Obama renews attack on Republicans
WASHINGTON — The day after the U.S. Congress voted to reopen government and avoid default, U.S. President Barack Obama went on the attack accusing “extreme” elements of the Republican party of damaging the U.S. economy, its security and its global reputation.
“The same folks who pushed for the shutdown and threatened default claim their actions were needed to get America back on the right track to make sure we’re strong,” he said Thursday morning. “But possibly nothing has done more damage to America’s credibility in the world, our standing with other countries, than the spectacle we’ve seen these past several weeks. It has encouraged our enemies. It has emboldened our competitors and it has depressed our friends who look to us for steady leadership.”
He urged lawmakers to stop listening to the “noise” from people who profit from conflict and instead focus on improving the lives of Americans.
“All of us need to stop focusing on the lobbyists and the bloggers and the talking heads on radio and the professional activists who profit from conflict and focus on what the majority of Americans sent us here to do. And that’s grow this economy, create good jobs, strengthen the middle class, educate our kids, lay the foundation for broad-based prosperity and get our fiscal house in order for the long haul,” he said.
As he delivered his 15-minute speech, he appeared tired and not a little frustrated, barely acknowledging his audience of White House workers.
Despite his claim that there are no winners in this fiscal clash of titans, his resolve and willingness to continue the attack reflected the fact that he was the guy who came out on top. Polls show a majority of Americans support his handling of the crisis. Those same polls show his archrival House Speaker John Boehner’s approval rating has collapsed.
Overall, approval for the Republicans dropped to its lowest point in 20 years. A Pew Research Center poll shows the Tea Party popularity has dropped to its lowest ever. At the same time, support for ObamaCare, which was the main bone of contention that forced the shutdown, actually increased.
Boehner’s office responded to Obama’s address by claiming he squandered an opportunity to unite the country by not showing a more conciliatory tone.
But Democrats showed no sign of concern. Later in the day, House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi continued the attack on Republicans, blaming them for the shutdown and claiming it cost the U.S. billions of dollars in lost revenue.
“Was their temper tantrum worth $24 billion? I don’t think so,” she said at her weekly news conference, referring to figures released Wednesday by Standard & Poor’s.
Lawmakers on Thursday immediately began budget negotiations. Given that the gap between the cost-cutting, wealth-friendly House budget and the bigger-spending, taxhiking Senate budget is sizable, many wonder if anything can bridge the divide.
Democrats are hoping that as the nation inches toward next year’s mid-term elections, the Republicans’ low approval rating will spur them toward a more conciliatory position.
“That won’t be easy,” Obama said. “We all know we have divided government right now. There is a lot of noise out there and the pressure from the extremes affect how a lot of members of Congress see the day-to-day work that is to be done here.”