The White House Ramps Up Efforts to Sell the Economic Stimulus Package

Obama needs to "go out there and make his case," his spokesman says

By Kenneth T. Walsh

February 6, 2009 RSS Feed Print

The Obama administration is entering a new, more aggressive phase in its campaign to sell the economic stimulus package. "The president understands that he's got to go out there and make his case," says White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Democratic strategists complain that the White House has been slow off the mark in organizing a sustained, all-hands-on-deck response to Republican critics of the legislation. Obama advisers say that's about to change. Members of the cabinet and other Obama loyalists, including Vice President Joe Biden, will be making speeches and giving media interviews to sell the plan. Supportive governors and mayors will campaign for the legislation.

President Obama plans to hold a news conference Monday night to push the plan. An address from the Oval Office is likely in the near future. The president will address a joint session of Congress February 24.

Obama and his senior advisers are privately courting individual legislators one by one. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will give an interview to T he NewsHour with Jim Lehrer today. And Obama backers are organizing a letter-writing and E-mail campaign across the country to pressure members of Congress to accept the legislation.

Even though some polls show public support for the package is slipping, White House officials remain optimistic. "I don't think we are losing the battle," Gibbs told U.S. News. He added that the most important objective is to "keep the process moving."

Disagreeing with some strategists of both parties, Gibbs says the White House doesn't need any catchy new slogans to combat its critics. "We don't need a bumper sticker," he says because Americans very clearly see the economic crisis "in their lives every single day."

Gibbs says there might be setbacks in the legislative process and in the public relations fight over the legislation, but he predicts that it will pass Congress and end up on the president's desk later this month. 

Tags:
Obama administration,
economy,
economic stimulus

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HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

HAHA why should i tell you????????????? of NH 8:45PM February 12, 2009

We've already been sold a bill of goods as evidenced by the swing of power in Washington. We've already spent necessary billions in "the war on terror" and rebuilding after 911 and Katrina. The new un-necessary feeding frenzy in Washington is not only "snake oil" but may very well plunge us into a worldwide depression. Ask any economist. I say divide the bill.

Real fiscally responsible stimulus will pass hands down. Then we can debate the pork later. If it's such an "emergency" as the L&S Obama states, he should be willing to encourage congress to do this so a bill can pass. End of debate.

Chris Petty of GA 10:41AM February 09, 2009

"There's a sucker born every minute" The Democrates and Obama need to go out an recurit someone like P.T.Barnum to sell their plan to swindle Americans.

This is nothing but a big joke. First what happened to all the property tax money? Oh, that's right they increase thier bugets and spent more money during the boom years and I'm not talking about the federal goverment but the states. Calif is the most liberal benfits state in the union. Please move their and crush their enconomy. Stay at home and claim disability!

Roads? The Europeans are using a concert that has a life of at least 10yrs. You know why we don't use it jobs and unions. Have you every been on a road in Europe? There great and they have winter. Lets start using that type of concert, it's not like we'er going to run out of roads to pave. Look at all the shitty secondary roads. Were is that toll money going that has been collected for all these years? Were is all that lottery money going? Our goverment shouldn't talk about corrpution in Iraq and Afgahstain! They just don't hide as well as our goverment does.

For all you smokers who voted for Obama, I just want to say thank you for now paying $10 a packet!

Holly crap you poor B! For you Obama alochol drinkers your next! Don't worry your money will be used wisely. I hear Congress wants a pay increase! I hear they will be doing it under the pertense that kids need more milk in school.

For all you tax payers out there you need to learn a new exerise. BEND OVER AND TOUCH YOUR TOES, BECAUSE YOUR GOING TO LEARN HOW TO TAKE IT UP THE A! You go OBAMA! Jihad

Joker of DC 8:47AM February 08, 2009

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