Obama Hits Back at His Liberal Critics

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

President Obama today defiantly defended his compromise plan to extend the Bush tax cuts, insisting in a news conference, "This isn't the politics of the moment, this has to do with what can we get done right now."

He lashed out at his critics on the left, who have accused the president of abandoning his Democratic principles by cutting a deal with Republicans.

"This notion that somehow we are willing to compromise too much -- this is the public option debate all over again," the president said. "We pass something that Democrats have been fighting for for over 100 years, but because there was a provision in there that they didn't get...somehow that was a sign of weakness and compromise."

He continued, "If that's the standard by which we are measuring success or core principles, then let's face it, we will never get anything done. People will have the satisfaction of having a purist position and no victories for the American people."

...

The president said today that he was fulfilling the "promise I made during the campaign, the promise I made as president" -- to ensure that the tax cuts would be extended for the middle class.

The president acknowledged today that he often said this year that Republicans were holding the middle class "hostage" by resisting an extension of middle class tax cuts without an extension for wealthy Americans as well.

"I think it's tempting not to negotiate with hostage takers -- unless the hostage gets harmed," Mr. Obama said. "Then people will question the wisdom of that strategy. In this case the hostage was the American people."



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20024891-503544.html?tag=stack

[dflprincess]

1. Be nice if he'd "lash out" at Republicans as often as he attacks

the Democratic wing of his own party.

[LiberalLoner]

3. Yup. I'll admit, maybe my hopes were unrealistic, but I sure wish more of my

hopes for progress had been realized. Would they have been realized under a different President? Probably not. Not sure anyone can fight back against the Oligarchs at this point.

[axollot]

71. Not through traditional means. No. They get theirs. Havent completed

my opinion on Obama's administration as a whole yet.

Cheers
Sandy

[davidwparker]

79. Yes We Can

- fight against the oligarchs. This was done with the first robber barons.

[No Elephants]

157. Maybe, but how many lobbyists worked D.C. then, and what did a TV ad cost.

Knowing history is more valuable than I can say, but we can't assume all that's changed in the world since Teddy Roosevet doesn't affect an outcome. Corporate campaign spending has to be dealt with and probably will never be because, according to the SCOTUS, corporations = people and money = speech; and we've become too partisan to amend the Const. in any significant way. So, those decisions will stand.

Honestly, the more I think about our quagmire, the more I wonder how many knitting classes I'd need before I'd be able to knit folks' names into a garment.

[davidwparker]

196. TV ad? You don't need no stinking TV ad. You just need

people who have hit rock bottom and then they see clearly where their best interest lies.

Bring this MF country to its knees and then you will see the people rally against the ruling class. I want it French-style.

[No Elephants]

158. Depends on what we're willing to do. There's many more of us than there are of them.

As folks are fond of saying these days, "One definition of insanity is repeating the same behavior and expecting a different result."

If we truly want change, as opposed to what requires the least effort on our part, we'll change our own behavior and stop waiting for them to change theirs.

People with power and millions aren't going to reform the system in order to set us free to their own detriment. Either thr exploited atop selrf-defeating behavior on their own, or it is indeed too late--and things will get much worse.

Our choice, but it will take massive resolve, money and work. As best I can tell, most would rather watch Dancing With the Stars or post.

Weak as water, we are.

[polichick]

4. Would help in 2012 too - I rather doubt Republicans will vote for him. nt

[pnorman]

30. I doubt he's really trying to appeal to Republicans.

Certainly NOT the Teabag Republicans! But the "Independent" electorate is at an unprecedented high. Try to bear that in mind.

[Duke Newcombe]

I'm of the mind there are few true "independents"...

...only closet Republicans who like the cachet of appearing "fair and balanced" without the intellectual legwork.

[pnorman]

125. That's your mind; I have mine.

I've been totally OFF TV for over a decade. Moreover, I spend very little time on MSM magazines or newspapers. Almost all of my "info" comes from the internet, with DU usually being the starting point for further research. My own impression is that there's a very LARGE number of "undecided" voters, or those who've been turned off by either or both parties. For brevity, I call them "independents". You seem to regard them as hypocritical pretenders.

For all my adult life, I've been a "third party guy", living in a decidedly "two party" system. And yes, DECIDEDLY from the Left end of the dial. I still have many "hope", but absolutely NO illusions that I am part of "The Base"---at least the base needed to elect a President. I LOATHE the Teabagger mindset heart and soul, but until I should be ready to renounce my American citizenship, I am duty bound to regard them as my fellow Americans. More so to the one who had taken this solemn oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

[No Elephants]

160. The majority of registered voters in Massachusetts are registered "unaffiliated" and we are one of

the bluest states in the U.S

[liberation]

116. Many new independents are the old republicans who are now too chickensit to own to their hubris..

... which is why the "independents" presented the biggest swing percentage back to the GOP this past electoral cycle.


As usual, the DLC triangulation seems to be: piss on some of those who may vote for you, in order to appeal to those who may never vote for you. What could possibly go wrong?

[No Elephants]

156. Why do you think "Independent" voters are at an all time high?

Is playing School Marm in Chief to Democrats, the people who got you elected, because they're disappointed you broke an important campaign promise (again), supposed to appeal to Independents? Can't imagine that it would.

[Creative]

72. Actually, this is all about 2012. Obama appears to be taking his first

step towards implementing the Clinton model.

[tavalon]

122. First step?

Hardly.

Where have you been the last two years?

[Creative]

190. Right here watching health care be passed, off-shore oil drilling be banned...etc.

Where were you?

