Obama Gets Slapped Again For Trying Compromise

by Deacon Blues

Doing something he should have done weeks ago, Obama finally is telling Americans what a default will do to their checks. Obama told CBS News that he can't guarantee that Social Security, veterans', or other August payments will go out next month if there is a default. This kind of pushback should have been done weeks ago, every time some loon like Michele Bachmann or Eric Cantor talk against a debt ceiling increase. People who espouse crap like that should have been publicly marginalized weeks ago with reminders that they voted for the debt in the first place, and are now willing to make regular Americans pay a price for it.

That goes for Mitch McConnell as well, who said some truly outrageous things about Obama today on the Senate floor.

"After years of discussions and months of negotiations, I have little question that as long as this president is in the Oval Office, a real solution is probably unattainable," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in remarks on the Senate floor.

Still, McConnell said Republicans would "do the responsible thing" to avoid default, suggesting that a deal on the debt ceiling could be reached without a "real" deficit reduction package.

"The president has presented us with three choices: smoke and mirrors, tax hikes, or default. Republicans choose none of the above. I had hoped to do good, but I refuse to do harm. So Republicans will choose a path that actually reflects the will of the people, which is to do the responsible thing and ensure that the government doesn't default on its obligations," he said.

Obama got to see up close what months of compromising and ass-kissing of McConnell got him: outright lies and a smear job. Even his golf-playing buddy Boehner tried to make the debt ceiling issue all Obama's problem today.

"This debt limit increase is his problem, and I think it's time for him to lead by putting his plan on the table -- something that Congress can pass," he said. "When's he going to lay his cards on the table?"

Fine Weepy John, you want something Congress can pass? How about a simple debt ceiling increase, like those you did for your buddy Bush? And if you can't pass it because of your crazy-ass burn-the-government-down caucus, then it's your problem dickhead, not Obama's and not the country at large. You helped put these crazies in office and now you Weepy John must reap what you sow.

Although this may be a sign of retreat for the GOP, it should force Obama to finally take the gloves off with McConnell to correct the record and refute the lies. Again, if Obama had the guts (which he doesn't), he would roll the tape to show McConnell's votes for the Bush tax cuts, the Bush wars, and his part in letting Wall Street run wild to cause the Bush recession. If Obama had the guts, now that the GOP has gone totally political on this, Obama would retort that in truth, the only way for the country to solve its debt problem is to toss out Republicans like McConnell who caused it in the first place, and who now want Main Street to pay for Wall Street and K Street's party.

But then again, Obama doesn't have the guts to do so, as evidenced by Carney's limp response:

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney called McConnell's remarks "unfortunate."

"This president's going to be in office for at least another 18 months. And I think the American people expect this Congress to work with him," he said. "Despite elevated rhetoric, the fact is that everyone recognizes ... that there is no alternative here to taking action and dealing with the problems before us -- that there has to be a compromise."

LBJ is turning in his grave right now.

If Obama can't see now the futility in cozying up to these vermin and trying to reason with them, only to see them blame him for not capitulating to their demands, then he hasn't learned anything and is too weak to be president.