Washington Extra – Obama’s BlackBerry 10
Tempers ran high in the Senate today as Republicans blocked a $30 billion Democratic plan to help community banks boost lending to small businesses. Democrats are fast running out of time to show they are doing something to cut unemployment ahead of November’s elections, but this is just the latest bill to founder on objections from Republicans and some centrist Democrats, who argue extra spending should be covered by cuts elsewhere in the budget.
This time Republicans complained they were shut out of the amendment process and that a billion dollars of agriculture spending had been attached to the legislation. Mindful that voters think his administration is not doing enough to create jobs, Obama had been calling for the Senate to pass this bill, and he will likely be dismayed by this latest setback.
If that was the thorn in Obama’s day, the rose was probably his appearance on ABC’s ”The View”, sitting on a couch peppered with questions by five women, including Barbara Walters and Joy Behar. Referring to how his family discuss the highs and lows of their lives, he talked about the “roses” and “thorns” of his life as president, revealed he hadn’t been invited to Chelsea Clinton’s wedding and said his i-Pod included Jay-Z and Frank Sinatra but thankfully nothing by teen sensation Justin Bieber.
Finally, he said only about 10 people had his BlackBerry personal e-mail address. “I’ve got to admit it’s no fun because they think it’s going to be subject to the Presidential Records Act so nobody sends me the juicy stuff,” he ruefully added.
While we all ponder who those 10 might be (Michelle and the girls, Axelrod, Emanuel, Gibbs, Jarrett and ….) we would like to respectfully invite the president to add an eleventh. Mr. President, just send your name, position and email address to washingtonextra@thomsonreuters.com.
Here are our top stories from today:
Republicans block small business plan in Senate
Even Obama didn’t make the cut for Chelsea’s wedding
Friends of Bill and Hillary Clinton who didn’t get invited to daughter Chelsea’s wedding now have something to take the sting off.
President Barack Obama didn’t get invited either (and the mother of the bride is a member of his Cabinet).
Barbara Walters asked him bluntly on ABC’s “The View” whether he was invited to the wedding of the year.
“I was not invited because I think that Hillary and Bill properly want to keep this as a thing for Chelsea and her soon-to-be husband,” Obama said.
And guess what? No one’s getting an invitation to the Obama daughters’ weddings either (they’re 12 and 9 right now). “I’m letting you guys know now, you all probably will not be invited to Malia’s wedding or Sasha’s.”
Have boys entered the picture yet? “Thankfully, NO,” Obama says quite firmly.
The latest news is that the FAA has declared a no-fly zone over the Rhinebeck, N.Y., area for a “VIP” from 3 p.m. Saturday until 3:30 a.m. Sunday.
Biden’s F-bomb lesson: microphones are mighty sensitive
What were the lessons learned for Vice President Joe Biden on dropping the F-bomb on national television?
Number one: microphones are waaaayyyy more sensitive than you realize.
Number two: the boss has a keen sense of humor.
Number three: it’s still embarrassing.
Biden amid the giddiness of the passage of healthcare reform in March whispered into President Barack Obama’s ear “this is a big f—ing deal.” It was picked up by the microphone and became an online video sensation.
So when Biden was teased about it on ABC’s “The View,” he looked quite sheepish.
“I was just thankful my mother couldn’t hear it,” Biden said of his late mother. “And it was a little embarrassing.”
Number six: Never miss a marketing opportunity… there was a t-shirt being sold on barackobama.com just days after the incident saying “Health Reform is a BFD”. I found it amusing that they turned it around so fast.
Dear Laura, Thanks, from Michelle
NEW YORK - Michelle Obama wrote a thank-you note to Laura Bush after the first lady spoke up in defense of the wife of the Democratic presidential candidate, Obama said on Wednesday.
Obama, who is married to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, created a controversy on the campaign trail in February when she said, “For the first time in my adult lifetime I am really proud of my country.”
After critics questioned her patriotism because of the remark, Obama has frequently said she is proud of her country.
During an appearance on ABC Television’s “The View” on Wednesday, she re-stated her pride in the United States and said her controversial comment was referring to being proud of the political process this year.
Laura Bush came to Obama’s defense earlier this month, telling ABC’s “Good Morning America”: “I think she probably meant, ‘I’m more proud.’ You have to be very careful in what you say. Everything you say is looked at and in many cases misconstrued.”
Obama said she appreciated Bush’s comments and concern.
“I was touched by it and actually I sent her a note,” Obama said on “The View.” “It took me a while to write it. Like, how do I address her? I sent it to ‘Madam First Lady.’ I don’t want to talk about it because she might not have it yet.
Laura Bush was doing what all of us have had to do… make diplomatic excuses for Michelle Obama’s stance and bitterness.
