The speech will fall on the same night Texas Gov. Rick Perry makes his debut on the 2012 GOP debate stage. The Republican presidential field is set to take part in a debate, also scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. The debate will go on as scheduled, NBC said in a statement Wednesday. Asked whether the speech was purposefully scheduled the same night as the Republican debate, White House press secretary Jay Carney said, “Of course not.” – Obama schedules jobs address to coincide with GOP 2012 debate
President Barack Obama signs a hand as he greets people along a rope line at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in St. Paul, Minn., Aug. 30, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Who does Jay Carney think he’s kidding? Plouffe blinked for one reason only. Pres. Obama’s numbers are abysmal.
But Pres. Obama is playing little league politics.
And so, when the White House announced today that President Obama would deliver his much-anticipated jobs speech on Sept. 7 at 8 pm — the exact same day and time that the 2012 Republican candidates are scheduled to debate in California — the idea that the timing was purely coincidental was, well, far-fetched. It’s clear that this White House saw an opportunity to drive a major — and direct — contrast between President Obama and his potential Republican rivals and took it. – Chris Cilizza
So it’s fitting Speaker Boehner decided to play pony league politics. But he’s following Rush Limbaugh’s advice. From Sam Stein, here’s a snippet of Boehner’s response to Pres. Obama:
…With the significant amount of time – typically more than three hours – that is required to allow for a security sweep of the House Chamber before receiving a President, it is my recommendation that your address be held on the following evening, when we can ensure there will be no parliamentary or logistical impediments that might detract from your remarks. As such, on behalf of the bipartisan leadership and membership of both the House and Senate, I respectfully invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in the House Chamber, at a time that works best for your schedule. We look forward to hearing your ideas and working together to solve America’s jobs crisis.
This is an unprecedented request, so it’s back to the White House.
However, does anyone believe if Obama was in the reelection driver’s seat he’d be playing at this level? He’s serving up an easy pitch to Republicans, making the debate a must see event.
The real winners in this one is NBC’s Brian Williams and Politico’s Jonathan Martin who will be hosting the Reagan Library debate next week.
Somehow I doubt that Nancy Reagan is amused.
Even if someone paid me, I would not watch Obama address congress about jobs. Its all for show to make him look like he is doing something about the issue. As for the Republican debate…I don’t like to watch freak shows. So, I’ll be sure to skip both horrible events and spend my time doing something worth while.
And one other thing can someone seriously convince me that Rick Perry has a ….snow ball chance in hell….in beating Obama in 2012. Because right now its looking more and more like no matter how abysmal Obama poll numbers the guy still has a higher chance of being reelected. Lets face the Republican field for 2012 is pure crap…
Your 2nd paragraph is exactly correct.
We’ll be here covering it if you change your mind!
Let me remind you of Gore vs Bush, 2000: the left said the same thing then. And how did that work out?
The system wants a Perry, someone who will crush into pieces whatever not destroyed under Obama’s administration.
I’m not sure this move by Obama even qualifies as Little League. Maybe t-ball league.
I don’t know if it’s possible for Obama to reach a point so low that Perry or Bachmann could win. But he seems to be giving a good try …
lol…yes, he does often seem to be giving it the ole college try. However, there is not enough insane American voters to allow for a President Bachmann ….at least I hope
Obama at this point in time is Boner’s punk. As in prison jargon. Obama is the most punk ass excuse for a President the Democrats have EVER produced. Carter was at least a principled, sincere man. Obama is just a punk ass.
Calling this “little league” is being quite kind and generous. Stupid. Idiotic, Juvenile. What are they doing? So this so-called major, joint session of congress jobs / economy speech is immediatley diminished into a political cable-covered smack down, even before one word can be read off the teleprompter.
hmm. gee no woner the people are super pissed! obama to talk about jobs plan, but congress may deny potus the opportunity! great. not sure how the optics will play but u gotta wonder- obama plans speech to congress on jobs and gop house rebuffs. yep- optics help obama in this issue right now. obama the rational, gop insane is the play.
