Virtually all schools in the Washington area are either closed or delayed today. The government, while open, implemented its "unscheduled leave" policy in case employees couldn't make it in. The area's roads and Metro traffic were unusually slow for a weekday morning. And the newscasts talked about all of it, over and over again. Yup, it's the winter's first snowfall -- and ice -- in D.C.
President Obama turned his Chicago-bred nose up at Washingtonians this morning, saying that this city shuts down at any sign of inclement weather. Pool reporter Jon Ward of the Washington Times captured his comments in Poolitzer Prize-worthy fashion.
His report, edited only for clarity, follows:
POTUS makes humorous remarks about the inability of D.C. schools and residents to "handle" wintry weather, says he is "confident" stimulus bill will pass.At 10:34 a.m., pool was ushered into the Roosevelt Room for what was expected to be simply a photo op. POTUS sat at the long wood table with 13 business leaders such as Google's Eric Schmidt and Jet Blue's David Barger (full list below). Behind POTUS: Browner, Rahm, Jarrett, Summers, in that order.
POTUS said he wanted to talk about something unrelated to the economy. "Can I make a comment unrelated to the economy" -- and launched into weather remarks (please check transcript): "My children's school was canceled today, because of what? Some ice," he said, and all at the table started laughing.
"As my children pointed out, in Chicago school is never canceled," he said, joking about how kids go out for recess on snow days. More laughter.
POTUS said he would have to instill "some flinty Chicago toughness" into Washingtonians.
"When it comes to the weather, folks in Washington don't seem to be able to handle things," POTUS said. Fighting words!
Pool then began to file out only to hear POTUS begin speaking in response to a question. He thanked leaders for coming and said they are "on the front lines" of the economy and have helped shape the stimulus.
"I'm confident we're going to get it passed," he said.
Attendees as released by the White House:
Steve Appleton, Chairman, President and CEO of Micron Technology; David Barger, CEO of Jet Blue; Greg Brown, President and Co-CEO of Motorola, Inc.; John Bryson, retired President and CEO of Edison International; David M. Cote, Chairman and CEO of Honeywell; Debra Lee, President and CEO of BET Holdings, Inc.; Anne Mulcahy, Chairman and CEO of Xerox; Sam Palmisano, Chairman, CEO and President of IBM; Antonio Perez, Chairman and CEO of Eastman Kodak Company; Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO of Google; Michael Splinter with Applied Materials; Wendell Weeks, Chairman and CEO of Corning Incorporated; and Ron Williams, CEO of Aetna.
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