Video: Fox News picks up CBO-White House meeting story
posted at 11:36 am on July 22, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Fox News picks up on my story from yesterday, although they don’t credit Hot Air with it. Bill Hemmer and Megyn Kelly both raise eyebrows over the meeting between CBO director Douglas Elmendorf and President Barack Obama, and include the estimable John Fund of the Wall Street Journal in their debate. John questions whether Obama intended to intimidate Elmendorf, but there isn’t much difference between intimidating and overawing an independent voice in this debate. Click on the image to watch RCP’s video of the clip (via Yid with Lid):
Be sure to read my original post for the background, but Fund covers most of it pretty well. Fox talked with people in the Bush administration to find out whether Bush ever “ordered” a meeting with a CBO director, or held one at all, and they claim it never happened. As both Fund and I point out, the White House has its own budget office (the OMB), and its current director was Elmendorf’s direct predecessor (Peter Orszag). If Obama needed clarification of CBO’s analysis or processes, he could get them from Orszag. The only purpose Obama would have in meeting with Elmendorf would be to press him to bend his analysis more favorably towards ObamaCare — which is grossly inappropriate.
Fox says they will continue to update this story as they gather more reactions. Stay tuned.
Blowback
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Chicago style baby!
watson007 on July 22, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Thugocracy.
hollygolightly on July 22, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Love her new hairstyle. Hooo wee.
Yeah yeah, I’m focusing on the hotness. I’m a guy, sue me.
Bishop on July 22, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Here’s Elmendorf’s comments from his blog on the meeting.
JiangxiDad on July 22, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Well, Ed, let’s be fair, everyone knows that Fox Noise and right-wing extremist bloggers all work for that ongoing racistsexistbigotedhomophobic Rethuglican Conspiracy, so it all came from the same talking points!
/sarc
JamesLee on July 22, 2009 at 11:40 AM
BO is becoming the Extortion King of the World …… you can take a communiy organizer out of the community but you can’t get the organizer out of the thug.
David in ATL on July 22, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Tiger stripes. RRRrrroooowwwwrrrrr!
Jaibones on July 22, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Eyebrows aren’t the only things raising.
Good Lt on July 22, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Is it too early to start talking about criminal prosecution of the Obama administration after they are thrown out in 2012?
President Palin could say: “hey, I didn’t want to do it, but I inherited this banana republic”.
jeff_from_mpls on July 22, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Ed, pretty cool knowing that you can go to sleep at night that you are playing no small part in saving the USA from this pending disaster. THANKS!!!
WashJeff on July 22, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Good Lt on July 22, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Calm down/s
CWforFreedom on July 22, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Hey – I married, not dead :-)
Good Lt on July 22, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Think about football, Lt.
Jaibones on July 22, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Sorry they didn’t give you credit Ed but I noticed that it was part of the radio news broadcasts today. It is interesting how often news stories and HotAir seem to be in sync. Especially Fox.
Cindy Munford on July 22, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Ugh. Tights and sweaty dudez.
Thanks. I needed that.
Good Lt on July 22, 2009 at 11:44 AM
You mean, Barry “I’m the only one between you and the pitchforks” Hussein Soetoro?
The biggest question is what someone as mathematically illiterate and impenetrably stupid as Precedent “Profit and earnings ratio” Hussein would even spend time talking to the head of the CBO about, since it can’t include numbers of any sort? There’s nothing left of possible discussion except for threats and intimidation … unless The Precedent has reached the crying stage, already – which is certainly possible.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 11:44 AM
I agree. The direct contact itself with the Congressional Budget Office creates a bad impression. The media would have gone absolutely bananas if Bush or especially if Cheney had done something like this.
And why did he feel the need to do it himself? Why didn’t he just send a Congessional stooge to do it? I guess it still would have been inappropriate, but it wouldn’t have looked as bad for him.
forest on July 22, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Get off the computer Comrades. Nancy Pelosi is on the boob tube with her poor folks who are sick talking about how we need healthcare. This is truly pathetic.
Desperation is in full swing.
Knucklehead on July 22, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Thugocracy, thinks it can act like well, thugs.
We surround them.
