While discussing President Obama’s Tuesday night address to Congress and the Republican response given by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez observed: "And Americans loved it. The polls show that they're very optimistic, and then out comes Bobby Jindal, Debbie Downer, saying ‘hated it, it's not going to work.’" Rodriguez made the remark while speaking with Democrat Dee Dee Myers and Republican Dan Bartlett. She turned to Bartlett and asked: "Do you think the Republican Party's taking the right approach, Dan, being so vocal with their objections?"
At the top of the show, Rodriguez interviewed Vice President Joe Biden and asked: "...the Republican party came out with their own charismatic, young, dynamic, ethnic spokesperson after the speech and said ‘we don't buy it, we're not on board.’ Are you taking any of their objections into account? Are any of their objections legitimate in your view?" Biden replied: "Sure. I'm sure there's -- there's some legitimate objections they have. But what I don't understand from Governor Jindal is, what would he do?...if you choose the inaction that Governor Jindal is talking about, how responsible is that? While people are just sinking into the abyss."
Prior to interviewing the Vice President, Rodriguez touted the CBS poll numbers showing Americans "loved" Obama’s speech: "Shortly after President Obama's address last night, CBS News and Knowledge Networks conducted a poll. Among the findings, 3/4 of those who watched say they believe the President's plans will make the economy better, 74%. Three out of four, say they believe Mr. Obama's plans will help the nation's housing crisis, 76%. And while about 1/3 before the speech believed that the President's plans would help them personally, after the speech, 51%, more than half, said they would be helped." What Rodriguez did not mention was that 38% of the poll respondents were Democrats, while only 26% were Republicans.
In another segment, while talking to Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer, co-host Harry Smith echoed Rodriguez’s suggestion that it was risky for Republicans to oppose Obama: "It is interesting. Because you look at the poll numbers and the public is clearly buying what the President is selling, but as you watched that room last night, there were plenty of Republicans who were sitting on their hands, reluctant to stand up in certain parts of the speech. Are they doing that, do you think, at their own risk of peril?"
Here is the full transcript of Rodriguez speaking to Myers and Bartlett:
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: I'm joined by two CBS News consultants, Harry. Dee Dee Myers, who was President Clinton's Press Secretary, and Dan Bartlett, who was President George W. Bush's communications director. Good morning to you both.
DAN BARTLETT: Morning, Maggie.
DEE DEE MYERS: Good morning, Maggie.
RODRIGUEZ: You know, the first thing I noticed when President Obama got up there, boy, the Democrats really are in charge, that picture of the three of them, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Speaker Pelosi. They have all the power right now.
DEE DEE MYERS: They do, and the energy when, not just President Obama, but when his cabinet, and then Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice of the Supreme Court, entered the chamber, you could feel the enthusiasm mounting as the speech approached.
RODRIGUEZ: I never saw Nancy Pelosi so smiley, smiley during one of those speeches in my life. So different.
[LAUGHTER]
MYERS: Well, not in the last eight years.
BARTLETT: And they now have the keys to the kingdom and with that comes a lot of responsibility.
RODRIGUEZ: Responsibility. Are they up to the job, Dee Dee?
MYERS: Well, I mean, that remains to be seen. But I think, certainly, this president has had a very busy first five weeks, passing the huge stimulus package, beginning to lay out his other plans. And last night was about a couple of things, about, I think. Trying to connect his programs to the lives of the American people. It was about explaining how that's going to work. It was about laying out a broader agenda, saying not only do we need to fix the economy, but we have to do health care, we have to do education, and we have to do energy independence at the same time. And then, I think, he -- maybe the main overarching theme was 'we can do it.' It was a very hopeful speech. It was one that was loaded with responsibility and calls on the American people to be part of it, but it was hopeful.
RODRIGUEZ: And Americans loved it. The polls show that they're very optimistic, and then out comes Bobby Jindal, Debbie Downer, saying 'hated it, it's not going to work.' Do you think the Republican Party's taking the right approach, Dan, being so vocal with their objections?
BARTLETT: Well, what they have to do is clearly articulate how they would do things differently, but in a constructive way. If they are appearing to be the party of no, the American people are going to reject that.
RODRIGUEZ: Right.
BARTLETT: The challenge for Barack Obama, and for the Republicans for that matter, is that the steps that have to be taken in the coming days and weeks, whether it be the auto bailout, or even more money to banks, and what, really, Barack Obama was doing last night was preparing the country for some very difficult political choices. The public does not want to throw more money after bad, as they would say, and he was basically warning them that we're going to have to do it. Now, I agree with Dee Dee, he did it, in a very layman like term, did it -- explained to people why we have to take these unpopular steps, but the bottom line is, is what the Republicans are hoping is that his personal popularity will start matching the unpopularity of some of these bailout measures he's going to have to enact in the coming weeks and months.
