John Yang
From NBC’s John Yang
White House officials have just gotten their first look at the legislative language of the auto rescue legislation, and they don't like what they see.
Officials say it doesn't appear to be consistent with what, for them, is principle No. 1 -- that long-term financing only go to companies that can show long-term viability.
They are still talking to Congress to try to work things out.
They expect to have more to say after an expected Speaker Nancy Pelosi statement and news conference.
*** UPDATE *** To clarify, the Bush Administration's objection to the draft legislation is that they want it to include a requirement that the auto companies pay back the bridge loan immediately if they are unable to negotiate a "long term restructuring plan."
From NBC's John Yang
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino says it's "very likely" a deal can be reached today on short-term aid to the Big Three, even though the White House has yet to see any legislative language.
The key point from the current administration's point of view is the requirement for a "credible viability plan."
The administration wants to see the legislative language on an oversight board, but has proposed a similar body: a Financial Viability Advisor -- or "FSA" -- who would negotiate a viability plan with the automakers as a condition of getting long-term financing from the government.
In addition, the FSA would monitor the company's progress in restructuring. The FSA would have to power to demand immediate repayment of any federal loans.
From NBC's John Yang
This is the first time a U.S. President has called Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi, a man the United States once tried to topple and whom President Reagan called the "mad dog of the Middle East."
Here's a readout of the call, per Deputy White House Press Secretary Gordon Johndroe: "The President called Libyan leader Colonel Qadhafi to express his satisfaction that the claims settlement agreement was fully implemented on October 31. The two leaders discussed that this agreement should help to bring a painful chapter in the history between our two countries closer to closure."
More: "While we will always mourn the loss of life as a result of past terrorist activities, the settlement agreement is an important step in repairing the relationship between Libya and the United States. Libya has taken important steps on the road to normalizing its relations with the international community, beginning with its renunciation in 2003 of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. The United States will continue to work on the bilateral relationship with Libya, with the aim of establishing a dialogue that encompasses all subjects, including human rights, reform, and the fight against terrorism."
On a potential auto industry bailout, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, in her on-camera daily briefing, repeated the administration's desire to see the auto industry aid come from the $25 billion in loan guarantees in the energy bill, not the TARP. She said taxpayer money should only to go companies that "show viability and a willingness to make tough decisions to restructure themselves."
While Perino said the energy bill's loan program includes a definition of "viability," the legislation does not (checking to see if the Energy Department's loan regulations do). She said it's "too early to say" whether President Bush would veto legislation expanding the TARP to include auto companies.
From NBC's John Yang
The passage of the $700-billion financial bailout bill freed President Bush to leave town. During the market turmoil of the past two weeks and the bill's legislative limbo, Mr. Bush cancelled or postponed appearances at a number of fundraising events for Republican candidates.
About 20 minutes after signing the bill, he was on his way to a fundraising swing that will take him to Missouri and Texas. His first stop: a St. Louis fundraiser for Rep. Kenny Hulshof, who is running for governor -- and voted against the legislation. Twice.
From NBC's John Yang and Carrie Dann
If the House passes the financial rescue package this afternoon, the President is eager to sign it as soon as he can, even if it means that the bill will get a first-class airline ticket from Washington DC to Crawford, TX.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Tony Fratto told reporters during today's daily briefing that the White House and Congress will coordinate to ensure a quick signing. "We'd like to sign it as quickly as possible--as soon as they get it to us," he said. The bill could even be flown to Bush's Texas ranch for signature this weekend if necessary. (It could make it to the White House as early as this afternoon, but timing depends partly on how long the bill's "enrollment" takes -- the process by which Congress prints it on parchment and prepares it for signature.)
Asked about the "sweeteners" that the Senate added to the measure to grease its passage, Fratto said, "The entire package of [tax cut] extenders is something we're very, very comfortable supporting." While he said some of them make for "good headlines" for foes of bloated government spending, "when you look deeper at them, they make a lot of sense."
What would today's bill do for the larger economy, which has taken another body slam today with the news that September job cuts were the worst in five years? "No one should be overpromising what this bill will do," Fratto said. "It's not been sold as giving a boost to the economy--it's to avoid a crisis."
*** UPDATE **** NBC's Mike Viqueira reports that the bill, should it pass, will be enrolled and sent the White House this afternoon. (No frequent flier miles after all.)
From NBC's John Yang
"It was time," Missouri State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal said of her announcement today ending her status as an undeclared superdelegate by endorsing Obama. "We're done today."
Chappelle-Nadal, 33, who represents the St. Louis suburb of University City, said she decided to back Obama because of his strong showing among black and low-income voters in her district, which Obama won easily in the Feb. 5 Missouri primary. She said she made her decision after the outcome of Saturday's DNC Rules Committee meeting on the seating of the Michigan and Florida delegations. "It was as fair as you can get," she said. "Rules are rules."
