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President Obama took questions from the GOP in Baltimore. AP Photo
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Today President Obama made a bold move in going to a Republican conference and opening himself up to questions from Republican House members. The British government does something like this all the time and it ends up being very entertaining watching the Prime Minister take on the opposition party. This exchange also ended up providing a rare scene of honest dialogue between the President and those who disagree with him.
The beginning of the exchange was slow as both the President and GOP House members largely stuck to their talking points and scripts. I was a bit surprised to see the Republicans go on the offensive so much against a President who graciously agreed to come into enemy territory. As the meeting went on both sides heated up a bit and the political spin started to fade away in favor of a more blunt and honest exchange.
The Republicans attempted to argue that they have been shut out by Democrats. They further tried to say that they in fact do have real solutions which are being ignored by the Obama administration. Finally they blamed the Democrats and the President for the increasing deficit in the past year.
The President did not shy away from such challenges and in fact provided a quality rebuttal to all the Republican points. In front of an audience which was almost entirely against him the President more than held his ground.
Obama pointed out how he inherited much of the budget problems, including the deficit, from a Republican administration. He then said that both sides have been wrong in how they characterize the other side of the debate. Specifically the President accused Republicans of framing the debate in such a way that it makes it impossible for them to later negotiate with him. For example when Republicans frame health care reform as a "socialist takeover" it then makes it impossible to negotiate with the administration later. Finally the President analyzed many of the Republican "solutions" and demonstrated how they do not solve some of the more serious problems they attempt to address. For example the GOP health care reform proposal did not significantly cut down the cost curve for health care and only covered eight million of the over 40 million uninsured in America.
Comments
HIS plan does not turn the deficit around either, you fool!!! I am glad he was so "gracious" to attend a meeting with the Republicans but I really feel he owed it to them! And this stuff about their plans not having any credence? That stems from his elitist attitudes and his very big desire to always win, no matter how! What a spin you put on this one, Witt! I bet YOU were the one getting the tingle up his leg today -- just to watch your Chosen One go head-to-head AGAINST Republican "solutions" was probably more than you could take. You all are pitiful! Do you think for a moment he could also lose the "inheritance" argument? What a weakling!
I read the transcripts from this a little earlier. All I can say is WOW...Obama is such an ass!
He immediately went to the finger pointing game again just as he did in his speech the other night. Only thing different this time was his spin on all of his answers.
I cant wait for the fact checkers to call his bluff on this one! It was a huge win for Obama today,...not so come tomorrow.
What does is it that this nutjob doesnt get?? Government involvement with healthcare IS socialized healthcare. We already have enough of it in the form of disability and medicaid. And now you want it to apply to ALL americans...and you pay for the program by requiring EVERYONE to buy insurance.
Nice try cigar breathe. I cannot wait until you get shipped back to Chicago on a one way ticket!
Still blaming Bush...when is he going to hold himself and his staff accountable?
What President Bush accomplished in two terms for the deficit, President Obama surpassed it in his first year in office.
He answered your questions and yet you people stay on denial. He answers questions, so stop asking them like he didn't say anything. Bush couldn't even talk. But more pathetic are the ones who support the man responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans. Stay blind people, all you want, it's not gonna change reality for people who have brains though.
Yeah lets not finger point the REAL responsible ones for what happened to this country, that's just mean. Let them get away with it while we blame a very honorable man who stood up after the mess your little ignorant idol created so him and his friends could have oil and talks to you, he doesn't ramble when you ask him questions, HE ANSWERS THEM. Just listen, if you ask, listen to the answer.
What Obama said when asked the question obviously formulated to support a campaign against him was asked, is that this country had a surplus before Bush and a huge debt after, before he even was in charge. That is a FACT, not your blind cry: "Oh no he caused more debt."
Get the facts people.
Very sad to share this planet with such morons who will go to their grave defending somebody who destroyed them.
Obama may be 'smart', but he sure is 'dense'. What is it going to take....Va, NJ, MA losses and he still doesn't get it!
Chastizing the Republicans for saying what the voters have been trying to tell him is unbelievably arrogant and out of touch with reality.
Americans don't want what he's pushing and he's going to get it now or he's going to get it when he's out on his ear.
the smartest of the smart, the highest of the high of the elected republican party, and Obama beat them all down with facts...it's time republicans stop electing people because of their looks (Palin, Brown) and start electing people for their brains.
can you really imagine Palin or Brown doing the same with the smartest of the smart, highest of the high in the elected Democratic party?
