This morning Senate Republicans blocked the nomination od Richard Cordray, as predicted yesterday. This morning Barack Obama held a news conference and denigrated them so extensively that even Cenk Uygur approved. Here is a description and complete video of the news conference.
President Obama lashed out at Congress on Thursday for blocking his nomination to head a consumer financial watchdog agency, saying Americans are frustrated with legislators for holding up critical appointments to win concessions on other matters.
Speaking shortly after the Senate rejected his appointment of former Ohio attorney General Richard Cordray as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Obama said his Capitol Hill adversaries were not acting “on the level” in their consideration of the public interest. And he complained that Republicans in Congress were systematically delaying his political appointments.
“This makes no sense,” Obama said during a short news conference in the White House briefing room. “Consumers across the country understand part of the reason we got into the financial mess we did is because regulators are not doing their jobs. … There is no reason why Mr. Cordray should not be nominated or confirmed by the Senate and should not be doing this job.”
Obama added that he would press forward with trying to install Cordray, including a potential recess appointment during the holiday break, a move that Congress could not block if it were not in session.
“We are not giving up on this; we’ll keep on going at it,” Obama said. “We will not allow politics as usual on Capitol Hill to stand in the way of American consumers being protected from unscrupulous operators.”
He added that Congress has been systematically holding up many of his other appointments…
Inserted from <Washington Post>
While the Chronicle, like so many main stream sources, the Chronicle failed to report his ire at the Republicans, but the video will make that clear.
I have mixed feelings about Sebelius’ decision on the morning after pill, but otherwise, Obama was spot on.
20 Responses to “Obama Blasts Republicans Over Cordray”
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Interesting that it is okay according tp Republican/Teabaggers to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy aka the 1%, but extending the Payroll Tax Cut that affects the 99% is not okay, at least not without some caveats. It would be interesting to know the actual figures for both.
This issue is being turned into a game of political chicken by the GOP. It is well past time that the Congress do the job they were elected to do for the people they repreaent. They aren’t holding the President or the Democrats hostage, they are holding the entire nation hostage. And with that comes confirmations of appointments.
The reasons behind the housing market collapse and the recession should prove that the banksters are a lying, greedy bunch and that the average American consumer needs help through a consumer protection bureau.
Hypocritical, Indeed.
It’s worse than that. It’s we don’t like the law that passed, so we’ll sabotage it.
Amen.
“It’s worse than that. It’s we don’t like the law that passed, so we’ll sabotage it.”
Could the Republican/Teabaggers who had to participate in the drafting and debate of the law before it was passed, be found in contempt for trying to sabotage the law that they helped pass? Just thinking. Would seem to be a more public castigation of their methods and motives.
I don’t think they are doing anything illegal or against Senate rules. Behavior in the Senate has been moderated by hundreds of years of ethical tradition, which most Democrats abide by automatically. Now that Republicans have violated the traditions, Democrats need to change the rules to enforce ethical behavior.
I missed the news conference,but will fine the time to watch it so thanks. Obama has all his ducks in a row. That will make him a winner. A president must govern from the middle. He has done that. Now he can run to govern from the left where his heart is and win. Beautiful,Beautiful,Beautiful
The morning after pill well im to have mixed feelings
I agree up to a point that he had to govern from the middle during the first term in order to get a second, but we have no guaranteed that he’ll govern from the left.
I feel the “morning after pill” decision was a political one – not ideal by any means – not that I’d necessarily approve OTC, but there ought to be a more reasonable dispensation of the drug without putting it in the hands of a 5 year old!!!! As for the Cordray decision and O’s response – it relates entirely with your other 2 articles, and shows the republican agenda for what it is – Lynn’s right – the actions of the other party is down right treasonous in my opinion, I’ve said so many times – time to get rid of these traitors and replace them with some “moderates” – I don’t mind a “sane” patriot’s debate on some subjects in the government, but with the corruption of government running rampant by these renegades – aside from civil war – I don’t know what to do to get a government I’d be proud of belonging to – this is as “American” as Mussolini!
That’s why my feelings are mixed too.
When I watched Pres. Obama speak, I was very proud of him. His anger was well justified.
The funny part of his speech came during the question and answer period when he was asked for his response to the RepublicanTs saying he was soft on terror. I actually laughed out loud when he told them to ask Bin Laden and the rest of the dead terrorists if he has “soft on terror”.
He definitely nailed them on that one.
As a physician, I am very disappointed on Sebelius’ overriding the FDA ruling that would have allowed greater access to Plan B.
But I loved Obama’s spot-on response when AP’s Ben Feller asked him if he was an “appeaser”:
Not a bad theme for a 2012 bumper sticker: “Am I a Leader? Ask bin Laden”
Nameless, is there a way they could allow greater access, which I would also like to see, without making it OTC for 13 year olds?
Here in Canada, there are certain drugs that do not require a doctor’s prescription but which are considered sufficiently “dangerous” that they are behind the physicians pharmacist’s counter and one need only ask for it. One is iron and I know that some cold remedies but for the life of me can’t remember which ones nor the active ingredients that send it behind the counter. Would such as that work for you guys?
That would work for me.
TomCat,
I would add “…without increasing the number of 13 year old MOTHERS!
Good point!
I agree with Jolly Roger’s comments from the other day: The Republiscums are indeed a death cult. They want to kill everything that is decent or fair in this country. They only care about the 1%, and that is why we in the 99% must do all we can to remove them from office permanently in the next election!
Amen, Pope Jack!
I am sick to death of the GOPs blocking of everything ! At this point it has become so clear what is going on—No longer a party issue– the Congress , in their effort and determination to “get” this President are actually attacking the welfare of the country and it’s people who they are supposed to be representing!
The “morning after pill ” ? In my opinion , sale should not be freely available OTC—
Exactly!