Dems want Obama's job speech to contrast with GOP

[villager]

Source: AP

Dems want Obama's job speech to contrast with GOP


WASHINGTON (AP) — The tiff over the timing of President Barack Obama's jobs speech to Congress offers little hope that Republicans and the White House will now find common ground on how to reduce the nation's painfully high unemployment. In fact, some Democrats say it's time Obama stopped trying so hard to negotiate.

On matters large and small, Obama has yielded to House Speaker John Boehner in a string of concessions that have unnerved Democrats and emboldened Republicans. A chorus of Democratic voices is now demanding that the president abandon his attempts at being a compromiser and instead lay out an ideological vision that distinguishes him from Republicans and becomes a template for his re-election.

Obama had asked Congress to convene a joint session next Wednesday so he could announce his jobs agenda. Boehner objected, telling the president it would be better if he came the next night. Republicans were irritated that Obama wanted to speak at the same time Republican presidential candidates would be debating in California — and sharing TV time with him.

In the end, Obama accepted Boehner's invitation to speak at 7 p.m. EDT next Thursday, early enough to avoid yet another conflict — with the opening game of the National Football League season.
Obama must create a clear contrast between what he wants and what the Republicans want, Simon Rosenberg, president of the liberal-leaning think tank NDN, wrote this week. "If the president is to win the election next year, he will have to first win the economic debate with the Republicans, something, to date, he has not done."

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Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/dems-want-obamas-job-speech-contrast-gop-220214826.html

[EFerrari]

1. What's it been - almost three years now?

Yeah, a little contrast would be a nice change.

lol

[No Elephants]

6. Obama's Obama, but what the hell took other Democrats so long to speak up publicly?

[Phlem]

2. He's just now getting the "jobs" thing.

It's been 2 years and he's just now getting the jobs thing.

Sorry to be "Where's my pony" but damn, that would have been the first thing on my list. His first stimulus was weak sauce, I hope to hear good things on the 8th.

Hopefully,

-p

[scheming daemons]

4. The first stimulus worked. Time for another one.

[tclambert]

9. I agree with Krugman, the first stimulus should have been bigger.

The first stimulus package helped, but he held back as a compromise with the Republicans. Since it didn't completely solve the problem, the Republicans keep calling it "the failed stimulus plan." No doubt that is what they want now, too--something that might reduce unemployment by no more than 1 point.

[BNJMN]

19. That might require some 'gamesmanship'.

[Beartracks]

24. Let's say the first stimulus was a "trial balloon"...

Its main "failure" was that it was too small. But, if the WH looks at it as having been a sort of "pilot program," then it's time to go full-on into the real deal.

========================

[No Elephants]

7. Is he getting it, though? I expect to hear about tax cuts and the infrastructure bank.

Not my definition of "getting it."

[HereSince1628]

11. Without a serious budget intervention, he's got no money left to work with...

Strategically this guts recovery efforts and puts the r's in an enviable position for 2012...people do vote their perceptions of financial circumstance.

It's not yet n-dimensional checkmate. But his path to queening a pawn followed by a strong closing isn't at all obvious.

[Phlem]

17. That's what I was thinking,

right after he decided to put everything on the table to balance the budget, where's this magic money going to come from for a jobs program?

-p

[defendandprotect]

22. Obama threw away $120 BILLION in tax cuts for the rich extension ... !!

Then we had to borrow the money to cover it -- and btw that cost us an

additiona 1/2% because of the cut in our ratings!!

It's all farce -- theater to keep masses confused --

and evidently it works!!

[awoke_in_2003]

3. and it will...

but, of course, the president will have to compete with football- so no one will se it. Wimp-assed move on the president's part.

[scheming daemons]

5. No he won't.... speech is before kickoff

[No Elephants]

8. I care about what he actually does. I could care less about the day he gives the speech.

I hope to God he does something that is not DLC.

[JJW]

10. A little less Ronald Reagan on steroids

please, Mr. O.

[durablend]

12. How's he going to contrast to them?

When he's pretty much bought all the GOP's bullshit?

[Cool Logic]

13. There is a contrast all right....

A contrast between the mystical world of the D & R of DC Group and real world in which the American People reside.

[Doctor_J]

14. Can someone tell me WHY he caves to the right on every issue?

On matters large and small, Obama has yielded to House Speaker John Boehner in a string of concessions that have unnerved Democrats and emboldened Republicans. A chorus of Democratic voices is now demanding that the president abandon his attempts at being a compromiser and instead lay out an ideological vision that distinguishes him from Republicans and becomes a template for his re-election.

This is spot on, and I can't figure out why, when the Repukes were soundly repudiated in 2008, that Obama decided to act like them. Help me with this.

[harun]

16. Because he thinks getting something done is going to reward him

politically more than sticking to principles.

I feel he is wrong.

[Bluebear]

20. Because it's not a cave it's who he is

[Doctor_J]

26. He's got Battered Spouse Syndrome

I think that's wwhy he caves in on everything now. Either that or he's really a Republican

[SoapBox]

15. Hows about he just let Boner make his speech for him?

...why waste his time...it'll just be a DINO and "cave-in" (tell low America, mid America and unions that they all need to "sacrifice") script.

Like relatives that have over stayed at your home...I've HAD IT with him.

[defendandprotect]

23. +1000% ---

[BNJMN]

18. Worship the speech. Worship it.

The speech will set you free.
The speech will solve our problems.
The speech will cure all you aches and pains.
Worship the speech.

[plumbob]

21. Best jobs program ever: 90% rate for top tier taxpayers.

Invest or lose some of that 3 trillion or more dollars just sitting around.

If they do nothing, feds get the money to spend.
If they do something (which they did all during the 50s when it was this high) we get the jobs.

win-win.

5 minute speech. Fuck the Republicans - they are traitors for weakening the country and attacking our people.

[Doctor_J]

25. Good luck with that

He's already caved by moving the speech. It's the only thing he's good at. If he had any dignity left he'd use the speech to change his party affiliation.