[No Elephants]

155. First?

Though I was very naive in 2007, I now see most of Obama's post law school career as being about his election and re-election. All his "present" votes and actually being absent when contoversial issues like arose in the Illinois legislature or in the U.S. Senate, being one example.

Hillary supporters would point that out, but I'd argue with them. (Wouls still vote for Obama if Hillary were my only other choice, but that's a different issue--and a different primary.)

[chelsea0011]

17. You said it. It took him 1 day to respond to his critics.

[Moonwalk]

46. I'm confused. Do you mean that if someone here, a democrat like you...

...criticized you, you for something you argued should be done, you wouldn't defend yourself against them? And if you did defend yourself, would it make any sense to you if they said, "Why are you lashing out at me instead of republicans?"

I mean, if you don't like what Obama's doing, fine. Criticize him. And if you think he's betraying all of us, that's fine, too. Say so. But to then say, "He shouldn't "lash out" at us!"meaning he shouldn't defend himself from such criticism and argue against such accusations is ludicrous. We're the ones he has to convince that what he's doing isn't as bad as we think it is. He has to respond to our criticism.

And I hardly think this response can be described as "lashing out." I don't see him calling us mean names, or telling us to shut up, do you? All I see is an explanation of his actions--which you can agree with or not.

And he did lash out at Republicans plenty in this last election. But in this instance, lashing out at Republicans won't do much good, will it? Dems yell and yell and yell at them and they just sit back and filibuster.

Personally, I think Obama shouldn't deal. That he should let the Republicans shoot the hostages. You negotiate with terrorists and they'll just keep terrorizing. But I'm not going to complain if Obama wants to "lash out" and defend his position to me. I want to hear it even if I may not agree with it.

When I criticize someone, I expect to hear back from them. Don't you?

[dflprincess]

124. As I said, I expect him to go after Republicans

instead he bends over for them every chance he can and then has a snit when Democrats criticize him for doing that.

[No Elephants]

161. Problem is, he and his staff seem to save their worst snits for Democrats.

When did Rahm ever say Republicans were retard? Why did he apologize to Paline for his remark, but not to liberals? When did Gibbs say Republicans must be on drugs?

When was the last time you heard any of them say anything favorable and/or respectful about liberals or "the left?

Obama speaks of "my Democratic friends" with snark, and as though he weren't even one of us.

"He has to respond to our criticism."

In your opinion, maybe.

Does he respond every time Republicans criticize him? Does he express gratitude when we don't criticize him? Or when we defend him? (And by "we," I mean those with a bigger megaphone than DU, like Olberman, Maddow and Schultz--those to whom WH folk refer to contemptuously as "the professional left."

And God forbid, he ever respond by criticism by saying he respects our views. Or we're right.


Oh, and Obama is not someone here, a Democrat like you, making a post on message board. He is POTUS and head of the Democratic Party, school marming Democrats in a speech that will be heard all around the world. He can and should be a big person, especially when his alleged provocation is having been criticized for breaking a promise he's made over and over between 2007 and 2010 that has a huge effect on our economy and our grandchildren's economy. Versus his ego.



{b]I don't see him calling us mean names, or telling us to shut up, do you?

You're kidding, right?

You mean literally, or what he clearly implies? (Got dog whistle?)

Yes, he is telling us we are whackos and stupid to criticize him and we need to sit down and shut up (if we're not going to praise him, no matter how many very important campaign promises he breaks. Just not in those exact words. But close enough. And, he doesn't have to call us names explicitly. His WH staff does it for him.


"But in this instance, lashing out at Republicans won't do much good, will it?"

Before or after he rolled over--or pretended to? (Several commentators who are actuslly in communication with the WH have been saying for a good while that Obama has bought into the notion that you don't raise taxes on anyone during a recession--and given his appointments that relate to economic matters, and his "compromise," I see no reason to call them liars.)


"Dems yell and yell and yell at them and they just sit back and filibuster."


I was unaware of that. Please name the last ten times Democrats actually did require Republicans to filibuster. (I'll spot you Bunning.0

[Karenina]

83. Would be nice if YOU DID and took responsibility for your

FUCKED UP POLITICAL SYSTEM rather than personally attacking one who cannot herd cats (as if ANYONE COULD) and seems to be doing what HE feels he can under these totally fucked-up circumstances.

[dflprincess]

128. I've been active in the DFL for 38 years

I've held a variety of party offices from the state to the precinct level and worked on more campaigns than I can remember.

Pardon me all to hell if I expect a Democratic president - or any other Democratic office holder - to attack Republicans not cave in to them and then act like he's offended when his own party gets tired of that crap.

[No Elephants]

162. What he feels he can do? Could there possibly be a lower standard for a President?

And we have responsibility for "OUR" fucked up legal system, but the man who is POTUS and head of the Party that held Congress for the last six years is responsible only for doing what you IMAGINE* he feels he can do?


WOW.


*(Imagine, since you cannot possibly know what he feels. Hell, I don't even know all the time what I feel or my son feels, let alone someone I'e never met in a position I can't even imagine.)

[mascarax]

97. My first thought too, dflprincess (n/t)

[kurtzapril4]

107. Yeah, really!

I never hear the OBama, or his minions using such "muscular language" against the Republics. What's up with that? I am so discouraged, really.

[MissDeeds]

136. [phone]

Apparently he sees us, the ones who voted for him, as the enemy. Interesting...

