President Clinton:
Former President Clinton will meet with President Obama and NSC/State department staff on the situation in North Korea and his talk with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
The White House will release a still photo from the meeting. President Clinton has had previous meetings with the NSC staff but not with President Obama. Asked if President Clinton would give remarks to the press at the stake out, Gibbs replied that he does not control who comes to the stake out anymore. President Obama has spoken with President Clinton only one time about North Korea which was when the two women landed in the United States on August 5, 2009. (more…)

The Alliance of Egyptian Americans, a coalition of organizations representing Coptic Christians, Nubians and other segments of Egyptian society, gathered in Washington, D.C. Monday to voice concern over the scheduled meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Egyptian President Hosni Murbarak Tuesday.

The Alliance urged Obama to confront Egypt’s human rights violations and push for independent supervision over the country’s 2011 Presidential election.

“We demand the presence of independent observers drawn from the Egyptian judiciary and independent civil society as well as teams of international observers led by reputable public figures such as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter,” a statement released during the coalition’s news conference at the National Press Club read.

The coalition stressed the importance of amending Egypt’s constitution to ease the requirements candidates need to meet in order to run for President.

To coincide with the meeting, the coalition stated that they will be a hosting a demonstration outside of the White House Tuesday.

In New Hampshire on Tuesday, President Barack Obama expressed his desire to put an end to what he called discrimination on the part of insurance companies that deny coverage to Americans with pre-existing medical conditions. At a town hall held Friday in Belgrade, Montana, the President discussed how his health insurance reform plan will extend coverage to folks who’ve been dropped from their plans as a result of becoming sick.

“It’s wrong, it’s bankrupting families, it’s bankrupting businesses, and we are going to fix it!” said the President.

Like Tuesday’s town hall, Friday’s forum occurred without incident. Obama told the audience that the majority of town halls across the country have been similarly civil, but the aim of certain cable networks to produce “good television” has distorted the public’s perception.

“TV loves a ruckus,” Obama explained.

Obama also decried the cable networks for having a collectively “selective memory” when it comes to ways in which his administration’s stimulus plan, which passed earlier this year, has benefitted the state of Montana. The President evoked the stimulus in an attempt to persuade the audience to trust the government to effectively implement and manage important programs, such as health care reform.

Obama took on opponents of his plan, insisting that special interest groups and their political allies are using fear tactics to try and derail reform attempts. The President then cited a scary statistic of his own, reminding the audience that 14,000 Americans have lost health insurance each day since the start of the recession. With his finger pointed at the audience, Obama warned, “that could be you.”

Following his remarks, Obama took a series of questions ranging from how his plan would be paid for, to whether or not the plan would raise taxes on the middle class, to how the plan would affect Medicaid and Medicare.

The President was asked to clarify how a public option plan would affect satisfied private insurance holders. In his response, Obama deviated from the standard “if you like the insurance you have, you can keep it” talking point he frequently employs, stating instead that “you would more than likely still be on your private insurance plan.”

One audience member, who confessed to being an NRA card holder and enjoying the cable news coverage of the health care debate, asked the President to explain how he would pay for his plan without driving up the federal deficit or raising taxes. The questioner added that he wanted to hear Obama’s response directly because he’s fed up with the “spin.”

Obama replied that he was amused by critics in both Congress and on television who have complained that the nation can’t afford reform. The President repeated his support for lowering the amount of itemized deductions that individuals making over $250,000 per year can take, but noted that even if that idea is adopted Congress still must figure out a way to account for roughly $30 billion in funding per year.

“We’ve got to get over the notion that we can have something for nothing,” said Obama.

The President mentioned his plan to cut government subsidies to insurance companies that cover medical costs which could ably be handled by Medicare. Doing so, he said, would save taxpayers upwards of $177 billion over the next decade. Obama also discussed streamlining the medicaid process by forcing hospitals and physicians’ offices to share patients’ records electronically.

The President took a question from a health insurance salesman who asked why the reform debate has become about insurance and not overall care. “I can’t do insurance reform by itself,” remarked Obama, implying that overhauling the nation’s health care structure would first require a reshaping of its insurance system.

Commenting that he was running out of time, Obama agreed to take one last question from a woman in the crowd. However, rather than asking the President a question about his plan, she read Obama the preamble to the Montana state constitution; a curious ending to an otherwise typical Obama town hall.

