Boner wants Obamas speech moved?

[rdking647]

obama should tell boner and the GOP to get bent.
he should speak as orignally planned. If the GOP thinks a debate for a primary election thats months away is more important than jobs now they can explain that to the american people. I can just imagine Obama speaking to a 1/2 full house chamber explaining how the GOP didnt think jobs were that important

[gateley]

1. They are SO disrespectful, and I have to say it again, they

would never treat a White President this way. They'd attack him, sure (think Clinton) but never treat him in such a dismissive, condescending way. It makes my blood boil.

[RKP5637]

6. Yep, exactly what's going on. They don't like a black guy in the WH. Once I

thought the US was getting over its ugly history of bigotry, racism and ugliness in general, but was I ever naive. It had just been pushed under the carpet.

[hack89]

8. So Obama deliberately picks the day of the GOP debate on short notice

and he expects to be treated respectfully?

[ecstatic]

9. He doesn't have to work around their schedule!

He's the PRESIDENT of the United States!

[hack89]

17. Boehner does not have to say yes!

he does not work for Obama - Congress is a independent branch of government.

[ecstatic]

21. Fair enough, but I hope you're consistent

and acknowledge it's separate when it comes to law making.

[Ineeda]

13. POTUS consulted with Boner prior to setting the date.

So, yes. And even if he didn't, the answer is still yes. Chalk this up to yet another slap in this president's face. Strange that it's never happened before.:sarcasm:

[hack89]

20. Did Boehner actually say yes?

there are a lot of conflicting reports on who asked who when. The only report I saw is worded along the lines of "Boehner's office was consulted." There is no evidence that Boehner said yes.

[Ineeda]

29. Boner does not have the Constitutional right to deny the President's

calling for a joint session of Congress. But I would guess Boner originally agreed before realizing the conflict.

[hack89]

32. Yes he does. Congress is a separate and independent branch of government

Boehner does not work for Obama. Obama is not king.

[Ineeda]

34. The president has the constitutional right to convene a joint session of congress.

Go ahead and check.
Edited to add:
Article II, section 3 of the Constitution gives the president the authority to give the State of the Union message but also states

"he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper"

[hack89]

35. Only after the passage of a concurrent resolution from both the House and Senate

Congress has the power to say no to the president.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concurrent_resolution

[Ineeda]

39. I stand corrected.

However, this has never occurred before, according to the congressional historian. In addition: "Boehner's office concedes that it was briefed ahead of time, but denies agreeing to the date. But even if they didn't explicitly agree to the schedule, unless they voiced an objection, they were quite clearly operating in bad faith."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x758810

[yardwork]

36. It would be very unlikely that this wasn't planned and cleared with Boehner in advance.

Snafus like that just don't happen in D.C.

This is Boehner being an obstructionist ass again. He's done this kind of thing before.

[hack89]

38. So it is impossible for the WH staff to fuck up? I am not so confident. nt

[yardwork]

47. I think that it is close to impossible to the point of being very improbable. Boehner is doing this.

This just doesn't happen.

[hack89]

49. Lots of stupidity happens in DC - it isn't all deliberate. nt

[TwilightGardener]

16. The GOP primary debate has little importance, and little to do with

the current government and the business before it.

[hack89]

18. So the president is politically tone deaf.

He doesn't get to tell the GOP what should be important to them. Why give them a stick to beat you with?

[TwilightGardener]

24. Again, an unimportant partisan event has nothing to do with the business of

governing. Should Obama consult with Republicans every time he wants to do anything, for fear that he might pre-empt a speech by Romney or a corndog-eating contest that Bachmann participates in? This is the GOP pretending that Obama doesn't exist, trying to put him in his place and make him insignificant compared to Republican wannabes, many of whom don't even hold elected office.

[hack89]

27. Obama walked into trap of his own making.

no matter what happens, the public will see it as petty partisan bickering. He is a weak president - he needs to be smart about picking his fights. Are you really telling me this entire mess could not have been avoided with some competent staff work on the part of the White House? Its fucking amateur hour and Obama can't afford mistakes like this.

[TwilightGardener]

33. It's not that big a deal. It's just Republicans playing their usual games.

He's not "picking a fight", he's exercising the same privileges that all Presidents prior to him have done. He does not need to approach Boner or anyone else in the Republican party with an attitude of automatic deference.

[Old and In the Way]

22. So, you're saying a clown show takes precedence over the nation's business?

I don't see where any partisan political event, Democratic or Republican, ought to supersede the general interests of all citizens in this country. That said, I'm interested in why Obama chose this particular day as he had to know that this event was already scheduled. Kind of puts Boehner in a very awkward situation. On purpose?

[hack89]

25. I am saying giving your political opponents a stick to beat you with is stupid

the country is tired of petty partisan bickering. Neither side will win.

[jaxx]

26. A week ahead isn't short notice.

[hack89]

31. If Boehner didn't say yes then why announce it?

perhaps a couple of phone calls could have prevented this mess?

