Pool reporter Margaret Talev of McClatchy Newspapers managed to snag some details from President Obama's closed meetings with Democrats Thursday night in Williamsburg, Va. Considering most pool reports stick to what is officially "pooled" to the press, this reporter deserves today's Poolitzer Prize for going one step further.
The pool report, edited only for clarity, follows.
Travel Pool Report #5 - some detail from closed press Q&A at Kingsmill Two Democratic sources in the Kingsmill ballroom for the Q & A (neither on WH staff) provided accounts to your pooler via email afterward on condition of anonymity with understanding they would be distributed via the pool report.As they described the session, at one point Rep. Jim Langevin of Rhode Island asked POTUS if he would lift President Bush's limits on federal stem cell research funding and POTUS said, "I guarantee you that we will sign an executive order for stem cells" but that he wants to work with the House and Senate to make the order solid. "God gave us (the) power to make smart decisions , to cure diseases, to alleviate suffering," POTUS said according to one of the two sources.
Obama also called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "a rock," which he also did in public remarks. He also praised Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and other leaders.
Rep. David Scott of Ga. Made a pitch for the president to continue funding the F-22 Raptor saying it could mean 50,000 jobs in his district. POTUS said he would make that decision with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and always consider how decisions affected security of nation.
He said he always would take into account local economies "but we also have to deal with the debt and it is unsustainable. We have to make tough decisions."
Rep. Dave Loebsack of Iowa asked POTUS for his thoughts on Afghanistan.
POTUS said his administration was "in the midst of a number of reviews" internally. He said military means alone wouldn't work, diplomatic efforts needed in Pakistan. POTUS got cheers when he said he was wary of mission creep without clear parameters and ... don't let it become a safe haven."
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