President Obama hasn’t talked to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the last few days since the votes for the health care bill seemed to fall away on Capitol Hill.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters this afternoon Obama last spoke with Reid last week when leadership huddled with him here.
Reporters – including TPMDC – sort of ganged up on Gibbs to pin him down, but he dismissed questions about Sen. Joe Lieberman’s stance on the public option and a potential filibuster as hypotheticals.
“I’m not going to judge the end of this process by what people say today,” Gibbs said.
He cited Lieberman (I-CT) saying today that he would vote for the motion to bring the health care bill to the floor, adding “That’s the first part of the process.”
Reporters reminded him the filibuster part is a bit more important, and Gibbs interrupted, “Can’t get to the second before you get to the first.”
Asked if Obama and Lieberman have spoken, Gibbs said he wasn’t sure the last time.
“The legislative affairs team is in touch with many on Capitol Hill,” he said.
Gibbs also went into where things stand with health care.
Late update: We clipped video of the briefing.
