President Obama couldn't have asked for a better first primetime news conference.
He looked very comfortable up there and he didn't have to field really any hardball questions. The main goal of The White House tonight was to make the American people understand the urgency of the moment as it relates to the economy. While you may not agree with his strategy, he did lay out his argument in a coherent, pretty understandable way. You may consider it liberal hogwash but that is beside the point.
It was interesting to watch how President Obama was able to really bring every economic question back to his main talking points. He started talking about the struggles of the unemployed in Elkhart, Indiana (where he visited today) and ended on that point as well. I looked to the back of the room and there stood Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel smiling. Why was he smiling? Because he knew his man, the President, had just tied the evening neatly in a bow. Team Obama couldn't have asked for anything more.
What we saw from President Obama tonight is what we saw from him in the campaign and what we will most likely see from him during the rest of his Presidency. He has a way of sounding very pragmatic about issues. You get the sense that he is willing to work with both parties to get something done. Of course that ticks off some Democrats and Republicans who want to see a more ideologically pure stimulus bill or want to see some of their chief concerns represented but Obama seems to be saying, "oh well, can't have it all."
I thought the best question of the night came at the end when Mara Liasson of NPR asked him about what lessons he has learned as he tries to win bi-partisan support. I got the sense that President Obama is still trying to really think that one through. I don't think there is any question that if he wants to really achieve bi-partisan support he's going to have to get Republicans (especially in the Senate) involved earlier in the legislative process. He's also going to have to consider allowing Republicans to write parts of upcoming bills. Yes, he'll have to pick and choose his spots because that's a sensitive issue but if Republicans feel they are not involved from day one and compromises are done at the last minute without any say from them, then Obama is going to have the same partisan problem in the future.
By the way, The Brody File was sitting in the front row in the East Room of The White House at tonight's press conference. I was the guy holding up the John 3:16 sign! Just kidding! I felt a little like Bob Uecker.
The Brody File wasn't called on for a question tonight. Maybe next time but sitting in the front row was a neat experience. I felt like I had box seats to a World Series game. If we're going to continue to use the baseball metaphor then I think it's safe to say that President Obama hit it out of the park tonight.
Comments?