Obama tried too hard to work with Republicans
WASHINGTON — Amplified by the right-wing message machine, Republicans paint President Obama as an unyielding left-winger, an unreconstructed liberal who refuses to compromise. The president’s critics have turned the truth inside out: One of Obama’s greatest political weaknesses has been his stubborn — and unrequited — love for bipartisanship.
The president has made some of his biggest mistakes trying to woo a GOP opposition that has committed itself to frustrating him at every turn. If he had ignored recalcitrant Republicans, for example, his health care legislation might have become law without months of damaging political drama.
In an interview last week in his West Wing office, David Axelrod, one of Obama’s closest advisers, acknowledged that the administration had been surprised by the unified Republican resistance to the president’s agenda.
“Well, I think we miscalculated,” Axelrod said. “We had the idea that, particularly in a time of national crisis, there would be more of an inclination to work together.
“One of the bracing moments was when the president was on his way over . . to Capitol Hill to talk to the Republican House caucus about the Recovery Act. They issued a press release while he was on his way over to say that they were going to vote en masse against it. And that was a signal . . of things to come.”
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed in February 2009 without a single vote from a Republican in the House and the backing of just three in the Senate, even though nearly a third of it came in the form of tax cuts — usually a GOP tool for fixing anything. Most economists have credited the stimulus package with creating jobs and helping to end the recession, but Republicans continue to denounce it as boondoggle that blew a hole in the federal budget.
“I think the Republicans have been diabolically clever about how they’ve portrayed this,” Axelrod conceded. “They stood on the sidelines and made a decision that ‘we’re going to let him wrestle with this mess that we created. And then in two years we can try and hang him with it.’ “
After the stimulus, Obama and his Democratic allies tried to negotiate with GOP leaders on health insurance reform — a decision that gave critics time to mischaracterize the proposal and gin up opposition. Remember death panels? Government-funded abortions? Rationing?
Still, Obama kept going back with proposals meant to lure a few Republican votes for his agenda. That led to his disastrous announcement, just weeks before the Deepwater Horizon explosion, to expand off-shore drilling.
While Alexrod denied that the announcement amounted to a “quid pro quo,” Obama clearly believed that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and a couple of other GOP senators would, in exchange, support groundbreaking energy legislation that included a price on carbon emissions.
Obama didn’t get what he bargained for. The months-long environmental disaster dominated news coverage, obscured the president’s work on the economy and gave his critics more fodder to claim his administration is incompetent. And, since the accident forced the White House to tiptoe away from its eager embrace of off-shore drilling, it also provided Graham an excuse to back away from energy legislation.
A naïve expectation of bipartisan cooperation hasn’t been Obama’s only mistake. He waited until the last possible moment to try to inspire his base for the mid-term elections. Unlike Ronald Reagan, whose poll ratings were slightly lower than Obama’s just before the 1982 mid-term elections, Obama didn’t take every possible opportunity to pin the economic mess on his predecessor.
Nor did the president tamp down the huge expectations generated by his historic election. That has proved costly, as was clear during the president’s encounter with the “exhausted” Velma Hart, a supporter who questioned him during a recent town hall-style meeting.
“There’s no doubt that part of what we’ve encountered is the mismatch between very, very high expectations and the magnitude of the problems that we’ve been called upon to solve,” Alexrod said.
But the expected Republican gains in the coming mid-term elections may solve one of Obama’s problems: his misplaced faith in logic, persuasion and cooperation in the national interest. Tea-party-fueled anger has produced a wave of GOP candidates for whom the word “compromise” is akin to treason. There can be no miscalculation about their intentions.
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1,244 comments Add your comment
Logic 88
October 15th, 2010
8:31 am
Never blamed Bush?
Gm perhaps you should get a dog also.
Roy Barnes
October 15th, 2010
8:31 am
Obama didn’t do anything but push his agenda down the throats of the Republican party and the people of America! The Democrats will lose in 2010 and 2012 and we the people will be rid of the worst American president in history!!
Alatsea
October 15th, 2010
8:31 am
CT,
Read your blog. One word, WOW.
You might want to decrease your meds because I think you fell down the rabbit hole.
Franklin Raines
October 15th, 2010
8:31 am
Yes, the Democrats had a super majority and did not need ONE Republican vote to pass anything and guess what Cynthia, they are in TROUBLE. I wonder who does your investigative work or U are just a propaganda tool for Democrats and Obama. Could it be blacks just like Obama because he is black or can they look beyond this. And Cynthia, I am black, go to a majority black church and hear this crap every Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Finally I told the church FOOLS, wake up, Obama ain’t JESUS, he’s a idiot, you’ve been suckered. One lady started crying, Oh, the promises, what are they doing to my Obama.
