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December 7th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

Barack Obama ‘Meet the Press’ Video, Photos 12-7-08: David Gregory Moderator Announcement

Barack Obama on NBC Meet the Press December 7, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama was interviewed by Tom Brokaw on Meet the Press NBC on December 7, 2008 and NBC News chief White House correspondent, David Gregory, was announced as moderator, replacing the late Tim Russert.

The interview with Obama, taped in Chicago on December 6, covered a range of topics, including Obama’s proposed public works program which he outlined during his December 6, 2008 weekly address, the proposed bailout of U.S. auto industry, and various national security issues, including the withdrawal of troops in Iraq and how he will approach countries such as Iran and Russia.

Obama put the current economic crisis in its historic context, stressing, as he frequently does, that this crises does not equal the severity of the Great Depression during which unemployment rose to 25 to 30 percent. He said that the economic recovery plan must be equal to the task.

Barack Obama on NBC Meet the Press December 7, 2008

“We’ve got to provide a blood infusion right now, make sure that the patient is stabilized,” he said, adding that the budget deficit, by some estimates more than $1 trillion, would have to be put on the back burner “for now.”

“We’ve got to get the economy moving,” he said. [...]

In the near term, Obama said, the government will speed ahead with “shovel-ready projects,” saying it would get “the most bang for the buck” by “investing in the largest infrastructure programs,” such as roads and bridges already in the pipeline at the state level.

Such spending not only would be “an immediate stimulus,” he said, “because I think we can get a lot of work done fast,” but the projects would be “down payments on the kind of long-term sustainable growth that we need.”

Source: Obama warns economy will get even worse

Barack Obama on NBC Meet the Press December 7, 2008

Regarding the auto industry bailout, Obama emphasized the importance of preventing the industry from collapsing, but that assistance would require accountability. “What we have to do is to provide them with assistance but that assistance is conditioned on them making significant adjustments. They are going to have to restructure and all of their stakeholders are going to have to restructure,” he said. He also stressed that management must give up some of their perks and bonuses, in the spirit of “shared benefits and shared burdens.”

Barack Obama on NBC Meet the Press December 7, 2008

Obama also said that on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, he would make the announcement at a news conference that he will nominate retired General Eric K. Shinseki as secretary of veteran affairs; as such, he will head the Veterans Administration (VA), which is the second largest Federal agency. He will be the first Asian-American nominated to Obama’s cabinet.

This was Tom Brokaw’s last appearance as the interim moderator of NBC Meet the Press. At the conclusion of the program, NBC News chief White House correspondent, David Gregory, was announced as the replacement of the late Tim Russert, as moderator. (See: Video & Photos: Meet the Press Tribute to Tim Russert 6-15-08)

David Gregory, Meet the Press moderator, 2008

David Gregory

“I’m honored and deeply humbled as I take on this role,” said Gregory. “I’m filled with a great sense of purpose as I join a superb team to cover Washington and the world from a treasured platform in our country. Above all, I want to make Tim proud.”

Source: David Gregory to moderate ‘Meet the Press’

Tom Brokaw with David Gregory, Meet the Press moderator, 2008