Gibbs On Newspaper Bailout: "I Don't Know What, In All Honesty, Government Can Do About It"

A reporter pressed Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Monday whether the White House is concerned about the fate of newspapers. Gibbs' reply suggested the White House doesn't see much of a government role in solving the problem. "I have not asked specifically about assistance... I don't know what, in all honesty, government can do about it." (See Gibbs' full answer below.)

It's a big week for the newspaper industry. The Boston Globe received a reprieve from parent company The New York Times this morning. According to the AP:

The Globe's owner, The New York Times Co., had threatened to close the newspaper unless its unions agreed to $20 million in cuts to annual expenses by midnight Sunday. The company showed labor negotiators a draft of a 60-day shutdown notice, required under federal law, and said it would file it if concession demands were not met. The Guild called that a "bullying" tactic.

On Wednesday, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) will hold hearings on the fate of the industry. Last month, Kerry sent a letter to the Boston Globe family stating his concern:

"America's newspapers are struggling to survive and while there will be serious consequences in terms of the lives and financial security of the employees involved, including hundreds at the Globe, there will also be serious consequences for our democracy where diversity of opinion and strong debate are paramount"

Gibbs' full answer to the newspaper question:

Q A quick question on the Boston Globe today, the news that they may have 30 to 60 days to live. What's the White House's thinking on the newspaper industry right now and whether or not it may need a bailout, since there are a lot of jobs at stake just as with the auto industry; a lot of people talking about the impact on communities like Boston, Seattle, and places that are losing newspapers? How do you evaluate all that?

MR. GIBBS: I have not asked specifically about assistance. I don't think -- I think that might be a bit of a tricky area to get into given the differing roles. Obviously the President believes there has to be a strong free press. I think there's a certain concern and a certain sadness when you see cities losing their newspapers or regions of the country losing their newspapers. So it's certainly of concern. I don't know what, in all honesty, government can do about it. I would note that looking at some of the balance sheets, I wondered how you guys didn't think $100 million meant a lot a few weeks ago, but looking at some of the balance sheets $100 million seems to me a lot.

Comments

[American50]

Gibbs On Newspaper Bailout: "I Don't Know What, In All Honesty, Government Can Do About It"


Here is Gibbs speaking
"AH AHH AH AHHH AH AHHHH AH"

[American50]

Please note
Thomas Jefferson wouldnt have bailed out any one or anything
Its Capitalism!!!!!!!!!! NOT Socialism!!!!!!!

[WindySailor]

Government should do absolutely nothing. Adapt or perish.

[Maxiesid]

That's President Obama ... you trolls need to get used to the designation, he is our president for at least the next four years, most likely for the next eight. He is doing the job we elected him to do, in the best possible manner..meaning openly so that all you people can have your opinions about whether he is doing it right or not.
Then again what can he do? Lets see, What are the options? Should he demand that everyone in America buy a newspaper? How about if the government steps in and buys your newspaper for you? Should he demand that the newspapers print only what the government wants them to?.. (oh wait, that has already been done... they only printed white house talking points for eight years and now they have absolutely no credibility left.. and people are not buying it anymore) How exactly to create demand for a product that no longer serves the purpose for which it was created? OH I get it!!! You want the government to subsidize Rupert Murdoch so that he isn't losing money on his newspaper empire!! Yeah, that will help a lot.

[American50]

wow a true leftist!!

[court99]

As someone else posted, newspapers have been in decline for years now, they saw the writing on the wall, and haven't changed a thing. Now they blame the economy and want a bailout? I'm sorry, the bailout is emergency funding for companies and people that were caught unaware (or swindled). In my opinion, Detroit shouldn't have gotten a bailout because like the newspapers, they have been in decline for years. Foreign cars have been taking their market share with better design, better gas mileage, and better quality cars. Detroit had plenty of time to respond, and Ford is the only one that did...and guess what? Despite the economy, Ford isn't in as much of a rut as the others. That tells me that the industry as a whole didn't need a bailout and neither does the newspapers. Go digital. Plan for a smaller distribution (newspapers won't completely go away, it will just be smaller). Do what a business does and ADJUST. The government should not award corporate failure. Don't get me started on the banks.

