Upon the news that President Obama’s trade agenda cleared a hurdle in the Senate, the White House reminded journalists of their previous incorrect predictions and dire warnings about the End of Obama.
White House Assistant Press Secretary Brandi Hoffine retweeted:
Is it impossible to get back all the time spent talking, writing, & tweeting abt the death of Obama's trade agenda & the blow to his legacy?
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— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) June 23, 2015
Those obituaries of the Obama Administration's legislative clout from June 12th—a tad premature.
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) June 23, 2015
Either Brandi Hoffine or Principal Deputy White House Press Secretary Eric Schultz retweeted all of the following tweets today, reminding journalists of their failed hot takes and dire predictions of doom staring on June 12:
Whoa!!! Big dig at the WH. Pelosi saying that she's voting against TAA. Even after 2 Obama visits.
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) June 12, 2015
Maybe Obama should have played some golf with congressional Dems sometimes over the last six years instead of Marvin Nicholson every week.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) June 12, 2015
Dire warnings not to fall for the “spin” (who’s spinning now, the White House seems to be asking):
Don't fall for the spin. The chances that this trade package passes next week are extremely slim.
— Jonathan Weisman (@jonathanweisman) June 12, 2015
Save this headline:
Obama’s Trade Bill Died Last Week. There’s No Plan B. http://t.co/5rpUSyQcdG
— STEW (@StewSays) June 16, 2015
Mocking the seeming fissure between Obama and the Democrats:
Hours after Obama comes to the Hill and fails to woo Democrats, they say it was just a small snafu. https://t.co/bJBMm1bKWE
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) June 12, 2015
@blakehounshell this is FAR more than a procedural snafu.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) June 12, 2015
Up next: WH has to find a way to put Humpty-Dumpty back together again. How exactly?
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) June 12, 2015
Obama's trade bill is dead. And there's no plan yet — although there are hopes — for a resurrection.
http://t.co/o2dqu7NNkW
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) June 16, 2015
On TPA, @presssec like Dr. who says surgery itself was successful, even though patient dying of complications. #resuscitation or a snafu?
— Alexis Simendinger (@ASimendinger) June 12, 2015
Massive defeat, y’all:
Wow – not even close – massive defeat for White House as Democrats take down trade adjustment assistance, now no fast track vote
— Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) June 12, 2015
“Sunning repudiation of Obama”:
More than 2/3 of the House votes no on TAA, stunning repudiation of Obama/WH
— John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) June 12, 2015
Obama couldn't even get !!!Pelosi!!! after Sorkinesque trip to Capitol this am
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) June 12, 2015
Obama's trade bill died last week. There's no Plan B. http://t.co/PxOoSrHSyI
— Vox (@voxdotcom) June 17, 2015
And today:
So, ultimately, they were legislative/procedural snafus
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) June 23, 2015
It’s dead! It has no chance of revival! Obama has no plan B! Oh, wait. The Press Secretary was right when he said it was a procedural snafu? That sucks.
No matter how you feel about the trade deal – and it’s hard to really make an honest call about something you can’t read for yourself, which makes any normal person dubious – you have to get a kick out of the White House mocking the 8 millionth (exaggeration) time the press had announced it was the End of Obama.
Were I to venture a guess about this trade deal, and I did on a radio show two weeks ago, I would have said – and did say – that I suspected it was being used as a way to allow certain Democrats who have always had Obama’s back to define themselves as more liberal, as taking a principled stand against him. It also seemed like a great opportunity politically for Sec Hillary Clinton to define herself as more liberal on working people’s issues. I have no proof to support this theory. It’s just that I saw no other reason for all of the drama over something that seemed like it could pass in two weeks. A something, mind you, that no one actually knows anything about.
This is not to suggest that I am “for” this trade deal. How could I be for something I can’t read? How likely is it that this deal could be and should be better for workers? Oh, about 100%.
Obamacare is going to be President Obama’s legacy. That and a roaring stock market and record private sector job growth. The trade deal is just a résumé builder.
But it’s nice to see the White House having fun with the press who have announced the end of Obama’s legislative clout so many times I’ve lost count. Let’s note on a purely political point that Obama’s legislative clout just rose with Republicans.
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