Don’t let the watchdogs be taken down. They already put through this RATS crap to try and defang them.
tarpon on July 22, 2009 at 11:45 AM
It would be funny, as the blog entries are all posted in order, if the next blog entry was about how a re-calculation of the bill has occurred, and now the plan will not cost money, but will make billions for all the taxpayers. The three entries in a row would be crazy.
And by funny, of course, what I really mean is sad.
Ferris on July 22, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Of course, the setting of the conversation and the nature of the participants do not affect CBO’s analysis of health reform legislation.
This is from Elmendorf’s meeting. If the setting and nature of the participants have no effect on the CBO’s analysis, why bring it up?
fourdeucer on July 22, 2009 at 11:46 AM
WHEW!!
About time we got a Megyn Kelly update.
Come on Ed…
DamnYankee on July 22, 2009 at 11:47 AM
They really should have given HA a little credit. Have MM raise hell with them
kangjie on July 22, 2009 at 11:47 AM
“I’d like to see you in the Oval Office, it’s hard top say no”
No it isn’t.
Fletch54 on July 22, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Indeed.
And for the record, I am neither married nor dead.
NoFanofLibs on July 22, 2009 at 11:48 AM
I saw this live this morning. It’s great that Fox (and yes, Hot Air, although no doubt Fox has a bigger audience) are bringing this to the attention of the public.
OT (sort of), yes Megan did look good today, although she isn’t at the top my my Fox Hotties list. That would be the luscious Jamie Colby.
UltimateBob on July 22, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Yep, and I hold these stooges who are pushing their personal anecdotes as personally responsible for the disaster they are trying to bring to this nation. They are scumbags … and worse.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Can the IRS allow me to “bend my analysis” this year Mr. Obama?
Rovin on July 22, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Frankly, if the head of the CBO doesn’t know that he shouldn’t be going to personal meetings with the head of the Executive branch, then he really shouldn’t be head of the CBO. His impartiality is now in question and can never be regained. Elmendorf should resign, at this point.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 11:52 AM
She seems to become more and more stunningly beautiful each day
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Ugh, I just watched it for 10 seconds and that was enough for me.
I feel for some of those people, but am I supposed to give up control of medical services for my family because of it? Should I accept lower quality services for my toddler? I have already paid large sums of money for other people’s health care in the form of Medicaid and Medicare taxes, So I’m going to feel guilty about not paying even more for other people. Frankly, people who receive any kind of subsidized medical services should be thanking me instead of laying guilt trips.
forest on July 22, 2009 at 11:52 AM
I’m not sure I get Elmendorf. He seems to be a reliable lib-dem, and as Orszack’s ass’t in CBO during last two years Bush admin, routinely gave Rep’s hell for overspending and deficit worries. Guess he wasn’t able to go back on that given the vast increases in spending under O. He looks like a relatively young guy (late 30′s-early 40′s). Wonder where this pol. courage is coming from. Perhaps he’s a dork,and only sees #’s. That would be great. Maybe he didn’tt even understand when O threatened his first born son.
JiangxiDad on July 22, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Wasnt that a disgrace? How do we know these stories are true? Where are those from Canada or the UK to give the opposing side?
Piglosi used those folks and they let her.
becki51758 on July 22, 2009 at 11:52 AM
That’s Hemmer.
backwoods conservative on July 22, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Wouldn’t it be great if the meeting with Elmendorf gave Obama an exit stratedgy to back off his Obama care nightmare?
fourdeucer on July 22, 2009 at 11:53 AM
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 11:49 AM
yo dude
scumbag doesn’t even come close to a proper description
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Isn’t she pregnant? Maybe it’s the “glow”.
forest on July 22, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Whatever happened to “avoiding the appearance of impropriety?”
Kenosha Kid on July 22, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Palin/Kelly 2012
Jeff from WI on July 22, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Is she?? I was just commenting on how her shirts have been mysteriously tent-like to my boyfriend the other day! I heart some Megyn, especially when she gets mad.
hollygolightly on July 22, 2009 at 11:55 AM
“O-bam-a, O-bam-a, O-bam-a”
forest on July 22, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Mike Rogers for President
He’s on Fox right now.
faraway on July 22, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Megyn Kelly is one hot piece!