In April, Chappelle-Nadal expressed some frustration with Obama for offering few specifics in his speeches. How did she overcome that concern?
"That's a good question," she said with a laugh. "One that I wish you hadn't asked."
Chappelle-Nadal went on to say that she's confident that if Obama is elected the "best and the brightest" policy experts would flock to Washington to staff his administration.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's John Yang
"I'm in turmoil."
That's how undeclared superdelegate Leila Medley of Missouri describes her state of mind today.
Medley, the political director for the Missouri NEA, reports increasing pressure from both the Obama and Clinton campaigns to decide today -- Obama so he can go over the top, Clinton so that he can't.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, an Obama supporter, has been urging her and the other three undeclared Missouri superdelegates-- Attorney General (and gubernatorial candidate) Jay Nixon, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and state party chairman John Temporiti -- to be part of the group that puts the Illinois senator over the top today.
The four are in close contact, have agreed to move together, and to not make any endorsements until at least Wednesday. "We're the holdouts," she said.
Medley reports that the volume of email from Clinton supporters from around the country accelerating this week. This morning, there are about 200 unread messages in he in-box -- and it's still coming.
What will Medley, a former Edwards supporter, do?
"I wish I knew," she said. "Here I am -- 71-years-old and this is the last time I'll be involved in this process to this extent -- and there's a woman on the ballot. And she's a viable candidate."
From NBC's John Yang
Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" this past Sunday, Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean told Tim Russert that he hoped his party's nomination fight would "be over by the end of the month of June." That would require most of the 288 uncommitted superdelegates to declare their support for either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.
So how does that sound to Leila Medley, the political director for the Missouri National Education Association and one of the superdelegates we profiled for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams"?
"He hasn't communicated with me," she says of Dean. "So, for now, I'm still doing my thing -- which is being uncommitted to the convention."
After the bruising Pennsylvania primary campaign, Medley, originally a John Edwards supporter, says the race is "more unpredictable now than a month ago." While still leading in pledged delegates, votes and states won, Obama is "sort of losing ground, it seems to me. He hasn't been able to close the deal."
The pressure from the campaigns and other rank-and-file Democrats has eased up a bit, Medley reports. She still gets letters and e-mails daily, but it's nothing like it once was. Nonetheless, it is wearying. "It seems like it ought to be over," she says with a sigh.
And she's been getting calls on behalf of Clinton from a fellow Missourian -- former House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt. Medley twice went to Iowa in support of Gephardt's presidential campaigns.
"Fortunately, I've been out of the office when he's called," she says.
And she hasn't called back.
From NBC's John Yang
Three weeks ago, we went to Missouri to meet two uncommitted superdelegates for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams": Leila Medley, the political director for the state's teachers union, and state Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal. At the time, both said they were dismayed that the race was getting more contentious the longer it went. And they both hoped Democratic voters would decide the nominee, not superdelegates such as themselves.
After Wednesday night's debate and days ahead of the Pennsylvania primary, we thought it was a good time to check back in.
Medley tried to watch the debate, but turned it off before it was over. "It was so contentious," she said. "I'm so worn out with all the arguing."
Chappelle-Nadal missed the debate because the legislature, now debating the state budget, was in session until about 1 a.m. Thursday. But she, too, laments that the campaign has been reduced to "bickering."
Medley fears it's hurting the Democrats' chance in November. "What we're doing is we're letting John McCain have a free ride," she said. "He's running a general-election campaign, and we're still fighting among ourselves. … They need to be more civil to each other. It's just gotten too contentious. Somebody has to step aside."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's John Yang
In her off-camera, on-the-record gaggle, White House Press Scretary Dana Perino denied that Admiral Fallon's departure indicated that the administration doesn't tolerate dissent. She called that "nonsense. The President welcome robust and healthy debate. ... The President is in no way asking that people not talk to the media," she said. (Save that last phrase for future reference.)
VIDEO: March 11: After being portrayed in Esquire magazine as "brazenly challenging" President Bush over a potential war with Iran, Adm. William Fallon said those words had become a distraction, forcing him to step aside as leader of Central Command. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
On the other hand, she noted that Fallon participated in a weekly secure videoteleconference with the president and had "ample opportunity" to express himself privately.
Perino also clearly indicated that Bush wanted Fallon gone, repeatedly saying that he had asked Gates to handle "this matter" within the Pentagon. "He asked Secretary Gates to handle this in the Pentagon and it was," she said.
Timeline: Defense Secretary Gates called National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley Tuesday morning to tell him that Fallon was going and Hadley informed Bush before the president left for Tennessee.
