Obama: I Didn't Actually Talk To Any Skeptical House Members (Votes "Present" on Bailout)

NRO's Campaign Spot ^ | 9/30/2008 | Jim Geraghty

[mojito]

Obama, yesterday:

"I was on the phone every day with Secretary Paulson and the congressional leaders, making sure that the principles that have ultimately been adopted were incorporated into the bill," Obama told CBS's Bob Schieffer, explaining, "I think, [that] is an indication of the degree to which, when it comes to protecting taxpayers, I was pushing very hard and involved in shaping those provisions."

The New York Times, today:

"Aides to Mr. Obama said he had not directly reached out to try to sway any House Democrats who opposed the measure. But where Mr. McCain had accused Mr. Obama of taking a hands-off approach to the financial crisis, Democratic advisers said they believed that Mr. McCain now had a role in the legislation’s failure."

(Hat tip, MKH.) Why was Obama talking to the cabinet official and congressional leaders who were already on board than the rank-and-file of his own party who were skeptical? Why didn't he talk to the three Democrats from Chicago who opposed the bill? Why didn't he talk to the twelve Democrats on the banking committee who opposed the bill?

This is the persuasion equivalent of "voting present."

[mojito]

A longer excerpt from the NYT story quoted above:

"Mr. Holtz-Eakin said Mr. McCain had made “dozens of calls” on the bill, some to House Republicans who opposed it.

Aides to Mr. Obama said he had not directly reached out to try to sway any House Democrats who opposed the measure. But where Mr. McCain had accused Mr. Obama of taking a hands-off approach to the financial crisis, Democratic advisers said they believed that Mr. McCain now had a role in the legislation’s failure.

As aides to both campaigns pointed fingers, Mr. Obama sought to stay above the fray and maintain a steady demeanor that advisers maintain has set him apart throughout the financial turmoil."

What an empty suit this guy is.

[mojito]

Link to the NYT story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/us/politics/30campaign.html?_r=4&ref=politics&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=login&oref=slogin

[boomop1]

Obama is a dunce.

[SirJohnBarleycorn]

"maintain a steady demeanor"

What a poseur.

[CatOwner]

This is really starting to piss me off. They are treating this completely as politicians. This needs to be addressed for the long-term. Kicking the can down the street is not the right way to fix what ails the economy (and in most cases, it's rules and regulations and sometimes the lack of adhering to them).

[Doogle]

...if this clown doctor was ever elected, could he pull the trigger?....or would he call it in?. He don't have what it takes to vote on a bill.....never mind protect the US!

[Marty]

As for staying above the fray—that is a euphemism for making sure that he isn’t held accountable for whatever goes down and that if it goes well, he can say he had some imput. This is sheer cowardice. These are the words of the man who carefully checks to see which way the parade is headed and then jumps out in front to appear to be leading it.

[a real Sheila]

So, in the first statement, (before the vote), Obama is taking credit for making it a good bill.

In the second statement, (afte the vote), the NYT says Obama had little to do with it.

Who is lying here?

[Son House]

The Democrats voting against the bill were not doing it because of Øbama’s influence,

Obama Declares Himself Fiscal Conservative

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/22/obama-declares-himself-fiscal-conservative/

Urging members of his own party to be just as fiscally tough as the most conservative Republicans

[Cyropaedia]

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr, one of his national co-chairs, voted against the bailout.

So Barry didn't even talk to Jesse Jr. ....?? Wow.

[Hoffer Rand]

[AmericaUnited]

THIS NEEDS TO BE A HARD HITTING RNC + MCCAIN COMMERCIAL - VOTING PRESENT AGAIN!!!

[2ndDivisionVet]

[LaineyDee]

He’s afraid of the “Jesse” machine.....ifyouknowhatImean...

[Freeper]

 

Subject:  The 'Bail-Out;' Buy-In;' Bail-In' or 'Buy-Out' or WHATEVER

---

I have heard many conversations regarding this subject.  Some I have seen on the TV, others I heard on the Radio and some I read at various publications.

And I have learned something.

