John Cornyn on Senate GOP Question Time with Obama: Er, no thanks
posted at 9:07 pm on February 5, 2010 by Allahpundit
If there were any lingering doubts about who got the better of last week’s Question Time session, this should settle them.
The White House has suggested that it would like Obama to address the Senate GOP Conference, with TV cameras present. Obama administration officials are eager for voters to see Obama operate in a format he relishes — and handle his former Senate colleagues the same way he did last week to House Republicans at their annual retreat…
“They don’t want anything to do with it,” said a GOP insider. “They want the whole thing to just go away.”
Republicans have considered several different formats for any session with Obama, including a “roundtable discussion,” but don’t believe that it will benefit them politically if Obama comes off as well as he did in Baltimore…
Cornyn acknowledged that Obama was “in his element” in his meeting with House Republicans.
“I can see why he and his handlers would want to replicate that,” Cornyn said. “I think we’re more interested in serious public policy issues rather than providing another photo-opportunity for the president.”
The One said last night at that fundraiser that he’s ready to “call on Republicans” to have them present their ideas, so his confidence appears to be up. In all candor, when I think about it, there aren’t many Senate Republicans I’d be eager to see going one on one with him. Coburn or Kyl could make things interesting, and Graham can be a pitbull during Senate questioning of cabinet officials, but who else is ready to stand in there? Thune, maybe? The pickings are slim, my friends.
Update: From National Journal’s poll of “political insiders,” 82 percent of Democrats think their party would benefit from another Question Time session. Among Republicans, just 46 percent think so compared to 52 percent who say it wouldn’t. Sample quotes:
“It was a stupid decision to allow the Q&A to be televised. Obama wiped the floor. We are still not that good at messaging. I think our leaders start to believe their own press releases. We are the same party the voters rejected in ’06 and ’08.”
“Talking policy is the wrong move: Republicans just need to oppose President Obama.”…
“Whether GOP leadership gets it or not, we do not yet have a member or members capable of scoring significant points in this format.”
“He’s better at it than we are: Obama has the ability to make the Democrats appear reasonable; Reid and Pelosi do not. We want more of Reid and Pelosi.”
Blowback
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Let him have the photo op and let them turn it upside down and inside out.
Cmon Red Staters, let them have it. EXPOSE IT
seesalrun on February 5, 2010 at 11:17 PM
Obamas credibility is gone! He has destroyed it himself,
he lost Massachusetts for Gods sake. The American voters rejected him, the idependents have fled him and his party. They have exposed themselves as far left corruptocrats all.
It is not necesary to hand him his credibility.
Listen to Clarence Thomas for Gods sake.
You elevate the liar by giving him a forum to propagate his lies. Make him go on TV, make him interrupt American Idol . Every time he appears his viewers shrink. Hell he couldn’t fill a high school gym in MASSACHUSETTS for Gods sake do not throw him a life preserver.
dhunter on February 5, 2010 at 11:20 PM
OK, I second that list.
AshleyTKing on February 5, 2010 at 11:21 PM
Frankly, I don’t see where Obama “won” anything at this conference. If trite talking points are supposed to be the end-all answer to a question, then the format needs to improved upon. Republicans should have been allowed follow-up questions.
Connie on February 5, 2010 at 11:24 PM
So true!
It will always look like – Obama’s the teacher lecturing students he sent to detention.
redridinghood on February 5, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Everything you suggest is being done and said in a different forum. That is a reason Pinnochio has won nothing! Nothing since TARP and Stimulus one. He has lost at every turn.
His party is facing the most devastating loses ever this Nov. They just lost MASSACHUSETTS!
Senators and congressmen need to concentrate on their constituents on their states and their jobs and not elevate Pinnochio!
Republicans should not crawl in the mud with a pig they will not come out clean and the pig will still be a dirty pig.
dhunter on February 5, 2010 at 11:30 PM
He should not have the opportunity to look like a phony bipartisan. We need to find a candidate to defeat him in ’12 who will slice and dice him in a debate and is not afraid to say “you lie.” Translation: anyone but Huckabee – he can’t even win a debate with the libs on his own show.
I am enjoying watching the demise of the POTUS and TOTUS Road Show, while his approval numbers plummet with each speech.
HellCat on February 5, 2010 at 11:30 PM
once we own up to the fact that the wheels are now in motion to “fundamentally change America” and we oppose, therefore we group against. We are being ostracized and demonized via Alinsky and we’re not up to speed. We can catch up – because we’re stronger and larger in numbers.
