"Fiery Obama defends his tax deal with GOP"

[Bluebear]

One day after announcing a framework for a deal that would preserve the very tax cuts for the wealthy that he promised would be allowed expire, a fiery President Obama today defended the agreement, saying that he did not want to hurt the American people or the economy with a protracted political fight.

Under the agreement -- which has angered many Democrats, especially in the House -- the Bush-era tax rates would be extended for two years for people at all income levels, unemployment insurance would be extended for 13 months, and payroll taxes would be temporarily. According to a fact sheet provided by the White House, the deal would allow a typical working family to avoid a $3,000 tax increase next year.

At a hastily convened news conference in the press briefing room, the president vowed to continue the debate over tax cuts for the rich, saying he would fight to end them when they expire again. In a nod to his pragmatic governing philosophy, Obama said a refusal to compromise on any issue would lead nowhere and he asked members of his own party to remember "this is a long game, not a short game."

"This country was founded on compromise," Obama said. "I couldn't go through the front door at this country's founding. And, you know, if we were really thinking about ideal positions, we wouldn't have a union. So my job is to make sure that we have a North Star out there: What is helping the American people live out their lives?"

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/07/5607281-obama-defends-tax-deal-at-news-conference

[Starry Messenger]

1. Well, there's that fierce advocate we've all heard so much about!

I didn't realize he really meant for the wealthy.

[Bluebear]

2. Now we see what gets him "fired up, ready to go" at least. nt

[kath]

9. Yep - for this he gets "fiery".

Jeebus H. Christ on a Trailer Hitch.
:banghead: :banghead:

[Vincardog]

3. Note to Barack Caving at every opportunity DOES NOT HELP the working people of this or any country

[walldude]

4. Yes the country was founded on "Compromise". However

Compromise does not mean give the opposition every single thing they ask for while in return they give you 25% of what you needed. That in not compromise that is a scam.

[derby378]

6. No we weren't - this country was founded on revolution

Dig out your history books. It's all right there.

[Lorien]

13. Exactly. nt

[walldude]

19. Semantics.

Yes there was a Revolution but the Constitution was written after much debate and compromise. If you are saying that every single one of the signers of the Constitution got everything they wanted when it was written you are sadly mistaken.


I'm on your side about Obama's speech but your argument on compromise is semantics. Obama didn't compromise, he got nothing but unemployment extensions for a few people out of many who needed it, compromise is 50-50, not 90-10.

[derby378]

25. Compromise on slavery and human rights ultimately led to the Civil War

The Democratic Party should be smart enough not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Whatever your views on compromise may be, there are times when compromise is the absolute last thing Americans need.

[KansDem]

5. "...saying he would fight to end them when they expire again."

:rofl:

That would be in the midst of a heated campaign for the White House. How's he going to reverse what he's done while a Repub candidate wants to make them permanent? What's he going to say? "I was against them before I was for them but now I'm against them again?"

I don't think he's thought this through...

[Dawgs]

7. Love it.

:rofl:

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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

[Lorien]

14. That sounded like a line from The Onion. nt

[FiveGoodMen]

16. So who's Lucy and who's Charlie Brown?

[maryf]

22. not sure but Linus lost his security blanket a while ago...nt

[mdmc]

23. 1

[Moondog]

8. Is there any group, any constituency, that this man has not sold out once it was

expedient to do so?

It is getting crowded under that bus.

I am beginning to think the man is a mashup of the worst elements of Jimmy Carter, Robert Mugabe and Elmer Gantry.

[Lorien]

10. To bad his "fire" is never directed AT Republicans

just at those of us in the Party that he still pretends to be a part of.

[Tatiana]

12. I would like to know what the purpose of this "hastily convened" news conference was.

To piss more Democrats and progressives off?

[Lorien]

15. I think that he was letting us know that his heels are dug in

and nothing we do or say will change his mind about siding with the GOP.

[Bluebear]

27. Rub salt into the wound. nt

[truebrit71]

17. Complete and total bullshit from beginning to end...

This country was NOT founded on compromise, and when we voted for change we actually wanted some fucking change...if we wanted to keep the status quo we wouldn't have bothered listening to your campaign lies and showing up to your rallies..

This is a long game? Don't make me laugh..You have no idea how reassured I am that you will fight to the end the tax gifts to the wealthy the NEXT time they expire...Oh sure, why not? What was it the moron who had your job before you couldn't say? Something about 'fool me once...'...Yeah, sorry but you blew your one and only chance. Do you really think we're all so fucking stupid as to believe that you caved now, but when your JOB is on the line in 2012 you're gonna get all Samuel L. Jackson on their asses?

Really? Hey, I was born at night, but it wasn't last night.

Enjoy your one-term Sir, but we need a fighter in the WhiteHouse not a milquetoast half-assed negotiator..

[JackDragna]

26. That's the line that got me, too..

..the whole "compromise" part. Conservatives have fought tooth-and-nail over every damned thing in this country that has been remotely progressive, from civil rights to Social Security to environmental regulations. The president seems to think all of this is quibbling over whether should pass some local bond issue.

[Homer12]

18. He is a failure in my eyes! WHY?

Becasue he will not fight for what he supposedly says he beleives in. Caves to the racist rightwingers who hate him, and gets a raw deal.

Obama has just been bitch slapped. How much more can we take of this?

[WVRICK13]

20. I Bet Dressing Down His Base

is beneficial to him in the long run. He should have refused a compromise and forced the Republicans to own voting down unemployment benefits. The only thing accomplished is the Republicans will now claim ownership of saving unemployment extensions since the Democrats can't frame a single talking point. I heard a man at the barbershop talking about how the Republicans saved his benefits of course I had to set him straight. But he didn't believe me.

[maryf]

21. to hell with a protracted political fight...

to many are fighting to survive...and I don't think this country was founded on compromise as he says...actually can someone translate what the man is saying here at all?

"This country was founded on compromise," Obama said. "I couldn't go through the front door at this country's founding. And, you know, if we were really thinking about ideal positions, we wouldn't have a union. So my job is to make sure that we have a North Star out there: What is helping the American people live out their lives?"

K&R on edit

[Mimosa]

24. Bluebear, even Sen. Mary Landrieu was pissed off

Read this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9716311

[sabrina 1]

28. The Founding Fathers compromised with King George?

Obama: This country was founded on compromise

I know they tried, but they found out something this president can't seem to get, there are some people with whom you simply cannot compromise. They don't understand the concept. To them, Republicans in this case, King George way back when, compromise means 'I get what I want, you might get a few crumbs, unless I can eat them also'.

I guess he's talking about those who joined the revolution, how the FFs worked together even though they had differences.

As always he misses the most important point. THEY all had one goal in common, INDEPENDENCE. Once they agreed on that, then there was room for compromise among themselves.

Republicans have NOTHING in common with Democrats. There has been nothing established as there was BEFORE the revolution. The FFs established one goal all involved agreed upon, they could no longer compromise with King George.

When Democrats realize they cannot compromise with Republicans, THEN they can compromise among themselves.

Republicans = King George

He is asking us to believe that we can negotiate with the modern day equivalent of King George. He reveals a lot about he views the world and history, with that statement.

[Bluebear]

29. +++