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House Republicans Are Now Begging Obama to Save Them From Their Sequester
House Republicans are so desperate to avoid being held accountable for their sequester that they are asking President Obama to save them.
Transcript from ABC’s This Week:
STEPHANOPOULOS: Congressman Rogers let’s begin. Are the — is the harm as great as the president suggests?
ROGERS: Well, there will be impact on national security, there is no doubt. And I think there’s some misnomers. So it’s really only 2 cents on the dollar over the whole federal budget, but they’ve scrunched that down into seven months and highlighted, or at least put most of the burden on the Defense Department. So that is going to have an impact. That’s a 13 percent cut.
The best way to get through this, I mean we can point fingers. We can get all through this. The best way to do it is just allow flexibility. If you allow flexibility you don’t have to shut down the carrier…
STEPHANOPOULOS: I wanted to bring that to Congressman Engel, because the White House has been resisting having this flexibility.
ENGEL: Well, you know, I think the sequester was a stupid thing. I voted against it when it first time came up. Congress keeps kicking the can down the road. It’s really a ridiculous thing to do.
The fact is that we need to do things that are smart, not take a meat cleaver and just hack cuts.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So should the White House accept this call from Republicans in congress to have more flexibility over where to hit with the cuts and when?
ENGEL: I think congress should sit down and avoid the sequester. And if the sequester kicks in, for a week or go, we should then fix it so it doesn’t become a permanent thing.
Rep. Rogers’ comments did not come out of the blue. The Washington Examiner reported that House Republican leaders are trying to give away their power on the sequester to Obama, “Those conversations are happening and they’re happening at a leadership level. The bill would not try to replace the cuts, [but] it would instead give the president maximum authority to prioritize.”
They are trying this because they want to be able to blame Obama for any of the cuts that he might choose to make. Any defense cuts that the president made would be met with cries from Republicans that Obama doesn’t care about national security. House Republicans know that if the sequester cuts go into effect, they could lose control of the House. This real possibility is why Republican leaders are virtually begging the president to take their power away from them.
It is unlikely that the White House would entertain for a second taking responsibility for the cuts without asking for something big in return. That something would be more revenue. The White House would make it hurt by demanding a lot more revenue than is on the table right now.
Notice that Democratic Rep. Engel mentioned letting the sequester kick in, and then fixing it later. The message in that statement was clear. Democrats aren’t going allow House Republicans to weasel out of their responsibility for the sequester. Contrary to the BS that Bob Woodward is selling, Republicans like Paul Ryan have been pushing for the sequester since 2004.
House Republicans created this mess in 2011. They are now trying to pass the buck to President Obama, so that they can blame him for it later. Their latest move represents the sort of cynical, shallow, superficial tactics that the nation has learned to expect from the House leadership.
In a desperate effort to avoid being held accountable for their own actions, House Republicans are asking President Obama to save them from themselves.
Republicans have been looking for a way to blame Obama for the sequester since their latest attempt at a fiscal crisis started. What we are seeing today is a last ditch desperate gasp from party that is drowning in its own ideology and incompetence.
President Obama should laugh in their faces.
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44 Responses to House Republicans Are Now Begging Obama to Save Them From Their Sequester
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dave
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
It’s the gop’s fault for the economic crisis in general
Sokeland
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 9:14 am
It is ashame we can’t quit playing politics and having each party trying to blame each other and do something bright by raising more taxes from the rich. The reasons we are in this fix is because of the war and that the rich have not paid there fair share in the past. Must they continue to destroy America via their greed?
djchefron(Moderator)
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 9:20 am
Stop with the both sides nonsense.Here is a budget proposal you dont ever hear about
cpc.grijalva.house.gov/th...
Marion
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 10:01 am
Exactly. The GOP started this mess and tried to blame Obama as usual. POTUS is done playing with this dangerous-to-the-nation bully that continues to hold this nation hostage and is calling their bluff. If we collide, the GOP will take the blame. It’s the only way to deal with a bully: face them head on. While Obama has pulled us out of quicksand, the GOP keeps throwing more sand and water into the pond. Almost every single GOP congressperson should be in prison for what they have done to us.
