Obama in the elephant's den

[Ursa Majoris]

This is kinda cool. Obama was invited to speak at the GOP annual policy retreat and accepted, much to their surprise, then said let's bring in the cameras. GOP agreed (not much choice) and Obama took full advantage.

 

Obama rumbles with House GOP

 

BALTIMORE — President Barack Obama on Friday accused Republicans of portraying health care reform as a "Bolshevik plot" and telling their constituents that he’s "doing all kinds of crazy stuff that's going to destroy America."

 

Speaking to House Republicans at their annual policy retreat here, Obama said that over-the-top GOP attacks on him and his agenda have made it virtually impossible for Republicans to address the nation’s problems in a bipartisan way.

 

“What happens is that you guys don’t have a lot of room to negotiate with me,” Obama said, silencing the smattering of Republicans who had applauded when he said “Bolshevik plot.” "The fact of the matter is, many of you, if you voted with the administration on something, are politically vulnerable with your own base, with your own party because what you've been telling your constituents is, ‘This guy's doing all kinds of crazy stuff that's going to destroy America.' ''

 

Obama’s comments came in the midst of an extraordinary back-and-forth with Republican House members – a scene straight out of the House of Commons that played out live on cable TV.

 

Republicans invited Obama to appear at their annual conference; the president surprised them by accepting – and then by asking that cameras and reporters be allowed into the room.

 

Republicans immediately agreed to the request, but they may be regretting it now.

 

Obama was clearly energized by the exchange – and again and again, he turned the Republicans questions against the GOP, accusing the party of obstructing legislation for political purposes and offering solutions that won’t work.

 

"I've read your legislation. I take a look at this stuff. And the good ideas we take," Obama said. "It can't be all or nothing, one way or the other … If we put together a stimulus package in which a third of it is tax cuts that normally you guys would support, and support for states and the unemployed and helping people stay on COBRA, that certainly your governors would support … and maybe there are some things in there, with respect to infrastructure, that you don't like … If there's uniform opposition because the Republican caucus doesn't get 100 percent or 80 percent of what you want, then it's going to be difficult to get a deal done, because that's not how democracy works."

 

After Obama made opening remarks, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) asked him whether he’d embrace “across the board” tax cuts as a way to revive the economy, and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) asked him to support a line-item veto to help achieve a balanced budget.

 

Obama pushed back backed hard, accusing Republicans of putting party before principle and voting against his 2009 stimulus plan but then attending “ribbon cuttings” for stimulus projects in their own districts.

 

If Republicans believe in both across-the-board tax cuts and a balanced budget, Obama said he’d like to see their math.

 

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) began the session by handing Obama a stack of Republican alternatives to his policies. The president then began speaking in a conciliatory tonetelling the Republicans that he expects them to challenge his ideas – and that he understands that there are sometimes fundamental policy differences between the parties.

 

"Having differences of opinion, having a real debate about matters of domestic policy and national security, that's something that's not only good for our country, it's absolutely essential,” he said.

 

But he also criticized the Republicans for reflexively opposing his policies – even when, he said, they were in line with GOP principles. And the encounter got progressively more raucous from there

 

Obama urged Republicans to come to the table and work with him on policy compromises, saying Americans "didn't send us to Washington to fight each other in some political steel cage match."

 

What voters don’t want, he said, is "for Washington to continue being so Washington-like."

 

The president asked the Republicans to support his proposal to provide small businesses with a $500 tax credit for each new employee they add — an idea Republicans panned before he even made the offer. He also asked them to support his plan to freeze non-military discretionary spending for three years.

 

"Join me," Obama asked. "Nothing in this proposal that runs contrary to the ideological predisposition of this caucus."

 

"We have seen some party-line votes that have been disappointing," he said, recalling the stimulus fight. "I didn't understand then, and I still don't understand, why we got opposition in this caucus for almost $300 billion in badly needed tax cuts for the American people" and other assistance and infrastructure projects.

 

Obama jabbed: "Let's face it, some of you have been at the ribbon-cuttings for some of these important projects in your communities."

 

Continuing on a confrontational tack, Obama defended key components of his agenda, including the proposed fee on bailed-out banks – telling Boehner: "If you listen to the American people, John, they’ll tell you they want their money back."

 

At the end of his remarks – before taking questions – Obama told Republicans it's time to make a choice between aiming for "success at the polls" or "lasting success" for the country. "Just think about it for a while," he said. "We don't have to put it up for a vote today."

 

Freshman Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) went after the president harder, accusing him of breaking promising about transparency, lobbyists and partisanship.

 

“I can look you in the eye and tell you we have not been obstructionists,” he said.

 

Obama acknowleged that Chaffetz had a “legitimate complaint” about not putting health care negotiations on C-SPAN – as the president had vowed they would be – but he also asked Chaffetz what he was doing within his own caucus to make sure that Republicans were working with him in bipartisan way.

 

Mid-way through the questions and answers, Pence said that there would be just a few more questions.

