Obama's Stunt More Political, Than Substantive

Anyone buying today's event as meant to move Obama's agenda forward with more bi-partisanship, as opposed to the political event it was meant to be is kidding himself. Enter David Plouffe just in time for 2010 and away we go. Obama the constant campaigner was simply on the stump, again.

Now that we're headed into an election season, Obama would like everyone to forget all of the Democrats who characterized health care reform as just the first step - as a way to open the door to single payer? What is that if not plotting a government takeover of health care?

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."

It isn't as if the Democrats and Obama aren't still on the hook to their far Left base, despite most of their plans already being too far Left for America, is it?

“What happens is that you guys don’t have a lot of room to negotiate with me,” Obama said. "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.'

Nonsense, no sooner does Plouffe enter the WH than it stages an event that was far more political, than it was legislative, in intent. And the media buys it hook, line and sinker. Where's the news in that?

Again and again, Obama turned the Republicans questions against them — accusing them of obstructing legislation for political purposes and offering solutions that won’t work.

Comments

[section9]

Speaking of con men.

Who was the Republican who agreed to let the cameras in so Obama could stage this media event? Hmm?

Oh, that's right. The same guys who sent all that money to Dede!

[Jeff]

It doesn't matter how good Obama looked today. All he did was accuse the GOP of not supporting his policies. The same policies that are polling in the 30's. He didn't give any new reasons to like his approach, not one.

Lets not forget that the Obama greatest hits from the '08 campaign that got him elected are the same things that he is being hit over the head with today. He is his own worst enemy. Or should I say his mouth is.

Is there an Independent voter in America that will decide that ObamaCare makes sense after seeing the Won's performance with the GOP today ? His words don't match his deeds even at the event itself. When Obana says he wants bi-partisanship and Pelosi kneecaps the GOP, everyone thinks Obama is not living up to his words. He can claim that he doesn't control Pelosi til the cows come home but that is not how Americans see it.

I say get him in front of more cameras. Everytime he makes a firm statement he can be held to task later when Pelosi or Reid or Rahm or Axelrod doesn't follow thru on it.

His policies poll in the 30's, lets let him keep defending them until November.

[Al in St. Lou]

This is why I read the Riehl World View. I get news and analysis quicker than anywhere else. I wouldn't have put it together so quickly, but I agree after reading Dan's post, this was just a campaign stop for our campaigner-in-chief. I think he's gonna be screwed in the '10 and '12 elections because, unlike Bill Clinton during his presidency, no one is fooled by Obama anymore. He's not a centrist, and we all know it.

[Reagan]

The problem is the GOP have no solutions but the hackneyed talking points they have been using since the 80s. You may not like it but he has to call them out on it.

[KingShamus]

I say get him in front of more cameras. Everytime he makes a firm statement he can be held to task later when Pelosi or Reid or Rahm or Axelrod doesn't follow thru on it.

His policies poll in the 30's, lets let him keep defending them until November. Posted by: Jeff

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Bingo.

This guy can't help but put his foot into his mouth 24/7. The more cameras, the better.

[O!]

"The problem is the GOP have no solutions but the hackneyed talking points they have been using since the 80s. You may not like it but he has to call them out on it."

My favorite part of Obama's little lecture was when he noted all the suggestions, contributions, and alternatives that the Republicans had offered for every legislative issue considered over the past year.

Without realizing it, he completely demolished the bullshit "Party of No" meme that the Democrats and Journolist bots had spent the entire past year trying to build.

Some of the stupider trolls (e.g. Reagan at 6:51pm) haven't realized this yet.

[Jeff]

what Reagan and his ilke resume to understand is that its is the Democrats policies that are the old stale ideas.

So Reagan, how does it feel to have been conned in '08 ?

What stage of denial are you in ?

I have to assume you mean the Republicans are trying to enact the same ideas that President Reagan had ? If so I'll take those over Saul Alinsky ...

[rrpjr]

The event today certainly clarified one point: the GOP still haven't a clue how to handle a leftist and are simply praying that this one continues to unravel according to his own overreach.

Not very encouraging.

[Gary Maxwell]

This may be contrarian at this point but I think this will be viewed from a longer lens as being a rope a dope that worked brilliantly. " I am not an ideologue" will be a sound bite that plays over and over. Yes you are, and the American people know it. Did it do Dick Nixon any good to proclaim " I am not a crook." ? Same result here.

[Ellie Light]

This is too funny. The GOP was made to look like fools today. Not only did the teleprompter meme get destroyed, but they were called out on the lies, and asked to support policies that were first brought forward by Republicans, like tax cuts for small businesses, and many of the elements of HCR.

Spin away idiots, but your supposed shining stars on display today came across as amateurs. Then they rushed the stage for autographs, looking like starstuck imbeciles.

[AZ Cojones]

Once again the spineless laden Republicans show off their dereliction of duty to their constituents. It was nice to have a touchy feely session with President Ice Cream. The Man Child Narcissistic President was able to keep the spineless laden Republicans off kilter. I agree with some of the respondents above. Let's keep the President talking and encourage him to hold a SOTU on a bi-weekly or monthly schedule. This way, we can really review how much he claims to have accomplished and what the true results show. The more he speaks, the worse he gets.