Charlie Bean
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 1:33 pm
It is everyone’s fault for expecting others to take reasonable action needed a long time ago, even before Bush!
TStMauro
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 2:07 pm
True.
Vic
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 11:19 am
Except they did—Clinton ran a surplus. This is a GOP made problem; end discussion.
Anne
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
The Republicans are a pathetic bunch of bunglers who have painted themselves into the corner of an untenable position that spells disaster for them but also for many Americans who will be adversely affected.
Sugapea
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Let this ‘Sequester’ be the straw that finally breaks this GOP and causes America to vote-out all of these obstructionist Republicans in 2015 and 2016!
Get involved in your local Democratic Party…let’s take America back!
KarenJ
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
It’s a wonder this current crop of Tea Party affiliated House Republicans (and Tea Party Caucus Senators, too) have the wits or sense to wipe themselves.
They don’t know how to govern, they don’t know how to budget, they don’t know how to abide by rules or practice legislative courtesy, they don’t bother to research or use reliable resources, and they don’t hesitate to attack anyone who disagrees with them.
In other words, they are representing their constituents (Tea Party wingnuts) successfully. Say goodbye to the democratic process.
mjh
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
They don’t know how to govern, they don’t know how to budget, they don’t know how to abide by rules or practice legislative courtesy, they don’t bother to research or use reliable resources, and they don’t hesitate to attack anyone who disagrees with them.
In other words, they are representing their constituents (Tea Party wingnuts) successfully.
Amen, Karen.
The teabaggers themselves were nothing more than a bunch of overgrown two-year-olds who stamped their feet an yelled the moment the black guy with the funny name got in their White House.
Sure, they claimed they had been around all along and that their real opposition was to gov’t spending — but they didn’t magically appear in the streets until 2009, as Obama was moving in to the WH, and nobody heard a peep from them when Dumbya was spending us into oblivion from two undeclared wars.
The Kochsucker Brothers founded and funded this “movement” for two reasons: 1) in order to tap into the white anger over black man getting in the White House in any capacity other than as a butler, and 2) as a springboard to get more of their cronies in Congress and the White House {they were partly successful in ’10, getting enough teabaggers in Congress to gum up the works, and unsuccessful in ’12 with Mittens.}
As you said, the ‘baggers weren’t put in DC to govern, to do research, to compromise, or to do any of the things elected officials usually do . . . they were only brought for one purpose only: to put forth an agenda to bring down President Obama, aided and abetted by Fox, RW hate radio, and the rest of the “librul media”. And, if the country happens to get brought down in the process, oh well . . .
.
Doris ~
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
The rethugs agenda is to take this country down being led by the Kochmonsters with plutocracy in mind.
Oust the TGOP or we are doomed.
D. Lowrey
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
I hope Obama shoves their Sequester so far up their BOP arses that we see sunshine when they open their mouths. Serves them right!
Just A Dumb Fireman
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 9:42 pm
All the Republican fuckers need to be publicly humiliated and then punished SEVERELY.
djchefron(Moderator)
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 9:50 pm
David Vitter would run to the head of the line shouting”OOH OOH PICK ME, PICK ME!!!!!
Scorpie
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 7:34 am
Diaper Dave is another idiot that I am ashamed to say is from LA.
K. S.
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
I blame Reagan for all of it.
Tobybuckwyler
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 7:03 pm
I think your right. Reagan the poster boy of the failed policy of Supply Side Economics.
Vic
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 11:21 am
Completely, completely agree. “Reagan-omics” is dangerous.
Ebony
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Good I hope the GOP suffers!!!!