President Barack Obama attempted to quell rumors arising from the health care reform debate during a town hall meeting held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire Tuesday, saying that although he respected those who had disagreements, there has been a great deal of misinformation.

“Where we do disagree, let’s disagree on things that are real,” Obama said. “Not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that’s actually been proposed.”

The President defended the public option, denying that it signaled a government takeover of the health care system.

“I do think that having a public option…would keep the insurance companies honest,” Obama said, explaining that the public option would provide a reasonable model that insurance companies could mimic in terms of cost.

Obama stressed that while he wanted action that would provide coverage for as many Americans as possible, he has not been pursuing a single-payer plan.

“For us to transition to a system like that I believe would be too disruptive,” the President said. “A lot of people who currently have employer based health care would find themselves dropped and they would have to go into an entirely new system that has not been set up yet. I would be concerned about the potential disruptiveness of that kind of transition.”

Obama also dismissed rumors of “death panels”, a term picked up by Conservatives such as former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin to describe government officials who would decide whom to provide coverage for under a public system. The President said that the rumors emerged from an amendment in one of the drafts of health reform legislation that sought to expand medicare coverage to include consultation for end of life treatment, such as hospice care or drafting living wills.

The President also attempted to mitigate fears over the government rationing health care, stating that rationing is currently occurring through private insurance companies declining coverage.

“You will have not only the care you need, but the care that right now is being denied to you only if we pass health care reform,” Obama said.

Obama poked fun at some of the more colorful rumors, pointing to the conclusion from various news outlets that the White House’s request for the public to send them rumors they have received via email was secretly the means through which to collect an enemies list.

“Come on, guys,” the President mused.
In recent weeks, the debate over health care reform has reached a fever pitch, with raucous crowds haranguing public appearances by members of Congress. However, the President stated that reform would nevertheless be passed by 2009.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes read to young children as part of the “Read to the Top!” summer initiative at the Department of Education Monday.

U.S Secretary of Education Arne Duncan welcomed Emanuel and Barnes to the initiative, which aims to promote reading amongst young children during the summer vacation from school.

While Emanuel is infamous for his aggressive behavior and vocabulary, the Chief of Staff adopted a more family-friendly tone for Monday’s event, making jokes while reading “Duck For President” that may have gone over the youngsters’ heads.

Following a section of the book that described animals lining up to register to Vote for Duck, Emanuel noted that “It’s obviously not in Chicago.”

“‘Have you seen the other one: Duck Runs For Congress?” Emanuel joked. “It’s really good.”

In a news conference Monday in Guadalajara, President Barack Obama issued a direct response to those who have criticized him for not doing enough to ensure that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya is allowed to return to power.

“The same critics who say the U.S. has not intervened enough in Honduras are the same people who say that we’re always intervening and Yankees need to get out of Latin America….you can’t have it both ways.”

Aside from that, Obama’s remarks, which addressed a range of issues, both domestically and internationally, from healthcare, to immigration to Mexico’s security, were fairly nonconfrontational.

Joined by President Felipe Calderon of Mexico and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, Obama shared his view that North America is becoming defined less by its borders and more by its bonds, and vowed to support expanded trade between the neighboring nations in lieu of a more protectionist policy.

On immigration, Obama insisted that his administration is exploring ways of enhancing the nation’s border security as well as creating pathways to citizenship for the millions of illegal immigrants already inside the U.S. He divulged that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is currently spearheading discussions with members of Congress in an attempt to make reforming the nation’s immigration policy a top priority in 2010.

“We have a broken immigration system, nobody denies it,” said Obama. He argued that the U.S. desperately needs reform in order to protect immigrant workers from being exploited and to subside political tensions with Mexico. The President assured that he will sign legislation only if the public deems it fair.

However, Obama did concede that immigration will most likely have to take a backseat to healthcare, energy and financial regulatory reform; components of an agenda he referred to as a “pretty big stack of bills.”

On healthcare, Obama called the current debate between supporters and opponents of reform a “healthy thing.” Although recent reports have placed the number of uninsured Americans at roughly 45 million, Obama estimated the number to be around 46 to 47 million.

When asked by a Canadian journalist to address comparisons between his plan and the system currently used by his neighbors to the north, Obama replied that “the Canadian model works for Canada, it would not work for the United States…we’ve got to develop a uniquely American approach to this problem.”

