Robert Gibbs Looks To Jon Stewart To Help Get 9/11 First Responders Bill Through

White House Looks to Jon Stewart in 9/11 Health Bill Bid
Because Jon Stewart is just so popular with the GOP(?!), the White House is taking the funnyman seriously when it comes to the proposed First Responders’ health measure. Not doing much to convince certain detractors that “The Daily Show” is in cahoots with the Obama administration, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs voiced his hope, during a press briefing Tuesday, that Jon Stewart would be able to rouse support among members of the Senate for a health measure designed t...

WHITE HOUSE SEEKS HELP FROM JON STEWART...
Yahoo! Buzz 'If there's the ability for that to sort of break through in our political environment, there's a good chance that he can help do that,' Robert Gibbs said in his briefing. Paging Jon Stewart: The White House needs your help. Robert Gibbs, President Obama’s Press Secretary, told reporters on Tuesday that he hopes the Comedy Central host can persuade enough Republican senators to vote for a 9/11 health bill so it can head to the president’s desk. “If there's the ab...

White House Lauds Jon Stewart for Pushing Passage of 9/11 Health Bill
Jon Stewart is seen onstage at Comedy Central's Night Of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Concert For Autism Education at the Beacon Theatre on October 2, 2010 in New York City. (Credit: Getty Images) During his press briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that comedian Jon Stewart may well have helped breathe new life into the prospects for passage of a Health Care bill for 9/11 First Responders. Stewart last week devoted a nine-minute segment of his Comed...

Jon Kyl Still Making Sorry Excuses for Not Supporting First Responders Bill
It looks like Shep Smith isn't the only person on Fox News that was shamed by Jon Stewart into getting a bit tougher on these Republicans for filibustering the First Responders bill. Chris Wallace brought up Stewart's interview with First Responders to Jon Kyl, and in response we just got more sorry excuses as to why he still would not support the bill. Last week, an incensed Jon Stewart invited 9/11 First Responders to The Daily Show to offer their thoughts on this callous behavior. “Disg...

White House praises Jon Stewart for plugging bill to help 9/11 responders
Source: The Hill White House praises Jon Stewart for plugging bill to help 9/11 responders By Jordan Fabian - 12/21/10 11:45 AM ET White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs praised television host Jon Stewart on Tuesday for talking about Legislation stalled in the Senate that would provide health benefits for 9/11 First Responders. "I think he has put the awareness around this legislation, and that's good," Gibbs said of the "Daily Show" host. During his press briefing, Gibbs said he hoped Stewa...

Democrats laud Jon Stewart for pushing 9/11 responders bill (The Ticket)
Could Jon Stewart be looking at a new career as a Lobbyist? Probably not, but the Comedy Central host is winning kudos from Washington Democrats for pushing a Sept. 11 First Responders bill on the "Daily Show." White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters Tuesday that he hopes Stewart can help Democrats win passage of the bill, which would offer Health Care compensation to responders and their families: I think if there's the ability for that to sort of break through in our politica...

Tom Coburn looks to block passage of health-care benefits for 9/11 First Responders
By Michael J.W. Stickings Full credit, or almost full credit, to Jon Stewart for raising awareness of the urgent health-care needs of 9/11 First Responders at a time when most in the media, and so many in Washington, couldn't be bothered, and for advocating swift passage of the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. As Slate's Chris Beam notes, examining Stewart's undesired role as partisan Political Activist, "[t]he bill wasn't as far from passage as it seemed -- Stewart just shined a ligh...

The 44th-and-a-Half President of the United States
The Rally to Restore Sanity to How We Treat 9/11 Responders: Paging Jon Stewart: The White House needs your help. Robert Gibbs, President Obama’s press secretary, told reporters on Tuesday that he hopes the Comedy Central host can persuade enough Republican senators to vote for a 9/11 health bill so it can head to the president’s desk. “If there's the ability for that to sort of break through in our political environment, there's a good chance that he can help...

