Obama Has War of Words with Stephanopoulos: Is a Mandate a Tax?
Pressed on This Week With George Stephanopoulos about whether a mandate to buy health insurance is considered a tax hike on the middle class, President Obama got a little testy. The president says he adamantly objects the notion, and just in case Obama was confused, Stephanopoulos took to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to refresh his memory on the definition “tax.”
Noonan: Obama Media Blitz ‘Boorish’
He was all over the Sunday talk shows and will sit down with David Letterman next week. But is Obama overexposed? Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan sure thinks so, telling George Stephanopoulos on This Week that Obama’s many televised appearances are slowly damaging his presidency.
Matalin: Clinton Had ‘More Authentic Black Experience’ Than Obama
The race discussion heated up this week after former President Jimmy Carter suggested that much of the criticism of Obama is racially charged. On State of the Union, Mary Matalin tackled the issue and may have raised a few eyebrows when she said Obama’s people once played the race card on former President Bill Clinton, whom she says had “arguably a more authentic black experience” than Obama.
Obama Talks Baseball With David Gregory
President Obama’s whirlwind media tour seems to have made more headlines than anything he said, but David Gregory got the real scoop. On Meet the Press, Obama veered away from his usual health-overhaul pitch to talk baseball and make his predictions for the World Series. He says he’s got his fingers crossed for Chicago, saying he thinks “mathematically, the White Sox can still get in the playoffs.”
Boehner Won’t Be Dancing With the Stars
He may lead Republicans in the House, but John Boehner won’t be bringing down the house with his dance moves any time soon. On Meet the Press, David Gregory asks if the House Minority Leader plans on following in the footsteps of his predecessor Tom DeLay to make an appearance on the reality TV show Dancing With the Stars.
Obama: Conflict Is Media Catnip
The president took a swipe at the media on Face the Nation, criticizing its coverage of political extremism, racist anger, and outbursts. Funny perspective from a guy who pulled what Politico called a “full Ginsburg” of appearing on nearly every talk show, though he does have a point when he says the easiest way to gain “15 minutes of fame” is “to be rude to somebody.”
Obama to GOP: You are Losing…Again
On State of the Union, President Obama responded—with a smile and a jab at the Republican Party—to comments from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said Sunday that the GOP is winning the debate on health care. Says Obama: “They were saying they were winning during the election, too.” Ouch.
Juan Williams: White House Demonizing Fox News
Fox News wasn’t too pleased that the White House left it out of Obama’s Sunday media blitz. On Friday, Chris Wallace called the administration “the biggest bunch of crybabies I have dealt with in my 30 years in Washington.” Fox News Sunday’s roundtable tackled the topic again Sunday, with Juan Williams accusing the White House of “demonizing” a conservative Fox News to help support its Democratic base.
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