RODRIGUEZ: It's not that they're hoping it fails so that they can be right, which could be the impression that some people can get.
BARTLETT: Not -- well, I'm talking a very -- I agree -- I mean in a very -- they're making a political calculation that the public is not as supportive of some of the measures he's going to have to take as they are of him personally. But I would agree, it would be a very dangerous road for the Republicans to go down if they just stand up every time and say 'no, no, no.' They have to have a constructive seat at the table, they have to be offering solutions.
RODRIGUEZ: In the last seconds-
MYERS: And right now the public sees President Obama as much more reaching out to the Republicans than the Republicans reaching out to him, by more than a 2-1 margin.
RODRIGUEZ: How much time do you think that he has before the tide turns and this optimism gives way to something else?
BARTLETT: Well, I know the polls show there's patience from the American people and I think broadly suggesting that there is patience. However, having worked in politics, and Dee Dee knows this as well, the more and more that this becomes President Obama's decisions, the more he's going inherit the challenges. I think the public is going to start growing weary if he has to continue to throw taxpayer dollars at a lot of institutions like the auto companies and such, so most people will say he's got until the mid-terms, two years. I think people should, by the fall of this year, start seeing light at the end of the tunnel. If not, I think they're going to grow very weary.
RODRIGUEZ: Alright, Dee Dee, Dan, thank you so much.
MYERS: Thank you, Maggie.
BARTLETT: Thanks.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















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Comments Policy
Here's your poll
February 25, 2009 - 17:37 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsThere was a poll today that wasn't too pleased with last nights speech.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
DFTT... Priceless. The
February 25, 2009 - 17:48 ET by bigtimerDFTT...
Priceless.
The Dow was all over the place today...was about to stay in the green it looked like towards the close then the O opened his mouth...and that is what it ended up...gosh, he is The Man...he works wonders does he not!
You have got to be joking!!
February 25, 2009 - 17:43 ET by JTPDan, being so vocal with their objections? The problem is the damn megaphone is too small! We need MORE people vocalizing their "objections".
My keyboard can't take much more of this....
"I need more cowbell!" SNL
If Maggie would get off her
February 25, 2009 - 18:04 ET by snaggletoothieIf Maggie would get off her knees Obama wouldn't look so big and impressive. Wall St. seems unimpressed by Maggie's magnificent hero.
BARTLETT: .........
February 25, 2009 - 18:23 ET by MidAmericaBARTLETT: ......... However, having worked in politics, and Dee Dee knows this as well, the more and more that this becomes President Obama's decisions, the more he's going inherit the challenges.
Translation: If things don't improve in a measurable way this year obama's in real trouble. Obama could soon see the ghost of Jimmie Carter's Presidency walking the halls of the Whitehouse.
Strictly Scientific
February 25, 2009 - 18:25 ET by OhmingOK. To make a controlled scientic comparison to the CBS data. I took the local CBS weather forecast and went down to the local retirement home dimentia unit, and you wouldn't believe the results. A full 75% of the residents thought that we would have weather tommorow. It was absolutly phenominal!! I will throw my books by Harry S. Dent in the trash when I get home.
Debt
February 25, 2009 - 19:05 ET by sevenEconomists claim that you can't borrow money to pay off all your debt. There has to be some other way to get out of debt.
Is ACORN the primary business oursorucing vendor?
Conservatives= factual,
February 25, 2009 - 19:01 ET by dborschjr68Conservatives= factual, solid, let's get this right mentality
Liberal= emotional, sensitive, scared to hurt your feelings cheerleading
Conservative= George Patton, Ronald Reagan, Rush Limbaugh
Liberal= Oprah, Elton John, Ellen DeGeneres
The fraudulent man in the position of POTUS is nothing short of an emotional cheerleader with no substance. If he spouted that nonsense in a classroom with me while in college, I would probably have sprayed him with beer at the first opportunity, and then given him an atomic wedgie.
"Liberate tutume ex inferis, liberal puppets." Me.
Special Report
February 25, 2009 - 19:06 ET by Sergeant ROCKBrit Hume had a very piece about conservatives versus liberals on taxes tonight. He ended with ' conservatives are most concerned about the health of the goose and liberals are most concerned with how to distribute the golden egg..'
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Bolton/KEYES 2012
Rock... speaking of all
February 25, 2009 - 19:20 ET by bigtimerRock...
speaking of all of this...guess what the first thing the House had to pass today...a resolution called 'America Saves Week'.
Can you believe this...it is unbelievable what congress does daily to waste our tax-dollars while they are supposedly little busy bees at work with shite like this...they of all people telling us to save week!
These filthy ba$t#rds...these leftist SOB's, the audacity they have after creating/spending the largest socialist bill in history and cramming it down our throats...I almost wished people were forced to watch what the House and Senate does daily...we would not be in the mess we are...people would be outraged, and others that want term limits wouldn't have to worry...they would not last the next election...in fact there would be demands for recalls before their next terms in some cases.