Obama further disqualified the notion that his healthcare plan is modeled after Canada’s publicly financed system.

“I suspect that you Canadians will continue to get dragged in [to the debate] by those who oppose reform even though I’ve said nothing about Canadian healthcare reform.” Obama joked that “I don’t find Canadians particulary scary, but I guess some of the opponents of reform think they make a good boogie man. I think that’s a mistake.”

Later, Obama praised the Mexican government for its efforts combatting violence caused by drug cartels, and promised continued support from the U.S. in aiding the fight.

“I have great confidence in President Calderon’s administration applying the law enforcement techniques that are necessary to curb the power of the cartels, but doing so in a way that’s consistent with human rights,” said Obama. He reiterated his belief that the U.S. must reduce its demand for illegal drugs that enter the country through its southern border.

At 9.40 am the President signed into law the extension of the Cash for Clunkers legislation that the Senate approved yesterday.

Jobs Numbers
Gibbs said the numbers are more evidence that we have pulled back from the edge and brink of a depression. If you look at the averaging of the numbers over a period of time, the pace of job loss is declining, which is positive. However, last month, a quarter of a million people lost their jobs. The President is very focused on putting the economy back on track. It is still expected that the unemployment rate will reach 10% this year.

There will be good days and bad days. There is a long way to go. The Recovery Act has made a difference. Two thirds of the benefit has yet to make a difference. The focus is on implementing the recovery plan. Without seeing genuine, positive, sustained job growth, we will see the rate continue to 10%. We are pleased, though not satisfied, that the rate of that job loss is declining. Before recovery, there has to be stabilization.

Gibbs stated that he was informed of the jobs numbers at the same time as the markets. He said it is unclear if the numbers today are a trend. Asked if the numbers would go back up again, he said it was in all likelihood very possible. However, the rate of job loss has declined.

Death of Taliban Leader
Gibbs was asked if the leader of the Taliban in Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud, has been killed. Gibbs said they cannot confirm it, though there is a growing consensus among credible observers. Mehsud is a murderous thug. He has planned and helped carry out some of the most heinous acts of terrorism and violence in Pakistan. He has killed scores of innocent men, women and children, and is supposed to have plotted the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. If he is dead, the people of Pakistan will be safer as a result.

The US is working very closely with the government of Pakistan to prevent the Taliban, al Qaeda and other affiliated terrorist organizations from killing innocent people. The US is very pleased with the level of cooperation and working together, and want to do everything to help Pakistan defeat terrorism. The President is regularly updated on this situation.

Closing of Guantanamo
Gibbs was asked whether there would be a delay in the closure of Guantanamo, based on something an administration official said yesterday. He said, no, he had looked at the transcript. He quoted the transcript which appeared to state that Guantanamo would close on time.

Violence at Town Halls
Gibbs was asked whether, with the increase of violence at town halls and a death threat, he would recommend that members of Congress do not hold town halls. He said no, that people that go to have their voices heard, that they have some respect for everybody else’s ability to be heard and participate in a town hall.

By Laura Woodhead – Talk Radio News

The Obama administration is bringing a new and more effective approach to the the war on terror, John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counter Terrorism, said Thursday.

“The President understands that military power, intelligence operations, and law enforcement alone will never solve the … challenge we face: the threat of violent extremism, including the political, economic, and social factors that help put so many individuals on the path to violence,” said Brennan during a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Brennan highlighted the Obama administration’s attempt to change the way the world perceives U.S. counter terrorism measures.

“Describing our efforts as a ‘global war’ only plays into the warped narrative that al-Qaida propagates. It plays into the misleading and dangerous notion that the U.S. is somehow in conflict with the rest of the world,” said Brennan. “Instead, as the President has made clear, we are at war with al-Qaida, which attacked us on 9/11 and killed 3,000 people.”

Brennan stressed that the new approach would include working with Muslim nations rather than flippantly labeling them as enemies.

“[The President] has launched a new era of engagement with the world, including committing the United States to a new partnership with Muslims around the world—a partnership based on mutual interests and mutual respect,” said Brennan. “America is not, and never will be, at war with Islam.”