It remains to be seen if this will help Obama. It is highly doubtful. Having Carney state that this is just a coincidental is really insulting the average person. Exactly how dumb/dense does he think people are.
Remember, are we not suppose to be pass these silly political games? Above petty politics? Done with politics of the past? Wasn’t that the crap that was said for awhile?
Disagree with you — enough people know (I think, anyway) that Obama sort of “ordered” as opposed to “asked,” and that he assumed he’d get what he want. Enough people know that the GOP debate was scheduled long ago. Enough people are now familiar enough with Obama’s incredible arrogance that they’re more than willing to say “yeah, he’d be that dumb. He’d be that stupid to think he’d get what he wants without checking first.”
Instead, he looks like a doofus, especially with Boehner not putting up with O’s nonsense.
O misplayed this badly. In my own opinion, of course.
I found this over at the National Review…thought folks here would find it amusing. I could find no…zero commentary on Memorandum from the left…this is going to be a hard slog for Obama stenographers.
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Will Antonin: 08/31/
This whole incident is curious in the extreme. As an attempt at a power-play, it’s remarkably amateurish, even juvenile. I mean, the President is trying to inconvenience who, exactly? Bachmann? Newt? Ron Paul? Is this the level he wishes to engage on?
It’s almost as if the more politically savvy Clintonites are quietly feeding him the idea that these missteps will make him look, in fact, powerful — only to watch the hapless amateur stumble into yet more situations that make him look weak, confused, lost in the deep waters of Washington.
I ask again: As a power-play, what does this possibly gain the President? It distracts a populace hardly in tune with the upcoming presidential race from watching Perry and Romney debate a bunch of second-tier candidates? Really? Is that the brilliant strategy dreamed up between ice cream and pie on the Vineyard?
Good gracious!
Where do I start.
First,regardless of the level of politics in the request, this is the President of the United States making a request to address the United States Congress. Out of respect for the office the request should be granted. Dems never did this to Repub Presdient. Also, the debate organisors agreed to hold off broadasting/starting the debate until after the President finished.. Finally, If I’m the Repub candidates I want to follow the President-It gives them 60-90 minutes to attack the speech. This is a freebie for Repubs. Boehner is a complete classless fool for denying the request.
Now the President should just request broadcast airtime and give a speech directly to the American people.
Secondly, The President brought this form of disrespect on himself. His endless quest for bi-partisanship which he uses as the worst negotiator ever and thus never fights back on anything. What does Boehnor have to lose-a lot because of his stupidity-but from his perspective his base will love him. The rest of the country will see it for what it is – a complete lack of respect for the President and the Presidency. Overtime the village media wil recogognize this as the insult it is and The Pres will benefit from this. But in the end he contributed to this.
Thirdly-I can see Perry, or Romney making a race of this-call me crazy. The person who will make it a race will be Pres Obama. If he continues to play on Repub turf, never fight for a Dem value or cause, and especially if there are cuts to entitlements , Soc Sec Medicare and Medicaid , from the Super Congress, or the bush tax cuts stay -the Pres will make it closer than it should be. The Pres will be the vehicle for his not being re-elected.
Liberal Joe — I ask this, as someone driven absolutely insane by George W. Bush — would you be saying this, if GWB were asking this of a Dem Congress, knowing, in advance, as you SURELY do, that a debate had been set up for months? Really? Because this whole “respect for the office” that I hear, all the time, remarkably only comes into play when it’s our side who has the office. Obama gambled — he knew in advance about the debate (hell, he’s been saying the same “oh, jobs are urgent” for two darn years and has done nothing about it!) and thought he could play a cute game and get to be the nauseating adult in the room. He didn’t expect anyone to push back. They did. They should have. He was obnoxious and deserves every bit of this.
Personally, while I think it would have been fun to watch dueling voices, I think it’s better to let each have their day. What Obama says is (I anticipate anyway) important. It deserves its own day. It just doesn’t deserve to get shoved into the front of any line he wants.
