In what has to be one of the most stunning turnarounds of all political time, Barack Obama struck a deal with Republicans to extend the Bush era tax cuts (until the next election). In so doing, he has alienated much of his base:
For the first time since his party’s drubbing in last month’s election, and arguably for the first time on a major domestic policy since he took office, Mr. Obama forged a deal with the Republican opposition, swallowing hard to give up a central campaign promise while maneuvering to win enough other priorities to declare partial victory.
In that deal come the first clues to how he plans to govern for the next two years with a divided Congress, an anemic economy and his own re-election looming on the horizon. He made clear he was willing to alienate his liberal base in the interest of compromise, more interested in crafting measures that can pass to the benefit of the middle class than waging battle to the end over principle. And in the process, he is gambling he can convince the American people that he is the bridge-builder they thought he was.
Obama has never had any interest in compromise with Republicans. So this is truly curious behavior.
Peggy Noonan writes:
We have not in our lifetimes seen a president in this position. He spent his first year losing the center, which elected him, and his second losing his base, which is supposed to provide his troops. There isn’t much left to lose! Which may explain Tuesday’s press conference.
And this is key:
Instead Mr. Obama said, essentially, that he hates the deal he just agreed to, hates the people he made the deal with, and hates even more the people who’ll criticize it. His statement was startling in the breadth of its animosity. Republicans are “hostage takers” who worship a “holy grail” of “tax cuts for the wealthy.” “That seems to be their central economic doctrine.”
I have no doubt that he hates most of us. But why does a true zealot abandon his core Marxist values?
Bizarre doesn’t end there.
Obama held a press conference yesterday and departed right in the middle of it, leaving former President Bill Clinton to field the rest of the questions while Obama went to a Christmas party. Apparently Obama had reached out to Clinton for advice.
Many were incredulous at Obama’s dereliction. Some observations are quite funny.
Obama Names Bill Clinton to Presidential Post
WASHINGTON DC – Ending weeks of speculation and rumors, President-Elect Barack Obama today named Bill Clinton to join his incoming administration as President of the United States, where he will head the federal government’s executive branch.
“I am pleased that Bill Clinton has agreed to come out of retirement to head up this crucial post in my administration,” said Obama. “He brings a lifetime of previous executive experience as Governor of Arkansas and President of the United States, and has worked closely with most of the members of my Cabinet.”
Clinton said he was “excited and honored” by the appointment, and would work “day and night” to defeat all the key policy objectives proposed by Mr. Obama during the campaign.
Allah at Hotair:
Great news: Bill Clinton apparently now president again
I can’t do justice to what you’re about to see. The spectacle of the president bugging out of his own press conference to go to a Christmas party is weird enough, but having Clinton back at the White House podium fielding questions on the hottest domestic issue of the day shoots past deja vu and lands firmly in “am I hallucinating?” territory.
Did Obama just quit?
I guess Obama abandoning his post is some sort of brilliant strategy. Or maybe he just doesn’t want the job anymore. Maybe he’s finally realizing that the more he talks, the worse things get for him.
Say what you want about Sarah Palin quitting her job, but at least she finished her own press conference.
Some were simply astonished. Jon Bershad at Mediaite:
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” said MSNBC’s Cenk Uygur after cutting back following a press conference on the tax plan. It had begun with a surprise appearance by President Obama who then brought in a further surprise, none other than Bill Clinton, to help him explain the deal. However, after introducing Clinton and letting him begin to talk, Obama suddenly announced that he was leaving for a Christmas party and vanished, letting Clinton talk for 25 more minutes as if it was 1996! I guess it could have been worse. Obama could have left to go play hoops.
Seriously, what was the thinking here? This has to be one of the worst PR moves in the entirety of the administration. Obviously, Clinton is probably a more popular Democratic figure right now, but they had to imagine this would hurt Obama. I mean, letting a former president explain your tax bill while you head to a Christmas party? A Christmas party?
Drew over at Ace:
Obama has just announced what we’ve all known…he’s simply not up to the job.
What the heck is going on amongst our self-styled betters in the Beltway Ruling Class?
And it is a great question. It’s reasonable to think WTF? Why the hell is the President of the United States ditching a press conference for a party?
I think Obama told us himself:
“I’ve been keeping the First Lady waiting for about half an hour…so I’m gonna take off.”
Michelle. It’s about Michelle Obama. The real boss in the White House. Michelle Obama has gotten used to a very fine style of living. She is no longer content to strut around in J. Crew. I never did buy into that “commoner” thing from her. It’s clear that lavish is now spelled with a capital “L.” This video is evidence of Michelle’s current style of living.
And Michelle gets what Michelle wants.
The “shellacking” that Obama took in the last election was cold water in the faces of Barack and Michelle. For probably the first time in her adult life she was struck by rejection through her husband. We have no word on whether she’s still proud of her country or not. But I have no doubt that Michelle told Barack Obama to strike a deal with Republicans in order to save his Presidency. The cold reality of 63 House seats changing hands was a powerful message to the woman who is most reluctant to give up her new title and residence.
How do we know Michelle is at the center of this? Let’s go back to 2008. The page I would like to direct you to is from Tim Graham at Newsbusters but the images are no longer at the link so I will direct you to Pat Dollard who still has the images up.
And they tell the whole story.
From Graham:
All this reminded me of an April 24 CBS Evening News story where Katie Couric spent some gummy-grinned giggle time inside the Obama campaign HQ. As she surveyed the press shop, a camera found this sheet of paper with a Barack declaration of policy: “Whatever Michelle Says Is The Message.”
“Whatever Michelle says is the message.”
Powerful stuff. And long swept under the rug.
I think Graham got it right back then:
So when Barack says “lay off my wife,” is he following the wife’s message orders?
The answer then was yes, and I believe it is the answer to today’s events as well. Barack Obama is a true believer. I don’t think that he’d veer off course on his own. I think he’d go down with the USSR Karl Marx.
But not Michelle. She sees the White House slipping through her fingers and the Queen is not pleased. This is not so much about alienating a base as it is about gaining another.
DrJohn has been a health care professional for more than 30 years. In addition to clinical practice he has done extensive research and has published widely with over 70 original articles and abstracts in the peer-reviewed literature. DrJohn is well known in his field and has lectured on every continent except for Antarctica. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for over 30 years and has three kids- two sons, both of whom are attorneys and one daughter on her way into the field of education.
DrJohn was brought up with the concept that one can do well if one is prepared to work hard but nothing in life is guaranteed.
Except for liberals being foolish.