September 28, 2009
List of Olympics posts
WH press briefing
Wants us to believe he didn’t get a heads up.
Why does the President think a trip to Copenhagen is going to make that much difference? And what does he hope his appearance there will help?
GIBBS: Well, obviously, I think he hopes that he can make a strong case for Chicago and America’s bid for the Olympics in 2016. Obviously any Olympics showcases the country that those Olympics are in and there’s a tangible economic benefit to those Games being here. And the President wants to help out America’s bid.
Did he get a hint that an appearance would help America’s bid?
GIBBS: Well, I certainly hope that an appearance wouldn’t hurt it. But we have gotten no intelligence on it.
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barry was scoping things out at the UN and G20.
Robert, what can you tell us about the lobbying effort behind the scenes that the President has already started with the IOC?
GIBBS: Well, I don’t know that it’s much behind the scenes if you’re asking me about it. I think it’s — obviously the President has mentioned this in meetings when we were at the U.N. and at the G20. He’s going to continue to talk to people, including in person in Copenhagen, in an effort to bring the 2016 Olympics to the United States.
What’s his best pitch? What is he telling them?
GIBBS: Well, look, I think, having spent some time in Chicago, I think it is a — it’s a perfect place to hold the Olympics. It is — it offers a great place for the world to see. It offers all the amenities that one would want in the Olympics. And I think, far and away, it’s the strongest bid of the four that are out there.
What if he goes and he doesn’t get it?
GIBBS: Well, we’ll — you can call Tommy on Saturday.
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Going because the other heads of state will be there?
And how does he see going to Copenhagen as part of his core mission as President?
GIBBS: Well, I think everybody is proud of the Olympics. I think everybody is proud of the Olympics when they’re in their country. It provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the United States. It’s, as I said earlier, a big economic benefit. Surely it’s within the purview of the President to root for America, but maybe I’m wrong.
Yes, but is there a fear that the delegation that was going was not going to be on par with the heads of state from the other countries going?
GIBBS: No, I’ve said this many times in the past five years, and I think the President would agree that Michelle and Michelle alone is a powerful presence and will be a powerful voice for the Olympics coming to America. The President simply wanted to lend his voice, too.
Then why do you need Oprah going, too?
GIBBS: Ask the Olympic Committee.
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He insults the other 3 heads of state (Spain, Brazil and Japan) by equating FLOTUS to them.
(21:35) And how does he see going to Copenhagen as part of his core mission as President?
GIBBS: Well, I think everybody is proud of the Olympics. I think everybody is proud of the Olympics when they’re in their country. It provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the United States. It’s, as I said earlier, a big economic benefit. Surely it’s within the purview of the President to root for America, but maybe I’m wrong.
Yes, but is there a fear that the delegation that was going was not going to be on par with the heads of state from the other countries going?
GIBBS: No, I’ve said this many times in the past five years (?), and I think the President would agree that Michelle and Michelle alone is a powerful presence and will be a powerful voice for the Olympics coming to America. The President simply wanted to lend his voice, too.
Later (29:45) Do we know for sure if the other world — other three world leaders are going to this meeting, and did that play a role in Obama’s decision
GIBBS: I have no knowledge of what the other three are doing.
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The ridiculous notion that 48 hours matter re: healthcare.
The President said, I would make the case in Copenhagen-hagen personally if I weren’t so firmly committed to making real the promise of quality affordable health care for every American. He sounded pretty clear that 12 days ago he was not going to go. What changed in the meantime? Is it health care that changed? Does it look like it’s in better shape, or is it that this is in worse shape?
GIBBS: I think the President believes health care is in better shape. I believe he felt strongly and personally that he should go and make the case for the United States, and that’s what he’s going to do.
And he’s not worried about health care, as he seemed to be just 12 days ago, suffering if he went?
GIBBS: I think he believes he can do this and get back in time.
Later (20:38) Are you saying that the reason that he wasn’t going to go to Copenhagen and now is, is that health care is in better shape?
GIBBS: Well, no, I don’t — as I understand it, Chip asked me, that was one of the reasons that the President stated –
It was the reason.