As you can tell...I am still steaming about this.
Fox News
February 25, 2009 - 19:32 ET by UpNorthtonight did a story on Helath Care Reform, aka socialized medicine.
They said that the "administration" put a $635 B price tag on it, as that's the amount in the Omnibus Spending Bill. Fox claims that the real cost to us, those who actually pay taxes, will be $1 Trillion.
So, as they say on the radio around here, as the lead in to the Rush show, "bend over, grab your ankles, this is gonna hurt."
Hannity Tonight
February 25, 2009 - 19:39 ET by Sergeant ROCKWill be talking about the 8600 earmarks tonight. Watch!
I'm with you. Who the Hell do they think they are? I'm ready to kick somebody in the head. We have to save?? But Congress doesn't?? Well, of course not! Why they have to save when they're spending YOUR MONEY!! That's the ignorance of the average American - they really believe it's by the graces of Government that they are allowed to keep some of their money. That's what has to be overcomed. And why Congressman/s Gomert(?) proposal for a tax holiday was soundly rejected. Of course, Kool-Aid drinking democRATS will still tell you that they're looking out for YOU!
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Bolton/KEYES 2012
Sgt. Rock...
February 25, 2009 - 22:46 ET by dborschjr68I'm with you. Who the Hell do they think they are? I'm ready to kick somebody in the head.
No, really, I'm with you on this. When can we start kicking in some heads? Tell me where and when and I am so there with all my love of the Republic in full glory.
"Liberate tutume ex inferis, liberal puppets." Me.
"I'm sick and tired of
February 25, 2009 - 20:05 ET by deerjerkydave"I'm sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic. We need to stand up and say we're Americans, and we have the right to debate and disagree with any administration." - Hillary Clinton on the Bush Administration
Except, of course, if the administration is controlled by democrats and you are a liberal reporter. Then you get comments like this by Maggie Rodriguez:
"Do you think the Republican Party's taking the right approach, Dan, being so vocal with their objections?"
If the liberal media is scared, then yes it was the absolutely right thing to do.
Liberalism = Hypocrisy
February 25, 2009 - 20:36 ET by Sergeant ROCKNo kidding. That's why you need not bother with these deranged lunatics. They are not to be bargained with, not compromised with, but defeated. They are the enemy.
Lest you become another McCain.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Bolton/KEYES 2012
Sounds like Mzzz Maggie has
February 25, 2009 - 20:32 ET by celatorSounds like Mzzz Maggie has herself an Obamatingle going up her leg. Oh my!
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to
public office
--Aesop (~550 BC)
Maggie!
February 26, 2009 - 10:42 ET by blazermaniacCBS still has a morning news program! I'm shocked! I thought CBS would have smart enough to have morning cartoons, instead of CBS morning news. The cartoons would get a much higher rating than the dynamic duo of Maggie Rodriguez & Harry Smith.
Obama's such a narcissist
February 26, 2009 - 03:23 ET by RR GOPObama's such a narcissist that he had to organize a SOTU address in February, because he couldn't do one in January.
I remember thinking prior to the Inauguration, "How is this guy going to keep himself in the public eye/campaign mode, because he can't live without being in the spotlight and adulated."
So, when this came along I thought, "Oh, that's how...just hold impromptu SOTUs whenever you feel like it...I get it." That and making a big production about signing legislation halfway across the country and of course the MSM would have their collectivist noses up his royal arse and cover it ad nauseum. Don't question, just film and hype.
I think that if it were President Jindal up there, things would be a hell of a lot better right now.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
I'm sure she previously commented
February 26, 2009 - 09:18 ET by katiejaneon Obama's gloom and doom speeches? The catrosphies, the end of the world concerns he was spouting before?
It certainly doesn't help
February 26, 2009 - 10:58 ET by fitzfongIt certainly doesn't help matters when you have PR drones like Dan Bartlett trotting out the latest cliches developed in opposition research focus groups. This lame "we'll work with the President", "let's not become the Party of 'no'" business simply trivializes the serious opposition to these viral policies. The job of the RNC is not to "nuance" or to "delicately balance" the Party's core priniciples with popular will...it's to stand in unbreakable opposition to this empty suit and his Marxist Congress while educating the imbeciles who voted for these clowns on why Obama must be stopped. If the RNC wants to keep giving up ground to the left-wing parasites, it will keep sending out insider flunkies like Dan Bartlett to express "nuance" and to show that the Party really stands for nothing. The Democrats won the last two elections with a partisan lunatic, Howard Dean, expressing nothing but anger and rage as the head of the DNC...it's about time we stopped highlighting polite schmoozers like Dan Bartlett and Mike Duncan, and started hitting them over the head with rhetorical 2x4s. It worked for the Democrats.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill