White House shifts in unpredictable debt debate

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DEBT_SHOWDOWN_OBAMA_SHIFTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-07-23-03-46-00

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The roller-coaster debate over raising the nation's debt limit has forced the White House to explain away, brush aside or even ignore declarations by President Barack Obama and his top aides that no longer served much purpose in the unpredictable negotiations.

First, the White House wanted the debt ceiling vote separated from spending cuts. Now the administration likes them linked. Then, Obama adamantly vowed to reject any short-term deal to raise the borrowing limit. Now the White House says he could make an exception. And Obama pledged to meet with congressional leaders every day until a deal was reached. But the daily meetings stopped or at least disappeared from the president's schedule.

The White House shifts have been less a matter of flip-flops and more a case of unforeseen twists forcing the administration to reposition as the Aug. 2 deadline to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its financial obligations draws ever closer. Friday evening, after anticipation of a deal had built all week, things fell apart when House Speaker John Boehner abruptly broke off the talks.

The White House willingness to change course underscores efforts to cast Obama as a reasonable and flexible compromiser in the face of Republican intransigence.

[DCBob]

1. What Boener called "jello" is in reality being a reasonable flexible negotiator.

Something GOPers have no clue about. Their brains are simply not wired to negotiate and compromise. They see the whole world as black/white, right/wrong, good/bad. Nice if it was true.

[baldguy]

2. Riiiiiight - It's all Obama's fault.

Nothing about the Boner & the GOP leadership running scared because the Teabaggers & the extremists in their party keep moving the goalposts on them. "Obama is giving us $3 trillion? Go back and tell'em we want $6 trillion now. And Bo's first born son."

[mmonk]

3. The grand deal wasn't reasonable to me.

The fact the Republicans turned it down doesn't turn Obama into a reasonable steward of the people in my opinion.

[xchrom]

4. +1