I like America. I like free enterprise. I like entrepreneurship.
I like growth. I like freedom.
I wish I could point to ONE person in the current admin I agree with/ Not a one. Dismal. and heartbreaking.
I rely on whom I have now to rep me, if they don’t, I cast my vote to oppose.
seesalrun on February 5, 2010 at 11:44 PM
Let the Talking Chimp talk. Every time he flaps his gums he lies. It’s his nature. The more people hear him, really hear him, the more fully they understand the colossal mistake that was made.
Mo’ Bama. Bring him on.
mr1216 on February 5, 2010 at 11:51 PM
What is amazing is that the Rs will do well this November even though they’re a bunch of pu$$ies. The conservative agenda sure is in good hands.
edshepp on February 5, 2010 at 11:51 PM
How does it benefit Obama to be put in a position where he has to lie his ass off and why would it be hard for Republicans to expose his lies? If the majority of Americans are too stupid to realize he’s lying, that is an even bigger problem that needs to be dealt with instead of hiding from it.
Buddahpundit on February 5, 2010 at 11:56 PM
If it’s a formal debate, any of those mentioned could demolish Obama. If it’s just Obama hogging camera time, well then of course the GOP is going to look bad. Did Obama say anything substantive in that “debate” that would change anyone’s mind about the issues? No.
ddrintn on February 5, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Most of the Americans’ rulers seem to be nauseating triflers. I would wish them dead, were it not for the circumstance that their destruction would encompass the destruction of those I love.
Kralizec on February 6, 2010 at 12:03 AM
How about a press conference Barry?
tbear44 on February 6, 2010 at 12:05 AM
It seems pointless to go on camera with the man other than with carefully laid plans to humiliate him.
Kralizec on February 6, 2010 at 12:06 AM
For a real question period One should also have his crappy cabinet there too.
AshleyTKing on February 6, 2010 at 12:21 AM
“but who else is ready to stand in there? Thune, maybe? The pickings are slim, my friends.”
Funny you should mention in that first tier, I think Thune might have some aspirations to tell you the truth. He’s hotogenic with no-known skeletons and has as serious yet friendly demeanor. Plus a fairly consistent record of conservatism that the Indy’s & TParty could embrace.
Throw in the young but capable wonk Ryan outta WI as VP, shake and serve.
We could do worse, we usually do.
Archimedes on February 6, 2010 at 12:22 AM
Beware the articulate incompetent.
Greg Toombs on February 6, 2010 at 12:22 AM
You sound like you’re confused – first you said that you elevate him by giving him a forum, then you said that giving him exposure on TV hurts him.
If, like you said, more exposure hurts him (an idea I agree with), then there isn’t a downside for GOP Senators to engage him, even if the format is imperfect like it was the last time. In fact, I believe not engaging him because of the fear that he’ll upstage them makes them look worse/weaker than trying and falling on their faces.
If they really care about leading, they should bravely challenge him in a format that gives them equal time and doesn’t flatter him more than them – go on the offense, put the pressure on 0bamessiah to man up in a setting he’s not comfortable in, and let him risk looking like a coward for not accepting the terms.
Bizarro No. 1 on February 6, 2010 at 12:23 AM
okokok
I have the ultimate rebuke to this foolishness
demand the elected admin to fulfill the campaign promise of:
5 DAYS for the American People to review any and ever bill proposed on the net.
It has yet to be fulfilled
And we have YET to see to see this Health Care or any other proposal IN WRITING TO BE TOTALLY REVIEWED YET
We are arguing about phantoms.
Which means we have phantom government and phantom bills which equals to me total bullshit.
seesalrun on February 6, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Houston we’ve got a problem.
Unfortunately the majority of Americans voted for Prez. Hopenchange. There still having to come to grips with the fact that they acted stupidly.
redridinghood on February 6, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Amen, brother. What the hell is going on here? Say what you want about Beck, but any given 90 second segment of his show absolutely deconstructs Obama. None of these guys can take a few notes or what?
Kataklysmic on February 6, 2010 at 12:34 AM
Too many girly men on the GOP side of the Senate – they remind me of McCain rolling over for 0bamessiah during the last campaign.
Bizarro No. 1 on February 6, 2010 at 12:53 AM
Republican Senators asking direct questions of the President of the United States?
You’re all right. Horrible idea.
YYZ on February 6, 2010 at 12:54 AM
These politico links are so silly. I hope everyone else here can see just how far left politico is.