[No Elephants]

154. He's just not that into us.

What sets my teeth on edge: "My friends on the left," which has now beecome "my Democratic friends." Not "my fellow Democrats."

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. At least he's hitting someone.

[polichick]

5. HA! That's seeing the glass half full! nt

[demwing]

100. Thank You! Now we know he's got some heart

too bad it's made of fool's gold

[Vinnie From Indy]

6. LOL!

Really? Is anyone buying this bullshit?

Obama comes to the fight with compromise and the GOP brings a club. GW Bush and Karl Rove must be laughing their asses off at the inability of this President to get what he has said he wanted.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. Obama called out Republicans for being "hostage-takers" though

Anybody else notice THAT? :shrug:

[BrklynLiberal]

12. The lack of early proactive movement on the part of the White House facilitated the "Hostage Taking"

Unemployment and tax cuts should NEVER have been allowed to become connected. They are not related subjects, and should never have been allowed to become interdependent.
This time it was the repukes who were playing chess, and the Dems were playing checkers

[Proud Liberal Dem]

19. You're blaming the WH for the "hostage-taking"?

:wtf:

[BrklynLiberal]

25. Those who take the credit, take the responsiblity as well. He is the elected leader of his party.

He did not show the courage and strength of purpose that a leader would be expected to have.
He has been more conciliatory to the repukes than to his own base.

He has shown more concern for the bankers than the middle class, for the warmongers than the peacemakers, for the profiteers than
those that are altruistic in their goals, for the wealthy corporatists over those that are on Social Security and Medicare.

He pandered to the very same people who vowed to make sure he was a one term President.

He has made life better for all those who supported and contributed to the repukes, and not for those that worked for and contributed to his election.

He is reaping what he has sown as far as I am concerned. He has gone back on more promises than he has fulfilled.

He virtually handed over the unemployed to the repukes to use as hostages for their uber wealthy tax cuts.

[StarsInHerHair]

114. and he makes like public option was just "a provision"-wtf?

shows what he really feels

[No Elephants]

165. Single payer, "not possible in the U.S. bs. Public option, "just a sliver." Also bs.

I'll leave it to you to figure out why he really abandoned single payer from the jump and recanted oh single payer--and mandates.

[tavalon]

123. No, facilitators

I didn't write the note you responded to but it's easy to parse, so I thought I would help.

[No Elephants]

166. Not only the WH, but he is head of the Dem party and he and Dems allowed this.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

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[defendandprotect]

65. +1 --

[MasonJar]

96. Comment.

Once again Obama and the dems in Congress were outflanked by the minority. I do not see how it can be any worse when the Pugs get more seats. We've done nothing with a solid majority. I still believe that Obama was just too inexperienced to run when he did. He could have potentially been a great president by 2016. He'd have had experience and maturity. The other two possibilities are that he is destined in any decade to be a Henry Clay type great compromiser, or that he is just an establishment politician, who is acting now as he would have if he'd waited until 2016.

[Lucky 13]

43. oooh ouch. I'd rather be called that then told to STFU.

I'm sure Rethugs are licking their wound over that witty jab.

[onethatcares]

56. that'll show em

another arrow in the quiver for the next election.:banghead:

[No Elephants]

172. Wouldn' it be funny if most Republicans voted against this? Not enough to defeat it, just

enough for Republicans in iffy areas, like Brown, to go with the popular tide and thereby have it both ways.

[dgibby]

77. I did,

but I also noticed that he agreed to pay the ransom and then some.

[tinrobot]

88. Calls them hostage takers and hands them a $700 billion ransom.

I noticed THAT.

[Caretha]

110. So what?

The Repubs answer is "Yeah, we're hostage takers, whatcha gonna do about it sucker?"

[liberation]

118. He could call me "Shirley" for all I care...

... so long as he was catering to progressive policies.

[COLGATE4]

149. Yeah, he's got them shaking in their boots with that one.

[No Elephants]

163. Yep, Republicans did. So, he offended his supporters throughout a speech

and offended Republicans with a throwaway term.

1. Big deal.

2. Lose lose

[QC]

8. He should try lashing out at his Republican criticics sometime. Just for novelty, you know.

It would certainly be a new experience for him. Might even become a habit.

[Name removed]

112. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[killbotfactory]

126. He's done that repeatedly.

Apparently it doesn't get through whatever media filter you've surrounded yourself with.

[harun]

9. Jimmy Carter

[Le Taz Hot]

159. True but for different reasons.

The Washington Establishment HATED the Carters -- thought they were "hicks" that didn't belong in D.C. and every single faction worked against him even before he took office.

Obama had the good will of the fucking WORLD, INCLUDING the DC insiders, going for him and he managed, in two short years to so totally fuck it up, fuck over his base and any support, AND THEN COMES OUT WHINING that he's virtually guaranteed to be a one-termer. This presidency will go down in history as the Mother of All Missed Opportunities.

[No Elephants]

167. Carter bashed Democratic voters? Paid hostage takers 700 billion, plus?

If Jimmeh were younger and challenged Obama in a primary, I'd vote for Jimmeh in a heartbeat.

[harun]

170. I guess I should have explained.

I meant Jimmy Carter as in one term. No way in hell Jimmy would extend tax cuts for the rich and has said so:

http://www.booktv.org/Program/12154/Jimmy+Carters+Advice+for+President+Obama+on+Working+with+Congress.aspx

[No Elephants]

174. Ah, as in faced a serious primary challenge that made him vulnerable and

lost the election.

not sure. D.C. now is not D.C. of 1979. Fixes are in more. Besides, a mlesson of Kennedy Carter has been learned, just as the lesson of impeaching in modern times has been learned. May not be the correct takeaway in either case, but it has been taken away.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. That should really help the situation...how about an apology for not doing more

and not doing it before the shit hit the fan???

