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Gibbs: Obama had an 'extremely strong performance'

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    Presidential debate reaction from Obama senior campaign adviser

  • Duration 12:09
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Canada's Jason line took office the president -- was 18186.

Why has -- Because the economy was on the verge of collapse.

Because we're about to go through the worst recession since the Great Depression.

As a consequence.

Of some of the same policy as the governor -- enough about it.

Why -- -- lowering taxes on the middle class because under the last four years they've been buried.

And I want to help people the middle class and I will not.

I will not under any circumstances.

Produced -- share this being paid by the highest income taxpayers.

And I will not under any circumstances.

Increased taxes in the middle class.

I also believe it what he said we'll behind closed doors bit.

47%.

Of the country's considered themselves victims.

Who refused personal responsibility.

And think about who we was talking about.

Folks on Social Security who have worked all their lives.

Veterans -- sacrifice for this country.

Students pour out there -- him.

Hopefully advance their own dreams.

In the nature to campaign.

It seems that some campaigns are focused on attacking a person rather than prescribed in their own future and the things they'd like to do.

In the course of that I think the president's campaign has tried to characterize me as as -- -- thought it was very different who I am.

I care about a 100% of the American people I -- -- 100% of the American people have a bright and prosperous future.

And you saw 100% of the debate last night now with through some reaction we've got that senior campaign advisor Robert Gibbs during -- -- -- wanted to morning guys tell you know before the debates you guys both campaigns sign I'd.

Deal agreements like we'll do this in this amazing how many rules did both sides break you know with I think they're totally -- up this.

It's a large number you know it's.

I will say it's it's you know look whenever you you put two people running for office in a room full of undecided voters.

I think -- yeah you can see sometimes that clock in the background and you could -- counting down to zero and you knew that.

He knew that neither of them was gonna stop -- -- zero with undecided voters in the room so but I look -- -- -- I think.

I think it was -- an interest -- debate because again you've got these questions directly from undecided voters.

I look at I think the president had a an extremely strong performance thus we were all.

Enormously proud of them and we thought -- agreed to.

When it's obviously different person and he wasn't it first first -- so just on that come along instant would have been much improved I want to ask you about the most talked about.

Situation from last night was the one question on -- -- which by the way it was 48 hours old because.

Hillary Clinton had already said that she was responsible and then president said he was ultimately responsible asked as well.

But didn't actually answer the voter's question let's listen to it -- he.

We were sitting around talking about Libya.

And we were raining and became aware reports.

That the State Department.

Refused -- for security.

For embassy -- been Ghazi Libya prior -- attacks that killed four Americans.

Who was it that denied enhanced security.

And why.

So it wasn't didn't really answer that question Amsterdam's do you want -- answer for the American people to -- well look I do think the president answered because I think what the president said is the answer that question is exactly.

What we need to get.

To the bottom -- we need to understand exactly what happened that day.

We do need to understand the events that led up to it as the secretary talked about in Peru.

Those security requests come as they should into professionals that make those decisions at the State Department we have to figure out.

How do we prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again because we are going to as a country put people in harm's way in dangerous places of the world that we need.

Desperately to be diplomatically engaged it.

And look nobody wants to find out.

The answers to these questions more than President Obama secretary of state Clinton.

So -- we can talk correctly to the families of those that.

Tragically lost -- -- that.

Do you understand the people's frustration in trying to find out as you follow it maybe -- of course is always doing the -- -- One minute spontaneous act by protests ambassador rice saying that actually feel bad for you because you out into the question for the administration you know the security clearance to know.

I expect to see John Brennan out there I expect to see James -- out there.

Why weren't they have to yourself.

Look I got the intelligence he's like it's well look I know John -- -- John has been Libya since this happened.

I think that.

Every.

As we do in every terrorist and there we learn more about the intelligence leading up to it we learn more without getting specific.

About the events that surround it.

And look where there was ambassador rice -- others.

They were giving the American people the best information they had at that time that's what director clapper said.

We as we learn more.

We're gonna tell the American people exactly what we know and when we know it and I think again.

I think the bottom line is we've got to figure out exactly what happened we've got to make sure it never happens again.

I know that the president is committed to that -- know again that's exactly what the security understanding.

Could be mixed signals Robert when he went out to Los Vegas into Colorado and -- the city in the White House saying I'm not going anywhere.

So I get the answers about how will say this the president is the president regardless of where years at whatever -- The president has been.

As you heard last night and his answer engaged with the National Security Council as this was going on in Libya.

Engaged with the National Security Council people throughout government including the secretary I think it's our injuries at.

Think it's imagery realm of politics is all about imagery and going out campaign may -- wasn't the best decision.

Did you nice high five each other last night after Candy Crowley came out and -- what she said basically.

Supporting the president's.

On that he did call -- an act of terror on the second day after the attack when in fact the transcript shows he didn't specifically call Ben -- an act of terror when you guys really happy.

