President Obama Blames Republicans - John Boehner Squeals

[ProSense]

President Obama Blames Republicans - John Boehner Squeals

by eXtina

You know the Republicans are losing the negotiating battle and the PR battle over the so-called 'so-called fiscal cliff". President Obama is taking full advantage of his decisive electoral victory and using the bully pulpit to shame the Republicans into doing something, or at least knowing they will be held responsible for middle class taxes going up.

In a statement after President Obama's brutal (to Republicans) interview on Meet the Press, Speaker Boehner tried 'rebuking' President Obama for casting blame for no deal on the 'cliff' firmly on the Republicans.

“Americans elected President Obama to lead, not cast blame," Boehner said in a Sunday statement. "The president’s comments today are ironic, as a recurring theme of our negotiations was his unwillingness to agree to anything that would require him to stand up to his own party. Needed cuts and reforms that the president agreed to just last year were no longer on the table, as he cited an inability to sell them to Democrats."

Boehner continued: "Republicans made every effort to reach the ‘balanced’ deficit agreement that the president promised the American people, while the president has continued to insist on a package skewed dramatically in favor of higher taxes that would destroy jobs. We’ve been reasonable and responsible. The president is the one who has never been able to get to 'yes.'"

It's ironic that Boehner is calling the President's comments 'ironic', since he has already unsuccessfully tried the tactic of claiming that Obama is refusing to stand up to the Democratic party to make the needed cuts to entitlements (that don't affect the deficit).

In fact, President Obama put chained CPI Social Security benefit cuts on the table, in a move that was completely unnecessary. Boehner didn't snatch that great offer when he had the chance and is now trying to get that back on the table.

Just as a reminder here is what President Obama said about the Republicans' negotiating tactics:

<...>

"We have been talking to the Republicans ever since the election was over. They have had trouble saying yes to a number of repeated offers," Obama said. "[S]o far, at least, Congress has not been able to get this stuff done. Not because Democrats in Congress don't want to go ahead and cooperate, but because I think it's been very hard for Speaker Boehner and Republican Leader McConnell to accept the fact that taxes on the wealthiest Americans should go up a little bit, as part of an overall deficit reduction package."

Even NY Times conservative columnist David Brooks backed up the President's assessment:

"Most of the blame still has to go to the Republicans," Brooks said. "They've had a brain freeze since the election. They have no strategy. They don't know what they want. They haven't decided what they want."

The Republicans are flailing. Little squeals from John Boehner will not convince Americans otherwise.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/30/1174888/-President-Obama-Blames-Republicans-John-Boehner-Squeals

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[Angry Dragon]

1. is the weeping boner turning into the squealing boner??

'that would require him to stand up to his own party' boner says
but the boner can not stand up to his party

[Cha]

2. Wow, David Brooks comes through, of all people..

"Most of the blame still has to go to the Republicans," Brooks said. "They've had a brain freeze since the election. They have no strategy. They don't know what they want. They haven't decided what they want."

[DollarBillHines]

4. That's been his take since the election.

Brooks is a true conservative, not some neo-con or 'bagger. While I rarely agree with him, it has been good to see him stand his ground.

[Thinkingabout]

3. Since bill concerning budget should originate in the House with Boehner as Speaker

And the majority in the House is Republican then where would one look to be responsible to send a bill to the Senate, it would be Republicans. Boehner can nit even get his plan B through the House with Republican vote. If Boehner would propose a bill to the liking of Democrats he
get it passed. It is the bone head TP holding Boehner from passing anything. If Nancy Pelosi was still speaker I am sure more would get passed, she knew how to get the job completed. It falls on Republicans all the way.

[zbdent]

5. "brain freeze since the election" ...

too bad the "liberally-biased media" doesn't report that the "election" in question was the 2010 midterm ... the Repugs have done NOTHING but b*tch since their "mandate" ...