[in_awe]

Nice to see that NBC will be pre-empting prime time shows tonight to "dissect" this session and tell us what it all meant. That'll inconvenience about 10 or 12 people...

[Andrew_M_Garland]

Re: Ellie Light above,

"tax cuts for small businesses"

Obama offers no tax cuts, only small tax bribes, $5,000 per extra worker hired. This is far too small to encourage small businesses to expand. Businesses are not afraid of hiring people as such, they are afraid of expansion into the environment to come of huge debt, inflation, and higher tax rates.

Ironically, Obama's offer convinces business to NOT expand, because it shows how ignorant Obama is about how business and the economy works. Still, Obama will claim that he "cut business taxes", and they still didn't hire, so the only thing left is to force them in some way.

"many of the elements of HCR"

That is easy to toss off. Exactly what elements of the current health care "reform" are Republican proposals?

[D. Aristophanes]

I say get him in front of more cameras. Everytime he makes a firm statement he can be held to task later when Pelosi or Reid or Rahm or Axelrod doesn't follow thru on it.

Hell yeah! I'm an unabashed Obama supporter and I agree with you completely. This isn't about the cult of Obama or whatever else ... it's about getting good ideas and good policy to the forefront.

Let's do this.

[D. Carney]

I second that emotion D. Aristophanes!

"The whole thing basically went like [this]: Republican asks obnoxious question rooted in Glenn Beck-ian talking points; Obama swats it away, makes the questioner look silly, and then smiles at the end. It got so bad, in fact, that Fox News cut away from the event before it was over. Democratic operatives around Washington watching it had pretty much the same reaction: "Where the hell has this guy been?" One source said GOP aides probably wished they'd spoken to John McCain "about what happened to him in the presidential debates" before they broadcast the event. "It's quite a show," a White House official said, apparently going for the same deadpan tone the president was." -Mike Madden

[D. Carney]

One more quote - this one from Ezra Klein - priceless:

"Yesterday, I interviewed David Axelrod and was struck by his inability to explain how the White House would highlight the the difference between disagreement and obstruction. Today's session, if it becomes a regular event rather than a one-off, provided part of the answer. He'll debate them directly. But that may be tough to do. Republicans are already spreading the word that they made a mistake allowing cameras into the event. Apparently, transparency sounds better in press releases than it does in practice."

P.S. This seems like a very quiet comments section... (Crickets) Wonder why.

[rrpjr]

Re: Ellie Light above,
"tax cuts for small businesses"
"Obama offers no tax cuts, only small tax bribes..."

Exactly. Anybody who could propose or support such a sham reveals either his contempt or ignorance for how businesses work and businesspeople think. Businesses need predictability and good faith from government. They need to have faith in the future. In the absence, they pull back, devise plans for survival rather than growth and risk. This "small business tax-cut" is a pretense, a ruse -- just like the healthcare bill was a ruse leading to single payer. It's the only thing this guy is capable of.

[gary gulrud]

Krauthammer actually complimented Dear Leader on his appearance and performance.

He then named Romney the best GOP candidate for 2012.

[rrpjr]

Krauthammer... then named Romney the best GOP candidate for 2012.
Posted by: gary gulrud | Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 08:52 AM

This is one of the things I love about politics. There are no real experts, and the so-called "smartest" can -- and so often are -- wrong.

[montee]

The GOP should not have allowed cameras. Once that happened it ceased to be a honest policy discussion and became political theater. Many on both sides were intent on trying to score political points. Sadly Obama got more from it, simply because it looks like he has done something beyond his duty. The fact that he has spoken directly to the opposition party for apparently the first time in 1 year will score him points with the not so politically aware public (i.e Independents). I have long maintained that the GOP has an image and messaging problem. Yesterday proved it. The fact that Boehner was cheering that the event disproved the "party of no" theme shows it. So in his estimation it took the president smugly and condescendingly accepting that GOP had good ideas, solutions and proposals to counter such spin. WOW, it took the opposition to vindicate you from false charges.
Brilliant.

[D. Carney]

Face it. Republicans are undeniably a dying breed – and the FAR-right has already immolated itself (so popular with extreme religious zealots – and fine with me BTW) Look at your demographics – for heaven’s sake – look at the faces of the half sitting on their hands during the SOTU. Old and white. I am so happy that I’m young enough to be able to watch you dry up and wither away (or, more unlikely – educate yourself with the facts, put your country first, and do what is right.) Oh, wait I forgot about the fresh, young future of your side – James O’Keefe – Bwaahahaha! GOOD RIDDANCE loonies, this can’t happen fast enough for me.

[Ricky]

Good. Now let's have the healthcare debate on C-span.

[Darth Venomous]

" I am so happy that I’m young enough to be able to watch you dry up and wither away"

While you toss to your pics of Johnny Depp, scarf Cheesy Poofs and hide behind your daddy's skirt?

Quite the puzzy, aren't you?

[xerocky]

"Face it. Republicans are undeniably a dying breed –"

What party just big in won Va, NJ, and Ma? Liberals are the dying breed.

Obama lost on this big time because he was forced to admit that he wasn't really listening to outside ideas for the entire past year. He's lost control of his own party and his domestic agenda is on the ropes.