I am extraordinarily pleased and grateful to learn that the AARP and the American Medical Association...

The AARP knows this bill will make health care more affordable. They know it will make coverage more...

Instead, they're supporting reform because they've seen firsthand what's broken about our health care...

We are closer to passing this reform than ever before. And now that the doctors and medical professionals...

All right, now that the warmup band has finished playing. (Laughter.) Probably only get to say that...

What prompted the President to come out today and make that statement, which sounded pretty tough?

Can I ask a second question?

On Afghanistan. The U.N. is pulling people out or relocating them. The British are increasingly...

So you're hopeful that there will shortly be an election law?

What makes you hopeful?

A couple questions on the Middle East. Saudi Arabia says it's carried out heavy air strikes on rebels...

Okay. President -- Palestinian President Abbas has said he will not run for reelection in January....

And Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will be in Washington next week to speak to a conference. Will...

There's a conservative group running a TV ad -- the gist of it is -- the last line is if the government...

Well, the idea that you are -- you are pushing a public option, so even if we -- if we don't accept...

If you'd let me actually ask my --

Okay, well, I'll go on and ask the question I was going to ask, which is, are you guys concerned at...

I understand --

Well, forgetting for a moment the government takeover of health care rhetoric, the idea is there's...

Of course it's not true, but the idea that --

I am regretting the question as I say it. (Laughter.)

But my point is you guys are pushing a government-run health care plan. And if there are people out...

And our Capitol Hill correspondent Jon Karl wanted me to ask you if the administration had any reaction...

You're not even going to try to make it? (Laughter.)

What do you have against Jon Voight?

Off the record.

Robert, I want to follow up on --

Robert, I want to follow up on H1N1. A couple days ago I asked you whether or not the vaccine was...

Okay, important for the troops to get it, but are you concerned that children in America are not getting...

On health care, is the President going to specifically endorse the House bill when he goes behind...

Without getting into personalities, can't you comment on the demonstration on the Hill?

It was an absence of a line. What's an actual line?

Angelina Jolie?

Talking about Jon Voight with an H?

Isn't it legitimate for them just to demonstrate to say they don't like the approach the administration...

Is there an Afghanistan strategy meeting tomorrow or on Monday?

Thanks.

Robert, is this a case -- you guys just decided to use the bully pulpit to get the President...

Sometimes you guys just put out press releases. Instead you brought the President out --

On the -- you said -- so in response to this news -- going to swine flu, H1N1 -- in response to the...

-- so that, for instance, in this case, this is the New York Health Department that made this decision...

You have contacted them with a letter? Consult with a phone call?

You say it should. So basically Goldman Sachs should not have gotten any until the hospitals had...

Are you saying that they made the incorrect decision?

Was it prompted by Goldman Sachs

Was it prompted by Goldman Sachs getting the -- was this letter prompted by Goldman Sachs getting...

Jake --

Is there anything beyond sort of harshly worded letter, "You shouldn't do this" -- is there anything...

-- or should we just go into that New York public --

And following up on the Afghanistan question, is he -- it was strongly -- it seemed strongly implied...

Okay, so it's still -- that hasn't changed -- whether it's Friday, Monday or Tuesday, he's still going...

What kind of consultations or role did the White House play in the AARP or AMA endorsements?

Would you do that? And ahead of tomorrow's meeting, the House bill does cost more than the $900 billion...

I'm sorry, the net cost of health care coverage -- I mean, in the address he said he does not want...

And that would not.

But he also did say that the cost that needed to be offset shouldn't exceed $900 billion, right?

On Israel, Israel has apparently reportedly intercepted a ship of Iranian arms reportedly going to...

What's the meeting about between Geithner and the President this afternoon, do you know?

And the President met with business leaders from his Economic Recovery Advisory Board on Monday, and...

I think the President -- he did say over the next two to three weeks that Geithner and Summers would...

Robert, is it safe to assume that since you're going to double-check on the status of the Joint Chiefs...

It's appearing increasingly unlikely that it will. That's a safe assumption, correct?

Do you have any guidance to whether or not the country will know before Thanksgiving?

Back on H1N1, was it wrong for Wall Street firms to even request, and would the administration more...

And the word from the White House is if you're not on the list, don't ask. Is that correct?

Back to Gitmo, is it fair to say that the detainees are on a list of receiving it --

How concerned is the administration that Cash for Clunkers, in some respects, turned out to be a Cash...

So it's okay?

Robert, the President's trip to the Hill tomorrow -- what is his message, what is he trying to accomplish?

What will he be saying specifically? I mean, why is it important for him to go there tomorrow?

Is his visit a sign that he's concerned the votes aren't there?

One other thing. Senator Graham is pushing for a vote on an amendment either today or in the coming...

Okay.

So the President goes to the Hill tomorrow and he has these conversations with House members...

So he can understand if some Democrats vote against this bill? And will the White House give some...

Does that include or not include an explicit endorsement of the House bill?

So you don't know --

He just hasn't formulated a position yet?

What about on the Senate side? You said getting it done this year. Is the President disheartened...

He's meeting with the Hispanic Caucus today and there's talk on the Hill about whether or not the...

Is that what you've said in the past? You said he will not sign a bill that -- right?

So that's his position -- he will not sign a bill unless it includes that provision?

One other. Valerie Jarrett the other day was asked about the ongoing back-and-forth with Fox News....

She characterized your stance as --

Robert, you said you want -- you still want to get health care passed this year. Is there a deadline?...

If it slips into next year, does this become undoable because it's an election year?

Why isn't he setting it? He set a deadline earlier this year that he wanted things passed --

So that's the deadline -- December 31, 2009.

Eastern time? (Laughter.)

I have two quick questions, but first, can you confirm or deny that that was going to be a "Deliverance"...

My first question. You met with Fox News's Michael Clemente --

You met with Fox News's Michael Clemente recently, and since then it seems like the White House has...

And secondly --

Thanks. Governor Charlie Crist said today that he did not endorse the stimulus bill, and I'm just...

So you would say yes.

And can I also ask just one other thing about oysters? Senator Landrieu and -- oysters -- Senator...

You're from Alabama.

Do they tell you to clam up? (Laughter.)