[thenorthshore]

if barry cared about people he'd do something

can't the gov't DO something about that ______(fill in blank)

Happy 'Cinco de Cuatro'

barry doesn't like newspaper people

[madatnewsmedia]

Oh, please! I agree, that he shouldn't save the newspaper.

[LizinOhio]

If he had come out with a plan to save the newspapers you would be the first to complain about it.

[Maxiesid]

Wait, I am confused. Isn't it the LIBERAL media? For years we have been hearing about how the LIBERAL MEDIA destroyed everything.. etc, etc, etc. Now the LIBERAL government doesn't like the liberal newspaper people? I know logic doesn't count for anything in rightwing looney world, but you should attempt to at least be somewhat consistent.

[Roguewolf]

Big Brother Barry says: I am replacing newspapers wi the Ministry of Information.

[nk007]

Roguewolf:

Why don't you take you hateful idiocy to your right wing sites? On those sites you can project all you want thereby fooling your fellow right wingers who know nothing about George Orwell the truth of the matter though is that it was Bush/Chaney/ Rumsfeld/Rove, who actually created "the Ministry of Information." Projecting what Bush & co. did on to Obama may impress you idiotic right wing followers; on this site, however, some of us are versed in the writings of George Orwell, and your projecting clearly reveals your despicable shallowness. Please Go back and re-read 1984! May be if you made a genuine effort to understand what Orwell was about you may, in the future, think twice about making irrelevant and untruthful analogies between Obama and Orwell's "Big Brother." But then again you may be trying to distract people from dealing with those who really run a big brother government in the past eight years. Exhibits: Rumsfeld's total information, Bush's illegal wire taps, torture, secret detentions, promoting an illegal war as war of freedom and peace, proclaiming a"Unitary Executive" meaning that the President is above congress and the courts. The lis goes on! talk about "Big brother: the bushes were masters.

[superbowl3]

Stop your crying nk007. You are a moonbat and everyone knows it!!!

[LizinOhio]

Great post!

[democratforever1988]

OHHH so now you decide to recall 1984? Where were you when Bush was stripping our rights, wiretapping us, and telling us war is peace? I think its funny how the right has all of a sudden become a group of conspiracy theorists, when just a year ago we had one of the most evil administrations to grace the US and they embraced him to the fullest.

[jeanrenoir]

Quit whining. I know you feel powerless and castrated, but deal with it. And get USED to it. Now that the stock market is confirming the wisdom of "Barry," rather than Rush, "Barry"'s going to be the most popular and powerful American president in history. I know it's sad we have the Net now, instead of the right-wing thought control that worked so well from 1980 until 2008, but America can hack it under a great president, instead of one of the morons you'd like to drink a beer with.

[Brandon Crisler]

The death of the newspaper will be a sad one for journalism and a blow to the quality of our news, but let's face facts: it will be wonderful for the environment. Think of all the paper and fuel we'll save! Now to figure out what to line the bottom of the birdcage with . . .

[slowtospeak]

Newsweek

[Judyisacutie]

I don't see how the Obama administration can help the press without being seen as influencing the press.

[AlaninElkGrove]

well...if the news papers are like Arlen Specter, they would accept assistance profferred by the Administration, then turn around and lambaste the President for interfering with private industry...

[list1955]

Perhaps the American people should accept responsibility.If people are lazy and rely totally on tv's and the internet then they will fail.My husband supervises at a local newspaper and I can't tell you in words how many families will suffer. There's a lot people working in these places that will lose their jobs. Everyone in his plant is giving up 1 week per quarter without pay just to prevent layoffs.People are too lazy to even bother to recycle, they don't want to merely take a few seconds a week to set them out for recycling pickup therefore they just don't buy them. The magazine companies will be next. America has become very lazy.
The only people responsible for what's happening to our country is ourselves.

[LizinOhio]

If they are giving up 1 week per quarter they are working for Gannett. This has nothing to do with laziness it is clearly a sign of the times.

[slowtospeak]

What, someone here talking about personal responsibility, how refreshing!

