Research Briefing

Asked To Release Obama’s Debt Plan, White House Refuses

Click To Watch White House Press Corps Ask For Obama’s Plan

Fox News’ Ed Henry: “What was the point of giving a primetime address to the nation without an Obama plan and say, neither of these either plans could work. Where is the plan?”

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney: “I understand the idea that there is not an Obama plan is point number one on the talking points issued by the Republican party…”

Henry: “No, that’s not a talking point. No, show us the plan. It’s not a talking point, that’s unfair.”

…

NBC’s Chuck Todd: “Jay, why not release the last offer Boehner made to you? You said if you don’t want to release your own plan, release that plan. If that’s the deal, if that’s the last offer he made and you guys are willing to go back with a few minor tweaks, release it. It’s the last week, release it.”

…

Todd: “There’s still nothing out there, why not just release the plan?”

Carney: “Is it because you – you need something printed for you, you can’t write it down? There is ample detail…”

ABC’s Jake Tapper: “It’s not a plan. No, it’s not a plan. It was details of a plan but it wasn’t a plan the same way we’re getting a plan on the House side or the Senate side.”

Todd: “We don’t know what the Medicare thing is, we don’t know what the Social Security part of this is. There wasn’t…

Carney: “We talked in great detail about what’s in Medicare and you know…”

Todd: “Why not put it out there though? You guys went before the American people last night and I know you’re probably getting frustrated because we’re all asking a version of the same question but you went before the American people last night and said, ‘call your members of Congress and tell them we want a compromise.’ Well you had a plan that you were making the case for that sounded like a version of the compromise. Release it in public.”  

(White House Press Briefing, Washington, D.C., 7/26/11)