Chat Details

TWT White House correspondent Christina Bellantoni 01-19-09

This chat will begin at noon on Monday, January 19, 2009.

Read the transcript of the live chat with Christina Bellantoni, a White House correspondent for The Washington Times, who took questions on Monday, Jan. 19.

Transcript

1. • Christina Bellantoni, a White House correspondent for The Washington Times, joins www.WashingtonTimes.com for a live chat. Good afternoon, Christina. Thanks for chatting with us on this day before the Inauguration. by Jeffrey Lea
   • Answer: Thanks for hosting me for my first online chat, and what a time to debut! Washington seems to be enjoying its week in the spotlight. by Christina Bellantoni
2. • Regarding the nomination of former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as the secretary of agriculture: Do you think that Vilsack was a good pick for this position, given that he's from an agriculture-based state and thus would be likely to continue to support agriculture subsidies, whether this is in the interest of the broader economic and business climate? Especially regarding ethanol, which we subsidize in the United States despite the availability of cheeper sugar-cane ethanol from countries such as Brazil. by Albuquerque, NM
   • Answer: I wish I knew more about agricultural policy to better answer this question. One thing I'd say is that many groups are hoping nutrition in schools gets worked into the Department of Agriculture, and Vilsack as governor recognized that challenge and how it is linked to childhood diseases and childhood obesity. As for ethanol, Obama has signaled he will continue to support subsidies, and I would not be surprised to see him visit Brazil to talk about their sugar-cane success. by Christina Bellantoni
3. • Any indication when the new president will tackle the war "issue" as promised during the campaign and all but forgotten in this economy? by St. Louis, MO
   • Answer: This is a great question, and as our White House bureau chief noted in his chat last week (http://www.washingtontimes.com/livechat/2009/jan/12/twt-white-house-bureau-chief-stephen-dinan/), it took more than a dozen questions before any reporters asked about Iraq at Obama news conferences after he won the election. There are a few elements to consider here. My sense is that Obama will live up to his campaign promise that he will immediately convene his team and give them a new mission to begin the withdrawal of troops. Many of those preparations have been ongoing at the Pentagon as Defense Secretary Robert Gates prepares to stay on and implement that new mission. But it's hard to know beyond that how soon troops would come home from Iraq or how many will remain there protecting the embassies, etc. Also worth noting, Obama believes the war in Afghanistan needs an influx of troops, and so many military families may not get that relief they have been seeking as troops are redeployed to that country, where the situation has deteriorated over the last year. Another element will be war funding. The Democratic Congress, since taking power in 2007, has fought with President Bush often over the "emergency" war spending bills, and President Obama will have to confront this issue in the spring. You may recall that Obama voted against funding unless it was tied to withdrawal, while Joe Biden, his new vice president, said he could not vote against troop funding even though he also wants to see the war ended. There are many antiwar Democrats who will refuse to fund the war, and I would expect to see some battles between the Dennis Kucinich-Maxine Waters wing of the party and the new White House. by Christina Bellantoni
4. • How do you approach covering a Democratic administration? Do you worry that the newspaper, with its right-of-center editorial page, may get the cold shoulder from the Obama White House? by Washington DC
   • Answer: The same way I would approach covering a Republican administration -- holding the president accountable, giving readers truthful and detailed stories about President Obama's policies and uncovering the results of those policies. Some of the best stories I've written have generated heated response from both sides of the political spectrum, and I tend to think that means I've done something right. My philosophy is to avoid getting caught in the echo chamber that can be the Washington chattering class and instead really tell the story of the president as his decisions affect the country. How do families feel about his economic plan? What projects should be included in infrastructure investments and why? Will people be able to afford health care? Is it possible to break through partisanship and get things done? I also will try to duplicate some of what I did from the campaign trail on my blog -- http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/bellantoni/ -- taking readers along with me on the journey using video, audio and photos. Finally, no, I am not concerned about any cold shoulder. I expect the Obama team will push back against stories that don't flatter the president, whether they are written by this newspaper or others, but I also expect they will recognize the good journalism our team will continue to put out. The incoming administration knows that, like all newspapers, our editorial pages are separate from our news coverage. As one of the local papers in town, we always have a special relationship with the White House, and our coverage will include that local flavor as Obama becomes a part of Washington. An example of that can be found on today's front page -- the President-elect penned an essay exclusively for us titled "Unite with one heart and one mind." You can read it here: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/18/barack-obama-essay-martin-luther-king-day/ by Christina Bellantoni
5. • So much has been made about so-called universal health care for all Americans. What would an Obama administration do to ensure that the insurance companies uphold their end of the bargain and actually cover the patients' medical bills and make the process red-tape free and easier for all Americans to understand. by Cleveland, OH
