The GOP vs. Obama: Is it personal or just politics?
But the dynamic, which Democrats largely blame Republicans for, has irked many of them, especially on the Hill. “I think it is unprecedented of a leader in the Senate of either party to say the most important goal he has is to make the current president a one-term,” said Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat of California. “That is about respect, that is about priorities and it is just wrong.”
Julian E. Zelizer, a political scientist at Princeton, said that when it comes to Mr. Obama, Republicans “just keep gaining confidence to force his hand.”
“While there might be a few people whose words have become nastier than usual, I think this is really the new normal in Washington with a president who is always on the ropes,” Professor Zelizer said. “I am not convinced that is about lack of respect so much as the feeling that this is a weak president. If the president seemed more powerful they would have returned the call.”…
There is the persistent and deeply uncomfortable question of race. Many African-Americans, including black lawmakers, and even white Democrats, have complained that some of the disrespect for Mr. Obama stems from distaste among some whites at the idea of seeing a black man in the Oval Office.
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It’s personal for Teh SCOAMF.
Steve Eggleston on September 2, 2011 at 9:19 AM
Can’t it be both?
Caiwyn on September 2, 2011 at 9:20 AM
It’s Bush’s Fault!
Is it personal or political?
Herb on September 2, 2011 at 9:21 AM
It must be personal. Why else would the GOP oppose the implementaion of policies that have disastrous consequences?
Dear, NYT’s … no one is buying your “it’s personal” or “it’s racist” bullshyt except you.
darwin on September 2, 2011 at 9:21 AM
Yeah!!!! NY Slimes carrying the meme of “Reps are racist, thats the real reason” as “personal”…
I dont care if we are talking about the POTUS or a janitor. The affirmative action guy/gal will always be able to use the very thing that got them preferable treatment in the first place – their skin color; to bludgeon everyone around them.
Thats the funny part of AA – its intended, yet denied as to the very cruth needed. A perpetual game about race – and has nothing to do with reality or results.
Odie1941 on September 2, 2011 at 9:24 AM
“That is about respect, that is about priorities and it is just wrong.”
Uh hoh please….
Now we should all respect the President….?
I could fill twenty pages with outrageous displays of disrespect directed at George Bush and many of them would come from Obama himself.
Those on the left seem to think that the past before Obama’s election does not exist and is off limits but there is this little thing called the internet where all their despicable treasonous acts can all viewed daily forever.
NeoKong on September 2, 2011 at 9:25 AM
By ‘personal’ they are implying racism. Dude, that horse they are beating is so dead, the vultures left months ago.
I will be so proud when a black man once again places a hand on a bible to sworn in as President….Col. Allen West.
michaelo on September 2, 2011 at 9:25 AM
Hogwash
This president lowered the office by making everything political and being condescending
Not talking with gop leaders until 18mths in office….the list is long
But they will pull out the race card instead
Pathetic
cmsinaz on September 2, 2011 at 9:25 AM
Yes, the distaste for Barry must be about the color of his skin. It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the fact that his idiotic policies are destroying our economy and burying future generations under a mountain of debt.
And Barry himself has been so very respectful towards those who oppose his policies (otherwise known as terrorists and hostage takers), that any reciprocal lack of respect to Barry clearly can only be due to his skin color.
NY Times, proving its worthlessness yet again. (As if any more proof were needed).
AZCoyote on September 2, 2011 at 9:25 AM
Alternate Headline: The GOP vs. Obama: Is it racism or just bigotry?
The Mega Independent on September 2, 2011 at 9:26 AM
Spot on neokong
cmsinaz on September 2, 2011 at 9:26 AM
It seems there are plenty of people who are more than comfortable raising that question…over and over again.
BlueCollarAstronaut on September 2, 2011 at 9:28 AM
Really, with the economy in a total free fall like it is, how can even the NYT ask such a dumb question? It’s the economy. It’s the spending. It’s the unemployment. It’s the failure. The NYT just wants to stick their fingers in their ears, cover their eyes, and scream “We don’t understand what everyone’s problem is with Obama!” And that’s why they’re now buying ink by the quart.
Rational Thought on September 2, 2011 at 9:28 AM
Obama doesn’t respect laws, the Constitution, the American people, or the truth.
What’s to respect?
