David Axelrod Discusses Obama's Iran Response, Health Care Reform, Fox News Reporter On "Hardball" (VIDEO)

David Axelrod, senior adviser to President Obama, appeared on "Hardball" tonight to discuss Obama's press conference earlier this afternoon. Two core issues which Axelrod addressed are the ongoing turbulence in Iran and the push to get substantial health care reform passed in Congress.

On Iran, Axelrod reiterated that Obama is choosing his words carefully so as to not hand the regime a propaganda tool and an external reason to crack down further on the demonstrators. The situation in the beginning, Axelrod said, in which you had a disputed election, has changed over the the past week to one in which there are people "dead in the streets," which is why the President felt the need to respond further.

However, he stated that, as the president, Obama must be more circumspect with his remarks than those GOP senators criticizing him for not using more forceful rhetoric:

Presidents have to think long. When they're doing their job they have to think long. They can't react to the provocation of the moment in ways that might really disastrous impacts down the line. I think this President is very sensitive to that and therefore very considered about what he says and when he says it.

He said that the situation in Iran is one that is an internal struggle not involving outsiders, although he noted that that the President condemned violence against protesters. During the presser Obama called the brutal video showing the murder of the of the now-iconic young Iranian woman Neda "heartbreaking."

Axelrod, while noting to a certain extent that you must always look at the bigger picture, separated the election turmoil from the issue of Iran's nuclear program, explaining:

That's a different issue than the nuclear issue, which continues. It's the same today as it was yesterday. As you know, it's the Supreme Leader who dictates foreign and defense policies there, so the situation is pretty much the same as it's been, and we're going to pursue every avenue we can to try and forestall Iran developing a nuclear weapon.

Regarding health care, Matthews asked him if "it's better to get some bill on health care this year than none." Axelrod demurred:

I wouldn't say that because I think, as the President made clear, if we don't have a health care reform that genuinely cuts cost, that preserves choice for people, and that insures the tens of millions working Americans who don't have health insurance, or gives them a chance to buy affordable health insurance, then that will have been a failure. I think under that umbrella there are many permutations we're willing to consider.

Matthews also asked Axelrod if he noticed "a little towel snap towards the president" in Fox News reporter Major Garrett's questioning of the president's public stance on Iran: "What took you so long?" Axelrod dryly replied, "Well, I don't think it was a warm embrace. I'll concede that."

Watch the interview below.

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Comments

[MarianneEvans11]

I've worked with health care plans, claims, explanation of benefits, providers, you name it. The bottom line is ALL COSTS ARE OUT OF CONTROL. The premiums for our medical coverage wouldn't be so high if, no. 1, the cost for most procedures must be cut in half! No. 2, Doctor's MUST be paid on a salaried basis NOT fee-for-service; No. 3, hospitals MUST CUT BACK on HIGH LEVEL Professional employees. Why so many salaried personnel at the top of the org charts making millions of dollars! Bring back Nurse Aides, and LGPN's. These professionals were turned away back in the mid to late 1970's and this is when health care costs began to skyrocket! RN's do have a place in the healthcare field, but they don't need to carry bedpans and feed patients.
President Obama should declare all Providers must cut premiums to employers of group coverage for their employees. See how many people will enroll then! So what if the insurance company runs into the red over so doing! Let the Top Brass take pay cuts to get them out of the red. Then begin to scale back the charges from doctors, labs, hospitals, etc. If the charges were less, the insurance companies would pay more in ratio to the cost for these services. THis would do away with Contract Services fees. All hospitals should accept ALL insurances. It should be a free and open access world!

[motoGpifupleez]

FOX News just playing to the BASE. Gives their followers a chance to command the little woman to bring them another beer or get another black eye for not moving quick enough.

[JEP57]

Why is the American left so angry now? You're getting what you wanted: a liberal president, a move towards a socialist authoritarian government controlling more of our lives, and a press that doesn't seem to do a lot of hard questioning of this president. I would think that you would be ecstatic.

