The Myth of the Obama Cave-In

[Tx4obama]

The Myth of the Obama Cave-In

At President Barack Obama's first press conference after winning reelection, CNN's Jessica Yellin posed a saucy question: "Mr. President, on the fiscal cliff, two years ago, sir, you said that you wouldn't extend the Bush-era tax cuts, but at the end of the day, you did. So, respectfully, sir, why should the American people and the Republicans believe that you won't cave again this time?"

With this pointed query, Yellin was reviving a notion that took root within the mainstream media and progressive circles: Obama surrendered in the lame-duck session of late 2010, when he and the Republicans tussled over continuing George W. Bush's tax breaks for the well-heeled. In this view, weeks after the president's party was trounced in the midterm congressional elections and weeks before the tea partyized GOPers were to take control of the House, Obama, who had vowed during the 2008 campaign to kill those tax cuts, acceded to Republican demands for continuing tax relief for those pocketing more than $250,000 a year. The establishment media reported that Obama had lost the showdown; liberal House Democrats and progressives off Capitol Hill complained Obama had turned his back on his promise and blinked. There was grousing that Obama either had no taste for a political battle or no spine (or both) and that he had sold out a fundamental principle.

The ghost of that narrative haunts the current moment, for as Obama heads into a similar dustup—those Bush tax cuts are again set to expire at the end of the year, just as automatic across-the-board budget cuts are scheduled to kick in, and another debt ceiling fight looms—members of the politirati (such as Yellin) are suggesting that Obama might once more turn tail and betray his promise to say no to another extension of these tax breaks for the rich.

But that narrative was wrong when it emerged—and it is not the key to predicting what Obama will do in the present predicament. Obama didn't wave the white flag in 2010. He turned a face-off over the Bush tax cuts into an opportunity to enact a second stimulus that he otherwise could not get past Senate Republicans. His failure at that time was not that he mustered insufficient mettle; he failed to convey to the world that he had jujitsued the GOPers.

-snip-

Full two page article here: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/11/obama-fiscal-cliff-budget-deal-bush-tax-cuts

A Really Good Read

[russspeakeasy]

1. Very good... Thanks.

[BlueCaliDem]

2. The ghost of "Obama cave-in" narrative haunts DU once again, as well as

" . . . the current moment, for as Obama heads into a similar dustup—those Bush tax cuts are again set to expire at the end of the year, just as automatic across-the-board budget cuts are scheduled to kick in, and another debt ceiling fight looms—members of the politirati (such as Yellin) are suggesting that Obama might once more turn tail and betray his promise to say no to another extension of these tax breaks for the rich.

But that narrative was wrong when it emerged—and it is not the key to predicting what Obama will do in the present predicament. Obama didn't wave the white flag in 2010. He turned a face-off over the Bush tax cuts into an opportunity to enact a second stimulus that he otherwise could not get past Senate Republicans. His failure at that time was not that he mustered insufficient mettle; he failed to convey to the world that he had jujitsued the GOPers."

and rec'd, Tx4obama.

[Tigress DEM]

3. Konichiwa and Oyasuminasai!! Baby!

My way of SAYING - Obama jujitsued them righteous! So .... Good Day and Good NIGHT!! Baby!


GOOD NIGHT in Japanese KICKS!!! Edit to add KICK!!!

http://japanese.about.com/library/media/audio/oyasuminasai.mp3

[Tx4obama]

4. :)

[Cha]

6. What an awesome graphic to illustrate

what more than a few people have observed over the years!

Thanks Tx

[hrmjustin]

5. Interesting read.

[freshwest]

7. That it is. Thanks Tx4obama.

[Cha]

8. Matthew Iglesias goes so far as to call it a "Triumph"..

So Obama secured a deal that extended the middle-class tax cuts (which he and the GOP agreed on), extended UI benefits, created a stimulative payroll tax holiday, cleared the legislative decks for "don't ask, don't tell" repeal and the passage of the New START arms-control treaty, and in exchange he gave up nothing of any real substance. Republicans got two more years' worth of high-end tax cuts at a time when deficit reduction wouldn't have helped the economy, and House GOP opposition would have prevented any new revenue from being spent. Whatever formal leverage he had two years ago still exists today, except now he gets to play that leverage from a somewhat stronger economic and political context. It's totally solid legislative dealmaking and not any kind of cave-in or surrender.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2012/11/26/lame_duck_2010_tax_deal_obama_s_secret_triumph.html

And, booman weighs in..

h/t babylonsistah http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2012/11/26/124646/18

[Rockyj]

10. Do we have a smart President or what?

[blkmusclmachine]

9. Prefolded. Preabdciated. Precompromised. Predefeated. Presoldout. Precavedin.

It's what happens when you run against who you really are. Deeds versus words. The real self will emerge. And so will the real policy.

[Cha]

11. President Obama with VP Biden.. today, outside the Oval Office..

President Barack Obama talks with Vice President Joe Biden in the hallway outside of the Oval Office following a meeting, Nov. 26, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

http://theobamadiary.com/

So lucky with all that hard work..to have them for Four More Years!

[proverbialwisdom]

12. Thanks for the terrific photo and link!

[ProudProgressiveNow]

14. +1 nt

[ProudProgressiveNow]

13. K&R nt