Ridiculous non-story of the day: ("end of my Presidency" rumor)

[Clio the Leo]

Everyone is going absolutely bonkers over Dem Rep. Peter DeFazio's claim that Obama privately told House Dems that if they don't support the tax deal it could mean the end of his presidency.

But when you dig into what DeFazio actually said, it turns out he didn't even have any conversation with the President. He is basing this claim on what a single other House member told him. And he won't even name that member. Until more evidence emerges, put this one down as complete nonsense.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/the_morning_plum_152.html

[Raine1967]

1. More misinformation, being spun by the media.

From the CNN report -- where it originated:

In an interview with CNN's Eliot Spitzer on "Parker Spitzer," DeFazio said "The White House is putting on tremendous pressure, making phone calls; the president's making phone calls saying that's the end of his presidency if he doesn't get this bad deal."

Asked by CNN's Kathleen Parker if he had personally received such a phone call, DeFazio said he had not, adding, "I won't name the members cause they said this to me, you know, not for public disclosure, I talked to one member who had that call."

<...>

"I think this is potentially the end of his possibility of getting reelected if he gets this deal and it's a trap," DeFazio said. "It's a trap on social security and on progressivity in our tax system, and a tax on huge cuts to programs we care about because this adds half a trillion bucks to the deficit next year."
White House spokesman Amy Brundage countered DeFazio's comments.

"He hasn’t said anything remotely close to that and he’s never talked with DeFazio about the issue," Brundage said.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/15/dem-obama-says-not-passing-tax-deal-would-be-end-of-his-presidency/

In other words-- it's FAZIO saying this, not the President.

[emulatorloo]

4. "I talked to one member who had that call." LOL

He should have tried "I dunno, but I read it on the INTERNET!"

[brentspeak]

5. DeFazio doesn't have a history of making things up

Obama, on the other hand...

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/obama-demands-the-bill-i-sign-must-include-public-option.php">"Any plan I sign must include...a public option"

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/us/politics/08obama.html">September, 2010: Obama firmly against a compromise on Bush tax cuts

http://belowthebeltway.com/2007/08/22/barack-obama-flunks-geopolitics/">"I would immediately call the president of Mexico, the president of Canada, to try to amend NAFTA"

has zero credibility.

Conclusion: DeFazio's telling the truth.

[phleshdef]

7. Then why is he thus far REFUSING to answer any questions about it?

Your attempt to conflate falling short on policy with whether or not the President made a specific statement in private is desperate at best. Your argument doesn't fly. Politicians say a lot of things that they find out aren't deliverable once they get a taste of the reality. That sort of thing never has been and never will be a valid measure of a politician's honesty. And you aren't actually so naive that you believe it is anyway.

[Clio the Leo]

2. WH shooting down the story...

White House spokesperson Amy Brundage flatly denies the story, emailing: "The President hasn't said anything remotely close to that and he's never talked with DeFazio about the issue."
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/the_morning_plum_152.html

[Raine1967]

3. Greg Sargent just tweeted

@ThePlumLineGS
Weird. DeFazio's spox won't answer emails asking whether he stands by his claim about what Obama told House Dems



Wierd my arse. I like DeFazio, but this is just wrong of him.

[Scurrilous]

6. Thanks.

K & R :thumbsup:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. If The Deal Falls Apart

If the deal falls apart, the Dems get the blame, and the recession lingers he will be a one term president. Anybody who thinks a president of either party can be reelected with ten percent unemployment is ignoring seventy years worth of history.

Those are the stakes.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

9. But fabrications and innuendo are catnip for many people here.

Why are you ruining their fun? :cry:

[Arkana]

10. What the fuck?

Why would DeFazio lie about this?