[apolloguide]

Bush = stupid + mean

Obama = smart + mean

This is not liberal; this is not progressive; this it merely elite plutocracy just like yesterday and tomorrow. Progressive needs progressive action and liberal needs liber action. This many Obama is an actor. That is why we complain. This is another Republican President just like Bill Clinton. We want change, not spare change.

[brebri]

My answer to you is "the last 8 years"! GW and his supporting actors from FOX ruled and are responsible for bankrupting our country. That is why I am angry and I am an independent. I am sick of partisanship. Most of the country is in the middle. FOX is finally getting its due being shown for the partisan hacks they are and have been! One must listen/watch/read multi news sources to get a true picture. Watching just one makes one "DUMB"!!

[Dbos]

Didnt think the repubs would become traitors.

[regellner]

Obama is making the right call by not backing Mousavi; Iran must decide this on their own.
The only reason the GOP is wanting us to jump in is that they are eyeing the oil...

Following is a commentary in relation to these events in Iran, including Obama's response:

http://www.examiner.com/x-11326-Charlotte-Liberal-Examiner~y2009m6d23-Obama-response-to-Iranian-election-crisis-has-wellreasoned-merit


Raymond Gellner - Charlotte Liberal Examiner at Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/x-11326-Charlotte-Liberal-Examiner
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­_______

[profounddogs]

Chuck Todd, please leave.

[Billis]

I think Huf fPo should get rid of the comments option.

[daffey]

Then how could you have commented that they should? : )

[jc747]

Yet again, Obama is putting into play brilliant strategery. He is practicing the art of “the process of elimination”. So now, he leaves it to the entire Congress to come up with a healthcare plan, (so that way, unlike the Clinton plan, he cannot be accused of not including ALL OF THEM in its formulation). Now, here is where the strategy comes in. He says he will sign any bill they send to him, but with just a few provisos. First, it must come to him by a certain deadline date later THIS YEAR (for the sake of the economy, debt reduction, et cetera, et cetera). Second, it MUST be able to pay for itself, AS CONFIRMED BY THE NON-PARTISAN CBO. (He, himself, on this front, has many suggestions to make about possible cost reductions). And third, (and this is the most important part), the coverage MUST be universal (or nearly so, and that includes whatever private insurance one may prefer). Now, who in his right mind (be they right-wing or moderate Republican, Blue Dog or Liberal Democrat) could disagree about any of these conditions. So now, all he needs now do is clearly describe to the American people what the various options entail (be it single-payer, public-option, co-op or schmo-schmop), and then he can just sit back, relax, and let the process work itself out while he enforces those most reasonable conditions. Brilliant, just brilliant!

[rattler99]

where can I get some of what you're smoking?

[Genep34]

funny

[whitegayrepublican]

You're quite accurate in your assumptions. Well said.

[rattler99]

tingle bells, tingle bells, tingle all the way.......

[UncleSpam]

Seriously, does anyone ask this man any tough questions. The failure of the press corps to do their job is alarming to say the least.

Any of you who grew up in the 80's remember the old Russian news agency TASS? TASS was essentially a mouthpiece for the government, with the goverment exercising complete editorial control over the content of it's broadcast.

This is where we are heading. If you enjoy your freedoms you should be outraged!

[Totto]

It just drives the Right crazy to have a poised, intelligent Democrat in power after eight years of dim-witted right-wing authoritarian rule and corruption. Their response to all Democrats is Pavlovian, created by their twisted media and paranoia.

[cruzking2000]

YOU'RE JUST NOW WAKING UP TO THIS?! Where have YOU been these last 10 years?!?

[ljkcan]

Thank you, I think history will prove that press dropped the ball during the Bush years for fear of being unpatriotic. God forbid you question a President for starting an illegal war.

I think if McCain had been elected he would have restarted the cold-war in support of Georgia, Bombed N korea and of course kept troops in Iraq so that now they could invade Iran.

