Chuck Todd Interviews Robert Gibbs On "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Health Care Reform, Stimulus (VIDEO)

NBC's Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd, filling for Chris Matthews as host of "Hardball" tonight, conducted a lengthy interview with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Todd questioned Gibbs on whether the White House really thought that Congress could handle all the items on President Obama's agenda, including energy legislation, health care reform, and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). Gibbs, coming off a pretty significant victory in getting climate change legislation through the House, sounded quite confident, even saying they could handle "financial regulatory reform" and place Sotomayor on the Court in good time:

There's no doubt that it will be hard. The easiest thing for this town to do is the same old thing. I think we've proven, in a short period of time, we're not afraid to tackle a lot of big issues, and I think we've seen progress in Congress dealing with a lot on their plate.

Todd brought up the stimulus package, calling it a "political football" for Republicans. He asked Gibbs point-blank when we should start to judge whether it's working or not. Gibbs replied," I think we should begin to judge it now." Todd then pressed Gibbs, asking to judge it on what, and if we should include recent job losses. Gibbs backed off a bit, and told Todd that we should take the "long view." Gibbs called the stimulus a two-year plan, "so it's not all gonna be fixed in 90 or a 100 days."

At the end of the interview, Todd played a clip of Gibbs saying firmly that the Obama administration would end DADT, and then a clip from a month ago Gibbs appearing to soften its position by saying they want Congress to do it. Gibbs gave lackluster responses, especially when later asked why Obama doesn't stop the discharges of critical gay service members, like Arabic translators. However Gibbs did emphasize that when Obama faces re-election in 2012, DADT will have been repealed.

Watch the interview below.

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Comments

[Concerned American99]

Obama is just like Bush #1

"READ MY LIPS".....

No new taxes,.....
I will repeal don't ask-don't tell,
I won't tax your private health care benefits
Umemployment won't go above 8% if the stimulus is approved

[ConcernedAA]

Notice to all AA.

We must fight for Pres. Obama.

There are groups of people who have been causing all sorts of eV iL across the globe.

The have perfected the art of war and deceit.

We can longer stand by we must fight back.

Stand with the our race worldwide.

[SiberianRat]

Yikes!

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

Wow...just imagine if a white person had said that "Stand with our race worldwide"

[AxelDC]

I don't recall Obama making any promises on unemployment rates. He said things would bet worse before they get better, and anyone with Econ 101 knows that unemployment is a lagging indicator, not a leading one.

[notonegativity]

hmmm. Right wing talking points will get you nowhere. There are no new taxes, President Obama is only 5 months in and I don't believe I've heard them say they aren't going to repeal DADT, we don't even have a health care reform bill yet but you've got him taxing private health care benefits and last but not least....I want someone to show me a link where President Obama ever said that unemployment would not exceed 8 percent. In fact I heard him more than once say that unemployment would get worse before it started to level out and get better.

[RustyGranite]

Yeah, I'm not seeing that unemployment rate thing either.

[jrfunkenstein]

'Obama is just like Bush #1'

Remind us again of how 41 inherited two disastrously conducted wars, a destroyed global economy and a country more polarized than any time in history except for the Civil War.

And BTW;

'The United States does not torture.'

'"I am truly not that concerned about him (OBL)."

'I believe we will be treated as liberators.'

'We know where the weapons are...'

[ajb23]

Sorry, but how does this apply to the point of the article? Is Obama ALLOWED to back out of promises? Aren't we supposed to hold POTUS to a higher standard???

This is about CHANGE!!!!!

[mikerobjohn]

I hope Chucky does not get a show. He is too wishy washy. He tries his best to make something out of nothing by asking stupid questions or making comments that appear to be not related.

[oz3472]

I finally figured out why Tim Russert was as good as he was.
The rest of the bozos left at NBC and MSNBC - specifically Todd, Gregory, Scooby Doo and Mika too - only ask questions to which everyone knows what the answer will be.
Russert specifically asked questions that the interviewee couldn't possibly be prepared for!
Chucky, David Gregory, Scooby (what a liar) Doo and Mika too should join the Contessa in media purgatory - the sooner the better!

[PDXTransplant]

I was disappointed to see Chucky Todd doing Keith's segment tonight. I do not like him, he thinks whatever he has to say is more important than listening to others. He belongs on Fox not MSNBC. Also, could he put his g.d. hands down for just one minute? Another rude arsehole does that and his name is Bi||oTheClown.

[SiberianRat]

Thanks for the heads-up...I'll definitely not watch countdown if he was the host

[Gretel1or2]

No chuck todd was on HARDBALL, not countdown. Keith Olbermann is hosting coutdown as usual.

[kasinca]

Who convinced Todd that he has to use David Gregory style in interviewing? We don't all live inside the beltway.

[harriscrl3]

You know its interesting that nobody says when people make bad decisions that are you sure its not too much but when y ou are trying to fix a mess suddenly its doing too much. Its like they think that you have a lot of free time on your hands so you are using it to fix things that Dont need fixing. I mean hello the reason why you need major legislation on energy healthcare is because you have Major problem.

WTF we can't pass healthcare and repeal Dont ask dont tell? Does doing one means that you can't do the other I mean this is just ridiculous.

[grata2ude]

Two different arguments. Obama more or less said the old goats in the armed forces are fighting him on changing the policy.

Old homophobs are the hold up. Ever try to change an old goats views? It ain't easy.

[LifeInProgress]

Good job Chuck, although I don't think Gibbs really gave any useful answers.

