BigJerr
10-07-2009, 02:32 PM
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Hi everyone! Many apologies to Helen Thomas and Craig Crawford, authors of "Listen Up, Mr. President!" (Scribner) -- we had some technical difficulties last week that for once were not due to my ineptitude.
There's no ineptitude when it comes to Helen Thomas, who at 89 has led the White House Press Corps through numerous administrations -- and spoken truth to all of them. (You'll hear, during the interview, how her tenacity affected George Stephanopoulos.) The day we taped happened to be the day President Obama was giving his "school speech," and before we started, I asked Thomas what she thought of the speech's naysayers. She immediately cocked her head and said "What kind of knucklehead would object to our nation's president speaking to students about staying in school and getting an education?"
Helen Thomas does not suffer fools gladly, and it's evident in her new book co-authored with the very smart and very funny Craig Crawford. Thomas and Crawford have mixed her many stories with his peppery style to create a sort of guidebook for chief executives and the people who vote for them. It's worth reading for many reasons, but I hope you'll listen to the interview and check out the book for the models of presidency information alone. It is essential stuff for every American.
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Helen Thomas: "I Want Your Conscience to Bother You"
(CBS/ AP)Syndicated columnist Helen Thomas today told White House press secretary Robert Gibbs at his daily press briefing that she keeps asking about the public health care option because she wants his "conscience to bother" him.
Thomas pressed Gibbs on whether the White House was actively supporting the creation of a public, or government-run, plan in negotiations over health care legislation. The public option is supported by liberal Democrats in Congress but opposed by Republicans and some moderate Democrats.
President Obama has said he supports the public option but signaled that he would sign a bill that does not include it.
"Has the president given up on the public option?" Thomas asked, prompting Gibbs to suggest she asks the question every day.
"I ask it day after day because it has great meaning in this country, and you never answer it," Thomas said.
"I apparently don't answer it to your satisfaction," Gibbs said with a smile, prompting Thomas to say, "that's right."
When Gibbs began saying, "I'll give you the same answer that I gave you unsatisfactorily for many of those other days," Thomas interrupted, asking, "Well, is he going to fight for it or not?"
"We're going to work to get choice and competition into health care reform," Gibbs said.
Replied Thomas: "You're not going to get it."
"Well, then why do you keep asking me?" asked Gibbs, to laugher from the press corps.
Said Thomas: "Because I want your conscience to bother you."
A visibly flustered Gibbs then said, "I -- well! Should we sit down and I confess a little bit to you and -- no -- I'm -- go ahead -- I'm..."
When the next questioner began, Gibbs said, "Are you going to make me feel bad too?"
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
Hi everyone! Many apologies to Helen Thomas and Craig Crawford, authors of "Listen Up, Mr. President!" (Scribner) -- we had some technical difficulties last week that for once were not due to my ineptitude.
There's no ineptitude when it comes to Helen Thomas, who at 89 has led the White House Press Corps through numerous administrations -- and spoken truth to all of them. (You'll hear, during the interview, how her tenacity affected George Stephanopoulos.) The day we taped happened to be the day President Obama was giving his "school speech," and before we started, I asked Thomas what she thought of the speech's naysayers. She immediately cocked her head and said "What kind of knucklehead would object to our nation's president speaking to students about staying in school and getting an education?"
Helen Thomas does not suffer fools gladly, and it's evident in her new book co-authored with the very smart and very funny Craig Crawford. Thomas and Crawford have mixed her many stories with his peppery style to create a sort of guidebook for chief executives and the people who vote for them. It's worth reading for many reasons, but I hope you'll listen to the interview and check out the book for the models of presidency information alone. It is essential stuff for every American.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
Helen Thomas: "I Want Your Conscience to Bother You"
(CBS/ AP)Syndicated columnist Helen Thomas today told White House press secretary Robert Gibbs at his daily press briefing that she keeps asking about the public health care option because she wants his "conscience to bother" him.
Thomas pressed Gibbs on whether the White House was actively supporting the creation of a public, or government-run, plan in negotiations over health care legislation. The public option is supported by liberal Democrats in Congress but opposed by Republicans and some moderate Democrats.
President Obama has said he supports the public option but signaled that he would sign a bill that does not include it.
"Has the president given up on the public option?" Thomas asked, prompting Gibbs to suggest she asks the question every day.
"I ask it day after day because it has great meaning in this country, and you never answer it," Thomas said.
"I apparently don't answer it to your satisfaction," Gibbs said with a smile, prompting Thomas to say, "that's right."
When Gibbs began saying, "I'll give you the same answer that I gave you unsatisfactorily for many of those other days," Thomas interrupted, asking, "Well, is he going to fight for it or not?"
"We're going to work to get choice and competition into health care reform," Gibbs said.
Replied Thomas: "You're not going to get it."
"Well, then why do you keep asking me?" asked Gibbs, to laugher from the press corps.
Said Thomas: "Because I want your conscience to bother you."
A visibly flustered Gibbs then said, "I -- well! Should we sit down and I confess a little bit to you and -- no -- I'm -- go ahead -- I'm..."
When the next questioner began, Gibbs said, "Are you going to make me feel bad too?"
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
[Only registered and activated users can see links]