Ghoul aid on July 22, 2009 at 11:57 AM
The next morning Elmendorf woke up to find a John Kerry head under the covers of his bed.
He got the message!
red winger on July 22, 2009 at 11:57 AM
How about they show the people who don’t have jobs and all the heartache that entails! Since the federal government already fixed that to the tune of 800 billion dollars there should be lots of heartwarming stories.
Cindy Munford on July 22, 2009 at 11:58 AM
It’s all good.
Jaibones on July 22, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Intimidation? Would the thug from Chicago do that? Next thing you’ll be telling me is that he can’s Inspector Generals who don’t tow the line.
GarandFan on July 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
brb
BPD on July 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
forest on July 22, 2009 at 11:52 AM
People are the sums of their decisions.
I feel for people. I feel for people I’ve worked with at restaurants and in teh fishing industry who don’t have insurance
but I wonder: what could you have done differently?
It’s callous, I suppose, but I tend to think most people who are “down in their luck,” are less of unlucky and more of the product of their own life decisions
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
I know you enjoy women in pant suits but your lady Hillary isn’t that pretty at all.
Jeff from WI on July 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
If this meeting was on the up and up, why weren’t transcripts taken and released?
Thunderstorm129 on July 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Don Obama made him a offer he could not refuse .Unless you want a horses head in your bed.
thmcbb on July 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Chicago politics at its finest…”I’m not asking you to change your assessment; I just want to expand your horizons. I know people who know people; how’d you like to meet Jimmy Hoffa?”
Laura in Maryland on July 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Obama to CBO guy: Those aren’t the accounting numbers you’re looking for …
darwin on July 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
I couldn’t really tell how bad it was because……
Fox cut off the circus.
Yay.
Oh yeah, and Megyn is about 7 months pregnant.
Knucklehead on July 22, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Who knows? Maybe the guy had brass balls and told Obama to shove it and if he persists or retaliates he’s going public.
darwin on July 22, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Put Megyn on your Free Five list.
Monica on July 22, 2009 at 12:01 PM
I think people would also feel more charitable if government didn’t make it so hard for them in their own lives.
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 12:01 PM
On any other day, Megyn Kelly in that dress would have been the headline.
Alberta_Patriot on July 22, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Silly campers. What is this “separation of powers” you speak of? Just obey The One. So it is written, so it shall be.
Sugar Land on July 22, 2009 at 12:02 PM
And the MSM is all over this story…Elmendorf sleeps with the fish…
d1carter on July 22, 2009 at 12:02 PM
do as i say, not as i do!
SHARPTOOTH on July 22, 2009 at 12:02 PM
That’s for sure. I was trying to stick to a PG-rating … though it gets tough these days.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 12:03 PM
The only purpose? You arent thinking very hard if that’s the case.
Easily plausible scenario: Obama goes to Orszag and says “Hey, what’s up with the way the CBO scored this?” Orszag says “I dunno. We did it differently when I was in the CBO.” So Obama meets with Elmendorf to figure it out.
I mean, Obama is going to want to put forth a plan that the CBO scores well, right? So he may want to figure out what he needs to change to get it scored better.
Dont get me wrong: I’m not saying that’s what happened. I dont know. I’m just saying it’s plausible. For you to act as if there is no plausible alternative to “Obama lays down the hammerfist on Elmendorf” is silly.
I’m open-minded enough to say “Hey, it’s plausible that something inappropriate happened here. Let’s get more info.” It’s too bad Ed Morrissey is not open-minded enough to admit that it’s possible that nothing inappropriate happened.
orange on July 22, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Yep, sorry guys, she is pregnant.
forest on July 22, 2009 at 12:03 PM
I sympathize
usually only f words and their variants come to mind when I think about liberals.
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Coming from the same folks who fired Inspector General Walpin for being senile.
Yeah, I am sure it was benign.
Thunderstorm129 on July 22, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Elmendorf and Orszag worked very closely together for years at CBO.
JiangxiDad on July 22, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Bingo. A free society is more charitable and giving. People enslaved and dependent under the thumb of government tend to look out for number one first.
darwin on July 22, 2009 at 12:06 PM
I don’t care what John says,o is backed into a corner.Look at the fangs!!!!!
ohiobabe on July 22, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Beware of accountants with erasers…hope and change, no matter the costs!
rhbandsp on July 22, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I guess the plus side to this is Elmendorf has already released his report, so changing it now after talking with Obama is a death sentence, even in the MSM.