Obama was allowed by the house republicans to simply ramble on with the same talking points as the last presidential election cycle. Obama offered nothing new. Wasting time to hear those same tired sentences simply makes no sense. And listening to Obama complain that the very republicans he has despised and shut out of as many house activities as possible are now responsible for Obama’s failure to lead democrat majorities was sad.
As for questions, Obama never answered any of them. He simply rambled in circles. Particularly amusing was the total farce of an answer he spouted regarding negotiations being on cspan. And even at that, he never did answer the other two parts of that same congressmans direct questions regarding other Obama’s promises, like vetoing earmarks, that just were not true.
And somehow after this silly session, politico is spinning how great Obama is?
Freddy on February 6, 2010 at 1:49 AM
The format was a disaster for the House GOP. Make him sit down in a discussion with selected members who understand the issues and can ask intelligent questions; where interruption and follow-up is permitted so he can be cross-examined when he lies. It looked like a professor lecturing a bunch of college freshmen. Forcing a real discussion of the issues (unlike what happened) will benefit the American people. Who cares whether the GOP scores points or not? He could be pressed, for instance, on why he is not serious about tort reform as a part of health care reform. Even if he was simply forced to avoid the real answer (the plaintiff’s bar doesn’t want it and they have influence, i.e., big contributions) enough times, that would be clear.
mikelikesit on February 6, 2010 at 7:39 AM
Judd Gregg
Chuckles3 on February 6, 2010 at 7:40 AM
I didn’t see any of the House discussion, but the reports I read made it sound like a good discussion, and good government. But the Republicans can’t send congressmen into a setting with the President with their hands tied. They have to feel free to address his myriad stupidities.
If the Senate were to engage Obama well-prepared to discuss policy based on his actions to date, they would destroy him. But they can’t allow a power mismatch to give him the upper hand. You have to go after him, and there are almost no topics that give him a place to hide:
- his appointees belong in a clown car,
- his national defense is juvenile: he has screwed up the Gitmo issue, dithered on Afghanistan for 9 months before doing what Bush was doing; screwed up terrorist trials and now is backing off; screwed up NATO alliances, and waffled against Russia and Iran, impotently.
- his spending and deficit disasters are something approaching a major threat to the safety of the country.
- he is economically illiterate.
Go to it, boys.
Jaibones on February 6, 2010 at 8:02 AM
Here’s the problem: Americans have respect for the office and this benefits the individual president whether he deserves it or not. This happened to Clinton too. Republicans pulled their punches when it got right down to it because they were afraid to insult the office–and thus insult the American people–by insulting the president. If they asked Mark Levin questions (which would be alright with me, by the way), all you’d hear for the next week was how disrespectful the Republicans were of the president we put in office.
ncborn on February 6, 2010 at 8:04 AM
Forget Senators. Put Obama up against McCotter.
It’d be a blood bath. A very, very funny blood bath.
Jaynie59 on February 6, 2010 at 8:09 AM
I’m glad some Republicans are waking up that the question and answer format only benefits President Obama. No one will watch it, then the liberal MSM will only pick the sound bites that benefit the president. When Ed suggested we all sign a petition to have more of these question and answer sesssions, he was misguided: It will only help Obama’s agenda.
Gabe on February 6, 2010 at 8:09 AM
It’s question time with the Tea Party movement that American would pay to see.
Not with the Republicans or anyone that has to worry about what the short spliced soundbite might sound like on CNN.
LeeSeneca on February 6, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Question Time doesn’t work as well here as it does in the UK’s parliamentary system- that is, it gives the President an unfair advantage- because in our system the President is both heads of government and head of state (whereas in the UK the monarch is head of state). So the American public expects the President to always be treated respectfully, and anyone questioning the President on camera is hampered by the fear that being too agressive will look disrespectful (especially if they are a Republican who knows the media will always make them look bad if they can). The GOP certainly can’t boo and jeer Obama the way the opposition does to the PM during QT in the UK.
If we do have something like QT here again, the rules need to be changed to allow follow-up questions. It was stupid for the GOP to agree to a format with no follow-ups.
Jon0815 on February 6, 2010 at 9:10 AM
I agree, but this goes to the heart of adroitness, courage and professionalism in a politician. It is not impossible to challenge a president who has challenged you and in the process to expose him in such a way that does not offend the office or public sensibility. The Republicans are simply bereft.
rrpjr on February 6, 2010 at 9:24 AM
Does any Republican Congressman even care about the national Republican party and its Presidential prospects or even the 2010 elections (other than their own)?