The smartes of the smart can't figure out how to get his own party to follow his leadership. He's just going to 'talk us to death'. How brilliant.
Lets be honest here. The Reps asked Obama to attend in order to hammer him on tape. I saw no willingness to listen and each Rep stood and gave mini talking point prologues clearly designed for later use in the media. Obama fielded each question, off the cuff, intelligently and directly. He dealt with each point and challenged his questioners when they misstated the facts. They asked some good questions and they got direct answers. More direct and detailed than they had wanted or expected. One of the most important points he made was that the Reps have demonized him and his policies to such a degree that they have removed any room for negotiation! The minority party is demanding the Pres use 80% + of THEIR ideas or they won't play at all. That is insane. He includes tax cuts, but not THEIR tax cuts, so they are against it. His policies are much more centrist than anything the Reps have proposed. The Reps have shown that their Party is more important than their country.
Erik
One other note on the debt issue. I think it's time the Reps stop trying to blame Obama for spending that occurred before he was in office and before he actually signed any legislation. He clearly stated this, while taking responsibility for his part. It's easy to say "he's just blaming it on Bush". But the facts are the facts. You can't blame any President for spending that occurred before HE ever opened the nation's wallet. What I ask Conservatives is to be fair in your criticisms! Blame the President for what he actually had control over. I doubt any of his fiscal initiatives even took affect until March, so how can you blame him for any spending prior to that? Take a deep breath and be fair in your criticisms. What this nation really needs is for everyone to stand back and really consider both sides in good faith. Be aware of your bias and reconsider what the other side says without automatic partisan responses. We ALL have a bias, but we can choose to go beyond it.
Erik
EAPrince,
It's not just that we have 'bias'; it's that our eyes have been opened to what 'progressives' want and who they are. We've read their little 'Alinski Playbook' and we won't be fooled again.
We saw the 'stimulus bill' that had to be passed before it could be read; full of pork and payoffs and waste, even at a time of national crisis!!!
That was right out of the gate...and it went straight from there to 'Cap & Trade' which is at the very bottom of the priority list for the vast majority of Americans. Who wants 'their energy bills to necessarily skyrock, as Obama put it, when we're losing our jobs right and left!?
Then there's 'socialized medicine' that Americans have told politicians they DON'T WANT!!! for generations!
Any politician who doesn't just say 'no' to this crap will be in serious jeopardy on election day. If Massachusetts didn't get it through their thick skulls, there's just no 'hope they'll change'!!!
Let's all face the facts boys and girls. When the Dems feel the impact of the relatively large boot headed in the direction of their caboose this fall the progressive vampires will just co-op the republican party. It's been that way for over 100 years. We need to have an intervention.
Obama took on the attacks with "we, uh I , uh, we went, uh, I then, uh its Bush's fault."
Retard, WHAT the hell did you say?
I just ask all those opposed to these LSD policies is to LET them go with their thoughts. Let them continue to live in denial. We gave them the rope, we KNOW they will use it!
FAR too much time and words are spent on blame. Bush has much to be responsible for. His last 2 years saw congress run by dems. They happily went along. ALL are to blame. Some hold more. Some less.
BUT, it must be fixed! NOW! Obama and the D's hold all the power. It is up to them now. I do not expect the leaders of the far left progressives, Reid Pelosi Waxman etc to ever want to talk much less listen to anyone right of center.
Come November it may all get better. RE-ELECT NO INCUMBENTS! NONE!
Stop reading the US Constitution. Trust us. You are stupid. We are Elitists that know what is best for you. Health Care Reform ligislation is too complicated for you neanderthals to understand. Just go to work and pay your taxes. We'll do the thinking.
One other note on the debt issue. I think it's time the Reps stop trying to blame Obama for spending that occurred before he was in office and before he actually signed any legislation. He clearly stated this, while taking responsibility for his part. It's easy to say "he's just blaming it on Bush". But the facts are the facts. You can't blame any President for spending that occurred before HE ever opened the nation's wallet. What I ask Conservatives is to be fair in your criticisms! Blame the President for what he actually had control over. I doubt any of his fiscal initiatives even took affect until March, so how can you blame him for any spending prior to that? Take a deep breath and be fair in your criticisms. What this nation really needs is for everyone to stand back and really consider both sides in good faith. Be aware of your bias and reconsider what the other side says without automatic partisan responses. We ALL have a bias, but we can choose to go beyond it.