[bowens43]

11. blah blah blah blah.......

sorry Obama , that's all I hear......

let's face it, when our leader lacks a spine we get nothing done.

[girl gone mad]

13. Democrats were fighting for Bob Dole's health plan for 100 years?

Yeah, somehow I don't think he's right about that.

[ArcticFox]

51. And tax cuts for billionaires?

And drastically reducing the estate tax?

Somehow I think he's wrong on all counts.

[xocet]

78. LOL... n/t

[Hardrada]

138. LOL! Good point.

[No Elephants]

168. Teddy Roosevelt wasn't a Democrat, either. But, who's counting?

[Smashcut]

184. LOL

:thumbsup:

[nichomachus]

14. He IS at his best when he's bashing us

It seems like he kind of enjoys it.

[Ruperto31]

192. Yes, that's when he hits the peak of oratorical eloquence. nt

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Ah yes. Always right on target, that Obama fella is.

That's it. You hit back at the left. That'll show 'em.

feh

[Dr.Phool]

36. I voted for this guy, and all I got was this black eye.

Now, it's primary or nobody.

You can only screw your own family over so many times before they disown you.

[okieinpain]

44. now that is funny. black eye.... n/t.

[Egnever]

16. GOBAMA!

Pure awesomeness!

[Joe Bacon]

29. GOPBAMA is more like it.

I sure am glad that I voted for Kucinich in the primary. Obama is more of a sellout every day. I'm just waiting for him to follow in the footsteps of his pal LIEberman and create an America For Obama Party in 2012...

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

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[Liberalynn]

145. He's welcome to go

right where he belongs, to the Republican party. He can have beers with his good buddies Mitch and the Boner.

[October]

18. Why does he NEVER talk to the repubs like that

This is (at least) the second dressing down anyone on the left of center has had to tolerate.

How condescending! I'm ticked. It's taken a long time, but I'm really ticked off!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

22. You missed the part about him accusing the Republicans of "hostage-taking"?

That's pretty damning on them compared to what he said about the left of center IMHO.

[Lucky 13]

45. Since you said it again, I'll say it again: I'd rather be called that then told to STFU

And that's what progressives just got told. Again. he gave them the power to be hostage takers. The rethugs don't give a fuck what you call them. But when you turn on your base, it's putting salt in the wound.

[October]

63. Thank you, Lucky 13!

He called them "hostage takers" because that's what they are! It's not damning enough, IMHO. How dare Obama call anyone in his own party -- or even a bit to his left! -- "purists?" Incredulous! The very people who put him in office deserve better than to be condescended to.

Even the GOP'ers treat the TeaPartiers with more respect.

[atreides1]

64. Okay

But wasn't it Senator Menendez of New Jersey, who said that dealing with the Republicans was like negotiating with terrorists?

Or words to that effect.

[sabrina 1]

69. Since most of us knew they were 'hostage takers' BEFORE the

election, we voted for Democrats to put a stop to their tactics.

Unemployment benefits should never have been allowed to be tied to the Bush Tax Cuts.

Social Security should never have been allowed to be tied to the deficit.

It was in his hands to control those issues, AND he had the power to do so.

We, the 'lesser people' as his Co-Chair of the Deficit Commission refers to us as, were very familiar with the tactics of Republicans. Why wasn't he?

He just added billions to the Deficit he claims to be trying to reduce.

And his Republican friends are calling this a 'surrender'.

Up next, SS. What will he have to say when he 'surrenders' on SS?

[Carolina]

98. Excellent post and so true

:hi:

[customerserviceguy]

108. The payroll tax 'holiday' is a surrender

How does it help shore up the Social Security System? Besides, the Making Work Pay credit was tax help for poorer folks, the 'holiday' benefits those making the top of the wage scale more than anybody.

[frylock]

90. i'm sure they're crying all the way to the bank

[liberation]

120. It would have been "damning" if it wasn't for the whole part where he paid the ransom

BTW, that was a single "ill worded" reference to the GOP, in a presser devoted to basically telling progressives to go pound sand.

It is no longer even a proposition of the glass being half full or half empty, but a couple of drops left in the glass being taunted as the glass being full to the rim.

[No Elephants]

169. Give me $700 billion, plus and call me a hostage taker vs. breaking your very important promise

to me,one that my grandkids will pay for, then scolding and insulting me for 20 minutes having the temerity to mentioning it.

Yeah, one's much worse.

Oh, and Democrats are supposed to fight Republicans.

Hey, it's not my fault he chose the worst course by deciding to insult both sides. Meanwhile, Boehner is so busy laughing and holding his splitting sides, he may not even have noticed.

Would Boehner, Cantor, et al. want this deal, even if they knew a Dem POTUs would call them "hostage takers" after? You bet. They'd exploit his foolishness on both counts.

Would Dems want this deal, knowing a Dem POTUS would tell them to sit down and shut up after? Hell, no. Dems wouldn't want this deal, even if they knew he'd call them "sweetheart" after (as he damn well should).

Worst. False. Equivalency. Ever.

[Doctor_J]

178. But then he gave in to the hostage-takers

their extortion worked.

[tavalon]

129. It's been far more than twice

We are regularly dressed down while the Republicans get conciliation.