D*mn Shame……………….
Keep It Real!
October 15th, 2010
8:31 am
Great comments Cynthia!
Yes President Obama just did not know how selfish the GOP party is, the adminstration is doing and awesome job working around these losers.
Regarding ss their are laws whcih govern when a ss recipient recieves ss…Check it out..
Why don’t so of you ask your CEO of your company, why have they laid off millions of American’s and now is trying to acquire companies….But they are still worried about taxes but are willing to purchase other companies but not hire any new workers….GTFOH
teaparty
October 15th, 2010
8:32 am
Yep… It is Bush’s fault. Yes he may deserve a little blame, but Obama has lied to the peope over and over. “Thousands of Shovel Ready Projects”. “No susch thing as a shovel ready project”. “I will not sign a bill with earmarks”. “The Heathcare discussions will be on C-Span”. At lease Bush was honest!!
The Nerve
October 15th, 2010
8:32 am
Is today April Fools Day or October Ribbing Day or World Wide Opposite Day or something? This can not be for real.
Booger Presley
October 15th, 2010
8:32 am
Gm
October 15th, 2010
8:26 am
LOL…I think you should be posting/blogging in the comic section or the “Lost in Space” section and good luck with all that hatred you have for whitey.
Chuck Clausen
October 15th, 2010
8:32 am
My guess if the 2nd Tuesday goes as expected, the new house will strip the funding from health care legislation – The GOP will help the President correct some of his mistakes.
breasonable
October 15th, 2010
8:33 am
Give me a break CT – was Obamamess “working” with Repubs when he said those who opposed him should just “shut up?”
Keep It Real!
October 15th, 2010
8:33 am
The wave is coming Johnny Iskason who wrote legislation on home tax credit for homeowners is going to get voted out….
Paul
October 15th, 2010
8:34 am
“Well, I think we miscalculated,” Axelrod said.”
+ “A naïve expectation ”
+ “Obama didn’t take every possible opportunity”
+ “Nor did the president tamp down the huge expectations”
equals “his administration is incompetent”
ya’ think?
Recovery Act? Can’t do links here, but I believe the record shows Pres Obama proposed specific targets for tax cuts and spending, Republicans came in with a proposal that was pretty close, then Democrats followed with spending that was much, much higher. Pres Obama did not press his case with the Legislative Branch; instead, he gave way to the higher Congressional numbers. And Republicans opposed it. Not the stimulus, but the level of spending.
As far as the record of Pres Obama idealism vs performance: just look at the past few weeks, all the shifting targets the administration has attacked. Then, a couple days ago, the President tries to portray himself as sick of the same old attack politics and says we all need to work together for the good of the country.
Listen to what I say, do no examine what I do.
How could the President involve Republicans on health care? I thought Republicans had no ideas, brought nothing to the table, had nothing to contribute? Bottom line: on this and on so many other issues, Democrats could not pass their own proposals. Too many Democratic legislators were not in agreement with their leadership.
And how did the Pres lead off with health care? By huge giveaways to Big Pharma and the insurance industry. Compromise on Republican proposals to address the contribution of the legal system to overall costs? As Howard Dean said, no way, the trial lawyers association owns the Democratic Party.
Didn’t mention Cap n Trade. Before it ever came close to a vote, Democrats had already given away most of the pollution rights to special interests who bought influence. Just flat gave them away. You really expect Republicans to support that?
We’ll see more and more of this type of damage control. But the underlying theme will be “If any of it is Pres Obama’s fault, it was because he was just too good.”
Puh-leeze.
kerryb
October 15th, 2010
8:34 am
Bubba, I don’t think in the 8 years that Bush was President I heard him blame Clinton for anything. Matter of fact he won’t say anything about Obama out of respect for the office so I’m sure he wouldn’t have said anything about Clinton.
frank
October 15th, 2010
8:34 am
Did he try to hard to do these?
Tthe Obama Administration predicts you’ll pay an additional $1,800 per year for your Electric Bill. (humanevents.com/article.php?id=31137)
Because of Obama, You will pay an additional $923/year in taxes (if you make between $40,000 and $50,000) or an additional $1,126/year in taxes (if you make between $50,000 and $75,000). (usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2010-09-02-democrats-tax-increase_N.htm)
someone should give the guy a banana to keep him busy
Red or Purple?
