As Obama grows stronger, GOP rhetoric becomes extreme

[babylonsister]

Whine much? Pretty cheezy.


http://www.mcclatchydc.com/politics/story/67160.html

As Obama grows stronger, GOP rhetoric becomes extreme

By David Lightman | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — To many Republicans, President Barack Obama's first hundred days have been a period of apocalyptic agony.

"The most harmful budget in American history," a "GOP Leader Alert" from Republicans in the House of Representatives declared recently.

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana called the Democrats' global warming proposals, "legislation that could change the complexion and economic fortunes of the heartland of this country for generations."

Analysts said that such rhetoric is typical of a political party or movement that feels it's not being heard and is growing increasingly frustrated.

"They're floundering, and when you get your two seconds in front of a microphone, you have to go for the Hail Mary pass," said Tobe Berkovitz, an expert on political advertising at Boston University.

Republicans in Washington haven't been this outnumbered since the early 1990s. The Democrats have a 78-seat House majority and, with Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter's defection Tuesday from the GOP, they'll control 59 Senate seats, one shy of the 60 that are needed to limit debate under Senate rules. They'll get the 60th seat if Minnesota Democrat Al Franken is seated after a protracted post-election legal battle.

snip//

On Wednesday, the GOP was at it again, this time with a new Internet ad released just before the president's news conference.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee ad shows Obama saying, "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear," then lists Cabinet nominees who had income tax problems before segueing into Chavez hollering, "Go to hell 100 times." At the same time, the viewer sees pictures of Obama and Chavez warmly greeting each other.

"And that's just the first 100 days," the ad says.