   • Answer: Excellent question. Health care was a major campaign issue and is key to helping businesses small and large during the economic recession. The transition team over at Change.gov has been posting some details about what they'd like to see, and many of my health care sources hope Obama lives up to his promise of broadcasting any negotiations on health care on C-Span. One reason the health care efforts stalled under President Clinton was they were large and convoluted, so the simpler the new administration can explain the plan, the easier it will be for them to build public support. That's one reason Obama is keeping a grass-roots element alive across the country, to build support for this agenda and his other plans. One under-covered element of health care is how much work Congress has done in the last year in hopes they were preparing to serve with a Democratic administration. They laid the ground work for electronic medical records, and the president-elect has said he will sign the children's health care measure they passed that President Bush vetoed last year. Health care is also something that Sen. Kennedy, a key Obama ally, would like to be his legacy, and I know that everyone takes reform quite seriously. My guess is that it will happen bit by bit, and perhaps toward the end of Obama's first term. by Christina Bellantoni
7. • The previous administration consistently proposed to eliminate funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which funds career and technical education programs in high schools and community and technical colleges across the country. What would be Obama’s funding priorities in education and would Perkins be included? by Alexandria, VA
   • Answer: Thank you for a host of questions on this topic. I am not entirely clear on Obama's position on this act, but he has long said that technical education programs are very important. He has said that such programs should be encouraged and funded to build a strong workforce and to give young people opportunity. The Mark Warner model in Virginia of helping students without interest in four-year colleges get into programs that can help train them for good-paying, skilled jobs such as HVAC or mechanics may be what Obama pursues. On the primary education front, I also have written a bit about how Obama has not signaled exactly how he will deal with No Child Left Behind. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/17/obama-chooses-education-reformer-duncan/ by Christina Bellantoni
9. • Career and technical education programs are focused on high-skill, high-wage, high-demand jobs, especially in the development of the alternative energy industry and the jobs that are necessary to make these industries thrive. What focus will the Obama administration have in supporting “green” jobs? by Alexandria, VA
   • Answer: "Green" jobs will definitely be an element of the Obama economic plan, from getting people trained to switch out lightbulbs and weatherize homes to helping alternative energy companies. Just Friday, Obama was at a wind turbine parts manufacturer in Ohio to tout the idea. Here's my story on that visit: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/17/obama-pitches-green-job-plan/ On another note, many other groups are getting in on the act as they see "green" businesses as a potential for profit and to help with climate change problems. Tonight I am attending the Green Ball, hosted by former Vice President Al Gore, where "green" jobs and a new "green" economy will be a major focus. by Christina Bellantoni
10. • A lot of times I get the feeling that it is a big honor if the president calls on a reporter to take his or her question. It almost seems as if it is determined "off line." Do reporters have to do favors or be in good favor to be called on in a press conference? by San Jose California
    • Answer: During this transition period, Obama has indeed been given a list of questioners to call on ahead of time by his press staff. It is unclear the method used to select the questioner, as the list sometimes sticks to tradition with wire services, networks and the like, but sometimes strays. But it is clear that the list is not just folks that are in "good favor," and Obama actually has publicly scolded some questioners for asking things he doesn't like, such as Peter Baker from the New York Times asking about past criticism of Hillary Clinton. The White House traditionally uses a more standard order. As you can see at the link below, I've written quite a bit about the record number of press conferences he held as president-elect, and I imagine he will continue to "meet the press" more often than President Bush did during his first year in office. http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/bellantoni/2008/Dec/17/obama-has-taken-48-questions/ by Christina Bellantoni
11. • Hi, Christina. How much say does Obama actually have in the Inauguration Day festivities. Could he, if he chose, decide to have a small swearing-in and spare taxpayers the expense of such an over-the-top event? Or is this simply one of those things that has taken on a life of its own over the years? by Crofton, MD
    • Answer: I don't know for sure how much of the massive, multiple-day celebration is Obama's exact vision, but you can bet that if the president-elect wanted a small ceremony with no pomp, he would get it. It's an expensive event for sure, the concert on the Mall no exception, but on the other hand, the visitors are helping stimulate Washington's economy. It's an opportunity for the people who worked so hard to see him win -- many who were not happy about the past eight years -- to celebrate that work. That's why you hear him speaking so often about it being the most "open and inclusive" inauguration, and why the inaugural committee has made a point to include groups from across the country in each element of the festivities. They also are strongly promoting the neighborhood balls through the use of technology. by Christina Bellantoni