Wednesday's live video events
President Obama will sign a historic piece of Legislation into law this morning, and CNN.com Live will carry the bill-signing ceremony when it happens. 9:15 am ET - Obama signs 'don't ask' Repeal into law - President Obama will sign the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Act of 2010 into law in a signing ceremony at the Department of the Interior. 9:30 am ET - Senate in session - The lame-duck session continues for the Senate today.  A final vote on the New ST...

Robert Gibbs Answers Your Questions with FIRE!
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs — who we saw earlier today making a personal appeal to Jon Stewart — is cuddly and would probably make a great snuggle partner in front of, say, a roaring fireplace. You could have Swiss Miss in mugs and wear matching Slankets as the snow fell outside and settled gently on the frozen ground. Perhaps a deer would pause outside your window, her breath crystallized in the air, and look in as you spooned with Gibbs and giggled over Jake Tapper&#...

Schumer: Obama Has 'Done Everything We Asked' On 9/11 Health Bill [Video]
There is at least one New York representative satisfied with President Obama's leadership on the 9/11 Health Care bill. "As for the president, he's done everything we've asked," Senator Chuck Schumer told Andrea Mitchell this morning in an appearance on Morning Joe. "I have no complaints about the president's role on this. He's had a lot on his plate, but on this issue, he has done what we have asked him to do." Schumer's comments come one day after Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney called on the ...

White House Praise for Jon Stewart on 9/11 Responders
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs today was asked about Jon Stewart's advocacy of the 9/11 First Responders Legislation, which has been blocked by congressional Republicans. Gibbs said, "I think if there’s the ability for that to sort of break through in our political environment, I think there’s a good chance that he can help do that.  I think he has put the awareness around this legislation -- he’s put that awareness into what you guys cover each day, and I th...

Congress Poised To Expedite 9/11 Responders Bill Over GOP Objections
After months of GOP obstruction, a bill to help 9/11 First Responders cover their mounting Health Care costs is expected to zip through Congress. In addition to being a feather in the cap of New York and New Jersey Democrats -- who have been pushing the bill for months -- it will likely enjoy the distinction of being the last legislative item to pass the unusually productive 111th Congress lame duck session. Republicans have blocked the bill in both the House and Senate over objections to its ...

Jon Stewart better advocate for Zadroga than Obama, says Rep., asking Pres to step up for 9/11 bill
As Ground Zero responders demanded the President push harder on the Zadroga health bill, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs seemed to pawn that job off on "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart. The pivot peeved 9/11 advocates. Stewart skewered the GOP for days on his show, devoting his Season Finale to the Zadroga bill last week - raising the bill's profile dramatically. Gibbs Tuesday had praise for the comedian's aggressive, forceful efforts. "I think he has put the awareness around this Legislation ...

Tuesday Open Thread
Joining in on Jon Stewart’s outrage over the failure of the 9/11 First Responders bill today was Fox News’ Shep Smith, who asked: “How do they sleep at night?” Stewart devoted his whole show last night to gravely attacking Senate Republicans for voting against the bill, which would provide Health Care to the First Responders on September 11. Shep was equally incensed: “Who’s going to hold these people’s feet to the fire? We’re able to put a 52-stor...

Rachel Maddow Hails Shep Smith Over 9/11 First Responders Bill (VIDEO)
You read this correctly -- on Tuesday night's episode of her show, Rachel Maddow reached across the aisle to praise Fox News host Shepard Smith. Smith has recently been criticizing Republican senators' efforts to block a Health Care bill for 9/11 First Responders. "All hail Shep Smith at Fox News...and I'm not kidding," Maddow said. "Because Fox News can get callbacks from Republican senators, Shep Smith making a hullabaloo on his show about the Republicans who are not supporting Health Care f...

Grassley still undecided on 9/11 first responders bill
While it’s important to provide assistance to 9/11 First Responders sickened by the toxic dust from the collapse of the World Trade Center, that assistance should not create another unsustainable entitlement program, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said Tuesday in a statement to The Iowa Independent. Legislation, known as the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, has been pending in the Senate for most of the year. It’s passage has been blocked by Republicans during the lame-duck sessio...