Once these congressmen get in office (both Democrats and Republicans) all they care is about themselves getting re-elected and staying in office, not anyone else or the party. (Anyone ever seen a large group of Republican Senators show up at a campaign rally for another Senator in another state?)
Why should they confront the President? What do they gain from it? Nothing – they either look too confrontational or the President can feign the “feel sorry for me they are all picking on me” tactic.
albill on February 6, 2010 at 9:35 AM
I couldn’t agree more, BUT I have a slightly different take on why, and I’m not sure I can articulate it clearly, but here’s tryin:
Every single time this man opens his mouth I am overwhelmed with the unmitigated narcissism that oozes out of his every pore. Just when I think he couldn’t think more highly of himself, he once again suprises me. Ya’ know how Pinnochio’s nose grew with every lie? Well, so Obama’s ego grows every time he opens his mouth…it is pathological!
My take is that the House GOP members were just non-plussed. I thought it was absolutely shameful, disrespectful, rude, petty, ameteurish–a national embarrassment–the way he talked to the members. There was NO respect, NO acknowledgement that they were anything other than peasants…I think they were just, um stunned, and were too classy to hit back…I’m not saying they shouldn’t have, but this was kind of a classic Trojan Horse move, and the Republicans were fooled and let him get over the castle moat.
Perhaps with Cornyn’s response, they have finally learned????
Chewy the Lab on February 6, 2010 at 9:38 AM
PBHO’s specialty is photo ops. Hogging the mike and saying nothing is 2nd. Posing with upturned chin is 3rd. Has anyone heard anything about the dog lately?
Kissmygrits on February 6, 2010 at 9:51 AM
So I’m a little confused about all this. I have never even tacitly assigned a modicum of higher intelligence to a politician. At best, cranially, they are average joes. The skill a politician has is charisma and poise; this can be bought from charm school or inured from having lived in a gifted-needing-nothing childhood.
What’s wrong with chumpy Republicans getting out-tongued by a Kool-Ade pouring nitwit? Nothing of substance was exchanged except embarrassment for honesty and dishonesty for exposure.
ericdijon on February 6, 2010 at 9:59 AM
As long as the moron gets 90% of the air time, gets to control the format, and the repubs don’t get a chance to interrupt when he is lying, why do it?
And the moron won’t do it unless all those conditions are met.
notagool on February 6, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Cornyn is right as are most posters here who say there should not be a meeting between the Rep. Senators and Obama.
I envision a nightmare like this:
Obama (finishing scolding remarks about obstruction, party of no, can’t you just give in to my wonderful Obamainess): . . . and in summary, I would like, hope, that the Republicans would be open to new ideas and try to offer some solutions instead of standing in the way of progress. Ah, speaking of obstruction, there I see our good friend Senator Shelby. He’s 2fer this week. Puts a hold on most of my nominees so that we cannot get vital positions filled in my administration and refuses to work with Senator Dodd, who has put in so much time and effort into crafting a good financial regulatory program, because he will not agree to help the people by forming a Consumer Protection Board.
Shelby (in his southern drawl): Now, Mr. President, y’all know I have worked with my friend Sen. Dodd but I can’t see how this Board will work to protect . . .
Obama (cutting him off): Well, it will protect the American people from more credit card company abuses. How can you be against that? As I said, the opposition is all about scoring political points. The people don’t want that. They want us to work together during the worst crisis since the Great Depression to end unfair tactics of credit card companies, insurance companies . . . (Obama lapses into 10 minute disseration on the party of no as it relates to healthcare reform). The status quo is not acceptable. We can’t keep going down the same path with the same failed Bush policies that most of you here voted for, by the way.
The meeting would go on like this, with Obama pointing out anything that he thinks helps people, framing it in the worst possible way for Republicans.
Check out the polls. The people don’t like the Dems now but they don’t like the Republicans either. We’re not gaining ground. It’s probably time to look at running more conservative, tea party type candidates against some of the incumbents we have up for re-election this year. Primary them and see how it goes. People are going to the right but they are also out for incumbents’ blood. It’s going to be nasty.
Greyledge Gal on February 6, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Remember there has been lots of bi-partisanship. It has all been against Obama’s proposals. Funny how that is not called bi-partisanship unless there is a republican in the WH.
jukin on February 6, 2010 at 10:28 AM
Exactly. It’s also about the format, as you said — what they call “optics” now.
In the meeting with House members, the camera was focused on Obama at the podium the entire time. There was no real panning to the members asking questions — mostly you saw the side of their faces or backs of their heads.
