Obama’s Fiscal Summit: Question Time, Obama Style?
President Obama just wrapped up today’s fiscal responsibility summit with a question and answer session with opposition legislators and leading members of outside interest groups. If you saw it, you probably agree that his performance was pretty extraordinary.
Pundits are already parading forth to declare that this is Obama again displaying his inclination towards “bipartisan” rule. But something more nuanced was going on here.
The key to understanding what Obama was doing lies in a little joke that Obama made. Glancing over at GOP House leader Eric Cantor, Obama said:
“I’m gonna keep talking to Eric Cantor. Sooner or later, he’s gonna say, `Boy, that Obama, he had a good idea.’”
That little joke — a very delicate way of labeling the GOP the “party of no” — is pretty significant. Obama is signaling more than bipartisanship. He’s trying to project a sense that he’s opening up the process, that he means it when he says no one has a monopoly on good ideas, and that everyone involved in this process has a stake in advancing solutions — and in not rejecting good ideas for bad reasons.
Cynics will probably criticize this as an effort to ensure that everyone owns this crisis and its political fallout. But it seems more likely that this is a clear sign that Obama is determined to craft a style of Presidential leadership that’s wholly new.
Is it low-key Obama-style transparency meets “Question Time,” that grand tradition where British Parliamentary back-benchers hurl questions at the Prime Minister? Maybe, but not quite. For now this eludes easy characterization.
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It’s far more already than we saw in the last 8 years. Very refreshing. After a slightly bumpy first 30 days, I think we’re seeing him hit his stride. The health care reform debate should be interesting.
I tell you what, I saw some of it on MSNBC and there was some partisan talk but there was also a lot different tone coming from GOPers and for once it sounded a lot different and genuine. Yeah today was an effort at bipartisan but it also wasn’t for those in attendance as much as it was for the people at home.
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Did you see the clip of the Republican Gov of Utah basically throwing the Republicans under the bus (before he walked it back a little) about not accepting the stimulus money after they had their meeting with Obama? The guy is putting in work right now and people need to just let him breathe.
What an interesting idea. I bet that the Republicans who opted not to go to this are probably sorry right now.
Holy sh*t Shuster just CRUSHED Congressman Issa over that bs “Harry Reid train” talking point. Damm I hope that gets posted somewhere. Greg be on the look out for it. Shuster kicked his arse so bad Issa started looking around like he wanted to leave.
Haven’t seen it yet but I’m guessing your reading is just about smack on the money. Not only is this guy smart and capable, he looks to have in mind a style of inclusive and engaged democracy of a sort completely rejected over the last eight years.
sgwhiteinfla – I was not paying full attention, but did I not hear Schuster concede that they did or may have actually talked about a Disney-Vegas train in conference? That Issa was merely wrong because it wasn’t specified in the bill itself?
Danp
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Nah he didn’t concede it. What he said was it wasn’t in the bill, if Issa wanted to contend that somehow it was a favor for Harry Reid then they could debate that, meaning he wasn’t saying it was true but it wasn’t yet verifiably false, but what Issa couldn’t say was that it was in the bill at all. And to top it off shuster is now talking sh*t on his twitter about it.
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http://twitter.com/Shuster1600
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Shorter Shuster “Don’t bring that weak sh*t up in here!”
Obama made it clear, though, that he was willing to listen to and include the opposition, but they had to come up with ideas, not just say no to the ones presented. He gave too much on the stim pkg. IMO so this statement renewed my hope, so to speak.
I only saw the McCain “Marine One” part of this but my impression was that it is so nice to see constructive creativity like this. Obama continues to surprise with his sublime political skill. I just hope his policies are half as good.
I just read the transcript of the press conference. That was just great. I’ll bet any one that turned down an invite is just green. What a show! Do you think after this the MSM and Congress will realize that Obama really is a different kind of leader than what they have ever seen?
Here is the link to the transcript.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-in-question-and-answer-session-at-the-closing-of-the-Fiscal-Responsibility-Summit/
At present it appears Secretary Geitner has no more of a plan to get the banks out of the problems of their own making than his predecessor had. The markets sense that and are taking a tumble – big time. After investing $160 billion in AIG, AIG shares are now selling for $.46. Without a viable plan for recovery the stimulus money will be wasted. There are several very sensible solutions that have been offered but it seems this advice has fallen on tin ears.
We’re left wondering what those “several very sensible solutions” are.