Obama challenges Republicans to explain opposition to jobs bill

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

President Obama urged U.S. senators Thursday to pass his jobs bill and warned Republicans who oppose the measure that they will have to explain their opposition “to me, and more importantly, to their constituencies” at a time of mounting economic uncertainty.

During a late-morning news conference, Obama emphasized the support that elements of his $447 billion job-creating proposal have received from both parties in the past. But he also issued an explicit warning to senators, particularly in the Republican Party, that he would make any “no” vote a political issue in the emerging 2012 campaign. Obama also said he was comfortable with a proposal by Senate Democrats to help fund the package through a surcharge on income above $1 million — a provision unlikely to pass.

“I think it’s fair to say that I have gone out of my way in every instance — sometimes at my own political peril and to the frustration of Democrats — to work with Republicans to find common ground to move this country forward,” Obama said. “Each time, what we’ve seen in games-playing, a preference to try to score political points rather than actually get something done.”

After weeks of campaigning outside Washington on behalf of his plan, imploring audiences both in swing states and in GOP territory to urge Congress to “pass this bill,” Obama said he expected the Senate to do so as the economy stalls, dragging down his own political prospects. The vote had been scheduled for next week. But, as Obama spoke, Senate Democrats agreed to a Republican request to put the president’s legislation to a vote later Thursday .

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-challenges-republicans-to-explain-opposition-to-jobs-bill/2011/10/06/gIQAhueMQL_singlePage.html

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Hmm, what could their answer be? The free market will bring back jobs after the government shoo flys off? Or Mitch McConnell's neck will tighten as he resists saying that he wants to crash the economy and make Obama a one-term president?

[Blue Owl]

1. Simply the sound of McConnell's voice makes me want to destroy things

God I hate that fucking prick.

[TheBrainMonster]

2. Think you have it bad?

He's my senator... :(

[alp227]

7. disappointing, and welcome to DU! how's your Dem governor?

It's interesting how Steve Beshear won for governor yet the kooky hyper-libertarian Rand Paul beat Jack Conway.

2007:



2010:



So far I know that Beshear did give tax breaks to a creationist theme park. Anything DINO-ish he did?

[No Elephants]

11. Wow. Those graphics sure make the point. Thanks, Alp.

Clear graphics, inexplicable politics.

[alp227]

16. in the 2007 graphic the red means the Democrat, just so you know...

i got both images from Wikipedia articles about those election.

[qb]

3. As pissed off as I've been at him, I now think Obama's approach to 2012 has been genius.

He can incessantly hammer the GOP, leaving them scrambling to defend themselves.
Meanwhile, with everything Obama has done to enrage his progressive base, there's very little in his first 3 years that the GOP can nail him on.

[madrchsod]

5. david axelrod is no fool

people go on and on about karl rove and his crew but dave and his team are just as good.

[cstanleytech]

9. The whole being pissed at obama thing I dont understand personally.

After all its not his fault the republicans are behaving in such a slimy manner to block and or mutilate legislation he has proposed all in an effort to make sure he losses the next election.

[red dog 1]

14. Republicans want to make sure Obama loses next year.

I agree with you, the Republicans "are behaving in such a slimy manner to block and/ or mutilate legislation he has proposed in an effort to make sure he loses the next election".

That is the stated goal of both Speaker Boehner and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell; they have both openly admitted that defeating Obama next year is their number one priority

However, many Democrats, including such "progressive" Democrats as Mike Malloy, Norman Goldman, and Ed Schultz, all of whom supported Obama before and after he became president; are extremely dis-satisfied with his performance so far, as am I.

The Republicans can't be blamed for the many campaign promises he has broken; such as
a) He promised to end both wars..........both wars are still going on.
b) He promised to reform the Patriot Act........He extended the Patriot Act
without any reforms.
c) He promised to close Guantanamo........."Gitmo" is still open
d) He promised "to end the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and make the largest
corporations pay their fair share ...(2/3rd s of US corporations pay zero
federal taxes ....www.money.cnn.com/2008/08/12/news/economy/corporate_taxes

e) At a campaign rally in 2007, then Senator Obama said:
"Understand this. If American workers are denied the right to organize and
collectively bargain while I'm in the White House, I'll walk on that picket
line as President of the United States"
Despite efforts by state-level Republicans in Wisconsin, Tennessee, Michigan
Ohio, Maine, Florida, and Indiana to curtail collective bargaining rights,
the President has yet to appear at a single protest or picket line.

Don't get me wrong....I, like you, still support President Obama; and I hope and pray that he somehow is able to get s Jobs Bill passed in Congress and also get the top 1% to finally pay their fair share of taxes; although I just don't see how any of this will happen with a Republican controlled House, and a Senate that will filibuster any bill the Republicans don't like.
But you can't blame it ALL on the other party.
The broken promises I listed above were not due to any Republican action or inaction; they were due to the fact that the man I voted for has not done what he promised to do...period!
I'm not "pissed at Obama"; but, like many other progressive Democrats, I am deeply disappointed.

[cstanleytech]

15. oh I agree, it has been disappointing to watch him

have to shift on some promises he made but really, did you think he would be able to keep all of them? I know I didnt especially after seeing the republicans willing from the first day to wage a war against even the simplest of things he has proposed soon as he was sworn in.

[alp227]

17. the article reports that he'll make Republican opposition an issue in 2012

like Harry Truman's successful "do-nothing Congress" campaign of 1948.

[musiclawyer]

4. He has to call them Sabateurs

1. Just say it. They want tank the ecoonomy. Just say it.

2. Unleash the DOJ against all the voting suppressors. You know they are chomping at the bit. Maybe not Eric (wuss) Holder, but the career prosecutors are.

3. Finally and most overlooked. Remind the world that a GOP House does nothing and will do nothing. Therefore you need a demorcratic house back that will work for the american people. Wash rinse repeat.

Then odds of winning in 2012 go way up.

[madrchsod]

6. i think the doj and federal prosecutors will start now that it`s federal election time

[Cool Logic]

8. Gee, if he is going to leave one hanging out over the plate like that...

someone will surely hit it out of the park.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[thelordofhell]

12. Dear Mr. Obama

You're Black

Sincerely,
The Republicans

[Uncle Joe]

13. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, alp.