[alison22]

YOur brain is clearly in progress too. Chuck is a horrible interviewer!!

[wmholt]

This is just a guess, but I think Obama is postponing consideration of DADT until after he has passed healthcare reform.

Instead of focusing on healthcare, Clinton got side-tracked about gays in the military and never was able to get back to the healthcare issue. The Republicans and lobbyists had too much time to mobilize against real reform.

I think Obama is trying to avoid a repeat of that. I do believe that he *will* address DADT. However, once it is repealed, gays who have been discharged should be allowed to re-enlist if they want to.

We have lost too many fine soldiers due to DADT, perhaps the most ridiculous policy since the military fought against women and blacks being integrated into the military.

While spending billions on technology, we are experiencing a severe shortage of translators who could provide more intelligence than any number of spy satellites. It's bad military strategy to discharge these soldiers, and hurts everyone involved.

[Gretel1or2]

That's probably why Obama wanted that extra $106 B in the military bill - to rehire all the troops that were fired, and to reimburse all those who fired under the two previous administrations.

[chaya]

That's true about Clinton being side-tracked, and it makes sense what you're saying. The GOP has always used gays as a red herring. It used them to win elections, and I have little doubt that it uses them in order to keep bills from passing that might anger top donors to Republican candidates. (In that particular case, the health insurance industry). I think most Repug pols couldn't personally care less whether gays get rights, but they would be delighted if Obama focused on DADT and gay marriage right now, because once again they could throw reform off-track by riling up their base.

A very insightful post. Thank you.

[bbbbmer]

Lindsay Graham needs to fess up and come out of his Larry Craig style closet... What a putz!!!

[SiberianRat]

Yeesh! I say let him stay in there.

[lovethesinner]

Chuck Todd fishing for GOP TALKING POINTS in the dried-up summer D.C. POLITICAL POND.

News? "Hardball"? (catch his affectionate "J. Mart"nickname for Politico reporter Jonathan Martin in the "Political Fix" segment at the end of today's episode)

(btw) When is Todd going to learn how to read a teleprompter? His halting style makes me think he needs glasses, or something.

[Pleneras]

Chuck Todd should do the same when in the White House Press Room. He is horrible and asks silly gossipy questions. Finally he asks a question everyone has already asked. But at least it's not a dumb one again. Gregory does need to go on Meet the Press. He's horrible and is too afraid to do his homework properly and go after the liars. He let's they get away with promoting lies on the show.

[blrpalms]

He is also so pro GOP he is nasty and worthless

[Pleneras]

I met Greg needs to get out. Hate type fast and doing 3 things at once.

[Gonzorunner]

MAYBE Gibbs doesn't want to tell?????

[landstar]

HA!!!.....Good one!!

[TruthSeeker09]

I think the media (and even some of the general population) have forgotten that the stimulus was designed as a two-year plan, with most of the funds not kicking in until later this year and early next year. (That exactly what the Obama administration and other Dems said when they were promoting it.)

[Side note: After seeing Chuck Todd's interviews today, I'm convinced that he should have his own show. (MTP are you listening?? Get rid of Gregory!)]

[Tzimisce]

All I can say is that the clock is running. Obama needs to start honoring his campaign promises, or else he's definitely gonna lose my vote [and plenty of others] in 2012.

I certainly hope he's not counting on the Republican party remaining in constant turmoil as it has been for the next 4 years. Those things can turn around in a hurry.

[Gonzorunner]

Maybe BHO realizes that some of the things that Bush did made sense and all his campaigning was just a smoke screen for his ineptness!

[JShankel]

Yeah, because Obama is oh so "inept" compared with Dubya. Puh-leeze.

I don't regret my vote. Better Obama than McCain by a LONG frakkin' shot. But Obama has to deliver on gay rights in his first term or I'm out. It's easy being Green.

And I'm straight, FWIW.

[Tzimisce]

I don't mean to sound impatient, but thus far, on issues related to government transparency and civil liberties - the two most important issues to me - Obama has been a bitter disappointment.

[ClaraKCMO]

I find myself agreeing with you wholeheartedly. I don't regret my vote; but I will certainly be watching closely. 2012 will not come as easily (not that this was easy - but you get my 'threat')

[AAKAlan]

You are so right.

I'm willing to bet that Obama is just as disappointing to the ACLU and others concerned with civil rights as he is to me.

I will be patient. After all, there's not much choice. But his continuation of the Bush-Cheney civil rights suit defenses and his desire to keep "some detainees indefinitely" - something that he well knows is purely unconstitutional.

This is not "change I can believe in".

[SiberianRat]

Right, the clock is running--it's been 5 whole months out of 48. He'll lose your vote in 2012 and Palin or Romney will be Prez--that'll show him that we gays mean business!

[Tzimisce]

...There are other options besides (D) and (R). Or maybe I'll just stay home on election day.
Either way, The only way to effect real change is to press Obama to uphold his campaign pledges.

P.S. I'm straight.

[W i l l]

Gibbs should have pressed Todd about what happened that caused Todd to get so full of himself.

[SiberianRat]

LOL. I agree!

[Highwind]

Chuck Todd and these guys don't care about DADT. They just want something to be in conflict with the press secretary and Obama about. They do no like good news at all.

[SiberianRat]

I agree--Chuck Todd is awful at his job.

[blrpalms]

no one ever heard of CT before Tim Russet died...he was basically a statistician he should have kept his "day job"