[No Elephants]

173. If we had a good public option, no mandates, fair taxation, he could call me whatever

he wanted. And if he threw in some FDR work programs, getting the hell out of Iraq and Afghanistan and doing really meaningful things about climate change, I'd sign over my home.

[ixion]

20. Obama coddles the GOP, lashes out as his base

typical.

[Alhena]

21. Negotiating with hostage takers is exactly what he did ...

he should have stood on principle and given the American people credit for being smart enough to realize that their taxes were being raised because Republicans wanted to help the rich. And the Republicans would have caved by February- this issue is a loser for them and the polls showed that clearly.

[EnviroBat]

23. If it sounds like bullshit, and it looks like bullshit...

I'm done with this guy.

[Unvanguard]

24. Negotiating with hostage takers only encourages them to take more hostages.

But clearly the problem is that we have not done enough compromising with the Republicans. :eyes:

[Javaman]

26. He's the best liberal basher the repukes have. nt

[wisteria]

27. I usually support our President, but on this decision I am deeply disapointed.

Why is it he can be defiant to his base, but he can't be defiant to Republicans? We helped elect him to defend our ideal-not the Republicans.

[Ruperto31]

193. It's good to have a black President.

And he is not an embarrassing buffoon like Bush.

But that's all Obama has going for him, innit?

[marasinghe]

28. guess we've gone beyond the rest of the campaign promises; the public option among others. n/t

[thereismore]

31. So he considers this to be a "victory for the American people." We'll see. nt

[krispos42]

32. "a" provision we didn't get?

:rofl:


Obama, the best thing you can do is to do nothing. Let them expire.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

55. Yeah, I liked that too.

It was the only thing that made a mandate even a tiny bit tolerable. And he planned on giving that one away from the get-go.

[ibegurpard]

87. yeah, just the entire half of the equation that would have made mandates palatable.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

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[fascisthunter]

35. He just doesn't get it

or he doesn't want to....

[elocs]

37. Lashing out at Liberal critics. Wow! What a brilliant strategy. 3D chess at its best.

At this point I am beginning to believe that the left of the Democratic Party, those truly Liberals and Progressives, have lost all faith in Obama and are unlikely to believe any of his promises or words anymore.

Its looking more and more like in 2013 that the Republicans will control everything. Two years ago, who would have thunk it?

[fascisthunter]

38. Save it for the people you compromised with

I certainly do not care what you say anymore. I will NEVER vote for a moderate or centrist ever again.

[No Elephants]

175. From now on, I;m plugging my ears during primary season and listening only when they run

for the general--and even then.....

While running for the general, Obama promised public option, no mandates and no tax cuts for those making over $250K.

Honestly, I always thought that was the wrong cut off point. A family of six in Manhattan living on $250k a year is not a tear jerker, but is far from obscene or exploitative. If he had raised the number to $500K, I would not have quibbled. But I think he did not want want to raise taxes on anyone during a recession and wanted to blame the Republicans for his breaking his promise.

i think we have Timmeh to thank for the "compromise," and Obama to thank for the snark.

[Name removed]

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[Roland99]

40. Yeah...and where did that public option wind up, Obama? HMMMM????

:mad:

[mlevans]

42. I expect it'll just get ignored, but I sent him this earlier today.

Dear Mr. President,

Congratulations! You've accomplished something no one else has ever been able to do. You've made me feel embarrassed to be a Democrat.

When we worked so hard to get you elected, we thought you were a determined fighter who would stand up for the ideals we shared. This latest caving in to the Republicans shows just how sadly mistaken we were. We thought you were smarter than George Bush too, but even he would have figured out early on that the opposition wasn't going to cooperate and would have started playing hardball. That's another dismal revelation that I could have done without.

At 2,500 characters I can't say all that is on my mind and in my heart right now. I will just say that I am bitterly disappointed.

Sincerely,
Morgan L Evans

[defendandprotect]

61. As they say ....

"You can only really be betrayed by those closest to you" --

Bush couldn't get a lot of things done -- Obama can --

Did you really think right wing would play fair?




LOL to all of us !!

[tavalon]

130. I'm not embarrassed to be a Democrat

I'm embarrassed that I thought him a Democrat.

[Ruperto31]

194. He's a Democrat. So are Blue Dog Democrats.

Unfortunately, the Democratic Party is a big tent.

[tavalon]

195. So big, we left the tent flaps open and fake ones walked in

Fake ones who share more with Republicans than Democrats.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

47. he is very brave when it comes to lashing out at the left

[pattmarty]

48. That's it for me, I'm done.

[pezDispenser]

49. Its him that misses the point

Nobody was fighting for 100 years to allow 26 year olds on their parents insurance. When he gives away things we have been fighting for (single payer, public option, etc) it most certainly is a sign of compromise.

I wish we had a real 3rd party option in this country, but then I guess we'd just get screwed by 3 parties instead of 2.

[caraher]

50. Isn't this self-contradictory?

"This isn't the politics of the moment, this has to do with what can we get done right now."

Isn't that the very DEFINITION of "politics of the moment?"

I appreciate that he was in a tough spot in many ways, but that sentence makes no sense.

[Jakes Progress]

52. I was wondering if anyone else saw this Washington doublespeak.

[Doc Martin]

53. Nothing wrong with compromise

IF you start by advocating strongly for and rallying others around what you want! Once you do that, you can respectfully listen to and maybe even learn from the other side. But you have to start by standing for something!

[dgibby]

81. Bingo!

I heard Howard Fineman tell Keith(I think) or one of the other MSNBC hosts that Obama had given up on this at least 2wks ago and that the GOP knew it.