Michelle
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 6:23 pm
let the house deal with the bed they made…..
phooeyrat
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 7:33 pm
We the people; need to vote in the coming elections and throw out all of these puppets, and spawn of the “elite” (2%) that currently occupy any position of power in any of our government agencies and structures in this country from federal on down to our local levels out into the street; or into prison; if they meet the requirements. In my opinion. Lets (all) let them know that “We” are their masters not their serfs or modern corporate plantation slaves; that they serve “us” the majority of the people. Why would anybody in their right-mind vote for or want too re-elect any of these (bought and payed for) minions of the elite and continue paying them their salaries (for what purpose? to screw us and our kids lives forever; it appears) is beyond belief. Wake up America. Lets get our Govt.offices cleaned up now; before its to late. Its time to get real. All of our lives and our children’s futures are on the line… In my opinion.
Remell
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 10:14 pm
Well Said…would like to repost!
phooeyrat
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 1:21 am
Thank you; feel free to re-post it on to anyone you would like; if you think it could help wake them up too what must be done. Think how bad a shape our Govt. would be in right now if Mitt and Paul would have won the election instead of Obama (scary stuff huh?). We should still have the time and a chance (I hope) to make this country and the rest of this planet a lot better and much safer place for all of its inhabitants and ecosystems to exist and thrive; if we can succeed in throwing everyone of these truly greedy, evil, self-righteous, puppets of the “Elite” (2%) out of positions of power in our government offices. In my opinion. We could then focus on their “masters” crimes if any in order to prevent this type of take-over of our Govt. by the elite “few” from ever occurring again. Its going to be up too all of us to make this happen though. Have we truly got anything more important to do in our life times than something like this?
Bbaby
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 10:33 pm
You are 100% on point with your post. My only fear is that people won’t wake up and act before it is too late for us all!
Greg
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 11:58 pm
Taking down fox nooz would definitely help that!
Linda
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
You are so right!! Fair and balanced??? Really, give me a break. They are the most biased group of people around. Now they bring on Herman Cain???? This alone should tell you that they are nothing but losers. Get rid of Hannity, Malkin and the rest of them.
Helen Hevener
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 9:24 pm
Whiney republicans- they back their there self into a corner and then hollar and beg President Obama to save them from a sequester- well you reckon maybe they should have done some homework- and saved their selves before they have to be sequestered. Makes me mad the way republicans vote against everything and then complain that nothing gets done. All the republicans have concentrated on the last 4 years was getting rid of President Obama- and when their plan backfired- they had nothing to back them up. Trying to get President Obama impeached but refused to tell what their plan was once they got into office. I am glad to see them sweat a little bit- maybe they will get some work done!!!
djchefron(Moderator)
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 9:28 pm
White House Breaks Down Sequester Damage In Each State
tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.c...
Victor Lynn Avera
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 10:10 pm
The GOP got themselves stupefied on ALEC corporate and Karl Rove Bullshit.
Inez
Feb. 24th, 2013 at 10:43 pm
BOEHNER SHOULD bring the sequester to the floor of the House for Reps and the Dems to vote on it. Let’s see .. the yeas and nays. I”ll be watching for the action.
Bill
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 1:06 am
The Teabagger morons in Congress are so out of their league it’s pathetic. They made a big political issue over the debt ceiling which caused our credit rating to be downgraded and now we have this sequester mess to deal with as well.
While I think Obama should just laugh in their faces and let them take a beating for being so idiotic in the first place, I also think that Obama, unlike the GOP Congress back in 2011, understands that country has to come over party in a time like this. He should negotiate in good faith for the better of the country, something the GOP knows nothing about.