Brennan denounced enhanced interrogation tactics such as water boarding, claiming that they actually hinder counter terrorism efforts

“[Enhanced interrogation tactics] increase the determination of our enemies, and decrease the willingness of other nations to cooperate with us. In short, they undermine our national security,” said Brennan.

“[The President] rejects the false choice between ensuring our national security and upholding civil liberties,” Brennan added.

Brennan noted that the President has a taken an aggressive approach towards counter terrorism.

“We have presented President Obama with a number of actions and initiatives against al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Not only has he approved these operations, he has encouraged us to be even more aggressive, even more proactive, and even more innovative, to seek out new ways and new opportunities for taking down these terrorists,” Brennan said.

Notes from the White House Gaggle with Robert Gibbs
By Paul Brandus

With the Sotomayor vote scheduled for later today, it’s expected that the President will speak after the vote – perhaps on his way to tonight’s fundraiser/rally for Democratic Virginia Gov. candidate Deeds. 

Today’s meeting between the President and members of the Senate Finance Committee will be to get a “status report and update on their negotiations.” Asked what Obama’s message to the Senators would be, Gibbs said, “Keep working.” 

Gibbs said there is no firm date for the Finance Committee to act; and didn’t answer a question on the public option (various media reports indicate that that could go by the wayside). 

Bill Clinton/North Korea: Clinton had a debrief last night with a NSC staffe; a more full, official debrief has yet to occur. Obama has no plans to meet with Laura Ling and Euna Lee, but is trying to schedule a meeting with Clinton. What does this mean going forward? Gibbs reinforced the message that the release of Ling/Lee is not linked to other issues. “They walked away from their commitment” to stop nuclear testing.

Gibbs fired back against “birthers,” calling their ideas “totally crazy…you couldn’t sell a script like this in Hollywood…you couldn’t sell it to the WB” he said. (Whatever that means)

This weekend’s Canada/Mexico/U.S. summit in Guadalajara: look for a briefing “at some point” with NSC advisor Jones.

White House Gaggle with Robert Gibbs

President Bill Clinton in North Korea:
Gibbs reiterated that the White House had put out a statement and would not add to it for awhile. He said it was a private mission that did not involve the use of a government aircraft, and that President Clinton was not carrying a message from President Obama.  

Obama’s Lunch with Senate Democrats:
The economy and healthcare will be on the agenda. All 60 Democrats were invited. Sens. Kennedy and Byrd will not be there. Sen. Mikulski will not be there as she has broken her ankle. Sens. Lieberman and Sanders will be there.  The President will reiterate his support for and his desire to extend the cash for clunkers program by taking previously approved money from energy efficiency programs.  

Cash For Clunkers:
Gibbs was asked, why not subsidize refrigerators or living room furniture? He said the program would have an impact on energy, security and the environment by taking older, more polluting, inefficient automobiles off the road.  They thought the program would be popular; it has proven to be an enormously popular and successful program.  

Health Care Town Hall Protests:
Gibbs was asked if what appears to be well orchestrated protests at town halls are derailing the President’s message.  He said no, and added that the Brooks Brothers Brigade from 2000 in Florida appeared to have rented a similar bus and are appearing together at town hall meetings  throughout the country. He saw commonality.  He didn’t have names, but saw similarity in who showed up where.  He hoped people would take a jaundiced eye to what is clearly the astroturf nature of so called grassroots lobbying, manufactured anger.

Response to the Drudge Report:
Asked why the White House responded to an item on the Drudge Report, Gibbs said that there is a tremendous amount of misinformation floating around on health care. They thought it was important to answer it.  

White House Counsel Greg Craig:
Asked about a report that Craig is leaving, Gibbs referred to what Jim Messina said in the article, that it is summer in Washington and people like to play parlor games.  They have addressed the rumors and they are not true.

Senator McCain Voting No on Sotomayor:
Gibbs said her record as a judge for 17 years and her depth of experience throughout  her career make her qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, adding that she will make a good judge.  It was disappointing that Senator McCain came to a different conclusion the day after talking about bipartisanship.  The swearing in ceremony could happen by the end of this week or the beginning of next week.  He will check.

President’s Birthday Celebrations:
Gibbs will seek guidance. Obama had a lot of fun over the weekend. He bowled a 144. There were friends from Chicago, Hawaii, along with his family. They played basketball, pool, had dinner together, had a lot of fun.