This puts the President in the superior position to viewers and gives him more stature. You get to see his perturbed looks.
He also has the benefit of being able to shout down/interrupt any of the other members and they can’t really call him on it or they look disrespectful to the President.
I’m all for being disrespectful to Obama; however, those who view him as President see that differently than I do. LOL.
Greyledge Gal on February 6, 2010 at 10:32 AM
I don’t think Obama came off that well in Baltimore. He just sounded like himself with more of the same ole, same ole. I was not especially impressed though I only read the transcript and was not privileged to hear the golden inflections.
jeanie on February 6, 2010 at 10:33 AM
I am not confused in the least we are talking two different senarios. Make Pinnochio go on TV alone and interrupt whatever programing. The American people have tuned that out his viewers diminish every time because of his narcissitic lying and condecension.
To add Republicans to the mix allows him to sound and act superior whilst lying his ass off.
He would have to be pretty far down in approval to agree to the terms you describe where Repubs get equal time. He is headed there and is desperate that his policies cannot pass, but I don’t think he’s there yet!
Remember no-one will watch and the soundbites we see on the evening news will be only those that his cheerleaders in the press want the sheeple to see.
It is a lose lose for the Repubs. The media loves it as it gives them something to gab about since Pinnochio refuses to take questions directly from them!
dhunter on February 6, 2010 at 10:47 AM
We have a President with only one skill, but that skill seems to have been enough to get him elected. If the GOP does go through with these public forums, the thing has to be structured differently. He must not be allowed to use this ‘talent’ to the detriment of truth and civility. Maybe these sessions should be re-designed to expose Obama’s biggest flaws should he attempt to use these against the GOP–his indifference to truth and his pre-occupation with his own wonderfulnesss.
jeanie on February 6, 2010 at 10:58 AM
A true Q & A would involve debate, speaking back and forth, a give and take of ideas and suggestions.
b.hussein turns everything into a lecture – he rambles on and on and on, hogging 80% of the camera time, tossing in barbs and tasteless jokes. Whomever gets the most “face time” or talks the most, will come out APPEARING to be the victor.
This is what sanctimonious kooks do – they yak forever, saying nothing susbstantial, and it almost hypnotizes the audience; the monotonous drone.
Ris4victory on February 6, 2010 at 11:14 AM
The British do not have the Prime Minister answer questions from the House of Commons.
The British Prime Minister is chosen from the House of Commons so he can participate in the floor debate in Commons, as a regular member.
Let’s not gimmick away our separation of duties and powers because we perceive some immediate advantage given the present personalities involved. No matter what, in 2017 we will have a totally different president and it would look very, very, very bad to suddenly remember the President nor Congress are supposed to “up” each other.
Chris_Balsz on February 6, 2010 at 11:25 AM
So the President’s purpose was to make them look bad? Score political points? That seems to be what the press and the DNC are saying. Yes, no one can prevaricate and parse better than a Democratic lawyer President. So much for that reaching across the aisle.
gitarfan on February 6, 2010 at 12:32 PM
The BO practiced street talk in the meeting with the GOP. He came off as a low class thug. A series of well planned questions that pose a trap could expose his insane thought pattern. Then, perhaps a wrap up by the GOP could really illustrate the lies and non answers. The GOP has to be intellectually honest and aggressive. If BO is trounced, then he may honestly reach across the isle!
NOBOZONS on February 6, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Bing.
Jaibones on February 6, 2010 at 1:17 PM
If it’s a discussion, it should be both ways. Don’t give Soetoro any opportunities to control things.
Ricohoc on February 6, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Few dispute that Obama is good at campaigning – why give him another opportunity to do it? Since he’s a sitting President is it likely that anyone is really going to call him on his cr*p?
katiejane on February 6, 2010 at 1:33 PM
Interesting narrative AllahPundit. Too bad a few HA commenters don’t understand your nuance and sarcasm quite yet. You’re politically smarter than this and know EXACTLY why your narrative is BS. You understand that the GOP should have been smart enough not have done the first one so YOU could actually push the BS narrative. Either way, thanks for pointing out something most of us know, our mostly Centrist/RINO Senators suck. But for ratings you’ll promote them while you’ll clown on Palin yet post her FB postings (for Christ sakes) and prove that if FB postings slam harder than anything coming out of Steele’s face of the GOP’s mouth it can be that hokey hickey stupid now, can it? I mean it’s FB! LOL!! A stupid person who makes politcal hay from FB is simply an oxymoron. You being the moron to not understand how impressive that is. Costs you nothing, yet full impact. LOL!!