With which she had to.

Well I -- to to be clear he he he did he was in the rose garden and he talked about.

Acts of terror he's talking about what's happening in big guy and end of care if it it's clear what he said but it's clear that.

It's clear that that's what he's labeling it and it wasn't clear for 212 years after that he went on the view.

He went to the US had just -- -- if -- went on the Univision interview and continued to say he did not conduct terrorist attack -- but.

On two different occasions on the thirteenth the -- says I want people around the world to hear me.

To all those who would do us harm.

No act of terror we'll go and punished later on the thirteenth.

Yet no act of terror will dim the light of our values he goes on to talk about rightly so what we need to do is find out what happened find out.

Who caused this incident and hunt them down and that's what we're gonna do is a country.

And look I'll say this.

Many people said this ambassador stevens' own fathers of this.

We should figure out what happened and not make this a big political football -- in the should be something that.

That we figure out.

How to prevent this ever from happening again it it it shouldn't happen and -- -- -- and it did in four people died in absolutely.

And were murdered actually and on this program yesterday there there are -- there.

Lindsey Graham from South Carolina was on this program and he asked really good question I want to watch it interviewing him.

My question as.

Did anyone every informed the press in the United States.

About these terrorist attacks on our consulate.

What did he know when did he know it and what did he do about it.

And what he's talking about -- there were attacks on the consulate in April and June I think somebody -- a great big hole -- the wall in June.

The present -- -- should know about something like that.

Well again -- as Brian -- I don't I'm not in that White House anymore I don't sit -- is that you guys have talked about they're singing on as the person to respond to an extent that instead of the security club and understand I'd add it but I've read that happily mentally ready to admit that again I'm I don't sit in those meetings as Brian said.

I don't have the clearance to sit in.

Each of those meetings but.

I -- this that the president is.

Concerned about.

What is happening in Libya what is happening throughout the Middle East I think one of the things that didn't go as highly covered.

At some events in the Middle East is two days after -- this tragic incident.

In the people of Libya -- 30000 people in the streets.

Celebrating the life of ambassador.

And demanding -- the disbanding of these militias because.

We gave -- a unique opportunity in this part of the world and especially in places like Libya they've picked.

They've picked a moderate government they want to be -- democracy and we have to remain engaged not part of the world in setting up.

Not just the ballot box to help them become a democracy but all of the things that go with -- -- your -- Right with 320 embassies are attacked in the same day.

-- they'd get back it's overwhelmed.

And with four people -- you -- was 9/11 right Anna on nine elevenths and it just seemed as though the president did not even also elect to meet with those world leaders today after.

Where I would have told the leaders today and how -- you refused to let my Marines led -- protect my in the senate voted told the writers and right.

That did the president that we talked to you remember talked to the leader of Libya and talk to the leader of Egypt specifically to say you've got specific.

Blessed to Libya but -- -- specifically to Egypt and in reading the -- of that.

You have specific obligations and requirements.

To protect our personnel and protect our embassy protective -- bond and and what is important -- that is.

We have to do.

We have to do we need to do to protect those embassies we have to demand that those countries that have our embassies have wrecked -- relative missions that they are really doing what is required.

It is really leader could push the leader of Egypt to act to protect our embassy or that would have been run -- run I got a feeling you knew it but we're gonna restaurant -- occasion that little card your partner might not have -- at midnight there's a lot about a couple of them before you go hours -- estimate that.

I'm three hours' sleep today.

And it and as you prepare Carter Worthington coffee thank god on Monday it's going to be Boca what's the strategy.

Well look I think you'll see more of the -- it was interesting this is a debate.

The first debate almost exclusively on domestic policy this when you saw get more into foreign policy and then.

The Monday debate exclusively on foreign policy I think we'll have a chance and an opportunity to talk about.

Our promises in Iraq in that war to redouble our efforts in Afghanistan.

What we've done around the world to fight al-Qaeda and terrorism.

And look what we're doing to prevent Iran from obtaining -- nuclear weapon it in all the geopolitical things.

That are important in this campaign and I think it will be a tremendously important for the American people want -- what kind of President Obama we've seen Monday night and I think you're gonna see the Hofstra Barack Obama.

He was.

Forceful commanding engaged you know I thought it many times during the evening.

I thought Mitt Romney appeared to have.

Mitt Romney appeared to be debating Candy Crowley -- not really debating Barack Obama at the thought he looked a bit.

And even an unbalanced may be not really -- but you also thought he -- the whole first one and after President Obama did hit me you know.

Yeah.

I'm still amazed that but you know it was funny or Chris Wallace that's Paul Ryan.

You know can you walk us through the math of your tax -- And and Paul famously says you Chris we don't have time.

Mitt just short circuited the question was that you will have -- you really -- yeah well this and he's it that I didn't do -- It is yeah it's good to have him live on account all right -- yeah -- --

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