Pelosi Slams Gibbs for ‘Politically Inept’ House Forecast
CQ reports: “Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) slammed White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs during Tuesday night’s House Democratic Caucus meeting for saying Sunday that Democrats could lose control of the House in November. Several Democratic sources in the room described a testy scenario that started with Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (N.J.) criticizing Gibbs for saying on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ that there is ‘no doubt there’s enough seats in play’ to allow for a House GOP takeover in 2012. Things heated up as Pelosi jumped in and blasted Gibbs for making ‘politically inept’ comments, according to one source.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President received the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and the economic daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. Obama will meet at 10:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers. Obama and Biden will have lunch at 12:30 p.m. ET with Senators. At 2:05 p.m. ET, Obama will briefly attend a meeting to discuss the progress made by the Administration’s increased cybersecurity efforts. Obama and Biden will meet at 5 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and will meet at 5:40 p.m. ET with the House Democratic leadership.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will hold an event at 11 a.m. ET, to unveil the Council of Economic Advisers’ latest quarterly report on the economic impact of the Recovery Act. He will have lunch with President Obama and Senators at 12:30 p.m. ET. He and Obama will meet at 5 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and will meet at 5:40 p.m. ET with the House Democratic leadership. In the evening, the Vice President and his wife Dr. Jill Biden will host a reception at the Naval Observatory with leaders of labor organizations.
Obama Leaning Heavily On Bill Clinton For Election Help
CNN reports: “Facing a bruising midterm election in less than four months, President Barack Obama’s aides are putting together an aggressive schedule to deploy former President Bill Clinton at campaign and fundraising events in key states around the country, according to Democratic officials familiar with the plans. ‘It’s a no-brainer you would use one of the most talented politicians the country has ever had,’ said one Democratic official familiar with the discussions. ‘There are few as good at laying out the contrast with Republicans.'”
New White House Report Claims More Jobs ‘Saved Or Created’ From Stimulus
The Associated Press reports: “A new White House report says last year’s $862 billion stimulus law has now ‘saved or created’ between 2.5 million and 3.6 million jobs. That’s up from 2.2 million to 2.8 million in the last quarterly report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers.”
GOP Leaders Mull Retaliation Over Recess Appointment Of Berwick
Roll Call reports: “Senate Republican leaders are considering retaliatory measures in response to President Barack Obama’s decision to use a recess appointment to install Donald Berwick as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services…While Senate Republicans mull what to do tactically in response to the Berwick nomination, which could include even more delays for other administration nominees, they are sure to continue pounding the administration rhetorically.”
Spill Puts K Street to Work
The Hill reports: “A half-dozen offshore drilling and oil services companies have formed a coalition to push back against the Obama administration’s drilling moratorium. The Shallow Water Energy Security Coalition has hired lawyers, lobbyists and PR specialists at several K Street shops. Though shallow-water drilling has not been suspended by the White House — only deepwater operations have — the group believes the Interior Department is damaging its business by stalling drilling permits of all kinds.”