As an example, today I heard a Real Estate Agent speaking about needing to get Wall Street "up and running" (ie: fixed or funded) because:

• His clients needed money to purchase a house otherwise he would not earn a commission.
• With no house sale the builder would not be able to send his kids to private schools and they would have to close down for lack of students.  The teachers would therefore be unemployed.
• The Home Inspection company would not be needed to provide their services therefore they could not collect any fees.
• The 'termite man' would not be required to certify the home free of pests and therefore could not charge for his services and his kids would also have to be pulled out of private school.
• Since there was no money left in the 'build plan' for the home the builder would have to cancel the lawn 'greening' service for lack of credit funds from the bank.
• The Lawn Control Specialist was going to have to cancel their vacation to Hawaii in December. Just at a time that the airlines are having enough of their own problems.
• The Real Estate Agent would not be able to sponsor a Foursome in a local Charity Golf Tournament and therefore the Charity would be restricted in the distribution capabilities of donations to their cause.
• The mortgage bank/company would not be able to skim their fees off the top of the loan value and therefore would have to foreclose on the private school where the builder and termite man send their children.
• The bank would then have to reduce the distribution of lollypops and dog biscuits to the children and pets of drive thru clients (in that order) to reduce operating costs.
• With no free distribution of sugared lollypops being distributed to the children then they may be taken off ADHD drugs and the downward spiral of pharmaceutical companies will begin. 
• Dentists who make a good living filling cavities of children caused by excessive consumption of sugar will have decreased revenues.
• Service providers who water and polish the plants in the waiting rooms of doctors and dentists are no longer needed because of the decrease of sugar induced cavities of sugar-free children and now they will whither and wilt away.
• Gas stations will have reduced revenue because the Real Estate Agent stays in the office much more; the home inspection and termite trucks do not have to go onsite; the lawn care truck and its water and chemical supplies will have less value to the free market; the banks will have fewer drive thru customers, so they can darken one lane. 
• Parents will do home schooling more and will not need as many SUV's to get the kids to school, to the doctor and dentists and will not have to stop by the bank so often because there are fewer dollars of theirs in the bank.
• Car companies with realign - for example Buick (cars and SUV's); Pontiac (Cars) and GMC (SUV's and Trucks) will become one brand. 
• Advertising agencies will be needed less to differentiate identical items whose only difference is external colors; mica and ming blue.
• Pharmaceutical companies will reduce expenditures for research and medical training schools for doctors and dentists will be reduced in need and further outsourced to the "islands".

I could go on and on and on and on - - but let me spare you and tell you what I have learned.  I have learned that what the DEMOCRATS have been saying for years is not true!

 

TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS EXISTS AND WORKS!

 

To you DEMOCRATS who have said for years that (Regan's) Trickle Down Economics was some form of "Voodoo Economics" being used for political gain, I ask, why are YOU NOW saying that we need to fix (FUND) Wall Street or the children will suffer?  Basically, the children are at the bottom of the trickle.

Thank you DEMOCRATS for proving that TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS WORKS!

[Scotswife]

It’s not just a “Bush” thing, or a “Reagan” thing.

Here is JFK in 1962 speaking to the Economic Club of NY...

‘Our true choice is not between tax reduction, on the one hand, and the avoidance of large Federal deficits on the other. It is increasingly clear that, no matter what party is in power, so long as our national security needs keep rising, an economy hampered by restrictive tax rates will never produce enough revenue to balance the budget - just as it will never produce enough jobs or enough profits.

‘’In short, it is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high today and tax revenues are too low - and the soundest way to raise revenues in the long run is to cut rates now.’’

[PhilDragoo]

[cookcounty]

Obama spent the week making speeches while trying to decide between voting "present" or "voting "absent,"

-----which pretty much sums up his biography.

[cookcounty]

McCain got involved, and won over (ok, for better or worse) 56 Republicans to an Ucly Democrat bill.

Meanwhile Obama dilly-dallied and dithered, and 95 Congressmen from his own party abandoned their own bill.

Leadership???? LOL!!!!

[patriotspride]

” McCain got involved, and won over (ok, for better or worse) 56 Republicans to an Ucly Democrat bill.

Meanwhile Obama dilly-dallied and dithered, and 95 Congressmen from his own party abandoned their own bill.

Leadership???? LOL!!!!”

Well stated. Barry is the ultimate I could have candidate