I support him when he’s right, but Obama has blown it again. The second I first saw his announcement on the federal pay freeze, I thought, “I hope he traded it for something good, but as I researched the matter I found what he actually got for for this concession: not a damn thing! Now, I’m no politician, but I have been married, so even I know to start negotiation at ‘only in my wildest dreams’ and trade off from there. Although Obama promised to govern from the center, that should make the center the end point, not the starting point, and when he makes this mistake, as he has repeatedly, the Republican just want more.
President Obama’s proposal on Monday to freeze federal workers’ pay was an unexpected announcement that represented the first in a series of White House moves to seize the initiative from Republicans on the economy.
The preemptive move was timed to precede a White House meeting Tuesday with congressional leaders on the subject of expiring George W. Bush-era tax cuts, and came just days before a final report from Obama’s fiscal commission on how to shrink the federal deficit.
"The hard truth is that getting this deficit under control is going to require broad sacrifice," Obama said from the White House. "And that sacrifice must be shared by the employees of the federal government."
By proposing the two-year freeze, Obama sought to stake his own claim to the argument that government must make tough decisions. A senior administration official said Obama’s proposal was part of a larger plan to put Republicans on the defensive on an overdue conversation about deficits.
The move would save about $5 billion over two years, the White House said — a substantial sum, though a mere sliver of the $1.3-trillion federal deficit…
Inserted from <LA Times>
The author of this article has it wrong. That may be Obama’s intent, bit it won’t have the desired effect. It never has. Two years of this strategy got us a Republican House!
Predictably the response of John Boehner, aka Agent Orange, was that it’s not enough.
Rachel Maddow illustrates the issue in a way that only she can:
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If Obama continues in this manner, I will have to consider supporting a primary challenger in 2012.
11 Responses to “Obama Demonstrates How NOT to Negotiate”
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I do not think Qbama has earned support. It’s become much worse out there and he is the caise of much of it and that is a fact.
Fly, I agree, but I while I might oppose him in the primary, I would still support him over anything the Republicans put up.
I am still trying to figure out what the hell he was thinking. This freeze makes no sense. 🙄
I think, Jerry that he is trying to claim the mantle of fiscal responsibility, but doing it wrong. The epitome of fiscal responsibility is opposing Republican policies.
“Broad sacrifice” means making the middle class sacrifice. Yes, better to drag everyone but the filthy rich down, rather than make the poor, poor economic elites sacrifice. This austerity will contine to punish everyone but those responsible for this mess. Betrayal after betrayal after betrayal.
Dave, betrayal is still too strong a word for me, at present. I’m still at inexperienced and poorly advised.
That was such a stupid move!! He is just kissing Repuglicker ass! What kind of negotiations is that! 🙁
Tee, it’s just a cave in. Disgusting.
Obama has become what the entire Democratic Party has become: a barely acceptable, but still woefully inadequate alternative to the Republicans. I feel almost cheated and left behind.
Jack, I share your feelings. I hope I can make it in to BTR on Sunday. The chat should be fascinating.