Chuck Todd interviews Robert Gibbs: Liveblog

By GottaLaff

Robert Gibbs is on MSNBC's Hardball right now, with Chuck Todd subbing for Chris Matthews, who is recovering from tests he had related to his diabetes.

Chucky is pressing Gibbs to fill in some blanks.

Gibbs is referring Chucky to the web site and a radio address for health care answers. He's saying we'll save money via malpractice reform. He's reiterating the illegal immigrant policy. "We've had a very good week."

Chuck: You'll need Republicans. At least one.

Gibbs: Obama has talked to Repubs in the past few days... [he won't reveal names because their "phone would ring off the hook"]. He's reiterating talking points about health care reform, you've heard them all.

Chuck: War in Afghanistan... to get Al Qaeda, Bin Laden. Why is he still out there? Is getting him your goal? What is?

Gibbs: Disrupt, dismantle, destroy Al Qaeda and its extremist allies. That's where 9/11 attack started. We want to prevent future attacks. We want to capture or kill Bin Laden, but that's not all. There are terrorists who want to kill Americans.

Chuck: Two enemies: Al Qaeda, the Taliban. If you feel you've destroyed Al Qaeda, then at what point can you say you've destroyed the Taliban?

Gibbs: Taliban wants to destabilize Afghan., Pakistan, sow seeds of terror. We have to disrupt, dismantle both.

Chuck: More R's agree with Afghan. policy than Dems. Pelosi, Levin nervous. How much will Obama work on the politics of that?

Gibbs: Long view: Obama asked to reassess and reevaluate. He authorized more troops to bring security to region, for election. He's asked for a review, assessment since then. No imminent timetable for troop decisions. It'll be many, many weeks. We're working through McChrystal's assessments.

Chuck: Detailed exit strategy for Congress?

Gibbs: We're working with Congress to establish benchmarks.

Chuck: A negative strategy.

Gibbs: It's a measure of strategic progress. We won't be there forever. No resources for that, or manpower, or budget. We have to focus our goals.

Chuck: Reports about training exercise about Coast Guard.

Gibbs: The Coast Guard is trying to come up with explanation. The TV reporting was false, it alarmed too many people, especially today. I wish the reporters had taken time to check for accuracy. It's more important to be first to report accurately, not just first, instead of scaring people.

White House criticizes CNN’s reporting of Coast Guard training exercise

By GottaLaff

The Most Trusted Name in News does it again:

The White House criticized CNN for its report on a Coast Guard training exercise that suggested there was a security situation near the nation’s capital. [...]

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs criticized the cable news network and defended the Coast Guard’s action.

"We're all safer because of training exercises," Gibbs said. "My only caution would be before we report things like this, checking would be good."

Gibbs said the White House did not have advance notice of the exercise, but he said Obama does not "micromanage" training maneuvers of the U.S. military. [...]

Gibbs said he doesn't "tend to question" what military branches do while "keeping the nation's capital safe."

Gibbs also disputed any comparison to an incident earlier this year when the 747 used as Air Force One alarmed New York City residents by flying near lower Manhattan in an effort to get publicity pictures of the plane.

"I don't see any analogy to that," Gibbs said.

Gibbs faulted CNN for jumping the gun and "unnecessarily" alarming citizens.

Michelle Obama sponsors future Coast Guard cutter

Interesting choice.

WASHINGTON— In a first for a first lady, Michelle Obama is sponsoring a future Coast Guard cutter.

(snip)

As sponsor, Mrs. Obama promises to be involved in the life of what the service is calling a "national security cutter."

The White House says Mrs. Obama's decision is an extension of her commitment to support servicemembers and their families. The Coast Guard says it's the first time a president's wife has signed on as a sponsor.

Stratton is named after Capt. Dorothy Stratton. She was director of the Guard's women's Reserve during World War II.