NPR and
Politico reported today that the White House press office has been furiously selling the Obama tax cut capitulation package, with near constant tweets and missives about how it's going to "stimulate the economy" and that various mayors and governors are "endorsing" the deal.
This got me to thinking, in his disastrous presser yesterday, Obama rationalized that the Tax Cut Capitulation Package would be easy for Democrats to run against in 2012 because it's a GOP plan that the public hates, and it's also bad medicine for the economy (forcing painful cuts later on).
...if in fact (Republicans) want to pay for $700 billion worth of tax breaks to wealthy individuals, ...corresponding cuts that would have to be made are very painful. So either they rethink their position, or I don’t think they’re going to do very well in 2012.
On day one of the Tax Cut Capitulation Package, Obama sells it as politically smart for Dems because it's a GOP plan that's horrible for the country. It will force "painful" cuts in the budget that will be unpopular in 2012.
On day two, the White House twists this into "it's great for the country and governors LOVE it!"
In less than 24 hours he's gone from saying the plan is so bad that it's going to sink the GOP, to taking ownership of it even to the point of dispatching his PR machine to the Hill to sell it to Congressional Dems and Beltway newsers -- effectively taking the turd from the Republicans and running it into the end zone making it impossible to use as a political whacking stick in 2012.
What's worse,
as Obama clearly states above, this $700 Billion Dollar Giveaway To The Rich is going to result in "painful cuts" to the budget. I ask you, what sort of "painful cuts" are Republicans going to run in fear from?
Who doesn't expect Republicans will use this *to strengthen their position* for dismantling of public education, Medicare and Social Security?In what universe are Republicans going to suffer politically because there's no money for healthcare, education or jobs?
In the infamous presser Obama says he had to capitulate on tax cuts for the rich because
"the fact of the matter is, I haven’t persuaded the Republican Party. I haven’t persuaded Mitch McConnell and I haven’t persuaded John Boehner. And if I can’t persuade them, then I’ve got to look at what is the best thing to do, given that reality."Mr. President, it sounds like you're saying that John Boehner will be dictating policy to you for the next two years. If your operating standard for the next two years is what you can persuade John Boehner to do, then you're not leading. You're not driving the bus. You're luggage. And we've been left by the side of the road.
Does Obama really think we can let the GOP destroy the country and then stand on the smoldering ashes and campaign on how the Republicans fucked up (worked in 2008?).
If so, losing is now our strategy for winning.
