Obama 'Braces' for Staged Town Hall

Does Associated Press White House stenographer Jennifer Loven really believe the president is going to face any unscripted questions from "boisterous" protesters? As with virtually all presidential appearance, participants will be carefully screened, questions will not be spontaneous and, knowing this bunch, each and every question will be a softball.

Is there any doubt?

A day before facing a potentially boisterous town hall in New Hampshire, President Barack Obama praised the spirited debate over his health care plans on Monday and predicted "sensible and reasoned arguments" would ultimately prevail in Congress.

Obama plans to pivot his message somewhat on Tuesday, addressing people who already have insurance through their employers and highlighting how his proposals would affect them. The White House is retooling its message amid polling that shows Americans — especially those who have coverage — are skeptical of Democratic proposals to expand to cover many of the 50 million or more uninsured.

Wait a minute. I thought it was an alleged 47 million uninsured? When were another three million (or more) added? Is Loven just making it up?

"We are having a vigorous debate in the United States, and I think that's a healthy thing," he said, repeating that thought three times. But, he said, the dynamic will change once the recess ends and the lawmakers — and the debate — return to Washington.

"I suspect that once we get into the fall and people look at the actual legislation that's being proposed, that more sensible and reasoned arguments will emerge. And we're going to get this passed," he said.

How about letting us look at the legislation now? How about having Congress actually read it? How about giving the public 30 days at minimum to debate the "actual legislation" rather than stuffing it down our throats, especially when 57% of un-Americans aren't down with the plan?

Smoke, meet mirror.

These people don't want any debate, they don't want to hear and "sensible and reasoned" arguments. It's their way or nothing. Why else would they be so desperate to shut down any discussion?

Michelle Malkin links. Thanks!

AP Laments: 'Blagojevich questioning takes up Obama's time'

Poor Barack Obama. This messy Rod Blagojevich distraction is just taking up too much of his time. The guy needs to relax and hit the golf course some more in between surfing and flashing his abs for an adoring public.

A good thing his lawyer cleared him. Otherwise he might miss his next tee time. Obama's media aide Jennifer Loven has the details.

President-elect Barack Obama has said all along that neither he nor his team was involved in any eye-popping dealmaking over filling his vacated Senate seat. Obama's hand-picked investigator agreed.

"Everybody behaved appropriately," declared Greg Craig, Obama's incoming White House counsel and the person asked to conduct the internal inquiry into contacts between the transition team and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Prosecutors have said Obama is not implicated in the case against Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder. But the corruption scandal has drained precious energy from Obama's preparations to take over the White House.

Aww, his precious energy is being drained.

Sigh.

Loven also helpfully notes once again that David Axelrod allegedly misspoke when he said Obama met with Blagojevich.

Obama's report also addresses confusion over earlier statements by David Axelrod, a top adviser who had said at one point that Obama discussed the Senate appointment with Blagojevich. Axelrod had discussed potential recommendations for the Senate appointment with Obama and Emanuel, and "was under the impression" that it would be Obama who would offer those to Blagojevich.

It was just confusion. Move along, nothing to see here.

Though nobody has yet offered an explanation why media stories noting the meetings went down the memory hole.

We're just supposed to pretend none of this ever happened.

Naturally, Obama apologists nod in agreement that Obama's in the clear.

The irony in the left’s total absolution granted the Obama transition team regarding any unethical contacts with Governor Rod Blagojevich or his staff actually makes for some pretty good comedy.

This is the crew that swallowed al-Qaeda propaganda whole with regards to every war “atrocity” ever reported instead of giving their own military or government the benefit of the doubt – including the “Haditha Massacre” where many liberals tried to outdo one another in heaping calumny on innocent soldiers. And now a single report, issued by a politician who presents no other evidence that could clarify or contradict its conclusions, is being trumpeted to the skies as “proof” that no one in the Obama camp did anything wrong.

In short, the left is apt to unquestioningly take what al-Qaeda and Obama say at face value while dismissing the reports of their own government.

Pathetic how gullible the left is.

And as expected, there was nothing to hide. The entire Craig memo is online (.pdf), and after reading it, everything we'd heard from Obama and his team was completely true. Obama never spoke to Blagojevich or his office about the Senate vacancy; no one on Obama's staff ever had any inappropriate discussions with the governor or his office; and no one Obama's staff ever had any indication that Blagojevich was engaged in alleged corruption.

A Democratic official told CNN this morning, "You're going to see this is a lot about nothing." That turned out to be completely right.

This idiot is also leaving out some milk and cookies for Santa tonight.