If there's one thing that distresses me most about Obama is that he throws in the towel before the bell has even been rung.

[Art_from_Ark]

115. Why am I reminded of this Monty Python sketch?

Announcer: "Boxing Tonight" comes from the Empire Pool, Wembley, and features the main heavyweight bout between Jack Bodell, British and Empire Heavyweight Champion, and Sir Kenneth Clark. It's the first time these two have met, so there should be some real action tonight.

(ding)

Clark: This, then, is the height of the English Renaissance, the triumph of Classical over Gothic... the... (boof)

Announcer: He's down! Sir Kenneth Clark is down in eight seconds! But he's up again... he's up at six...

Clark: The almost ordered facades of Palladio's villas reflects the... (boof)

Announcer: And he's down again! And I don't think he's going to get up this time...
...eight... nine... ten!

No, so Jack Bodell has defeated Sir Kenneth Clark in the very first round here tonight, and so this big Lincolnshire heavyweight becomes the new Oxford Professor of Fine Art.

[tavalon]

131. I call it "show belly" politics

Anyone who has a dog knows this reference to submissive dog behavior.

[No Elephants]

176. He'll stand for re-election.

[lunatica]

54. I thought he asked us to 'make' him do what we want. To hold his feet to the fire

I must have totally misunderstood. He must have said 'you can't make me do what you want'. Note to self: must get checkup on my hearing.

[dgibby]

82. Our mistake was in thinking he was talking to us,

when, in actuality, it was the repukes he was addressing.

[No Elephants]

179. OOooops. I replied before I saw your post. Guess we had the same thought.

[No Elephants]

177. No, you heard right. Your mistake was assuming he was addressing himself to Democrats.

[Roy Rolling]

57. The Republicans win

The Republicans win by having the remaining progressives abandon Obama for caving. Not that Obama picks up support from Rush Limbaugh or Sarah Palin types, but this will end support for him in his own party. The Republicans gave Obama the hammer to hit himself over the head with. Did he not see that coming?

[PSzymeczek]

103. If he is the nominee,

I'll vote for him, but only because the alternative is intolerable.

[defendandprotect]

58. Lashing out at Liberals again .... I want a RECALL on Obama ....

and a RECALL on Biden, as well --

We need a new liberal Democratic administration --

Liberal Dems -- step up please and challenge this outrageous administration!!

[harvey007]

59. Obama will do what the elites tell him to do

And this latest deal proves it (once again).

[JJ]

60. Uhhhh, pssst, Mr. President....

"what can we get done right now" IS THE DEFINITION of "politics of the moment."

facepalm

I fuckin' quit

[Name removed]

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[Plucketeer]

66. Yeah, and he keeps resisting critisisms

regarding the GREAT Health Care Reform he crafted too. The Federal Subsizing of Health Insurance Plan. :crazy:

[FreeStateDemocrat]

67. Even bu$h the idiot wasn’t imprudent enough to alienate his base.

[shawn703]

68. What an idiot

Basically he just told the Republicans they can get what they want if they hold the American people hostage. Guess what's going to happen when they want to slash entitlements or protect their big business buddies? They'll make sure they filibuster in the Senate to ensure the House versions pass, because they know Obama will cut the deal and send Biden to twist arms in the Senate. If he doesn't see why this weakens him in the future he is not the right Democrat for the job.

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

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[ForeignSpectator]

73. Calling the repubs hostage takers... does that make obama a hostage negotiator?

Now there's a picture...

"Of course let them go, give 'em the jet they want and call back the SWAT team, we got a 'compromise' to reach here boys!"

[bajamary]

74. what a whimp

it is Obama who is being sanctimonious by attacking the progressive dems.

Obama simply gave the GOP everything they wanted. Everything .

History shows us that other presidents , namely FDR, did fight against seemingly unsurmount able odds and he WON.

The protracted battle to create Frances Perkins' dream, otherwise known as Social Security, was considered to be absolutely unwinnable - not a snow balls chance in hell, as they said at the time.

But they stood and fought and they WON.

No amount of Obama excuses by saying that "the odds were against us" is necessary.

When you know the history of what Frances Perkins and FDR created, Obama is a mere shadow, and a very pale one at that.”

[katty]

75. Mitch McConnell pledge: get rid of Obama - Obama is HELPING

him do just that-just hand over the Oval Office to the GOP, why bother with another dog and pony show election?

[Dr.Phool]

102. Obama thought it was an order, and complied.

[davhill]

197. I hope Obama announces soon that he will not run for reelection

in so the Democrats will have enough time to put forward a real presidential candidate.

[russspeakeasy]

76. Bite me Big Guy !!!

[and-justice-for-all]

80. He is compromising to much instead of kicking people in the nuts

and doing what needs to be done. I would rather hear him giving the repukes a tongue lashing about the mess that they caused and then continue to peddle the same lame ass polices that got us here.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

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[PassingFair]

86. He will gut social security next.

I'm done with him as well.

[Liberalynn]

147. What next.?

He's all ready starting. The 2 percent payroll Holiday, the Obama appointed commission that is recomending no increases in SS benefits, raising the retirment age, private savings accts, etc. He is already starting the gutting. He's not waiting.

[Phlem]

89. "Obama Hits Back at His Liberal Critics"

Add that to the growing list of "things he did not have to do".

He's really making sure he's a 1 term president.

-p

[ooglymoogly]

91. 0 is systematically destroying SS.

