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Obama Calls Out Republicans for Being Rich Protecting Deficit Reduction Frauds
President Obama called out the called out the the Republicans as deficit reduction frauds, and turned the fiscal cliff into permanent political damage for the right on Meet The Press.
Here is the video from NBC News:
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David Gregory asked Obama what he thought it was about him that was so hard for the Republicans to say yes to.
The president answered,
That’s something you’re probably going to ask them. David, you follow this stuff pretty carefully. The offers I’ve made to them have been so fair, a lot of Democrats get mad at me. I offered to make some significant changes to our entitlement programs in order to reduce the deficit. I offered not only a trillion dollars in spending cuts over the next ten years, but these changes would result in even more savings in the next ten years, and would solve our deficit problem for a decade.
They say that their biggest priority is making sure that we deal with the deficit in a serious way, but the way they’re behaving is that their only priority is making sure that tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are protected. That seems to be their only overriding, unifying theme. And at some point, I think what’s going to be important is that they listen to the American people.
The president is doing a masterful job of placing the blame where it belongs. He shot down the idea that he is responsible for a deal not being done. (This is the main Republican talking point, and the one that the mainstream media has happily latched on to.) Obama has taken his case to the American people, and shown the the deal that he offered Republicans.
That proposal, which part of the left was so outraged about, has given the president the credibility and public support he needs to push harder for the agreement that he really wants. The president has always wanted the Bush tax cuts to expire for the wealthiest Americans. He has so thoroughly turned the tables on the Republicans that they are asking him if he will put off some of the defense cuts if they raise taxes on the wealthy.
President Obama played the ‘angry left.’ (The supposed progressives who are the first to break into hysterics and cry Obama caved over every move he makes.) The president floated a proposal which he knew would be dead as a door nail, just to expose Republicans as the deficit reduction frauds that they are. The outrage of the angry left gave Obama the ability to go on Meet The Press today and tell the country that he is reasonable that he is willing to offer a proposal that his own base disagrees with. (That proposal was taken off the table when Boehner’s Plan B stunt blew up in his face.) The part he left out was that anybody who understands the mechanics of today’s Republican Party already knew that were going to reject anything he offered that included raising taxes on the wealthy.
Obama is using the Republicans own behavior against them to further damage the Republican Party brand. He is doing Democrats a favor for 2016 and beyond. The president is going to get the tax hikes on the wealthiest Americans no matter what happens, so this is really about continuing to define the Republican Party as a non-option.
What the president is doing now is carving the image of the GOP as the party only of the rich in stone for years to come. Obama is making sure that the Republicans’ fiscal cliff blunder is transformed into their own permanent nightmare.
Long after taxes have been raised, this destruction of the Republican brand will linger in voters’ minds for years to come.
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37 Responses to Obama Calls Out Republicans for Being Rich Protecting Deficit Reduction Frauds
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Eykis
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 10:51 am
Great article, Jason. Thank you for truth.
Kevin Shinn
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
I think maybe Jason is a chessplayer, as #ThisPresident is; certainly much more so than 99 percent of establishment media. Forget bias in journalists, that can be identified and accounted for; we are not well served as they simply do not seriously work, the overriding majority of them.
Ken
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 10:58 am
For many months now, I have been of the opinion and have stated to many, that Obama is playing three dimensional chess while Republicans are playing checkers. He and they continue and the President continues to out play them.
robyn ryan
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Actually, he’s being a politician. The GOP are being spoiled brats.
Corporations aren’t used to being told ‘no.’ They are having a temper tantrum.
He’s the only adult in the room.
fredaruthproject
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Actually, he is demonstrating great leadership, despite being surrounded by “spoiled brats”!
Inez
Jan. 1st, 2013 at 6:18 pm
He’s the Commander in Chief, this is war. The old Navy adage is now his mantra,,,MAN THE TORPEDOES, FULL SPEED AHEAD.”
Bonnie
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 11:09 am
It is about time that the American people find out who the Republicans really represent. This president continues to try to take care of the middle class, lift them up, in fact, and the Republicans continue to try to tear them down to protect tax breaks for the wealthy!!!
Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 11:23 am
And wonder why they lost the election.
JJM
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
The GOP lost the election by millions! Obama over Romney by just about 5,000,000 and even the GOP majority House by over a million votes. They are the unrepresentative House of Representatives and they are true enemies of our state.
Inez
Jan. 1st, 2013 at 6:21 pm
they are like ostriches, sticking their heads in the sand. but we still can see them and we don’t like them, self grandizing, egomaniacs,robbing the middle class to support the rich, self centered and definitely not christians
clarence swinney
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 11:36 am
BIG SPENDERS
Increases by:
Reagan=10% per year
Bush II=11% per year
Obama=1.1% per year
Amazing is it not
Michael Brooks
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Obama is playing out his Political Cards correctly, and it looks like he’s figuratively playing three games at the same time, and winning them in the process…He’s playing Chess, Checkers, and Poker with the GOP, and soon he will checkmate them! Keep winning the Game, Obama!
Anne
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
The hatred that the Congressional Republicans harbor toward this president is both personal and pervasive. It is so intense that it clouds their judgment to such a degree that they play right into his hands. There have been a number of instances in which this scenario has been repeated since 2010, most notably during the health care reform debate. Their clouded judgment also keeps them from learning from previous experiences with this particular president that he plays chess while they play checkers. Their continued underestimation of him goes hand-in-hand with their undisguised desire to protect the uber wealthy at any cost, particularly their benefactors. At this point, I don’t care if they ever wake up to reality, because the best thing for everyday Americans is to remove them from political offices and to deny them a say in what happens to us, ever again.
GeneralLerong
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
We’re not home free by any means yet. Connect the dots:
www.bloomberg.com/news/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/in...
disgusteddem
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Here’s another (R) “patriot” willing to completely destroy America’s solvency. This is beyond reprehensible, and I would imagine yet another Norquist Pledge signer. thinkprogress.org/economy...
Ray
Dec. 31st, 2012 at 2:29 am
The GOP lost the last time they played the debt ceiling game. It’s why they are here losing the fiscal cliff game and a big part of the reason they lost the election. Obama has already called their bluff on this last month. They might make some more noise about it but they know they will lose.
labrat
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
The GOP solidifed who they are when they ran Romney. President Obama has been masterful in exposing them further.
NVL
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
I wish he would just bluntly say, “Negotiation isn’t me doing everything the other side wants, and them getting mad when I say no to doing everything they want. Once they realize that, then this behavior of assumption they have can end.”
Jerry G
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
The fact that the Republicans are still reeling as to how they lost the election is the telling story here. They are completely out of touch with not only the American people but reality in general. This Fiscal Cliff issue is just one of many issues for years to come that will expose them for the self-serving frauds they really are.
Grasshopper
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Regardless of how many dimensions our Prez’ chess game has, the reality is that these tea baggin’ obstructionist, loonies go back home to a heros welcome and standing ovations. Sadly, they are doing what they were elected to do. Boener’s speakership is gone anyway, so he might as well join the vast majority of public opinion.
clarence swinney
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Debt Increases
Reagan 289%
Bush II–112%
Obama–48% over 4 years
Adrian Howley
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Great thread! Enjoyed article & every comment immensely!
Jacob Pratt
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
I am no big fan of Obama, but I gotta say, I’m fiercely sick of these media talking heads all but shoving a finger in any Democrat’s face and saying, “Democrats are to blame too! Democrats are to blame too!” The Democrats actually ARE NOT as much to blame, and to be clear, I really don’t like the Democrats in Washington. But acting like this all falls equally to blame on both parties is disgustingly misleading and untrue, and shows a strict lack of knowledge of what the two parties have each done over the last few years, if not the last decade. The Republican party is vastly, exceedingly far more to blame for where we’re at. Obama and Democrats have been complicit in letting things stay the same and not really changing anything, so for that weakness, yes they are to blame as well. But the Republican party has led us to where we are today. Plain and simple. Screw MSNBC for not making this explicitly clear.
