[I had recently an opportunity to sit down with President Obama to discuss his first six weeks in office.]
“Mr. President, can you explain to me why you sat down with the anchors of the five major networks in one day but did not invite me to interview you?”
“Well, what was your name again?”
“That’s not important, sir. Please answer my question.”
“Our policy of change does not include making ourselves available to every person or organization. Look at my press conferences. I have a carefully scripted set of answers and I have enough trouble calling on specific reporters to make sure that I am only asked questions that I have prepared responses for. The logistics involved are staggering.”
“Let’s talk about the budget. The current Omnibus Spending Plan includes…”
“Look. That plan was from a previous administration. I’m looking forward, not to the past.”
“Huh. But the budget includes vast amounts of money for education, energy, and health care. Aren’t those your major initiatives?”
“Yes. The good things in the budget are mine. But those 8,500 earmarks are leftovers from another time. I wish they weren’t in there but what can you do?”
“You could comply with your oft repeated campaign pledge to get rid of earmarks by threatening to veto the bill unless they are removed.”
“That’s one approach but we need to focus on what we can do for the American people.”
“On your first day in office you signed numerous Executive Orders that rescinded or modified policies of the former administration. Couldn’t you apply a similar philosophy and force the Congress to remove the waste in the budget?”
“I’m not sure I’m getting through to you. The budget is old business. My administration is about spending vast sums of money that we don’t have on education, energy, and health care. That’s why we added almost a trillion dollars in spending without worrying about how we can pay for it.”
“But aren’t you proposing to raise taxes?”
“Only on the rich people. Ninety-five percent of Americans will see a tax cut.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that. But aren’t you, at the same time, increasing federal fees on fuel at a rate that will negate the tax benefits in your plan and, in fact, most folks will see an increase in their overall tax burden?”
“Well, sure. That’s because Americans need to learn how save on energy. We’re going to force them to do that by increasing fuel costs to run their cars and heat their homes.”
“Won’t that cause financial strain on most American families?”
“Of course. But they have a choice. They can reduce their reliance on foreign fuel or they can pay for the privilege of using it.”
“That seems pretty harsh. What if they need to drive to work or the weather is cold?”
“That’s why we’re increasing spending in education and health care.”
“Huh?”
“If people become more educated, they can get better jobs and afford houses closer to work. Their commutes will be cut saving them lots of money on gas. At the same time, we’re providing health care to address the projected increase in colds and flu for those disadvantaged folks who can’t afford to heat their homes.”
“I see. Let’s move on. Do you think it was wise to put Timothy Geithner in charge at the Treasury when he was the President of the New York Federal Reserve bank, failed to provide appropriate oversight on Wall Street and banks, and didn’t even bother to pay his taxes before you nominated him? Many experts tend to believe that Geithner was part of the problem to begin with.”
“Look. Tim is a really great guy. I know it doesn’t show when he testifies in front of Congress or speaks, but he’s really smart. He knows lots of things. Lots.”
“Does he know how to solve the economic crisis we’re facing as a nation?”
“I sure hope so.”
“Finally, Mr. President, can you explain how encouraging people to spend more money will fix the economy if the root of the current crisis is that Americans were living on credit and spending more than they made?”
“No. I sure can’t. Frankly, it doesn’t make much sense to me, either. But lots of smart people like Tim Geithner assure me that’s how it will work. That, and pumping billions and billions of dollars into Wall Street and banks. Listen, I have to run. I have to listen to Rush Limbaugh to find out if he says anything about me.”
“Thank you, Mr. President.”