GIBBS: -- and that while I believe that health care is in a better place, and I think he believes health care is in a better place, he also believes it’s important for him to go and personally try to persuade the International Olympic Committee to pick the United States in 2016.
Okay. But did any — so, are you — so it’s okay for us to infer, then, even though you’re not going to say that’s the difference between last week and this week?
GIBBS: Well, I acknowledged to Major that — and I acknowledged to Chip and I think to at least one other — that I thought health care was — so we can — I’ll go on background as a senior administration official — with intimate knowledge of the press secretary’s thinking and say, yes, we think health care is in a better place.
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Watch him evade the question. Like always, his face gives him away. (15:50) Time to lay down some cash.
(15:15) When you look at the sort of picture here, you have a planeload of, you know, top level officials, the President himself, Mrs. Obama. The risks are obviously huge if he doesn’t bring home the Games for Chicago –
GIBBS: Call Tommy.
But to what degree –
GIBBS: I appreciate getting into what happens on Saturday, but I don’t even know what I’m going to have for dinner tonight.
I understand. Okay, let’s go forward then. So what degree is this pre-cooked in any way? Are there any assurances, anything –
GIBBS: I think I looked back and addressed this not long ago.
It just seems you folks are too savvy to do this with it being totally up in the air.
GIBBS: I appreciate that.
Immediately takes the next question even as his face betrays him. Talk about how clever they are and they can’t help themselves.
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This dude seems to be unaware how much barry has cost the city as far as election night, his visits home and security on his house.
Is the Chicago Host Committee paying any of the costs for President Obama or Mrs. Obama to go to Copenhagen?
GIBBS: I can check but I don’t know the answer to that. I assume this is being handled as all presidential travel would be.
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First time an American president has made such a pitch – first time a president’s home city was up for the bid. Wonder what Mr Bill told him.
(26:45) The First Family’s Chicago ties, are they a factor in the decision to have both the First Lady and the President make this trip? And is there a feeling in the administration that it’s a proper role for them to make this pitch than, for example, if it had been another city where they didn’t have the same kind of long-standing ties?
GIBBS: Well, look, I don’t think that there’s any doubt that the President is enormously proud of Chicago and would be enormously proud of the city hosting the bid. I think it’s somewhat silly if it had been Los Angeles, I think the notion that the President would have done less because it was a different U.S. city just doesn’t hold water.
But, I mean, I’m just saying did they have, by virtue of being from Chicago do you think that they have maybe a special message that they can carry?
GIBBS: Well, I think there’s no doubt. I think you’ll hear directly from both the First Lady and the President about what they think the Olympic Games mean and how Chicago hosting those Games fits with what we all believe the Olympics mean.
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Personal/official visit and whether he will be meeting with Sargozy – who backed Rio – about Iran.
(30:56) On Copenhagen, is this more official or personal for the President, this trip?
GIBBS: This is official, as the President of the United States representing the bid of the United States to host the 2016 Olympics.
So is it more about the United States versus Chicago?
GIBBS: Yes, it’s about the American bid which is Chicago.
What other official activities will the President be doing while --
GIBBS: I think if you saw the advisory that we e-mailed several hours ago, there’s some meetings on there.
Will he be meeting with the French President, as well?
GIBBS: Meeting with?
With Sarkozy, in reference to possibly Iran while he’s there?
GIBBS: Reference to Iran?
Iran, yes.
GIBBS: If I’m not mistaken, they talked on Friday.
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Finance oversight – as if barry cares anything about that.
(33:15) Chicago doesn’t have a great record, especially recently, of spending public money. Is the President convinced that there are safeguards in place to make sure that money that goes to the Olympic bid will not be misspent? I mean, the City Council, for instance, has a pretty big oversight role in the way it’s been –
GIBBS: And I think obviously the onus is on the city to ensure that whatever money is used is spent wisely and efficiently. The President is going to make the case for the American host city — for the American city of Chicago, which is the bid that this country put forward — is going to go advocate in front of the International Olympic Committee for that bid.
I just want to make sure, he’s sure that the city is up to that task?
GIBBS: Not only is he, but as is the U.S. Olympic Committee that picked Chicago over other cities.