Thinking Person
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Hey, Obama is no dummy, nor is this Progressive. I knew this was like his thrown first speech when the MSM was whining and crying. What the Whining Progressives are whining about and you better be sure- it doesn’t matter who is saying it (I love Obama for very deep reasons) WE ARE NOT GOING TO continue this racist economic policy that has in fact been so successful no White People are Poor.
Unless you are a 90 year old woman who is going to suffer those cuts to SS shut up! Shut Democrat and Shut up Republican.
I only want to see those who Caused the Crisis to Pay, I only want to see our Democracy Restored which was Stolen on the Watch of all you Non-Whining Babies.
I knew exactly what I was doing and it would be Stupid and Dumb for Any Party to Discount those Whining Now and Play Us.
NO SS CUTS, NO TO THE PEOPLE PAYING ONE MORE RED CENT FOR THE FAILINGS – YES, I SAID IT – FAILINGS OF THE LEGAL AND ECONOMIC CLASS. YOU SHOULD BE WHINING FOR YOUR JOBS!
Obama didn’t ‘play’ the Left – stop trying to stir up resentment – he ‘called us in’ – Get the Difference.
I knew exactly what I was doing.
And, the Democratic Party Should Not Be So Stupid as to Cut/Change or Dismantle its own Successful Program. Please. Go on. Go ahead.
Only 60% of Americans voted anyway.
What is stupid is the MSM trying to stir up divisions, and Washington swirling in its own bathwater, they wouldn’t know what the majority wanted even if their Corporate Bosses allowed them to write about it.
Thinking Person
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
By the way MSM, where are you on calling out Eric Cantor for feeling its acceptable to not extend the Violence Against Women Act to Native American Women?
Why don’t you all stop your hysterics and get on to matters that impact the people instead of these made up Koch Bro dramas you all seem to be stuck on like a broken record.
Wanna report how Koch Kansas State has waived taxes for the Transcanada Pipeline for 10 years, a state so poor all the Legislators have to act like slaves to ALEC and the Koch bros. Or a tribute to All Americans that have Died as a Result of our Fossil Fuel that we Didn’t even need anyway since we had Industrial Hemp.
Please, move on! Talking about Progressives!
majii
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
The republicans in Congress considered PBO to be a neophyte that they could lead around by the nose. To their surprise, he wasn’t because he had seven years of experience in the Illinois State Legislature and he served two years in the U.S. Senate.
Ed Henry tweeted the following about the president appearance on MTP:
“President, who launched his presidential campaign in Springfield, Illinois, says he’s never compared himself to Lincoln”
Dan Pfieffer replied: “@edhenryTV Except for the fact that he started his political career serving in the Illinois State Senate which is in Springfield”
Some members of the press are as uninformed about the president and his policies and as biased toward him/them as republicans in Congress. If republicans could tell PBO what to do, they’d get along just fine with him, but unfortunately for them, he prefers to think for himself, and it irks the hell out of them.
Mitch McConnell said on one occasion that if the president want republicans to compromise with him, he’d adopt their policies and sign their bills into law. When Boehner was negotiating with the president, he offered him the same plan that Romney/Ryan were pushing during the presidential campaign. It was reported that the president asked Boehner why he would expect him to accept their plan when the voters had rejected it. Under these circumstances, who in their right mind would think that it is the president who is the cause of the gridlock in D.C. and the schism in the country? It is the republicans who are ignoring the will of the people and pretending that PBO wasn’t re-elected on November 6.
Peter Hernandez
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
C’mon…he didn’t use those words! Your headline and sub-head are false. Don’t turn into a Fox News for the left. We deserve and want better than this.
Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
“They say that their biggest priority is making sure that we deal with the deficit in a serious way, but the way they’re behaving is that their only priority is making sure that tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are protected. That seems to be their only overriding, unifying theme. And at some point, I think what’s going to be important is that they listen to the American people.”
Obama.
Roberto
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Bottom line the Republicans dont compromise with OBAMA because he is Black. Ya I said it and it’s the god given truth. Nobody sais it but everyone knows it.