Erik
We REALLY need to back off the absolutist rhetoric. Obama mentioned this corrosive trend of demonizing the other side to such a degree that there can be no compromise. Without compromise there is no democracy. BOTH sides must be willing to move towards the other. That's not liberal or conservative, that's just common sense. The minority party has to accept that they are not in control and the majority party must consider and work with the other side. And both sides must stop with the misinformation. The current healthcare bill is not a gov't takeover of healthcare!!!! It's not. Do conservatives really oppose protecting people from being arbitrarily dropped from coverage because they get sick? Do they oppose stopping the 'existing condition' loophole? If it was really such a left wing, extremist bill, why would liberals be so grudging in support of the current bill? It's because the bill has been compromised to death with conservatives already.
Erik
EAPrince,
There's plenty to hold Obama responsible for since his election. We don't need to go further than that.
The health care bill IS giving the government much more control of the health care system and once they get their slimy smelling feet in that door, we'll be stuck with the stench and they'll just move on in. They know this. They've admitted this.
The 'progressives' in congress have an 'agenda'. We don't want what they're pushing and if those in the GOP go along with it, they'll be out next election and they know it.
They need to stop the government take over crap and do what helps the economy instead of crushing it. When they start doing that, the people will support the GOP in supporting them. GET IT?
Gigi says:
"EAPrince,
There's plenty to hold Obama responsible for since his election. We don't need to go further than that.....
They need to stop the government take over crap and do what helps the economy instead of crushing it. When they start doing that, the people will support the GOP in supporting them. GET IT?"
no wonder the kids never want to go over to Grandma Gigi's house, "Enjoy your milk and cookies now because soon Obama will force you to eat bolshevik cookies with rat's milk!"
Wally,
Yeah, sometimes Grandma Gigi's grumpy, but not to my grandkids.
I know you think I'm exaggerating, but REALLY! You can't ignore the economy for a year and expect people to think you're not doing it on purpose! (Besides for the fact that they are Alinsky groupies) Do you think people can't read what Alinsky said? What his 'rules for radicals' are?
Do you think we don't know that Clinton's lawyers had Hillary's thesis on Alinsky at Yale, blocked from the public? Why is that do you suppose?
I'm so tired of this crap right in our face and still being treated as if we're some kind of conspiracy theorists. There's no conspiracy. It's out in the open!
The media went after anyone who disclosed his connections and history linking Obama to communists and other leftest loonies, but turns out that he acts like one when he got elected. What a shock! People realize it now. Maybe you don't. More likely you're just like the rest who agree with them, but deny.
We REALLY need to back off the absolutist rhetoric. Obama mentioned this corrosive trend of demonizing the other side to such a degree that there can be no compromise. Without compromise there is no democracy. BOTH sides must be willing to move towards the other. That's not liberal or conservative, that's just common sense. The minority party has to accept that they are not in control and the majority party must consider and work with the other side. And both sides must stop with the misinformation. The current healthcare bill is not a gov't takeover of healthcare!!!! It's not. Do conservatives really oppose protecting people from being arbitrarily dropped from coverage because they get sick? Do they oppose stopping the 'existing condition' loophole? If it was really such a left wing, extremist bill, why would liberals be so grudging in support of the current bill? It's because the bill has been compromised to death with conservatives already.
Erik
I know I shouldn't get into a conversation, and I use the term loosely, in a comments section. But can we please stop throwing around misinformation? There is not Gov't takeover of healthcare. Never included in either House or Senate bills. Not there. Go look. I'm serious. I'm so frustrated lately with this bizarre rhetoric being sprayed about accusing Obama of being Communist, Fascist, extremist. It's insane. Does anyone even know what those terms actually mean? From everything I've seen, Obama is far more centrist than Bush was and if everyone would put down their knee-jerk reactions for a few moments and be objective, you would see that. Being a Dem or a liberal does not mean you are automatically an idiot, any more than being a Republican or Conservative does. Stop labeling and really, really listen without the partisan filters. Then maybe we can have a constructive debate. That can't happen as long as we are calling each other names!
Erik
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