Communications

“The disaster in Haiti is the reason why Obama's event in Maryland was canceled,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs explained this morning.

And AP reported, “Obama adjusted his Wednesday schedule, canceling a jobs event in Maryland to better monitor the situation in Haiti.”

Except that Politico reports:

“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) are back in the Capitol for votes -- but they are scheduled to return to the White House immediately afterwards to continue their negotiations on health care.”

And-

“Key labor leaders are back at the White House this afternoon for negotiations on health care, according to two sources…Congressional leaders are also still at the White House, although they may not be sitting at the same table as the labor leaders.”