Graham: "He's Pleased that "Obama has shown a Little Bit of Leg"

[KoKo]

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham on Sunday became the first prominent Republican to publicly praise, however lukewarmly, the budget proposal the White House outlined last week. --Reuters

Graham, a conservative who has deviated from party positions in the past, and has said he would consider raising up to $600 billion in new tax revenue if Democrats accept significant changes to Medicare, the government health program for elderly Americans, and Medicaid, the health safety net for low-income people.

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Graham said that the president's offer contained approaches to cutting spending that he supports. One is the proposal to index cost-of-living increases for government program benefits to a less-generous measure of inflation.

"The president is showing a little bit of leg here, this is somewhat encouraging," Graham said. "His overall budget's not going to make it, but he has sort of made a step forward in the entitlement-reform process that would allow a guy like me to begin to talk about flattening the tax code and generating more revenue."

Obama has invited 12 Republican senators for dinner on the day of the budget release as part of an effort to soften resistance among the opposition political party.

"The president's focus, in addition to the regular order process that members of Congress say they want, is to try to find a caucus of common sense, folks who are willing to compromise, that don't think compromise is a dirty word, and try to get something done," White House senior advisor Dan Pfeiffer said on ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" program.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/07/us-usa-fiscal-idUSBRE93608C20130407

[TwilightGardener]

1. Um... what? LOL.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

2. Too easy.

[bemildred]

3. Lindsey should apologize to Obama.

Obama's legs have nothing to do with it.

[Autumn]

4. Republicans get dinner, and we will probably get screwed.

Now I feel cheap.

[monmouth3]

5. Wish I was invited. I'd show more than my gd leg I can tell you that....n/t

[bigtree]

6. he outs himself with that statement

. . . republican strategy is to get Obama to spell out the cuts to 'entitlements' and cynically bash Democrats for that in the upcoming midterms.

So, Lindsey's for even deeper cuts . . .

[KoKo]

7. that was the plan. And, it will backlash on Dems & Obama...

Graham is just pleased... There are other Repugs probably throwing parties and laughing it up.

[Larrylarry]

8. I really don't think there will be antibacklash

The president's budget has the same chance of passing as the Ryan budget

That is zero chance of passing for anybody that's confused

[bigtree]

11. where it will count

. . . there's no way that Democrats are going to be seen by voters as anywhere near as threatening to their SS as republicans. Voters didn't fall for it in the last election.

The cuts are DOA in the Senate. It doesn't matter who Obama woos over dinner. These cuts in the budget aren't stand-alone items. they are tied to items which everyone (including the President) knows are poison pills for any budget deal.

Graham is making it clear that it will never be enough for republicans. The WH has been equally clear that there will be no cuts without significant concessions on the revenue side. That's just not going to happen. This is a political document for the next congressional election. Not a very bright or inspired one, in my opinion, but political posturing, nonetheless. The President wants to look bipartisan. I'm not a fan of that approach.

[chemenger]

10. So ... is Senator Lindsey getting a Boehner, I wonder?

[KoKo]

12. It kind of reminded me of Chris Matthews "Thrill Up his Leg"

comment....which was one he will never live down.

[bvar22]

13. Well, if Lindsey Graham is pleased that President Obama has the courage...

... to put Social Security on the Cutting Block,
then Its ALL GOOD!!!
YES. WE. CAN!!!









See more at:
http://savesocialsecurity.tumblr.com/

[Quantess]

14. I think he meant it in the way a piranha would like a swimmer to show a bit of leg,

so he can bite into it.

[KoKo]

17. yes...in the article he did admit...he wanted MORE...

so what you say is probably exactly what will come. We may not see it yet since the budget negotiations are going to be dragged out for awhile (and the Sequester takes it's toll in the meantime) but, I can see the shark in Graham... He has the "shark instinct," and so many sharks behind him that that "bit o' leg" was just what they were waiting for.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

15. I truly detest that smarmy little weasel. (n/t)

[Enrique]

16. now Obama knows how Kamala Harris feels n/t

[spanone]

18. what piece of excrement

[KoKo]

19. Are you talking about Lindsey Graham....or the OP's Post

I see the Peace Sign there in your Signature...but, I didn't understand where you were coming from...

I am a Peace Person...and hope you weren't addressing me...

[Union Scribe]

20. I need to go shower now. nt