Aardvark on September 2, 2011 at 9:32 AM
Nothing like ivory tower liberal elites from the NY Times to make “race claims”
What they can never answer with a straight face is “Why arent blacks and minorities part of your Hamptons/Round Pond/Orient Point/Block Island vacation spots?” How many minorities live in the upper east side, central park west, Gramercy, etc. where you live?”
Nothing like racist, rich white elites taking the racial pulse of America
Odie1941 on September 2, 2011 at 9:33 AM
It better be personal. It’s personal for all America-loving Americans. For Perry, due to the awful way TX has been treated, it’s personal, which is why he’ll actually FIGHT and not just pay lip service to it (ala McCain).
-Aslan’s Girl
Aslans Girl on September 2, 2011 at 9:34 AM
Economic illiteracy is the foundation of Modern Liberalism.
Almost everything they do stems from a misunderstanding/rejection of fundamental economic principles.
visions on September 2, 2011 at 9:35 AM
I agree. Obama is an a**hole, and he’s a lousy president.
Still, I saw a poll yesterday that only 19% dislike him while something like 69% do like him.
Who are these morons that like him? He’s the biggest snake-oil salesman I’ve ever seen.
BuckeyeSam on September 2, 2011 at 9:36 AM
Read the next headline – dufus! Do we really need any other reason than his policies.
He is absolutely irrelevant – too many golf games, too many parties – too many speeches that add up to nothing except is – is, too many vacations and let us not forget how long it took for him to visit the oil spill on the coast and how long it took for him to get involved.
Can a community organizer do anything but organize unions? Can a community organizer do anything but take other people’s money?
That’s all he is and all he’ll ever be!
Bambi on September 2, 2011 at 9:37 AM
To believe what the Times and Democrats want to believe is true you have to assume the that hypothetically, if John F. Kerry had won election in 2004 and pushed the exact same kind of programs and run his administration with the exact same kind of efficiency as Barack Obama, that the Republicans’ reactions of scorn and derision for President Magic Hat would have been nowhere to be seen.
jon1979 on September 2, 2011 at 9:39 AM
It’s really hard to like someone who calls you, either himself or through his friends, the enemy, a racist, a tool of corporate America. So, yeah, it’s personal. Barry made it personal.
mchristian on September 2, 2011 at 9:42 AM
I don’t remember was this question asked of Bush? Personal or just politics?
Fallon on September 2, 2011 at 9:45 AM
It doesn’t really matter who the occupant in the WH from the Democratic National Socialist Party is.
It’s just that as a representative of that august group his or her ideology is running the nation into a brick wall.
Chip on September 2, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Definitely disrespect. Obama is highly disrespectful.
The disrespect is mutual. So what?
topdog on September 2, 2011 at 9:47 AM
“Nothing personal.”
- Aaron Burr
Seth Halpern on September 2, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Barbara Boxer is delivering a lecture about respect?
forest on September 2, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Boy, do these people have short memories.
Wasn’t it unprecedented for a Senate Majority Leader to announce “This war is lost” on national television? How about the Majority Whip comparing our troops to Nazis and Pol Pot?
Stopping some bad legislaton and bad nominations is one thing; undermining our Commander In Chief during a war in which hundreds of Americans were being killed was quite another.
rockmom on September 2, 2011 at 9:55 AM
I am certain when it is Dems vs. GOP is both personal and politics. The Dems started this a long, long time ago.
Voter from WA State on September 2, 2011 at 9:56 AM
And don’t even get me started on the disrespect George Mitchell showed to George H.W. Bush. He may not have officially announced that he was determined to make Bush a one-term President, but his actions spoke louder than words. His refusal to pass a capital-gains tax cut and insistence on tax increases produced the recession that cost Bush his job. He would have laughed out loud if Bush had asked for a joint session of Congress to announce yet another jobs plan this close to the election.
rockmom on September 2, 2011 at 9:57 AM
I just googled what that meant.
LOVE IT!
gophergirl on September 2, 2011 at 9:58 AM
It’s personal – it better be personal. The guy is destroying our country.
gophergirl on September 2, 2011 at 10:00 AM
sniff, sniff, ahhh, nothing like the smell of fresh clear logic first thing in the morning
Alden Pyle on September 2, 2011 at 10:01 AM
FYI – the new report is we added ZERO jobs in August. Unemployment is still 9.1%. So, now what is the question again . . . oh, yes . . . it is both personal and political.
Voter from WA State on September 2, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Our ‘prince of the personal pronoun’ president has made the politics of personal destruction his life’s work.