Not every business can succeed, government should not be playing favorite. There must be a reason businesses fail.

This must be quite a quandry for the class warfare type, the rich are about to go out of business, but all the middle-class workers will now be unemployed. Which side do we want to win?

[redkim]

It has nothing to do with laziness. It's just a sign of the times that web-based news information is taking over print media. I rarely watch TV news and get most of my immediate info from the internet. For analysis, I'll read magazines.

Newspapers that have gone digital will probably fare better than those who have come late into the game. Unfortunately, the people are your plant and hundreds of others will be adversely affected by it, but this is what happens when an industry changes.

[tiotom77]

Gibbs is into "Gangia"...

[StillIRise]

The newspapers were in trouble long before President Obama came into office, long before George Bush wrecked the economy and long before bailouts became en vogue. For years, the newspapers have been vulnerable to the internet, and they've actually had more time to prepare and adjust to their impending crisis than the banks and automobile industries have had. Yet most of them did absolutely nothing to save themselves.

As someone who has always enjoyed reading the newspaper and writing my letters to the editors, I find this a sad turn of events. But we've known it was coming for many years.

And for those who say that President Obama doesn't want to help the newspapers because he wants to silence them ... how silly can you get? That makes about as much sense as your teleprompter meme, and I wouldn't be surprised if it came from the same source ... do I hear ... RUSH??

[Okay]

I have generally thought too much had been made of Pres. Obama's use of the teleprompter. I mean after all don't most politicians during this age use the teleprompter. I held this opinion until about few days ago when i watched a speech Obama was giving and either the teleprompter or the person in charge of presenting it malfunctioned.

Obama was singing along smoothly, eloquently, presidentially, and then BAM!!! He was speechless. He stuttered and then had to stop speaking to the audience for a while to give direction to the person working the teleprompter. It was absolutely evident that the speech was a show. What a couple of seconds before had appeared to be full of emotion and personal connection became instantaneously flat and rehearsed....a fraud.

I found myself wincing as my wife, who is european, watched in amazement. To her it was ludicrous that the president of the U.S. wouldn't know the words of his own speech. It is embarrassing sometimes that our current presidents can't speak freely in the manner of presidents of the previous century. Our current presidents seem to lack the liberty to just tell us like it is without cohorts of speech writers in tow.

Whether we think the teleprompter issue is something small or not the rest of the world watches and measures. It means a great deal to some people other than Democrats and Republicans. It matters.

[Brandon Crisler]

I am a trained actor and learning lines is a necessary part of my day to day life. If I used a teleprompter for Hamlet it would be a disgrace. So I spend hours a day rehearsing for the various plays I'm in. That being said, I would rather my president spend those hours crafting policy and attending to the needs of his country than polishing up his lines. Besides, shouldn't we be happy to know that THIS president can read?

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Bye bye newspapers. Thanks for all the Iraq and neoconservatism.

[Vance1]

http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/images/dunce.gif

[joebloe]

It won't be such a job loss with the demise of newspapers as it would be for the auto industry. There is already a place for news people to go such as the internet & TV. Their skill set will not be lost. But if we lose manufacturing the loss to our country will be hard to recover from. We have already lost a lot of our skilled labor forces.

Before Reagan we were the biggest exporter of finished goods. After Reagan, the biggest importer.
Until Reagan the US was the largest creditor country, now the biggest debtor.

[dezzertguy]

This is interesting. Just because the administration says they do not see a way does not mean they will not do anything. The MSM played a large role n Obama's election and he must or may feel some obligation to bail them out. And, he will need for re-election. We see a new fairness coming to radio. The administration has to marginalize speech in some way to get re-elected.

[hillvoter]

The pattern seems to be to intimidate people to silence them. Don't wory they will find a way to threaten anyone that they don't want to be allowed free speech. Take a look at Rules for Radicals, the bible that the administration follows.

[joebloe]

I thought it was the "Liberal Media" why would Obama want to silence "his" media.

[dthom403]

Sure they did. Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, Plagiarism, Proud of america, Flagpin, Bittergate, Lipstick on a pig. Sure they did.

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Elitist Communist Muslim pallin around with terrorists.