Douglas
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 1:16 am
I say let the Republicans fall flat on their faces. They made the mess, let them take the responsibility. I love when they came into office in 2010 and said they were going to make President Obama a “one-term President,” then they get the biggest liar in politics to run against him…AND IT BACKFIRED! They all looked so dumbfounded on the 7th of November. Now here they are again, looking dumbfounded. The Republican Party is destroying themselves…it’s an implosion…I say LET THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FALL!!
mark
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 7:12 am
I hope sequester does kick in. With all the fat in govt they need to cut back. The rest of America has. Congress and the Resident of the US need to take responsibilty and start putting people before party.
djchefron(Moderator)
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 7:22 am
In a way I agree with you.We will never get this chance to cut the bloated defense budget again.
barry eisenberg
Feb. 26th, 2013 at 4:28 am
I absolutely agree. It’s a hell of a way to do it but it’s probably the only way.
Rudy Gonzales
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 11:28 am
The TEA-quest-traitors are primarily responsible for the entire economic pressures on the American public. TEA-quest-traitors are pushing that Obama first promoted sequestration, but truth will reign in the end.( www.youtube.com/watch?v=N... ) The American dream is being squelched by the TEA-quest-traitors with their greedy stingy hands on the economic throttle. Rather than work with the president, they have made it their expressed ambition to not help or pass any positive legislation benefiting the middle class. It is truly remarkable that the TEA-quest-traitors are still seeking methods to side step voting procedures, including disenfranchisement of voters to get their candidate into office. “Sweep your state Capital CLEAN….in 2014″ “Sweep the House CLEAN….in 2014″ “Sweep the Senate CLEAN….in 2014″
Gary
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
@DJ, Thanks for the link, I never saw that budget. But, it seems to me since the last quarter when the austerity then caused a drop in the GDO that they are bound and determined to let the sequester happen to further cause Americans pain. I think they are against governing period.
Gary
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Sorry, GDP not GDO. Should proofread lol.
Patricia Glaser
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 4:39 pm
we need to charge Hanity and Malcom with treason for running our president down all the time. they dont deserve to be inour country see if they would get by with running other leaders down with lies.
Howie
Feb. 25th, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Term Limits but how could that done?To many people we know only watch the lies at fox.They do not even see what is going on like with wages the same they were thirty years ago.We have some of the poorest excuse for human beings in the republican party. They are to me worse than the mafia at least they did not try to hide what they were.Our country what a shame.
majii
Feb. 26th, 2013 at 1:54 am
During the “fiscal cliff” negotiation, republicans sent their aides to the WH to ask PBO if he’d offer them the plan he offered to them in 2011, and he turned them down. I would have, too, especially after the trashed the plan to high heaven in 2011 when they were lying and showboating and it resulted in the nation’s first credit downgrade. The republicans are not serious lawmakers. If they were, we wouldn’t be having these fiscal crises every two-three months, because they would have voted for a long-term fiscal plan. It has gotten to the point where if I read or hear anything a republican writes/says, I tune it out because I know beforehand that it’s based on a monumental lie.
LongDongSilver
Feb. 26th, 2013 at 1:29 pm
kool-aid anyone?
skeetervt
Feb. 26th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
If, as expected, the federal budget sequster goes through, I predict that the Republicans will suffer a political disaster as great as — if not greater than — the 1995 fiasco following the federal government shutdown.
But predictions of the GOP losing control of the House in the 2014 midterm elections are premature at best and downright unrealistic at worst.
That’s because of the massive gerrymandering of House districts in 2011 by GOP-controlled state legislatures following the 2010 Census. It’s the sole reason the Republicans still control the House, despite losing the total nationwide popular vote to the Democrats in last November’s elections.
With a solid majority of Republican House members representing overwhelmingly conservative districts where no Democrat has a snowball’s chance in hell of winning (Especially in the Deep South, the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountain West) — so conservative that for the incumbent to stray from party orthodoxy would trigger a primary challenge from hard-line, Tea Party-backed right-wing ideologues — it would take a miracle for the Democrats to win the 25 seats they’d need to take control of the House.
And there’s little chance that legal challenges to the gerrymandering of the House districts would succeed in time for the 2014 midterms. Barring that, I’m afraid that we’re going to be stuck with a GOP-dominated House until the next constitutionally-mandated redistricting after the 2020 Census.