[jaxx]

52. Perhaps saying no could have prevented it.

[gateley]

51. Yes. He's the President of the United States. He SHOULD

expect to be treated respectfully. You don't agree?

[hack89]

55. Respect is a two way street.

It was politically tone deaf to pick the day of the GOP debates - in today's political climate it was going to be seen as a deliberate poke in the eye. Why did't Obama respect the political process? He is president not king.

[MrsBrady]

41. i'd almost wish

they would just use the N word and get it over with. :sarcasm:
(Not that i agree with that kind of thing)

But that woud require honesty on their part, and we already know they won't be honest.
:grr:

[Shagbark Hickory]

2. But that's not how it works. When Boner says "jump", Obama says "how high?"

[kentuck]

3. What do you think the President should do?

Did anyone expect this to happen?

Should the President make a formal request to all the networks to make his speech? Then take names of those that refuse?

Or should he let it simmer a few days just to show the American people the games being played?

What do you think?

[RKP5637]

10. At a 13% approval rating, maybe congress should just stay home, they don't

seem to offer much value for their overhead. No, I had not thought that congress had become so dysfunctional that a presidential speech would be a problem for congress.

[hack89]

23. He should graciously accept Boehner's offer of a different date

getting down in the mud to wrestle with the GOP will not produce any winners.

[badtoworse]

48. At this point, that is the best move

In terms of PR, Obama has more to lose than Boner.

[BeyondGeography]

4. Obama has to give this speech on Wednesday

Dare them not to show up.

[badtoworse]

42. Show up where?

The House will be in session conducting votes. Should he just show up in the House chamber and demand the floor?

[BeyondGeography]

50. The President has the authority to call Congress into session whenever he wants

Denying this request is unprecedented. That much should be made clear.

[badtoworse]

53. Did the Congress actually adjourn (i.e. it's not in session) or is it just in recess?

If Congress is in recess, then I believe that it is technically still in session and Obama calling Congress into session would be meaningless. Unless I'm mistaken, Congress went into recess until after Labor Day and never adjourned. If that's true, then the question becomes: Does the president have the power to dictate a schedule for Congress. I believe the answer to that question is no.

[underpants]

5. Is he doing it from the deck of an aircraft carrier?

no of course not

[badtoworse]

7. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way

If Obama wants to speak in the House Chamber, it's Boner's call when it happens. Yeah, Boner's being a dick, but separation of powers is an important concept worth preserving.

[spanone]

11. on hardball, they mentioned this is the first time in history a President has been 'denied'

[RKP5637]

14. We're in uncharted territory, anymore, the assholiness has become soooo great in gov. n/t

[hack89]

19. Which goes to show how weak they think he is

this is not a fight that will make him look any stronger.

[MrTriumph]

12. Oh, bone-head just gave the R debate extra, free publicity.

Sheesh.

[mfcorey1]

15. Speak anyway. Congress is sorry and won't be positive either. nt

[jtuck004]

28. Not a problem. Give the address to the American people, and tell them

the reason you are speaking from the podium in the White House is that the Republicans couldn't be bothered with jobs, the single most important issue to the people.

Then propose a plan, @ about $300 bill/yr, to employ 10,000,000 people, either having them work or go to vocational schools that teach skills needed to take us into the future. But they must do something, and be paid $30K a year to do it.

And tell them if it doesn't happen, the list of people, with office hours, who stood in their way will be available on the White House government site. They should politely visit, sitting until they get it. All 10 million of them.

[yardwork]

37. I agree. That's how Obama should handle this.

[Nevernose]

30. I'm with you

Let him speak in front of a half full chamber and then let the Republicans explain to independents that staying home to watch a primary debate fourteen months before the election was more important than the President of the United States trying to rally support for job creation. Even Limpballs and Beck would have trouble spinning that one.

[Major Hogwash]

40. Obama is going to give the speech as planned anyway. Teevee does not trump jobs.

Boehnor blew it.

[C_U_L8R]

43. If Boner won't let him in the House

Obama should take it to the Mall !!!!!

I'd drop everything to be one of the millions
to be there,

[badtoworse]

44. People on this thread are missing an important point and perhaps not giving Boner enough credit

If Obama speaks on Thursday night as Boner offered, he'll be competing with the Green Bay Packers - New Orleans Saints NFL season opener. That will substantially reduce his audience. I think that is the real reason Boner offered him Thursday. As a matter of pure political strategy, it's a win for Boner: 1.) He get more publicity for the debate; 2.) He wins the pissing match with Obama; and 3.) Obama winds up with a smaller audience.

It would have been better if a date had been negotiated and agreed to in private. I think the White House put themselves in an awkward position on this one.

[Rex]

45. Ugh...won't even say what I am thinking.

Ugly man.

[Raine]

46. I thought the debate had already been scheduled, MSNBC has been promoting it for days

:shrug: this is a setup with more game playing all around. I wish politicians would put the country ahead of themselves for a change. :-(

edit: added word

[TBF]

54. "obama should tell boner and the GOP to get bent"

On this and SO many other subjects. Rec for the OP.