Hotline After Dark -- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's meeting with the heads of top credit card companies.

In addition to the ongoing debate on torture, much of last night's TV focused on Obama approaching his 100th day in office. There was also talk of the credit card meeting, with many nets showing pictures of NEC Chair Lawrence Summers nodding off during Obama's remarks to the execs.

CNN's Dobbs: "President Obama today had some tough words for the credit card industry, amid rising concern about high interest rates and excessive fees. In a meeting, at the White House, President Obama demanded a law to provide what he called strong and reliable protections for credit cardholders. Missing from that meeting, Vice President Joe Biden, who is a close ally of the credit card industry and as a senator helped write the bankruptcy law of 2005, making it more difficult for consumers to erase their debts."

Dobbs, on Summers: "It is not the first time Summers has been caught napping at a public event at the White House. He dozed off during a fiscal responsibility summit meeting some two months ago" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 4/23).

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), on whether he agrees with what Obama said to the companies: "Certainly his language. He didn't get involved in endorsing particular provisions, but I enjoyed hearing him say no more of this any time, any reason clause, which is used far too often to have rate increases go into effect. And certainly these late fees, or fees that are unfair, that are being imposed on consumers" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 4/23).

More after the jump, including interviews with House Min. Whip Eric Cantor and the Bushes.

(KATHERINE LEHR)

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), on how Obama's remarks about the companies will effect the Credit Card Bill of Rights: "The president, with the momentum he's putting behind this effort, I think the vote is going to be even stronger. He showed he's not afraid of anyone. He stood up to the credit card issuers, the special interests, and said we need to put these changes in, and I applaud him" ("Ed Show," MSNBC, 4/23).

FNC's Cameron: "The administration had been downplaying the significance of the 100-day threshold saying it's sort of artificial and arbitrary in the first place. But the administration also today announced that the president will have a primetime news conference next Wednesday, 100 days into his administration. Apparently it's just a coincidence" ("Special Report," 4/23).

Time's Klein, on his assertion that Obama's first 100 days have been the best since FDR: "First of all, we have to establish that 100 days is really a kind of flimsy journalistic conceit. Most presidents don't even have a coherent first 100 days. Very few have. Roosevelt certainly did because he turned around the policies of the Hoover administration. ... But Obama has not only turned around the policies of the Bush administration on the domestic side, he's dealing with a financial crisis, the most serious since the Great Depression, but unlike Roosevelt, he's also had to turn around the policies in foreign policy" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 4/23).

GETTING SCHOOLED

Cantor was in the "Situation Room" to discuss his meeting with Obama and other congr. leaders.

Cantor: "The bipartisan, bicameral leadership went to the White House, and we had a very frank discussion. We really did. And we talked about sort of what to expect in the next five weeks ... and perhaps some of the progress that we can make together."

CNN's Blitzer: "Is there going to be any cooperation on some of these fundamental economic-related issues? Because, as you know, not one member of the House on the Republican side voted with the president on the economic stimulus package."

Cantor: "Well, in fact, we had that very discussion, and the president and I talked about what happened and what broke down on the stimulus. And he knows as well as many that we do have a plan for getting jobs created again in this country. We did present a plan. ... But I think we agreed that perhaps because things broke down there, that maybe we should look for new ways of doing things."

Cantor, giving examples of how the parties can work together: "The president started the week with a meeting of his cabinet, and he suggested to the cabinet secretaries that they find $100 million in savings. ... We have plenty of ideas of how to cut waste in Washington. ... Beyond that, we had a lot of discussion at this meeting on health care. Obviously, this is the marquee on what the president has set out as his primary domestic agenda item. And, you know, it is such a big issue. It is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. This is an issue that affects all people."

Cantor, asked to grade Obama on his first 100 days in office: "Well, listen, I think the grade is directly related to the results. And they results, frankly, are not that great."

Blitzer: "I hear maybe a C or a D. What grade am I hearing?"

Cantor: "I think it's for the American people to grade all of us. And I think that they're looking at how we have worked to change the way Washington functions. This president was elected on change and to bring about a new way of doing business. I don't think that that has translated to work on the ground here on Capitol Hill" (CNN, 4/23).

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

And more of FNC's Van Susteren's interview with ex-FLOTUS Barbara Bush and George H.W. Bush aired on "On the Record."

Van Susteren: "One of your sons has moved home, sort of, to the state."

B. Bush: "That's right. And we're thrilled to have George and Laura home. ... They're keeping out of the public eye, and they're not ever going to criticize the president. And they're just going to get on with their life."

B. Bush, asked if's tough for her when her son gets criticized: "I know it goes with the business, but it kills me. ... The national press just isn't crazy about Bushes or Republicans. And that's OK, too, because I think the public like us, so that's OK."

Van Susteren: "Do you pay attention to it? Do you read it?"

B. Bush: "I do. George does, every word, moaning and groaning. ... They're not rough on me. They're very nice to me. But I mean, sort of a fat, old lady is OK. ... By not writing about the good things that Laura did, that makes me feel sad. Or Nancy Reagan, or Betty Ford. They didn't really write about the good things they did."

Van Susteren: "How about Secretary [Hillary] Clinton?"

B. Bush: "I think she had some tough times. ... They weren't very nice to her, certainly. Maureen Dowd wasn't very nice to her."

G. Bush, asked if he's happy to have his son home: "Oh, yeah. I'm glad to have him out of that rat race. I mean, eight years, two terms as governor here, two terms as president. Glad to have him back in the family and back in private life, and back where he can be with his friends without every move being talked about in one way or another. And he's not bitter."

More G. Bush: "We're very proud of him. And I think history is going to be very good to George. ... Some of the perceptions when he left office will change dramatically, as those perceptions have changed of many of his predecessors."

Van Susteren: "Is it harder for you to have him criticized as president than you as president?"

G. Bush: "Yeah. It is harder. ... He's my son, and part of our flesh and blood. ... You get used to it yourself, just as he got used to the criticism himself. But when it's your family, it's very different."

Van Susteren: "How about you, Mrs. Bush? You've got a double. You've got a husband and a son."

B. Bush: "Much harder the son. ... And I think he was criticized more, if that could be possible, than you were even. Although the 5,500 or 50,000 body bags were a little depressing. But it was harder for the son" (FNC, 4/23).