 

Obama said he wasn’t in any hurry to leave.

[dmarc117]

This is kinda cool. Obama was invited to speak at the GOP annual policy retreat and accepted, much to their surprise, then said let's bring in the cameras. GOP agreed (not much choice) and Obama took full advantage.

 

 

all for show

[evil_gop_liars]

"A den of stinking evil. Cover your nose Boo."

[bpwallace49]

That was great . . . . Obama is starting to lead. Now lets see if the right can put the country ahead of their own narrow interests.

[Perchoutofwater]

The height of arrogance. Obama once again looks like a spoiled child. The GOP offers him this olive branch and he hits them over the head with it. That is real conducive to bipartisanship.

[bushwacked]

We are all really shocked you see it this way Perch.

[billay]

Awesome

[billay]

The height of arrogance. Obama once again looks like a spoiled child. The GOP offers him this olive branch and he hits them over the head with it. That is real conducive to bipartisanship.

Methinks thou dost give the GOP too much credit.

[evil_gop_liars]

The height of arrogance. Obama once again looks like a spoiled child. The GOP offers him this olive branch and he hits them over the head with it. That is real conducive to bipartisanship.

 

:chuckle:

[Ursa Majoris]

The height of arrogance. Obama once again looks like a spoiled child. The GOP offers him this olive branch and he hits them over the head with it. That is real conducive to bipartisanship.

 

They didn't expect him to accept at all and certainly didn't want him to.

 

The article brings up an interesting point - the GOP have stuffed so much "socialist mooslim commie death panel America-wrecker" tripe down their base's neck (Perch) and worked them into such hysteria, the GOP are now almost trapped. They can't work with him even if they want to because their base will hate them for it and they can't say No to everything otherwise they'll be in the position of saying No to things they want, which will make them look stupid.

Edited January 29, 2010 by Ursa Majoris

[muck]

I think Obama has several good points here.

 

Hopefully this will re-engage some bi-partisanship on a variety of topics.

[Duchess Jack]

"A den of stinking evil. Cover your nose Boo."

[driveby]

I think Obama has several good points here.

 

Hopefully this will re-engage some bi-partisanship on a variety of topics.

Bi-partisanship: When Republicans adopt Democratic positions. See John McCain.

[polksalet]

I'll bet hanging out with all of those idots was like pulling q-tip duty in a clap ward.

 

Im speaking of the attendants not being idiots. The most illiterate person there what probably the wisest.

[yo mama]

Bi-partisanship: When Republicans adopt Democratic positions. See John McCain.

Please. We offered you bi-partisan death panels. But nothing is ever good enough for you Republicans unless it comes out of the mouth of a California movie star. (NTTAWWT)

Edited January 29, 2010 by yo mama

[evil_gop_liars]

Tweet

[CaP'N GRuNGe]

Finally, the man stands up. Please don't stop.

[gbpfan1231]

Nothing in that article mentions when Obama was asked about across the board tax cuts he said . Billionaires don't need tax cuts.

 

So people who work hard for what they make should pay more than someone else and when other people get a tax cut these people don't get it because they don't need it.

 

Be fair and give all the same.

[Big John]

"A den of stinking evil. Cover your nose Boo."

That would be Irish Doggy.

[pig devilz]

Excellent! Thanks for posting this.

 

Obama touched on this stuff in his State of The Union the other night.

He will continue to bring the Repubs behavior out into the light of day.

 

This Repub stalemate 'strategy' will fail and they will have nobody to blame but themselves.

Obama will not back down and he shouldn't because he is right.

 

The Repubs are acting like a bunch of spoiled little brats ( but it's bordering on hatred)

and it's a disgrace to the democratic system. In reality, they are running scared!

Taking a bully tactic. swinging at Obama and the Dems, but missing and punching the people right in the nose.

 

They will pay for it. Mark my word. Obama will not take the fall for their bs....

[Ursa Majoris]

Nothing in that article mentions when Obama was asked about across the board tax cuts he said . Billionaires don't need tax cuts.

 

So people who work hard for what they make should pay more than someone else and when other people get a tax cut these people don't get it because they don't need it.

 

Be fair and give all the same.

Are you a billionaire? If so, any chance of a handout through next payday?

[Savage Beatings]

I heard him say "I am not an ideologue... I'm not."

[HowboutthemCowboys]

The height of arrogance. Obama once again looks like a spoiled child. The GOP offers him this olive branch and he hits them over the head with it. That is real conducive to bipartisanship.

Are you for real? Look, I won't pretend to know as much about politics as you, but explain to me, what part of the points he seemed to make to these guys today were incorrect?

 

Obama pushed back backed hard, accusing Republicans of putting party before principle and voting against his 2009 stimulus plan but then attending “ribbon cuttings” for stimulus projects in their own districts.

 

the bolded point made me lol. Are you saying that this is'nt true?

[evil_gop_liars]

Look, I won't pretend to know as much about politics as you,

 

I think you're good to go.

[whomper]

I think you're good to go.