Sultry Beauty on February 6, 2010 at 2:10 PM
I confess I feel a bit like I’m reading post mortems of the Baltimore Colts beating Joe and the Jets or Goliath rolling over a shepherd; surely it was a rout of epic proportions. Now I did not have a chance to watch this performance; I have only seen snippets in blog posts and the like. But anytime I see MOM (Matthews Olbermann Maddow) awaiting their Rapture over another performance by their chosen one or the telltale spin of Lanny Davis (“He kicked their –“), I am a little suspicious. Couple this with repeated pronouncements here and elsewhere that he is lost without a teleprompter or dumb as dirt, I wonder whether some further review isn’t needed.
First. It cannot be surprising that if you have a debate in which one of the parties gets to (1) control who talks and for how long, (2) apparently gets to mischaracterize egregiously the claims of his opponents, without protest or correction, and (3) who wins the debate is largely a matter of the MOM cocktail scene post-debate narrative, then MOM’s side wins. Is this surprising? Republican presidential candidates have for too many elections agreed to just this sort of format, and the Republicans of the 111th Congress may have decided to go them one better.
But second and more important, is this outcome irretrievable? It seems as though a few relatively small changes might go some ways toward changing the outcome. You can be respectful and forceful. And here is a Scott Brown-style response: “Mr. President, with all due respect – no one suggested we could cover all of them for free; it was said that we could cover all of them without raising taxes.” Or: “Begging your pardon, Mr. President. Those provisions were not “snuck” in there. They were there from the beginning. We have been telling the American people that and clearly they heard us. If you were unaware of that, then you were not well-served by the people who wrote the bills but refused our participation.”
Remember, this is the same person who had 70 minutes of uninterrupted air time in one of the grandest arenas, and in but a few days the American people have returned to their “pre-speech” view. Goliath was felled with but a single, smooth stone. Republicans need only choose their stones wisely. And hurl it respectfully, but accurately.
EastofEden on February 6, 2010 at 3:31 PM
This is always going to be a win situation for Obama as long as the love affair continues with the MSM. So why give him the platform?
roflmao
donabernathy on February 6, 2010 at 4:14 PM
The Republican Party isn’t up to beating Obama at ANYTHING. The Tea Party and the American People are. Having a tete a tete with the limp spined, fat ass clown in the GOP will never help. Hensarling, Pence and some others have the guts to toe the line but the “leaders” will always back off and the press will always put BHO in the best light.
The GOP/RNC is clueless.
rcl on February 6, 2010 at 5:07 PM
Obama has the ability to make the Democrats appear reasonable; Reid and Pelosi do not.
“President Obama is magical on TV and looks reasonable. It’s better to let Obama remain the left-of-center policy wonk.”
yep
BobUSMC on February 6, 2010 at 6:13 PM
The surprise here is someone in the GOP leadership actually had the ability to recognize the Senate GOP are generally a bunch of weak-kneed ninnys when it comes to putting forth a clear message against opposing views.
Furthermore, the closer one gets to the top, the weaker their messaging skills get. Which is another way of saying, they’ve got the wrong leadership paradigm and too many have been successfully emulating it.
drfredc on February 7, 2010 at 1:04 AM
The format is everything. You can’t put him up on a podium and let him pontificate for 2 minutes to every 20 second question with no follow up. Even so, I didn’t think Barry gained that much with the House Republicans. Remember, the percentage of the electorate that even watched this is probably far less than 20%. Two months from now hardly anyone will remember much details from it other than the GOP handed him Better Solutions and Barry gave a shout out to Paul Ryan, completely undermining the “party of no” theme.
As usual, while Barry sounds somewhat reasonable when he talks (assuming you don’t compare it to his actions or what he said at other times), he never really gives you a takeaway that you can remember later. He’s like the pastor that can give a good sermon but you can never remember what his main points were by lunch time.
But can you imagine if instead, the GOP Senators brought Obama in to one of the committee rooms, and Obama sat in front of them like he was testifying in front of Congress? Each GOP Senator could (respectfully) grill Obama for 5 minutes.
Senate GOP should make the offer and when Obama refuses they can call him chicken.
“If President Obama wants to try to square his professed willingness to consider Republican ideas with his unwillingness to even meet with Senate Republicans, then that is a debate we are willing to have.”
willamettevalley on February 7, 2010 at 5:48 AM
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