October 15th, 2010
8:34 am
Ms. Tucker you really have got to stop drinking the Koolaid. It is amazing how you are able to spin anything the Big O says or does and make it someone elses fault. History will show he has been one of the most incompetent inept presidents of our generation. But I guess that is Bushs fault too.
Booger Presley
October 15th, 2010
8:34 am
Keep It Real!
October 15th, 2010
8:31 am
Yea…more haters and bigot are beginning to file in.
Keep It Real!
October 15th, 2010
8:35 am
Weapons of Mass Destruction! Bush
Where did the terrorists come from Iraq?
Bush and the GOP congress let’s not put the cost of the war of the books… No one is watching!
JDW
October 15th, 2010
8:35 am
Hey Bubba, what was Bush to blame Clinton for, the budget surplus or record job growth?
Dr ooze
October 15th, 2010
8:35 am
desperation is ugly…
Laurie
October 15th, 2010
8:36 am
Normally, I don’t agree with Cynthia Tucker’s views, but she’s right on the money in this article. I’ve never seen a political party act so obstinate against a president before. I find it embarrassing, and it’s made me very angry towards the GOP, that they would rather act like school yard bullies than have accepted the olive branch Obama extended to them when he took office.
JDW
October 15th, 2010
8:36 am
Furthermore on this subject the statment that Bush left an economic mess is not blame…just the facts.
Booger Presley
October 15th, 2010
8:36 am
Keep It Real!
October 15th, 2010
8:33 am
And who pray-tell does your “Magic 8-Ball” predict will be taking over?
Keep shoveling the hatred, brutha.
Good Grief
October 15th, 2010
8:37 am
“Yes President Obama just did not know how selfish the GOP party is, the adminstration is doing and awesome job working around these losers.”
By awesome job do you mean using their super-majority to cram unpopular bill after despised bill down the collevitve throats of America… or do you mean screwing Congress altogether and using Executive Order to pass whatever they see fit?
Average Garbage Man
October 15th, 2010
8:37 am
Obama never worked a day in his life..so what does he know about black people and their trials..nothing and it shows!
Booger Presley
October 15th, 2010
8:38 am
Laurie
October 15th, 2010
8:36 am
Yet another ignorant of the facts hater has taken a seat.
The Nerve
October 15th, 2010
8:38 am
“Obama didn’t take every possible opportunity to pin the economic mess on his predecessor”
How could you even type that without putting a smiley face or snarky face icon at the end to show what an utterly absurd statement that is?
What in the world is going on today? Maybe it’s because i haven’t finished my coffee and when I do this article will make more sense.
kerryb
October 15th, 2010
8:38 am
Laurie, I guess you live in the same dream world as Cynthia.
Jack
October 15th, 2010
8:38 am
Can’t believe granny said that!
Alatsea
October 15th, 2010
8:39 am
Gm
October 15th, 2010
8:26 am
Sounds like you have a lot of hate
Kamchak's gerbil
October 15th, 2010
8:39 am
Gm – your grammer/spelling is AWFUL – can you actually READ?
Donna P.
October 15th, 2010
8:39 am
Not sure if Cynthia knows this or not but the Democrats control the House, Senate, and White House which means they don’t need the Republicans in order to pass any of their Progressive agenda. The President and his staff are morons and will never take responsibility for their failures. Can’t wait to vote Republican on November 2!!!!!!
Yawl a bunch of liberal haters
October 15th, 2010
8:40 am
All yawl liberals are hatin on the man. Just accept that once again YOU ARE WRONG!!
AHH HAHAHAAAA!!!!
Jason
October 15th, 2010
8:40 am
One question..
Was America better in 2000 or 2008? if you look at that, Bush is not getting blamed enough.
JDW
October 15th, 2010
8:41 am
At the end of the day the part of all this that concerns me is that the Obama Administration was “surprised by the unified Republican resistance to the president’s agenda”. Did they sleep through the Clinton years? How can you not know this is what the Repugnicans would do? Starting with Newt they have not been interested in solutions only power and lining the pockets of themselves and their supporters.
Honest Broker
October 15th, 2010
8:41 am
Ms. Tucker,
YGBSM!!!
granny godzilla
October 15th, 2010
8:42 am
GOOD MORNING CYNTHIA!