How Did Republicans End Up Against 9/11 Responders Bill?
With just hours left in the 111th Congress, Republican lawmakers find themselves the target of ire and scorn from the most unlikely of adversaries: the Firefighters and police officers who rushed into the burning towers on September 11 nearly a decade ago and worked at the site for months afterward. That predicament crystallized Tuesday when Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor during the 9/11 attacks, condemned Republicans as being on the wrong side of “Morality” and “obl...

Shepard Smith Unloads On Blockers Of 9/11 Responders Bill: 'How Do They Sleep At Night?' (VIDEO)
Shepard Smith excoriated the Senators who are holding up the so-called "Zadroga Bill" to assist 9/11 First Responders who suffer from medical problems as a result of their time at Ground Zero. The bill, which provides $7 billion for the responders, passed the House but is being held up by Republicans in the Senate. Speaking to Fox News colleague Chris Wallace on Friday, Smith asked, "How do they sleep at night after this vote on Ground Zero First Responders from 9/11? Are they going to get tha...

No Joke: Stewart's Barbs Got 9/11 Health Bill Moving
UPDATE: Despite growing support for the bill, there is no indication Tuesday night that Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla, is willing to allow the 9/11 First Responder's bill through the Senate. Read about his argument HERE . ORIGINAL POST: The White House said today that comedian Jon Stewart has “put the awareness” around the 9/11 Health Care responders Legislation, hoping that will lead to additional Republican votes for the bill. “If there's the ability for that to sort of bre...

Jon Kyl Still Making Sorry Excuses for Not Supporting First Responders Bill
It looks like Shep Smith isn't the only person on Fox News that was shamed by Jon Stewart into getting a bit tougher on these Republicans for filibustering the First Responders bill. Chris Wallace brought up Stewart's interview with First Responders to Jon Kyl, and in response we just got more sorry excuses as to why he still would not support the bill. Last week, an incensed Jon Stewart invited 9/11 First Responders to The Daily Show to offer their thoughts on this callous behavior. “Disg...

Shepard Smith attacks Tom Coburn for blocking 9/11 first responders bill
For the second day in a row now, Fox News' Shepard Smith used his 3 p.m. show to publicly shame specific Republicans for blocking passage of the bill that would fund healthcare for ailing 9/11 First Responders. Yesterday, Shep called out a dozen Senators who refused to come on his show and explain themselves. Today, Shep singled out Senator Tom Coburn, a conservative's conservative, who is at this point the last Republican still willing to publicly block the bill from coming to the floor. Repub...

Rachel Maddow: 'All Hail Shep Smith At Fox News' (VIDEO)
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow lauded Fox News host Shep Smith last night for his repeated walloping of Republicans for opposing the 9/11 First Responders bill. "Shep Smith making a hullabaloo on his show about the Republicans who are not supporting Health Care for 9/11 First Responders means that those Republicans might feel compelled to explain publicly why they don't support Health Care for 9/11 first responders." If you recall, Shep first said "it's disgusting" that the bill hasn't been able to pa...

Baghdad Bob Wants Comedian Jon Stewarts Help to Pass Legislation
inge on Do Dems Have GOP Votes Needed to Pass START Treaty? (Politico)- Paging Jon Stewart: The White House needs your help. Robert Gibbs, President Obama’s Press Secretary, told reporters on Tuesday that he hopes the Comedy Central host can persuade enough Republican senators to vote for a 9/11 health bill so it can head to the president’s desk. “If there’s the ability for that to sort of break through in our political environment, there’s a good chance that he can...

Shocker: Fox host calls out Republicans who blocked 9/11 responders bill
Stumble This! At least one Fox News host is willing to hold Republicans accountable for blocking a bill that would provide health benefits to 9/11 First Responders. FOX News' Shepard Smith called out Republicans by name Thursday, placing individual responsibility for their successful Filibuster of the bill but would not come on his show to talk about it. "We called a lot of Republicans today, who are in office at the moment," he said. "These are the one who told us no: Sens. Alexander, Barrasso...