Obama Delays Australia Tour
Obama Delays Australia Tour – THE White House is battling to play down speculation that Barack Obama may be forced to delay his visit to Indonesia and Australia next week because of the failure to meet his timetable on passing health legislation.
The US President’s spokesman, Robert Gibbs, has stressed over the past week that Mr Obama wanted a major health reform bill passed by March 18, the day he leaves for his Asia-Pacific visit. He is expected to arrive in Australia on March 22.
But Congress leaders from his Democratic party are struggling to muster enough votes in time for Mr Obama to make an on-time departure.
Mr Gibbs yesterday said the White House was happy to have the health bill passed in the House of Representatives “even if he’s already gone”.
But several times during yesterday’s daily briefing the White House press secretary was equivocal about whether or not Mr Obama’s trip would be delayed.
“I don’t have any updates for you right now on the trip, except to say the President is going on that trip,” Mr Gibbs said.
Mr Gibbs was responding to repeated questions about whether the President still planned to leave for his Asia-Pacific trip on time and whether there was a chance of delay.
Obama Delays Australia Tour
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