It also takes busting him every time he floats another strawman. Mockery wouldn’t hurt at all. I’m reminded of RR’s “there you go again”.
We’re playing this game now where we let him set the terms of the debate, then respond to it which, in turn, validates the original lie he floated. Responding to things like “I’m not going to let them blackmail me” with something along the lines of “The President seems to be having problems with imaginary people again...” every time he mischaracterizes an issue will eventually get through to the public if it’s done consistently and in an organized fashion. Knowing that the media will immediately adopt any bogus claim he makes and making it clear how far the claim strays from reality instead of politely trying to clarify the misunderstanding is the better approach.
Back in November on the tax cut standoff I saw the handwriting on the wall and started posting that Rs were making a huge mistake that defining a partial tax cut extension as tax increase (in rhetoric) total cave and that in the end Bohner will just pass an tax extension with Dems votes, and of course the wailing would hit a peak about it.
Well relative to your point I see the same thing happening again as I watch Republicans and Obama debate this on TV(just tonight) , Obama is saying that Rs are willing to blow up the economy for political purposes, but Republicans are on TV almost agreeing, saying that yes they will hold up the debt limit and/or shutdown the government to force Dems to go along with cutting spending.
Rs have tried this line of Rhetoric many times and it always failed them, if they want to achieve what they claim they need to convince most voters that it is Obama rejecting a debt limit extension and shutting down the government, while sending Dems bills on those they cant accept. Saying up front that it is your goal is sure to backfire in the end, as it always has.
Obama is saying he wont negotiate and we don't see one R taking advantage of that.
This line of rhetoric probably works great in R only (designed) House districts, but it will still end up with the same result as always with Bohner and McConnell still passing a bill with Dem votes simply because their 'team' was beat again by O by not understanding the rules of the game.