Beth,
Absolutely GWB should haver gotten the time he requested. He wouldn’t have thought twice about asking for it, in fact he would have asked for it knowing the date just to jab the Dems.
I would have been ticked, but he should get the date, he is the POTUS, and no Speaker has ever denied the President to address Congress. It’s about knowing how to use your power to your advantage, which Pres Obama never quite understands.
But here is where it becomes flat stupid for Boehner to say no. Usually after a Presidential speech the opposing party gets 10-15 minutes to rebutt. In this instance the Repub Presidential candidates get 60-90 minutes after the speech to hammer at the speech/The Pres. Each of the participants in the debate in their answer to every question would have found a way to hammer the Pres and his speech. This was a gimme that Boehner botched.
So instead of going to the networks and requesting the time to address the nation and thus sticking it to Boehner, Pres Obama yanks defeat out of the jaws of victory and hands Boehner a win, and looks weak doing it.. Absolutely terrible gamesmanship by the WH.
LiberalJoe — Completely agree with you about how the GOPers would then have that whole debate to rebut Obama. So that could have worked in GOP favor. I wonder if Boehner was weighing that possibility, but thought it more fun, so to speak, to tweak Obama with his “logistical” argument, instead? Whatever. Obama sure looks like a doofus for today. I was just over on HuffPo, and of course, at least a few of the commenters there are praising Obama’s “chess game” he’s supposedly playing (yeah, right, see Taylor above) and his “brilliance.” Sure not in evidence in the past 18 hours.
Sen Demint now to block obama from addressing the senate! jesus. a shitstorm over what? the place is broken
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/62448.html
From barackobama.com ( http://my.barackobama.com/Time-To-Act )
“Today I asked for a joint session of Congress where I will lay out a clear plan to get Americans back to work. Next week, I will deliver the details of the plan and call on lawmakers to pass it. …
And we must hold them accountable if they don’t. …
It’s been a long time since Congress was focused on what the American people need them to be focused on.
I know that you’re frustrated by that. I am, too.
That’s why I’m putting forward a set of bipartisan proposals to help grow the economy and create jobs — that means strengthening our small businesses, giving needed breaks to middle-class families, while taking responsible steps to bring down our deficit.
I’m asking lawmakers to look past short-term politics and take action on that plan. But we’ve got to do this together. “
He has already caved. He will speak to congress on Thursday. Could someone please explain to me what in the #*@* the White House was thinking in the first place??
Poor Melissa Harris-Perry who tries her best to carry the President’s water was speechless.
LL,
I stand by my comment above. Pres Obama will be/is the instrument of his own destruction.
He is POTUS, out of respect for the office he gets the time. So in the face of the rebuke, he caves rather than show some fight at the indignity and just ask for network time and address the nation directly. He would have won the PR war. Now he looks even weaker. He fights for nothing. It’s embarassing.
So can Perry or Ronmey beat him -hell yes- he’ll do it for them.
Obama is his own worst enemy.
SOMEWHERE this morning (don’t remember where) I read a suggestion that O should have gone to Pittsburgh or somewhere else with high unemployment and done his address before a hall full of unemployed people. (On the same time/day as he wanted). He would have won the PR war, that’s for sure.
Liberal Joe~ Oh, I totally agree with you. It just seems amazing to me that a team that was so smart in ’08 is so dumb now.
Let me be clear, Barack O’Blinky doesn’t want a second term. He does not have the courage of an LBJ to say don’t renominate me. GHW Bush wasn’t interested in reelection either. He went through the motions and lost to Perot and Clinton. As Bill Clinton use to say “I will fight for you until the last dog is dead.”
It’s not the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog. Obama has no fight in him for reelection.
TPAZ~ Interesting line of thought.
Think it through; he enjoyed running for office but hates governing. Also, he does not like confrontation. At this time, with this congress, confrontation is job # 1. If you’re not happy in your job, why stay there? As the first black President, he thinks he cannot quit seeking reelection. But, he is wrong. He will do more harm if he runs for reelection and loses.