Thunderstorm129 on July 22, 2009 at 12:09 PM
agreed. I think Americans are extremely charitable. I think they like giving. I like giving when I am able to. I like giving to WHO I want
WHEN I want
However, the leftist views a person as inherently selfish. Therefore coercion must be introduced.
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Jamie Colby: Attending the University of Miami International School of Business at age 14, she received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting as well as her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law at age 22.[Class of 83]
Jamie was born in 1961! 48? Wow! She is luscious! I could definately see her and Megyn in a pillow fight!
She is married. Crap!
Mr_Magoo on July 22, 2009 at 12:11 PM
LOL. Precedent “profit and earnings ratio” is going to figure something out. That’s hysterical. Your moron Precedent couldn’t figure anything out, which is why he does nothing but try to threaten and intimidate people. If he ever had a clue, he would have a plan of his own that he sells to people, instead of his “do whatever Congress comes up with … or else!!”
Fudging? Your moron Precedent doesn’t have to talk to Elmendorf to find out what is costing so much in the CBO scoring. He has people whose job it is to do that, and, as I said, your moron Precedent is a mathematical illiterate.
ROFLMAO!!
The whole meeting was inappropriate. Period. But thanks for playing. Now, please, take that Indonesian traitor you voted for and leave my country. You people have done more than enough damage, already.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 12:11 PM
The last time Pelosi trotted out a sob story, she was horrified that the public picked apart an injured families decisions and didn’t fall all over each other to enact “health care reform”.
Her poster family was from Baltimore. The family had an accident in their very nice SUV; the teens were badly injured and need surgeries and rehab, and of course there was no insurance.
It turned out that the family lived in a very nice house in a fancy, gentrified part of the city that cost at least double what my modest house costs (even accounting for the slowing of the local real estate market). The dad was described as a self employed wood worker, but it turned out he was a boehemian wood sculpter who owns the large warehouse where he has his “studio” estimated at the time to be worth $180K. The mom worked part time as a secretary, and the kids attended a very expensive private school (with the help of some aid but still not a free ride).
I wasn’t the only one infuriated that these people lived the good life counting on hard working folks to pick up the tab when things went wrong. I don’t mind having a safety net for those who fall on hard times, but I’ll be darned if I’m going to work two jobs to subsidized some hippie’s hobby when he’s too lazy or to good to go get a real job.
Laura in Maryland on July 22, 2009 at 12:14 PM
I’m just waiting for Obama to send in Luca Brasi and Al Neri to take out Don Barzini, Moe Greene and the Tattaglia family.
Shock the Monkey on July 22, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Oops…s/b “too good”.
Laura in Maryland on July 22, 2009 at 12:17 PM
“Grossly inappropriate” hasn’t stopped Ogabe thus far. Why should it now?
SKYFOX on July 22, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Laura in Maryland on July 22, 2009 at 12:14 PM
I believe in a safety net
not a baby carriage.
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 12:18 PM
“You haf relatifs in ze old country?”
“Ve haf vays of making you talk ze vay ve vant.”
bradley11 on July 22, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Kind of like firing IG’s who are investigating a friend of yours?
MarkTheGreat on July 22, 2009 at 12:23 PM
I’m glad their story got picked apart, and I sure don’t feel bad for them. I guess they were the lowest class people Nancy’s circle of friends could locate or something.
They sound like trust fund baby boomers to me. They owned an expensive house, warehouse and SUV while working as a secretary and wood sculptor? And they didn’t even have inexpensive catastrophic insurance for the kids to pick up where the bodily injury auto policy left off? Or didn’t they even have proper auto insurance? Sound like the very last people I’d want to subsidize – totally irresponsible.
forest on July 22, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Orange. Jumpsuit.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 12:26 PM
I won’t have insurance in a few months.
I dint want uncle Sam giving me any
blatantblue on July 22, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Were any laws broken? Ethics violations? What was discussed? Was there a transcript of the meeting?