IE: ‘trash Joe the Plumber’; ‘you can’t keep your thermostat at 72 degrees’; ‘get in your neighbor’s face’; ‘middle finger salutes during speeches’; ‘disrespecting SCOTUS during the SotUS’; ‘We’re gonna punish our enemies’; ‘ObamaCare itself’; ‘suing states’; ‘suing banks’; ‘oppressive regulations’; threatening businesses’; ‘demonizing their owners’; ‘eat your peas’;…
The list goes on and on illustrating how this president is petulant, petty and vindictive.
In order to get respect, you have to give it.
Apparently, our community organizer in chief hasn’t learned this lesson.
locomotivebreath1901 on September 2, 2011 at 10:03 AM
The more I read this, the more absurd it is. Do democrats really think a strategy to get voters is to say “the mean ole GOP never gave little Barry a chance”? Think about that! Can you imagine a football coach with a quarterback who can’t get the ball in anyone’s hands crying, “No one gave Johnny Quarterback a chance, waaaa, waaaa.” The CHANCE came when the ball was snapped. And Obama’s CHANCE came when he got elected. He has had three years to show what he can do — Three. Long. Years. — that is ample time to determine that he isn’t up to the task. It’s the record, stupid.
Rational Thought on September 2, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Yup. Anyone who gets between Obozo and want he ‘whats’ will suffer his wrath.
For Teh One, there is no such thing as ‘constructive criticism’. I’ll wager that any such ‘suggestions’ are wrapped in flattery.
I’d rather face a spoiled ten-year old sociopath wielding a ‘sawed-off’ shotgun than be the one who tells Obama…’No sir, you’re wrong’ or ‘that’s a terrible idea’.
Color ain’t got nothing to do with it.
CPT. Charles on September 2, 2011 at 10:25 AM
GIVE ME AN F’N BREAK!!!!
Any chance Obama had was lost when, in his first meeting w/ congressional Reps., said – you have to stop listening to Russ Linbaugh.
AND “We won.” when Cantor was trying to express the conservative view of the focus the stimulus needed.
AND not talking to Republican leadership for over a year as they cframmed their agenda liberal agenda down our throats that the Reps could not stop.
AND personally insulting Ryan at the Georgetown speech.
Obama has been a horse’s ass since Day 1.
gonnjos on September 2, 2011 at 10:33 AM
A. Number of times NYT agonized over this when the last President was subjected to constant vitriol in the news media, entertainment industry, in cluding novels and films about his assassination: ZERO.
B. Legitimacy or credibility of NYT in asking, or answering, this question: ABSOLUTE ZERO.
drunyan8315 on September 2, 2011 at 10:48 AM
1. Number of times NYT asked this question as GWB was vitriolically attacked for 8 years by Democrats, news media, and the entertainment industry, including novels and films about his fictional (bit clearly hoped-for) assassination: ZERO.
2. Legitimacy and credibility of NYT to ask or answer this question: ABSOLUTE ZERO.
drunyan8315 on September 2, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Name them.
Del Dolemonte on September 2, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Another “leave my boyfriend alone” story.
And speaking or rare outbursts in the Senate chamber, I guess she forgot about her boyfriend scolding the SCOTUS in front of the world.
PattyJ on September 2, 2011 at 11:09 AM
It’s personal.
Obama is a crook, a liar, and a socialist, and we want the maggot out of office. He’s doing enormous damage and he and his evil henchmen need to be removed from office asap, before it’s too late.
Jaibones on September 2, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Because all of the democrat representatives and senators were soooo respectful of Bush for 8 years?
Is taht what were are using as the base-line for respect of the president? Because if it is, in comparison I believe Republicans have been incredibly respectful of Obama despite Obama’s child-like behavior at times.
Monkeytoe on September 2, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Huh?
Andre Carson, Eldridge Cleaver, Maxine Waters, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, James Clyburn, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Frederica Wilson, Sheila Jackson-Lee, I could do this all day, Roland Burris, Jimmy Carter, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Tingles, come on Del…are you kidding me?, Olbermann, the entire staffs of FAIR, Salon, MSNBC, Media Matters, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN…
Jaibones on September 2, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Obama’s reelection platorm:
Vote for me or be called racist!
How original… but it worked the last time…
OnlyOrange on September 2, 2011 at 11:40 AM
You mean ChimpyMcHitler Bush?
He was treated with the utmost respect by Democrats.
AZCoyote on September 2, 2011 at 12:04 PM