John Casey
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Keep up the good work Obama, and good call using the PR tactic on the Republicans to counter their war machine FOX.
texican
Dec. 30th, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Classic case of makers wanting to keep as much as they can of what they make, and the takers wanting more of what the makers have…. regardless if it destroys the makers or not.
Obama cares about his takers… the unions and the welfare classes…
Republicans care about the makers… businesses and entrepreneurs who create wealth.
fedded-up
Dec. 31st, 2012 at 1:10 am
Oh gee, another delusional maker…er, taker…no, what was it? Oh, yeah…faker.
WTH????? You haven’t even mentioned Benghazi yet. Seriously slipshod trolling there. BUT, there is hope. You’ve given me a great idea. There really needs to be a union created for welfare recipients….
fredaruthproject
Dec. 31st, 2012 at 1:12 am
…and the “makers” could care less about the financial health and well-being of our country:
consortiumnews.com/2012/0...
Selling the ‘Supply-Side’ Myth
January 27, 2012
“Despite Newt Gingrich’s claim that “supply-side” economic theories have “worked,” the truth is that America’s three-decade experiment with low tax rates on the rich, lax regulation of corporations and “free trade” has been a catastrophic failure, creating massive federal debt, devastating the middle class and off-shoring millions of American jobs.”
Inez
Jan. 1st, 2013 at 6:32 pm
yours is the kind of attitude that created Unions in the first place. WE are not your slaves! Our work is what puts the big bucks in your pockets and that of your SHAREGOLDERS!! Get a real job and grow a few callOuses on you delicate fingers, wipe the sweat from your brown with those hands. Tell your kids that they wont be getting any more milk because it;s going to cost as much as 2 pounds of hamburger. Get out of your gildedcage and stand waiting for abus in the rain or blustery snows just to make money for you, GOP “get our profits.”
clarence swinney
Dec. 31st, 2012 at 8:53 am
CORRECTION
Big Spenders
Increases by year(avg)
Reagan=10%
Bush =11%
Obama=2.2% (not 1.1 as listed prior)
Obama numbers
Bush last fiscal year=3500B
Obama 2013 fiscal budget=3800B
8.8% increase or 2.2% per year
clarence swinney
Jan. 4th, 2013 at 9:15 am
LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE
————-FY 2008—2011 (Billions)
Health———248—–339
Cash Aid—–130—–145
Food———59——101
Education——42——-66
Housing——40——46
soc services—-36——37
employment——6——–6
energy——–3——–6
total——–563——746
clarence swinney
Jan. 4th, 2013 at 1:01 pm
OBAMA BLAME
Who Dug the Deep Hole? Who Fumbled the ball?
Numbers rounded
Clinton left Bush an 1800B Budget
Bush Left Obama a 3500 Budget
Clinton left Bush a 240B Surplus as far as the eye can see
Bush left Obama a 1400B Deficit as far as the eye can see
Clinton left Bush 5,700B of Debt
Bush left Obama 11,800B of Debt
Clinton left Bush a 237,000 net new jobs created per month
Bush left Obama a 31,000 lowest number since Hoover.
Clinton left Bush 17 Million Manufacturing Jobs
Bush left Obama 11 Million Manufacturing Jobs
Clinton left Bush a 10,800 Dow
Bush left Obama an 8028 Dow
Clinton left Bush Peace on Earth Good Will From Most Men
Bush left Obama Hell on Earth Two disastrous wars. Enmity of 1500 Million Muslims
Clinton left Bush a President most highly rated of any peacetime President in Asia, Africa, Europe.
Bush left Obama the most hated President in history
Bush left Obama an Housing Tsunami and Financial Volcano
Bush left Obama, in 2008, an 8500B Bail out commitment Yes! 8500 not just 700
Bush left Obama his Takeover of Fannie/Freddie, AIG, and first bailout of Chrysler
Bush increased maximum loan by Fannie/Freddie from $153,000 in 2000 to $300,000 then to $729,000
That is how F&F got stuck with so many toxic mortgages. Bush gift to Big Bank pals.
Bush increased FDIC maximum deposit coverage from $100,000 to $250,000. Help the rich.