White House hails 'big win'

The White House on Friday hailed Congress's passage of an $858 billion tax deal as a huge victory for the president. 

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that the tax compromise approved by the House just before midnight Thursday is a "big win" for Obama, who will sign the legislation on Friday. 

"I think it was a big win for the president," said Gibbs, who claimed Obama "got more out of this than the other side wanted." 

The question of who got the better of the tax negotiations between Obama and Senate Republicans has split Washington. Rep. Anthony Weiner, a liberal New York Democrat critical of the plan, has said the GOP played better "poker" than Obama.

He said Republicans only wanted to extend tax cuts for the wealthy and an estate tax provision, and won both concessions from the White House.

Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer, however, has suggested that Obama bested Republicans on the deal by winning a one-year cut in the payroll tax for all workers that could act as a stimulus to the economy. Republicans also conceded to a 13-month extension of unemployment benefits. 

Gibbs on Friday framed the deal as a victory for the economy and Democrats. He dismissed Democratic anger over the agreement, noting that no Democrats came forward with a better plan that would have passed before the end of the year.

"Nobody has ever outlined for me or anybody else here what was the alternative path," Gibbs said.

A White House official said Obama was reading in the residence of the White House when he learned that the House had approved the tax package in a 277-148 vote.

The White House could be on the verge of other victories in the lame-duck session, Gibbs suggested. He noted that Democrats are "on the cusp of a pretty big victory with the repeal of 'Don't ask, don't tell.' "

The House has approved a standalone measure repealing the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, and the president appears to have the votes in the Senate necessary to end the Clinton-era law.

The Senate might also vote next week to ratify the New START arms treaty with Russia. 

Gibbs said he is too superstitious to say that "Don't ask, don't tell" and START are "in the bag," but he said the president is "cautiously optimistic" both will get done.

The prolonged lame-duck session is likely to delay the beginning of Obama's Hawaii vacation.

Obama was scheduled to leave for his native Hawaii on Saturday, but Gibbs said it looks more likely that the president will leave on Wednesday.

Still, Gibbs said, he could be wrong about the president's travel plans.

"I also said we'd get healthcare done in, like, August," Gibbs joked. "So take that with a box of salt."

This story was last updated at 12:56 p.m.

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