"Dems increasingly call it a ‘Republican Congress’"

[Pirate Smile]

Dems increasingly call it a ‘Republican Congress’

By Alexander Bolton - 10/27/11 05:00 AM ET

President Obama and Democrats on Capitol Hill are increasingly referring to the Congress as “Republican” even though their party controls one-half of the unpopular institution.
Obama and his allies have started to deploy the phrase “Republican Congress” in what some experts see as a clear attempt to gain a political advantage.

-snip-
Is it a harmless slip of the tongue, or a subtle messaging strategy? Political experts believe it’s the latter.
“I think it’s to convey a message and I think it’s great they’re doing it. There’s so much dissatisfaction in Washington. It’s very important for Democrats to label that dissatisfaction. It’s important to say who’s being the obstructionist and who has real plans,” said Democratic pollster Celinda Lake.

Darrell West, director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, said, “Democrats are trying to give ownership of Congress to Republicans because the institution is dysfunctional and not addressing the jobs problem, and this is a way to tie blame to the GOP.”
Political scientists have said that Obama is using a game plan similar to that used by Presidents Truman and Clinton. Both won their reelection by railing about Congress. The difference, however, is that both chambers in 1948 and 1996 were controlled by Republicans.

-snip
“Democrats aren’t in charge. The House is obviously run by Republicans, and in the Senate, we have 53 Democrats but the system now is set up so that you need 60 votes to do anything,” Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said in a C-SPAN “Newsmakers” interview that aired Sunday.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/190107-dems-increasingly-call-it-a-republican-congress

[still_one]

1. It is a republican congress. When you the likes of ben nelson, LIEberman and others, that is

what it is

Even in 2008, when in NAME only we had the majority, there were enough so-called democrats in congress who would not vote for basic progressive legislation

the hill may like to present this broad brush, but it is a distortion of reality

Hill has a right wing slant, so I would except less from them in their presentation of this

[democrat_patriot]

2. Republicans control the house, and have the filibuster. It is Republican.

They can and do block whatever they wish.

I've been waiting for this forever!

[Pirate Smile]

3. Yep. It is true. Nothing can move in either side of Congress without Republican say so.

[Tiggeroshii]

9. exactly. to say Democrats have a whole half is blatantly deceptive....

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. About damned time they called it what it is. nt

[Enrique]

5. this is what the 9% looks like

9% approval rating, that is.

[State the Obvious]

6. At last! nt

[polichick]

7. It's good messaging - and it's true. It's also true that some Dems are...

...obstructionist and should be voted out asap.

[GOTV]

8. It's long past time Obama stopped complaining about "congress" in general and got specific ...

... why was he afraid to do this for so long?