Clearly we need to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate this meeting. It’s not enough for impeachment yet (which won’t happen with Democrats in charge of Congress) but it will make a nice stocking stuffer to the federal indictment that is likely to come after the filthy liar is out of office.
highhopes on July 22, 2009 at 12:28 PM
I couldn’t hear the interview, since there are no speakers here at work. It IS good that Fox News is willing to bring this to the public’s attention, with the headline “Obama Ordered CBO Chief to WH”. That in itself is newsworthy–how can a President “order” someone who reports to Congress to meet with him? He could be “ordered” to meet Pelosi, or Reid, or Boehner or McConnell, or other Congressional leaders, but the President?
Exit question: Was Elmendorf “ordered” by Obama to cook the books?
Re the Fox Hotties: Megyn Kelly beats Jamie Colby hands down in the brains department. Which is what makes Megyn Kelly such a great interviewer–liberal liars dazzled by her beauty can get flustered by Kelly’s tough and smart no-nonsense questions, and embarrass themselves.
Steve Z on July 22, 2009 at 12:31 PM
It’s teh transparency.
pfamis on July 22, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Absolutely not.
It is routine for OMB/CBO staff, and the OMB/CBO directors, to discuss scoring differences and other issues.
Not only is the President’s budget director well informed as to the technicals of CBO scoring, he ran CBO until a few months ago, and worked with many of the staff who are producing these estimates.
In any case, CBO owes explanations for its scoring to the Congress, not to the President. The President is briefed on scoring issues by his budget director.
There are two possibilities for the content of the meeting. If it was a discussion of policy views (or of legislative strategy) CBO should not have been there. If it was a discussion of scorekeeping issues, the President should not have been there.
Chuckles3 on July 22, 2009 at 12:32 PM
The meeting itself is inappropriate. Period.
PackerBronco on July 22, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Obama still assumes that ~the power of his presence~ will get him anything he wants. Which is WHY he got the CBO into the Oval Office (and note the guy being emotionally affected, as in, exhilarated, by that), to ~show his presence~ to the guy.
In short, then, to intimidate, just as Ed’s suggested.
Lourdes on July 22, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Let’s leave aside the assets and the fact the kids were going to McDonough (or whatever private school they attended). The self-employed don’t get to opt out of responsibility for their health coverage simply because an employer isn’t picking up part of the tab. Health insurance is expensive but one of those things that needs to be budgeted into the equation before cars or tuition. It is simply irresponsible for the parents not to have health coverage for their family.
highhopes on July 22, 2009 at 12:36 PM
I can’t find the piece I originally read on this, but here is a bit more about it…
http://rightvoices.com/2007/10/16/schip-the-frost-family-the-wilkersons-olby-and-faiz/
Laura in Maryland on July 22, 2009 at 12:38 PM
We don’t know whether the meeting was “improper” unless we know what happened during the meeting. Based on the video clip you linked, Ed, it sounds like meetings between the President and the CBO Head are extremely rare–a fact pattern which raises suspicion in my mind.
Also intriguing is the CBO head’s background. He’s a Brookings guy. Here’s his Brookings bio with a link to the policy papers he published as a Brookings fellow: http://www.brookings.edu/experts/elmendorfd.aspx
Based on what I’ve quickly reviewed, this guy is almost certainly Democrat-leaning. If Obama has to pressure a liberal Brookings fellow to backtrack from a conclusion that ObamaCare sucks, what’s that telling you?
Outlander on July 22, 2009 at 12:38 PM
I’m in the camp who thinks some of the blame needs to be directed at Elmendorf. Given his position and the role of the CBO, he should have never attended a meeting at the White House to discuss the specifics of an issue.
highhopes on July 22, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Brian Kilmeade always wakes me up in the morning.
Wait, that didn’t sound quite right…
Nothing so wonderful as a cute Italian with a great sense of humor and a lot of energy.
Lourdes on July 22, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Absolutely. Elmendorf compromised his position and the CBO and should be forced to resign.
progressoverpeace on July 22, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Hasn’t ACORN been tasked with providing CBO estimates under the leadership of the new CBO czar yet?
Wine_N_Dine on July 22, 2009 at 12:45 PM
+10
Lourdes on July 22, 2009 at 12:45 PM
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