Jan 23 2009
Obama to GOP: ‘I won’
President Obama met with Democratic and Republican Congressional leaders in the White House today to discuss his economic recovery plan. At one point he made it abundantly clear to the GOP that there is only so much of their nonsense he is willing to countenance. This is particular humorous (and, at the same time, interesting) because it is being reported by RWR [Right Wing Rag] The Wall Street Journal…
The top congressional leaders from both parties gathered at the White House for a working discussion over the shape and size of President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan. The meeting was designed to promote bipartisanship.
But Obama showed that in an ideological debate, he’s not averse to using a jab.
Challenged by one Republican senator over the contents of the package, the new president, according to participants, replied: “I won.”
The statement was prompted by Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona , who challenged the president and the Democratic leaders over the balance between the package’s spending and tax cuts, bringing up the traditional Republican notion that a tax credit for people who do not earn enough to pay income taxes is not a tax cut but a government check.
Obama noted that such workers pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, property taxes and sales taxes. The issue was widely debated during the presidential campaign, when Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee, challenged Obama’s tax plan as “welfare.”
With those two words — “I won” — the Democratic president let the Republicans know that debate has been put to rest Nov. 4.
The president had a brief statement for the press just before the meeting began…
I think it is very magnanimous of President Obama to even allow the Republicans a seat at the table, especially considering their treatment of the Democratic minority during the first six years of George W. Bush’s presidency. But, that’s just the kind of guy he is.
4 Responses to “Obama to GOP: ‘I won’”
It would be very interesting to see the Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan’s primary purpose as also its implementation.
*sighs* I am just so in love with that man. Finally, a strong democrat in the office. It just gets better each and every day.
But I thought he was supposed to be a post-partisan president? So far, he’s not shown it.
And, it is not “magnanimous” of Obama to allow Republicans in on the discussions. This is a Representative Republic, and those are representatives elected by the people. It’s still a two-party system.
@jana : I wish you had explained that to the Republicans a few years back.
And this post-partisan thing? The problem with that is that the Republicans won’t allow it. They want everything their way or no way at all. I think they’re going to have to get over that. They got spoiled under Bush.