JANUARY 5, 2010

EXTRACT: 09:43 TO 10:17

ROBERT GIBBS: Thank you all for coming. I have just a few housekeeping items, and then a major announcement. Today the president met with his national-security team and discussed the current situation in Yemen and Iran. Later this morning, he met with his economic-policy team to review measures necessary to stimulate the economy. Later today he’ll be on a conference call with members of the House and Senate to discuss pending health-care legislation.

Q: Will he be endorsing a health-care —

ROBERT GIBBS: If I could just finish, Major? Thanks. To continue, the president will speak to the nation tonight, addressing a whole range of topics. In a response to a constellation of issues that have arisen, he’ll be declaring an all-out assault by the federal government, equal in scope to Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, or our current War on Terror.

[NOISE] [CROSSTALK]

Q: What will this war be?

Q: Is this a war on —

Q: Wall Street?

Q: On what?

ROBERT GIBBS: Tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern time, President Obama will declare a War on Reality. He will call on all branches of government and volunteer organizations to stand together and fight against reality in all of its forms.

[noise] [crosstalk]

ROBERT GIBBS: Any questions?

Q: In light of this new War on Reality, is the president planning to make any changes in his anti-terrorism policy in the wake of the so-called UnderBomber and the lapses in security at Newark airport?

ROBERT GIBBS: Jake, I think this has been covered. But to reiterate: The system in place worked perfectly, except in the specific instance of a bomb-wielding passenger, previously known to us, boarding a transatlantic flight without luggage, paying cash for a one-way ticket, and attempting to murder several hundred persons.

Q: But isn’t that . . . ?

ROBERT GIBBS: I’ve answered this, Jake. Again, the system worked perfectly except in that one specific instance. But the system always had a policy of relying on a Dutch filmmaker to provide crucial third-tier fall-back support.

Q: Wait. What?

ROBERT GIBBS: Next question.

Q: Turning to the economy, it seems that the trillion-dollar stimulus package passed last year has been a failure. Even using your own White House yardstick of unemployment. Are you contemplating another stimulus?

ROBERT GIBBS: Yes. Of course. The president believes along with his economic team that another round of stimulus spending is crucial.

Q: But isn’t that just throwing good money after bad?

ROBERT GIBBS: No, Wendell, it’s not. As part of the president’s comprehensive War on Reality, our view is that the first stimulus package worked perfectly.

Q: But didn’t you say that about the TSA security measures?

ROBERT GIBBS: Yes. Those worked perfectly, too. I’m not saying that the first stimulus package worked as well as the airline screening process, but it’s hard to compare apples and oranges. Let’s just say that the president’s economic plan is giving the gang at Homeland Security a run for their money in the working-perfectly department.

[chuckles] [laughter]

ROBERT GIBBS: Next question. Chuck?

Q: Is the president at all worried about the polls that say that his popularity is plummeting?

ROBERT GIBBS: Glad you asked that, Chuck. Look, the president is engaged in long-term thinking and long-term leadership. He understands that polls go up and down. But he’s very cheered by the recent poll numbers, and is pleased that the American people approve of his efforts.

Q: Um . . .

ROBERT GIBBS: Wait. Wait. Think about it.

Q: Is this part of the War on Reality?

ROBERT GIBBS: Now you’re getting it! See if you can rephrase your question, Chuck.

Q: Um, okay. Is the president . . . happy . . . about his poll numbers, which are . . . awesome?

ROBERT GIBBS: The president is thrilled with his awesome poll numbers. Chip?

Q: This is fun! Is the president pleased with the nationwide outpouring of support for his health-care plan?

ROBERT GIBBS: Couldn’t be happier. Everything is working out perfectly.

Q: Hey! I’m getting the hang of this! Is the president overjoyed about the record personal bankruptcies, high unemployment, soaring deficits, looming debt crisis, collapsing dollar, and general tone of pessimism that’s out there?

ROBERT GIBBS: The president is pleased that things are unfolding as planned. The system is working.

Q: Coming off a series of personal triumphs — his well-earned Nobel Prize, the successful climate conference in Copenhagen, which did not in any way spiral down into chaotic nonsense, and his highly influential relationship with Russia — what does the president envision will be the high points of 2010?

ROBERT GIBBS: Well, the midterm elections, obviously. They’ll be a ringing endorsement of his policies. Victory in Afghanistan, naturally. The economic rebound. That sort of thing. Oh, and a big tax hike. It’s all going according to plan. The system is working.