12. • With global warming setting in and the increased probability of natural disasters, as we have already seen in hurricane-afflicted states, how is the Obama administration going to help keep communities safe and help communities rebuild in the aftermath? by Arcata, CA
    • Answer: I think you will see a lot of action in this area on a few levels. Incoming Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will oversee FEMA as well at the local response teams for weather-related events. As a governor she was especially critical of the Katrina response, but she also comes from the perspective of seeing local response suffering because the National Guard has been stretched so thin. Also, Obama as a senator tried to get the Red Cross and faith organizations to cooperate for Katrina relief, and my sources tell me you may see him encourage such partnerships during the new administration. by Christina Bellantoni
16. • Christina, would you please give our readers an idea of what today and tomorrow will be like for you in terms of things you'll be covering? by Jeffrey Lea
    • Answer: It's quite busy as we witness the nation's peaceful transfer of power. The Washington Times today is in the Obama travel pool while the president-elect participates in his national day of service and before he hits the special bipartisan dinners honoring John McCain, Colin Powell and Joe Biden. Yesterday I covered the Inaugural Concert (my story here: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/18/obama-builds-on-kings-dream/) as visitors arrived in the city for the festivities. Tomorrow we will have the entire Washington Times team on hand to cover the inauguration, parade and the balls. Beyond that, our White House team of Bureau Chief Stephen Dinan, Jon Ward and myself will get to work immediately covering the new administration. Barack Obama is expected to make some moves quickly, and his press secretary, Robert Gibbs, will hold his first briefing tomorrow afternoon. Also, readers can check our Inauguration Blog frequently over the next few days to get the latest. http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/inauguration-blog/ by Christina Bellantoni
19. • What do you think will be the biggest difference between the Bush and Obama administrations? by washington,dc
    • Answer: I do think there will be many differences that you will see immediately. Foreign policy might be one that you see right away -- a symbolic draw down of some troops. You also will see Mr. Obama sign things such as the Lily Ledbetter equal pay act and the children's health care measure I mentioned earlier. You also may see the Guantanamo Bay closure. And I'm guessing there will be some quick action on the environment. An Obama source of mine recently praised the changes in the Bush faith office, and I think you may see some similarities as Obama expands his faith outreach. by Christina Bellantoni
20. • Will Obama roll back the gains the Bush administration made in executive power, or will he keep that power? by New York, NY
    • Answer: This is an excellent question, and one that I would very much like to know the answer to. President-elect Barack Obama has not yet been asked if he would roll back the Bush levels of executive power. He often campaigned against some of the power grabs seen by this administration, but Vice President Cheney has been on the TV circuit lately saying that the incoming president was likely to understand and appreciate the Bush administration's decisions more once he is sworn in. One thing voters often said they liked about Obama during the campaign was his appreciation for and understanding of the Constitution, which clearly lays out the three branches of government. Some liberal bloggers praised the transition team early on for laying out the government structure with the Constitution sitting atop everything, and the legislative, judicial and executive branches below it. Time will tell. by Christina Bellantoni
21. • Christina, you mentioned earlier that The Washington Times is included today in the pool of reporters covering Mr. Obama. Would you please tell us a little about how the pool works? by Jeffrey Lea
    • Answer: It's a long explanation, which I attempted to do for an interview with Citizen Jane Politics last month. You can see the video of my interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xiw5fRb1ZdU by Christina Bellantoni
22. • It was reported that Obama's senior staff would go the White House right after he is sworn in. What do you think they will get to work on so quickly? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: The transition team is hinting he may sign some executive orders, and as I mentioned earlier, he will convene security team to talk about Iraq and challenges. You'll also see the first press briefing by Robert Gibbs. It's going to be a whirlwind of activity, and the Cabinet will be confirmed pretty quickly. by Christina Bellantoni
23. • What do you expect a typical workday will be like for you, starting on Wednesday? by Washington, DC
    • Answer: For the first month for sure, our White House team is likely to be working very long hours and weekends. It's unclear how soon the president-elect will travel, and how often, but our team will probably be along for many of his trips so that will keep us busy. It hopefully will normalize a bit with a regular press briefing, and our team will be on a rotation with one person updating news on the Web site as often as possible and the others working on enterprise. Also, the president-elect has been known to keep late hours, so it won't be too surprising for us to be seen in the White House late. by Christina Bellantoni
24. • Christinia, we're coming to the end of our chat. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule on this day before Inauguration Day to be with us. Have you any last words for our readers? by Jeffrey Lea
    • Answer: Thank you. This was fun, and our readers challenged me on policy, which I am excited to cover. Please mark Feb. 23 on your calendar, when I'll be back for my next online chat. I'd also be humbled if you'd bookmark my blog and check back frequently: http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/bellantoni/ Have a great day. by Christina Bellantoni