Passive. Passive. Passive.

Order the lillies… lay them with appropriate reverence on the coffin.

Can this get limper?  More limp? Limpier?   I think they can barely be bothered… about much of anything… GOOD LUCK!  Remember, health care was their signature promise!

From the gaggle today (questioner is Ed Henry of CNN):

Q Robert, what do you say to Bob Dole, who’s got this op-ed today, saying he thinks the President sort of needs to refresh the health care debate, and specifically, needs to put a plan on the table?

MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the President has outlined a series of proposals and principles that he thinks ought to be included in health care. And we’ll continue to see if we can make progress as it relates to that.

Q Right, but on the specific plan aspect, Dole is saying that the President is not a commentator, he’s the President of the United States, and shouldn’t just be commenting on what Congress is doing. Shouldn’t he — in the estimation of Dole and others who have said this in Congress — maybe a more active role?

MR. GIBBS: Well, he’s talked with many members of the Finance Committee and members of Congress in the House and the Senate. I think to characterize the role that the President is playing as inactive would be inaccurate.

Q Okay. Well, he doesn’t seem to be active on health care right now. Is he — I mean, he’s going to go on to Camp David –

MR. GIBBS: You mean, like, right now?

Q Well, he’s golfing right now, I guess so –

MR. GIBBS: If he hits Marvin with a golf ball, I guess he’d become more active in health care. (Laughter.)

Q Okay. What’s the calculation then, since he’s golfing, he just came back from vacation, he’s going to Camp David for more vacation — when is he going to get back into this debate?

MR. GIBBS: Well, again, Ed, the President did some meetings today that included discussions on health care. I assume he’ll continue to make calls throughout the week, judging and assessing where we are. I don’t — I think that just because the President just might be doing something else doesn’t mean he’s not focused on health care reform.

have to love it!

Jake then picked up the question…

TAPPER: A couple of questions, Robert.  One, just teeing off of Ed’s* question about health care, have you guys seen this fundraising letter from Senator Chuck Grassley in which he goes after — “The simple truth is that I am and always have been opposed to the Obama administration’s plans to nationalize health care … I’m deeply concerned about rising health care costs … but the reality is…” — it just goes after President Obama and Democrats’ effort on health care reform.

GIBBS:  I have not seen it.

TAPPER: It would seem to belie any indication that Senator Grassley is actually a partner with the administration or with Senator Baucus in creating the plan that you guys would support. Are you still firmly committed to working with the three Republicans who are still in the negotiating phase?

GIBBS:  I’ll say this, Jake.  The President is firmly committed to working with Democrats, Republicans, independents, anybody that wants to see progress on health care reform.  I will say this.  I haven’t seen the contents of that letter.  Certainly, I think the radio address over the weekend by Senator Enzi repeating many of the generic Republican talking points that Republicans are using that have bragged about being opposed to health care are tremendously unfortunate but in some ways illuminating.  It appears that at least in Senator Enzi’s case, he doesn’t believe there’s a pathway to get bipartisan support, and the President thinks that’s wrong.  I think that Senator Enzi has clearly turned over his cards on bipartisanship, and decided that it’s time to walk away from the table.  I think what somebody has to ask Senator Enzi and ask others, every member of Congress, is, are you satisfied with the way the system is working right now?  Are you satisfied that premiums are doubling every nine years?  Are you satisfied that out-of-pocket expenses are skyrocketing?  Are you satisfied that small businesses are dropping their coverage?  Are you satisfied that every day 14,000 Americans wake up and find themselves without health insurance coverage?  I think many may believe that we can’t afford to do anything.  I think this President believes we can’t afford not to.

TAPPER: Well, let me ask you, are you satisfied with the ability that the White House has shown in getting that message out, as opposed to what the opponents of health care reform are saying?  Have you guys been doing –

GIBBS:  Notwithstanding Ed’s question about what the President is doing right now.

TAPPER: Do you think — I mean, we’ve all now — the congressional recess has been going on and some of us have left Washington, D.C.  Do you think you’re doing a good job in getting the message out as to what health care reform should be?

GIBBS:  I think we looked at and we discussed when we last met in here — I think the President has made progress on turning around some of the very specific yet untrue allegations about this bill.  It doesn’t help — I’ll give you, Jake, it doesn’t help to have Republicans who say they’re for bipartisanship and say they’re at the table to try to find a solution repeating Republican Party talking points about what they know is not true in the bill.  I don’t think that’s helpful and I think that it’s unfortunate — again, it’s tremendously unfortunate that it looks like Republicans are stepping away from seeking a bipartisan solution.  I think that’s — it’s bad for this town, but it’s much worse for this country.

Life is just so tough. It’s UNFAIR! Maybe next year a companion dog. Or two cats. Maybe a small rabbit hutch next to the Victory Garden… Anything for greasy photo ops. Maybe they could start keeping Mrs O out of $540.00 Lanvin sneakers. Esp at soup kitchens… You think? (‘Cuz the economy is going to limp along, shoeless.)

Just for fun, right before the Ed Henry question, this was asked at the gaggle:

Q Let me ask you on another matter — the Jerusalem Post conducted a survey and found that only 4 percent of Jewish Israelis consider President Obama to be pro-Israeli. Does that trouble you in any way?

MR. GIBBS: I haven’t seen the poll.

Passive. Or laughter. Or outright dismissal. Please fellas, push the envelope. Maybe a Czar of Envelope Pushing? What ever is good for the country!

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