GOP will nix bipartisan 'Gang of Six' debt proposal because Obama took credit for it, source says

[The Straight Story]

WASHINGTON - President Obama's embrace of a bipartisan breakthrough on contentious debt talks may have doomed the deal.

Obama went out of his way to hail a $4 trillion proposal unveiled Tuesday by a bipartisan "Gang of Six" senators, calling it "a very significant step" that mirrors the balanced, pain-for-all approach he has pressed in negotiations to raise the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling and curb runaway spending.

But a high-ranking Republican aide told Politico.com that Obama's cheerleading would immediately turn off conservatives in the Republican-controlled House.

"Background guidance: The President killed any chance of its success by 1) Embracing it. 2) Hailing the fact that it increases taxes. 3) Saying it mirrors his own plan," a GOP leadership aide e-mailed to Politico's Playbook.

Obama Thursday had crowed about the prospects of the "Gang of Six" deal crafted by Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin (Ill.), Kent Conrad (N.D.) and Mark Warner (Va.), and GOPers Tom Coburn (Okla.), Mike Crapo (Idaho) and Saxby Chmabliss (Ga.).



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/07/20/2011-07-20_gop_will_nix_bipartisan_gang_of_six_debt_proposal_because_obama_took_credit_for_.html#ixzz1SgFFgJW1

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. He should insist on eradicating SS, then.

:think:

[Drale]

2. I know many people believe he hates SS, which is complete bull,

but still it doesn't matter what he proposes, if Obama thought of it the Repukes will be against it.

[no limit]

8. Hate is a strong word. But it's not a matter of what people believe, its a matter of facts

He is embracing plans that will significantly cut social security and medicare. Whether you want to call that hate that is your personal choice. But the fact is he is out to cut these programs. And that should be unacceptable to any Democrat.

If Bush or John McCain had proposed the same things Obama has everyone here would be outraged. But since Obama did it many are fine with it all of the sudden.

[cliffordu]

14. Wrong , because he looks like the only adult in the fucking room. AGAIN!!!!

When are people here going to understand that he is working them to death?????

I fully expect Democaratic party supermajorities in both houses in '12

[Fearless]

18. He looks like a child giving into Republicans before even starting.

Why are social programs on the table anyways? BECAUSE HE PUT THEM THERE.

[cliffordu]

22. Fuck. The Repubs will not vote for this. He KNOWS whatever he

claims is his stance will be rejected by the R's.

He could offer to eliminate SS altogether and if the psychos in the R party thought he'd get credit for it they'd refuse it.

He's a politician. He is playing politics. He is kicking their asses, and people here are too thick to understand it.

But that's OK. We have to have a learning curve just like grade school.

[no limit]

19. Are you okay with cutting social security and medicare?

[cliffordu]

23. That isn't what's happening here.

Sorry you believe that's the case.


c

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

24. Bookmarking.

I suggest you bookmark as well.

One of us will be able to throw it in the other's face...soon.

Resolution! :think:


eta: Guesses won't do it any more.

[cliffordu]

28. It ain't about throwing anything in anyone's face, either....

It's about not being one of the Panic Peeps who believe every move at face value.

Or believe the fucking MSM

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

29. Which MSM?

One gets their information from someplace.

:think:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. Exactly!! Ever wonder Rachel Maddow seldom picks on the president these days?

It's because she FINALLY gets it. She has been focused on the strategy that the ReTHUGlicans have been employing now for two years. They set the stage with their ideas, but as soon as Obama and/or the Democrats embrace those same ideas and are willing to compromise, the ReThugs pull a "Charlie Brown-Lucy" trick!

The president is playing the Rethugs at their own game.

[pipi_k]

11. Hah...that's how I felt the whole 8 years

of Dubya

If he was for it, I was against it.

If he came out in support of oxygen, I would have been suspicious...

:7

[Drale]

16. I was not always against him

for instance I agree something needs to be done to improve our schools, of course I am 100% against the way he tried to do it, but the basic need was the same.

[Solomon]

27. I admit that I was against anything he said or did. Even if it

sounded good, I was too suspicious that he was pulling something nefarious.

Unfortunately, a lot of DUers are now this way about Obama.

[KewlKat]

3. Well if this story is true

I'm not surprised. The GOP is not about country, it's about self. I'm sure they wanted this to help propel other GOPers to victory in the next election. What a sorry state politics is in.......

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Then he needs to come out and announce he's changed his mind

after reading the details. He needs to say the whole thing sucks and it benefits Republicans way too much. In fact, his strategy from now own should be to come out in favor of things he wants the Republicans to vote against, and against those things he wants them to vote for. It's clear that all the GOPers are doing is opposing absolutely everything he wants to do, no matter what that might be. So I guess the only solution is reverse psychology, like you'd use with a two-year-old.

[CJCRANE]

7. Exactly - reverse psychology.

I used it on my dog once.

I was trying to get him to go to bed by pointing at it...but he refused to move, I could see him resisting.

So I quickly pointed in the opposite direction...and he ran straight into his bed!

[Doctor_J]

5. Sounds like they've left him an opening to take SS cuts back off the table

Something like: Well, it was my impression that we were dealing in good faith. That's now been proven false. I cannot negotiate with people whose agenda is malignant. Starting this moment, any deal that will be considered will have no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.

instead he'll probably curl up in a corner and think of more ways to make friends with the loony right.

[Me.]

6. Well That's The Only Good Thing They've Done

What's the WH thinking supporting a plan like this?

[digitaln3rd]

10. If anyone deserves credit

It's President Obama. If it wasn't for him trying to get people to work together, Congress would still be bitching and moaning like idiots.

[Renew Deal]

12. Obama is a genius!

:rofl:

[Fearless]

17. +1

[bigwillq]

13. It just proves

that Repukes are not serious about getting things done. They just want to play politics.

[applegrove]

15. They are so ****ed up.

[muriel_volestrangler]

20. This supports David Frum's theory that Obama is trying to goad Repubs into tearing themselves apart

via Balloon Juice:

Will Debt Crisis Wedge GOP Away From its Business Base?

Isn’t it conceivable that Obama’s real end-game in these budget talks is to destroy Republican presidential fundraising for 2012 by goading congressional Republicans in 2011 into appearing maximally reckless and irresponsible?

If so, you have to say: the plan’s working brilliantly.

http://www.frumforum.com/is-obama-intentionally-radicalizing-the-gop

[jtown1123]

26. How does that work exactly? All the newspaper headlines read, "Obama wants chained CPI"

"Obama wants to raise MEdicare Age"

"Obama Embraces Gang of Six"

That is what voters remember...not strange inscrutable mind games on the part of our president.

[mmonk]

21. It hurts their ability to call him a liberal or socialist and have it believed.

But it has worked in pushing the schism or division in the Democratic Party deeper.

[jtown1123]

25. Isn't this old news?

[spanone]

30. the President should go on national teevee and tell the republicans to go fuck themselves

fuck them

[LoZoccolo]

31. Chess!

:bounce:

Now they look bad an uncooperative, and have to do whatever Obama says.