Stealing the half trillion to pay for his bogus backroom deal wealthcare plan, then the Catfood Commission to steal even more; now cynically pitting the working class against the elderly with a new payroll deduction to deplete and weaken SS for the final kill; to sugar coat his calumny just so the profligate tax cut for the rich will go down easier. This man is a dangerous fool and he thinks we are all fools. Grandstanding on what is right then behind the curtain doing what is evil. I puke at the site of this man.

This is not about a choice between working people and the elderly; it is whether he can steal more from SS and the economy to pay for the taxcut for the rich by borrowing and stealing the same way Herr. Bu$h did it.

The false dichotomy is a brainless attempt to divide us and take our eyes off the ball, while the real crime is going down.

[wackywaggin]

134. Absolutely correct!!

Heretic Wack!!

[WatchWhatISay]

92. I'm done with him

[SteveM]

93. Obama and the Democratic Party have their priorities:

(1) Demonstrating to corporate power (both in America and abroad) that they are not a threat to any of its goals and interests;
(2) Dis-associating themselves (along with MSM) from any belief/group which can be conceivably termed "Left;"
(3) Keeping the notion of being a Democrat as hazy and ill-defined as possible; and
(4) Not picking a fight with the Far Right (GOP) out of fear of losing it all.

And that is all.

[MasonJar]

94. Tax Cuts

All Obama has done is try to compromise with the Pugs. It never works out well for the majority of us. I have several Pug friends who would have been fine with the richest, those making over a million a year, getting their tax breaks sliced. He doesn't stand strong. The Pugs have his number.

[Name removed]

95. Deleted message

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[madrchsod]

99. i guess he thinks the great undecided will elect him in 2012

[krabigirl]

101. Meh, what about the trampling of our civil liberties? He doesn't give two hoots about that.

[Name removed]

104. Deleted message

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[Gore1FL]

105. "This isn't the politics of the moment, this has to do with what can we get done right now."

I believe that could be easily translated to:

"This isn't the politics of the moment, this is the politics of the moment."

[EFerrari]

111. LOL, yeah -- "You know that other time I was wrong,

this is the same thing."

[tavalon]

132. Pretty much

[Fool Count]

106. Isn't "politics of the moment" defined as "what can we get done right now"?

I am confused.

[Optimistic]

109. This is because Obama is the Most Right Wing Prez Ever

[JDPriestly]

113. Extending the middle class tax cuts -- but at what price?

Is he going to turn around and cut middle class Social Security benefits?

I wish he would negotiate in public. Maybe if we saw what he is doing, we could have some confidence. But as it is, his "negotiations" look more like giveaways than anything else.

His statements are intellectually dishonest.

It would be much smarter on his part to apologize to us for his inability to do the right thing and then blame it on the Republicans.

Trying to frame this horrible deal which will drive up our deficit and hurt our country as something positive is just dishonest.

[williesgirl]

117. Yesterday, I didn't think I could be more upset or pissed - he proved me wrong today AGAIN. Where I

was really wrong was donating repeatedly to his campaign during the primaries and general election, working my ass off to GOTV in my very red community in a swing state (VA), etc etc etc. I don't regret voting for him over asshole McSame. However, I do think it's past time to find a real Democrat, a progressive/liberal who's not ashamed of being one and shouting it to the rooftops to primary him. That person (if he or she exists today) will have all of my support and donations, not this turncoat or Repuke Lite.

I'm sickened and soooo pissed! The only time he's grown a set of balls in 2 years is when he's bitching about and to us!

[rug]

119. He talks as if he posts in GDP.

"because there was a provision in there that they didn't get...somehow that was a sign of weakness and compromise."

$70,000,000,000 a year is quite the provision.

[No Elephants]

180. AND a higher estate tax benefit than Bush had at thr end.

[tavalon]

121. Way to use the bully pulpit

At least we now know that you know how to use it.

[Fearless]

127. Makes one think the party he's routing for at this point. ...Sickening... utterly sickening.

[unkachuck]

133. "He lashed out at his critics on the left,..."

....oh, I see Mr. Prez, it's your Progressive base that's your enemy, not Republicans....

....and I suppose it's okay for Progressives to continue to support you?....and to continue to expect little or nothing in return?

....todays' news conference spoke volumes about you, Mr. Prez.

[lonestarnot]

135. You can do some fancy talking there Mr. President, twisting words into different positions,

but you will not twist my opinion about what you did not do. You may as well hand them a blank check for the rest of it Mr. President if you haven't done that already.

[Name removed]

137. Deleted message

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[Hardrada]

140. Some of us aren't liberals but tend toward the Real Left

(Anarcho-syndicalism, Marxism, Democratic Socialism) and we have never trusted BHO. I know that politicians are just window dressing and that capitalism can only be destroyed militarily or maybe by massive General Strikes but certainly by the end of Oil.

[unkachuck]

141. Welcome to DU, M.Bastiat....

"But when I consider Presidents O's stance on taxes, gitmo, Iraq, Afghanistan, ... its like GW never left."

....amazing, I was thinking exactly the same thought....are you sure you're not a left leaning Progressive?

[Gormy Cuss]

139. In the outside chance that someone in the White House is assigned to read DU, I'll comment thus:

Mr. President:
We aren't your enemy. Stop treating liberal criticism as some equivalent to Republican and conservative criticism. We're the ones who had enough faith in you to pull the lever in the voting booth. Our support is yours to lose. Do you really think it serves you or the party to alienate us?

[No Elephants]

181. We didn't only pull levers. We donated and volunteered.

I feel so naive.