Bet you recognized right away that my fan(atic) namejacked me here:
granny godzilla
October 15th, 2010
8:26 am
this is a reach even for CT
ANYWAY, I have to disagree with you on this. I think he worked just hard enough with the Republicans.
He is President of all Americans, not just the smart ones – so his continued attempts to show the GOP the way to good sense and reason will in the long run pay benefits.
Most of them won’t get it – can’t get it, but he should be admired for the attempt.
MG
October 15th, 2010
8:42 am
The GOP is just POWER HUNGRY! They don’t care about bipartisanship or what’s good for this country. They will resort to anything just to be the majority so they can screw things up some more. And of course, sooo many people in this country are idiots and fall for it. Most of you don’t even know jack$hit about the economy and how it works anyways!!!
Keep It Real!
October 15th, 2010
8:42 am
Wow the party of No is now going to come up with solutions….
Let’s see healthcare costs have risen 6 to 15 percent per year the past 20 years and the party of no has come up with a great plan for healthcare…. We have no plan….
Todd
October 15th, 2010
8:43 am
Wow! I think just about everyone can agree this article was complete garbage.
The Healthcare bill passed but my premium went up by 1000$, my co pay by 20 and my deductible by 2000. It should be hope and take all my change.
USMC DAWG
October 15th, 2010
8:43 am
Cynthia,
Your credibility, or what was left of it, just ran out…
What a moronic article.
Don't Forget
October 15th, 2010
8:44 am
Obama should have seen this coming based on what they did to Clinton, oposing everything he proposed, spending over 200 million on bogus investigations that revealed nothing, bankrolling a frivolous lawsuit that eventually exposed a lie and ultimately impeaching him. There’s something about having a dem in the white house that makes cons go crazy. There is NOTHING they won’t do to tear down a dem president. But I still wonder if Obama gets it. If he thinks the r’s will work with him on ANYTHING, he’s just not paying attention. They would gladly accept 2 more years of misery if they think they can retake the white house in 2012.
JimBob
October 15th, 2010
8:45 am
After reading CT’s column and the many comments that followed, there are only two words that sum up the last two year of the Obama administration, and the leadership in the Democrat controlled Congress, and those words are COMPLETE FAILURE
Straight Talk
October 15th, 2010
8:45 am
As usual, Cynthia, you are over the top, out of touch with reality and a racist.
Your guy has proven himself to be an ineffective leader who, in concert with Reid and Pelosi, is pointing this country down the wrong path.
His situation is of his and his party’s own making. Period.
It would not be surprising if your tombstone reads, when your time eventually comes as it does to all of us, “It was George Bush’s fault.”
tell me again
October 15th, 2010
8:45 am
Really Cynthia….and as I remember the Democrats were oh so helpful to George Bush when he was in office – quid pro quo, Dear……Washington is broken – blame who you will – it’s time for another revolution.
Tea Bagger
October 15th, 2010
8:45 am
Republican Health Care Plan: DON’T GET SICK!
JohnnyReb
October 15th, 2010
8:46 am
Ms Tucker, this piece is so full of BS I need a clothspin for my nose. Just how low are you prepared to go defending Obama? Here’s but one example.
“–Obama didn’t take every possible opportunity to pin the economic mess on his predecessor.”
Give me a break. Obama and the Left could not open their mouths without blaming Bush. To the point that supporters and advisors finally decided it was working against him.
Obama is in over his head. America is not some neighborhood in Chicago where he goes in and stirs up unrest. Wait!!! That is exactly what he has done!
Memphis11Gate
October 15th, 2010
8:48 am
The budget surplus was under a Republican congress and Senate, people you have been suckered by Democratic propaganda machines of the so call news. Clinton did well because of private industry specifically the dot com revolution and venture capitalist. And yes I talked with several venture capitalist and this is the main reason there was a small recession during the last year Clinton was in office but Democrats don’t want to talk about that. Just like Clinton had the tech bubble, Bush had the housing bubble, created by liberal Democrats.
Alatsea
October 15th, 2010
8:48 am
Where are all of CT’s lap dogs?
Robert
October 15th, 2010
8:48 am
Now I have heard it all. Does Tucker really believe this drivel she writes? If she does, she is as confused as her President.
Tychus Findlay
October 15th, 2010
8:48 am
B$. The jack@$$ery in Washington rests with the current administration of two years and Congress of the last four. If the Presidency were only a two year term, we’d really be clearing the garbage out of DC next month.