2nd
The Audacity of Retreat: Obama’s shameful jobs speech humiliation
The Obama administration has only itself to blame for its — let’s call it what it is — pathetic climbdown after picking a fight with Republicans in Congress over next week’s jobs speech.
“Can we please refrain from saying Obama ‘caved?’ He did no such thing,” David Gergen said, calling the matter “both silly and trivial.”
Oh boy, David Gergen you are SO wrong.
The White House lost BIG TIME.
“The last thing the White House needed was to appear to cave in to the Speaker and that’s what happened,” said James Carville.
He was right on the money.
“There’s a tendency to say ‘well it’s just a little spat between the two, and they got it resolved 24 hours later,’ but I think this is just gonna reinforce a lot of perceptions that already exist out there.”
Where did the White House go wrong. Oh let me count the ways…
First, in what Gawker correctly described as “the most gratuitously—and joyously!—dickish move of his presidency,” the White House deliberately announced that Obama would speak at the exact same time as the GOP debate at the Reagan Presidential library.
Bad idea. If you’re going to be a “dick,” you need to stick to your guns.
The White House then reacted in shock as Boehner called its bluff, suggesting that the date didn’t work for him due to “logistical impediments.”
Logistical impediments? Let’s say that again — Logistical impediments??????? Really?????
The New York Times called Boehner’s move “contemptuous” and “appalling,” and noted “there can be no excuse for his lack of respect for the office.”
So much is true. It’s the only thing the Times got right in an editorial which placed the blame for the most part squarely on Boehner instead of the White House itself.
Can you imagine Republican anger had Pelosi done the same thing to President George W. Bush?? Of course you can. But that’s besides the point.
The Times said it was possible the White House may have failed to notice that the day fell on the same day of the presidential debate. “Oh Grow Up,” New York Times. You’re embarrassing yourself.
Obama would have won this argument had he not flaked. Americans wouldn’t have bought the “logistical impediments” excuse.
Had the White House had the courage to see its ill-advised political gambit through, the narrative would have been: Republican obstructionism.
Instead, it has deservedly become: Weak White House caves to Republicans for the umpteenth time.
But wait, it’s not over.
In the most galling moment of all, following a full retreat with its tail between its legs, the “adult” White House told political reporters the spat was just a “side show,” and that the American people — God love ‘em — care about jobs, not squabbling in Congress.
“Oh and by the way, don’t worry America, Obama will be finished speaking by the time the Packers and Saints kick off at 8:30pm ET.”
Pathetic.
They started a fight, backed down, and then pretended to be above petty squabbles.
The Audacity of Retreat.