[Rex]

142. So if what we can get done RIGHT NOW ain't 'politics of the moment'

then what is it?

[PurityOfEssence]

152. Literally incoherent, isn't it?

This isn't expediency, it's convenience.

This is getting embarrassing.

[No Elephants]

183. I think I know what he means, but it's false, unless Democratic politics from FDR to Carter =

"politics of the moment.'

IMO, he's saying we are advocating sacrificing what can actually get done today for pure ideology--one that happens to be in vogue right now.

OK, still doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense.

Never mind.

p.s. I just love how he always pretends that whatever he does is the best any human being could possibly have done and our only choice is that or zero. Talk about a false dichotomy.

[humbled_opinion]

143. Damn it...

All the Democrats are at fault not just Obama.... Look they all knew for a decade that these tax cuts were going to expire in 2010. Why didn't they deal with the issue 2 years ago? They easily could have passed a retention of the cuts for those making under 250K and cancellation.... hell they probably could have even raised higher the taxes of those making over 250K.... But no... the focus was instead on accomodation and playing nice with CONS and the focus was on a watered down Heathcare reform that is probably going to get repealed.. what a joke.... Now because Democrats failed to act earlier...we come to the tipping point, where the CONS can use the tax increase that will inevitably come on 01JAN11 as a political hammer to beat the lame duck Dems to over the head with.

Fools and incompetents... thats what playing nice gets you....

But what irks me the most and I heard it at work today from the NEOCON teabaggers I work with.... "At least Bush had the balls to stand on his convictions" i.e., When Bush said he was surging troope in Iraq and 80 percent of the American people opposed that plan and Bush's poll numbers tanked into the 20's and Democrats took control of the Congress in Jan 2007, Bush still got his surge......

[Liberalynn]

144. He's in denial

Negotiating never works. They will just find another way to harm the hostages no matter what concessions you give them. That is what hostage takers do because they have no sense of honor or decency or conscience. He's like Neville Chamberlin in World War II thinking that the appeasement policies would end German agression.

If he doesn't know that he is unforgiveably naive and not Presidential material. He is good at making excuses and touting his fantasy victories to himself. I will give him that. I am just not buying them anymore.

[Name removed]

150. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

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[PSPS]

148. Well, it's obvious whose side Obama is on, isn't it?

I don't recall bush ever "hit back at his conservative critics."

[QC]

189. It's been obvious for years, but most of the people here who saw it and said so

got hounded off the site.

[KillCapitalism]

151. George W. Bush's third term. n/t

[No Elephants]

182. I've seen it as a cross between Bush's third term and Bubba's third term.

Just look at the vast majority of his appointments--Clinton re-treads, Bush re-treads, and Chicago buddies.

[yurbud]

153. he missed the point: the more incremental and obtuse the change, the easier it will be for

the GOP to undo it.

[Heywood J]

164. I wondered what would happen to the "underground" part of this site

when a Democrat won the Oval Office. Now I know - it's still just as necessary.

[dmosh42]

171. Resullt of negotiation=he gets(unemploymnent(18B)& Repukes($1.4 trillion over 2 yrs)

Plus now because we're so deep in deficit, they'll have to cut "entitlements". (Soc. Sec,, Medicare, etc) What a good deal, Mr President!

[Nihil]

185. He's just a juan-term juanker.

"President Obama today defiantly defended his compromise plan to
extend the Bush ........"

(fill in the blanks appropriately depending on what day it is)

:eyes:

[Democat]

186. Obama is a coward.

It seems the guy stands for nothing.

[No Elephants]

187. Yoooooohoooooo, President Obama......

1. Please name one hostage taking situation in which the hostage is not haarmed in any way--physically, mentally, emotionally, or financially. If nothing else, it's a hell of way to lose time and clean underwear.

2. We've known for ten years that these cuts were expiring; and we've known forever, that the Party holding the Oval Office loses midterms. What in hell were y'all waiting on? (Ditto, DADT).

3. Why did you give a bigger estate tax break than existed when you took over in 2009?

4. Why didn't you raise the income number, as Congress wanted--and then force Rethugs to vote on tax breaks for folks making over, say, $500 to 750k a year, while voting against unemployment. Hmmmm? Do you really think they would have? Against the wishes of their own base?

5. Excuse the fuck out of the left for pointing out when you break a huge campaign promise and give the rich one huge bail out after another, whether they need it or not, while throwing cake crumbs to workers. These tax breaks cost more in two years than your health insurer bailout bill will cost in ten years. And I just can't wait to see what's going to happen to seniors and the disabled.

6. You did not even get Republicans to promise all Republicans would vote for this "compromise." Two years a line in the sand. LMAO. Middle class tax cuts a line in the sand--as if Republicans would have voted against them. Please. I'm going to miss my last nerve. You're far to the right of frickin' Landrieu and some Senate Republicans on this. Got a fork?

Been a yellow dog Democrat all my damned life. Here's hoping a yellow dog throws his or her hat in the ring soon. Primary's a-coming.

[young but wise]

188. Good for Obama. He don't have to take people bullshit.

[mvd]

191. Well, that is just plain arrogant

Maybe we supported the public option and the no compromise because they were the right things for the country? He acts like the public option is some unpopular concept that only the most left support.

Also, politics IS a game. Sometimes you've got to play the game. It's a shame that the President doesn't realize this. And the American people are being "held hostage" on every vote if that is true. Every vote affects the public in some way.

I want you to do well, Mr. President, but please put the contempt where it belongs.