaign: bipartisanship, working together to solve problems, yadda yadda yadda.

Meanwhile, the un-official White House arm-twister points out the obvious: you can't work with people whose only goal is to prevent any work from getting done.

The official message: we'll still work with anyone who is willing to work with us. The unofficial one: look how far we've gone to try to work with these unreasonable dickheads, only to have them announce publicly that they won't support anything at all.

We might be able to chalk up the mixed messages about public option from last weekend to the same strategy. No sooner had the White House suggested that they might drop the public option than the Republicans came out immediately and started attacking co-ops. The message that's being reinforced over and over and over again: look how reasonable we're being. We've suggested several different ways this could be done to get the support and cooperation of the Republicans. They've made it clear that there is no reform of any type they will support because they don't believe that reform is important. That's why they haven't offered an alternative plan and why nothing we have offered is acceptable to them.

It's a good strategy, even though it's confusing at times when you're getting those mixed messages. But they are accomplishing some things with it: turning out supporters of public option and luring the obstructionists into revealing their true agenda.

Mr. Gibbs, I would like to inform you that the balustrade you and the other Blue Dogs are sliding down is fast turning into a razor blade. Dunno if you are familiar with this but you are just about ready to loose your collective asses. If you would remove both the blinders and ear plugs, look and listen for a few minutes to the sound of Bipartisanship that your friends the Repigs are issuing, you should be hearing their contented grunting at the troughs. The Republican Party has nary a thought of being bipartisan on any issue, they are so completely stupid that they still think that they won the last election and that Gawd speaks through the mouth of King George II and his friend Little Dick.

Get a clue peep's, These clowns have been bought and paid for by the "for profit" health care / insurance industry.

The majority of the people know that medicare / medicaid are programs that work. Ask any retired military person or anyone else who is qualified for the program.. Ask your federal government officials such as your congress critter... They all are on it. We get good health care and there is NO Government intervention by bean counters telling us what tests we can have or not have, Doctors make the decisions not some secretary in an office half a continent away who knows nothing of medical proceedures or much of anything else for that matter.

Just this Old Chief's 2 cents

Oh, brother.

I don't know why we would short circuit any of that now.

How about because they publicly announced that they will vote against your bill no matter how many concessions are in it?

It would be great to see Gibbs knock them for those bad faith comments. Maybe he did....

If there is no public option there will be no Democratic majority or Obama in the white house in 4 years. I don't know why he doesn't stand up for the people who elected him and stop pandering to the far right. It's disgusting.

It sounds as if some of you have no idea what White House Press Secretaries are for.

You must think they're for making the boss sound like a fucking idiot. Because after the wave of Rethug statements as to how NOTHING the Democrats could offer them would lead them to actually vote for any health reform bill, that's exactly the effect Gibbs continuing to wank about bipartisanship.

Old Barack W. Bush would do anything to secure a bipartisan bill...he'd even orbit the moon to bring folks together and, no doubt, the Waffler-in-Public Option will get right on that just as soon as he gets back from vacation at the ultra-upscale Martha's Vineyard. LOL...I can't believe I voted for this tool! I swear, the Obama people have just decided to give up...either that or they are the most incompetent administration since Hoover.

"We were for the public option that got in the way of the bipartisanship that wasn't attainable even without a public option. So now the public option isn't that important even though the president ran for president on health care reform including a public option, because now we have cut deals with pharma and the AMA and everything is okay, except that the people who elected us are starting to feel betrayed because they are starting to figure out that we're a lot less liberal than they thought we were. In fact, we're a lot less liberal and Bill and Hil. You really should have know that." Anonymous White (really white) House source.

I just think the White House is in a complete meltdown. It is like watching a million clowns trying to get out and back into a VW Bug before the light changes color. The Obama administration is become a farce and I, a onetime HUGE supporter, just can't help but laughing my butt off. Why? Because I was actually foolish enough to think Barack was serious about all that change he was a bringin' to the White House. If a cross between Carter and Hoover is change, well, we sure got change...short changed!