[daffey]

The press has ups and downs regarding how they treat presidents. With Reagan, they were pretty much hostile from the get-go. Bush Sr.? Quayle? Need we ask. Clinton got an up and down with the press. Initially supportive, when Clinton backed off of some of his more liberal agendas, they piled on, then circled their wagons around the 96 election until the scandal. Then they protected him until he admitted he lied (and made the press look foolish) in which they pounced. Then they circled the wagons again to keep him from being pushed out of office. Bush Jr. got it bad from the media until 9/11, then there was an up and down - how to we go after him and not look like we are compromising the nation? They were critical of Afghanistan, playing up the protests more than they deserved, then pretty much jumped on the Bush/Cheney bandwagon in Iraq, until it started unraveling, then jumped on him again. The press was divided over Clinton/Obama, but once Obama was the one, it has pretty much been a love-fest, but I doubt they will take a bullet for the man. If he doesn't produce, or things get worse, expect a full-blown turnaround and frontal assault by the MSM.

[Jamchinadian]

* Your hero never faced an unscreened audience, NEVER!
* The planted players (not true journalists) asked scripted questions.
* These were not so much questions as wide-eyed fawning framed as if they were questions "how do you handle all these false charges so well Mr. president"
* A Bush "press conference" consisted of Bush slurring, stuttering, smirking his way through prepared text - then he would wheel and walk away as the media desperately shouted questions to his receding back.

Obama takes all questions and answers intelligently.

[sosi]

Just tell the truth! Upto $3 trillion saving with public option! So why not the best?

http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSTRE55N0SJ20090624

[freelyb]

Cool. Thanks for sharing this article. Think Republicans will read it all the way through? LOL

[freelyb]

Honestly, red*necks, find another board. There are many Dems here who do not hesitate to criticize the POTUS when we think it needs done. This isn't an issue where you will gain any ground. Obama's done this one just right. Move on.

[rattler99]

yep, we should all be heaved into the gulags and 'reedumacated'

[Genep34]

try just getting some education period - and stop the drinking or whatever it is that makes you dumb enough to fall for FOX news.

[freelyb]

No, man, just be relevant.

[daffey]

Rednecks? My, aren't we judgmental and superior.

[rattler99]

does anybody actually watch ol' 'tingly legs'?

[dillydawg]

The joke is getting a little old. New material please.

[daffey]

A news anchor saying his legs get tingly whenever a presidential candidate speaks never, ever grows old.

[StJames]

Nico's question was dubbed as silly on Countdown last night. I think there was nothing wrong with giving Nico the opportunity to pose a question from an Iranian; I just wish he had asked a better question. As Americans we have neither the right nor the responsibility to tell the world how to govern themselves. We can protest human rights issues, but we should remember that our own record is not that great on human rights matters. As for asking for sanctions against Iran, I think that's just silly, empty and dangerous talk. The Iranian economy is suffering because of the sanctions now in place. Look around the US right now. Right wing extremists are crawling out of the woodwork because of our tanking economy. The same will happen in Iran if things get worse economically... and their wing nuts favor the Ayahtollah.

[nycoach]

God forbid anyone asks an actual question of this president...

[Lemmy]

They won't be coming from the puppy host of Wiffle Ball . . . .

[EdBradly7]

Never happened with the Shrub

[whocan]

Matthews should have asked about the Nico staged Q and A

[Totto]

You must mean Bush's staged "Jeff Gannon" questions.

[Republicrats]

Oh, so Obamas like Bush?

[daffey]

So, you are comparing Obama to Bush? Or are you just thinking that for the next four years, whatever happens to Obama, Democrats can say, "Oh yeah? Oh yeah! Well, what about BUSH? Huh? Huh?" At tome point, Democrats have to get back to June, 2009 and realize this is now. For all the failings and flubs of Bush, that is old history. Obama is in charge, and what happens now happens now. The more Democrats point backwards, the more it begins to give the impression of a lack of confidence in dealing with the here and now.

[KLordsha]

Chris Matthews just wrecked morning joe..

[BBackSoon]

What happened?