Source: Obama Asks House Dems To Drop Second Liberal Priority To Make GOP Happy
It appears that President Obama has asked House Dem leaders to jettison another provision sought by liberals from the stimulus bill as a way of placating Republicans.
As I noted below, anonymous House Dem staffers told Politico that Nancy Pelosi and the House Dem leadership were dropping from the bill the so-called “cram downs,” which give judges the power to renegotiate mortgages on terms that are better suited to homeowners who are in trouble. House liberals wanted this, and it was unclear why the leadership had done this.
I’ve just confirmed from a senior House Dem aide that the House leadership did this at the behest of Obama aides, who asked the leadership to chuck the provision. This is the second such move: It comes after the news this morning that Obama had personally appealed to Pelosi to drop family planning funds for low-income people from stim package — also to placate Republicans.
“The Obama camp said, `Don’t do it in the stimulus, we’ll do it in another bill,’” the aide told me, referring to the cram downs. “He thinks it’s controversial with Republicans.”
“Now Obama can say he’s trying to show a good faith effort with Republicans,” the aide continued. “He’s reaching out a hand to them, they keep slapping at it.”
Asked for confirmation, Pelosi spokesperson Brendan Daly would only say: “The Speaker has said that [the cram down measure] is a priority for her and for the caucus. We will work to pass it soon, whether in another vehicle or in a stand alone bill.”
One quick question about the politics here: Do Obama aides actually believe such gestures will win over Republicans? Perhaps, but it’s also possible that such measures are all about laying the groundwork in advance to blame GOPers and paint them as partisan obstructionists if and when most of them vote against the stim package, which they appear likely to do, no matter how many concessions Obama grants.
hey all, just wanted to let you know, we’re going to try to do an open thread daily at happy hour, called “Happy Hour Roundup” or “Happy Hour Open Thread” or some such.
I hope you’ll all jump in…
“such measures are all about laying the groundwork in advance to blame GOPers . . . most of them [will] vote against the stim package, which they appear likely to do, no matter how many concessions Obama grants.
Do you really think the Republicans will get any credit for being a part of the solution? Or do you think it far more likely that they will continue to be blamed – no matter how they vote – by Democrats for “getting us into this mess in the first place?”
And can we drop the cynical ‘likely to do no matter how many concessions’ ****? Obama himself granted that Republicans have “legitimate philosophical differences with parts of my plan and I respect that.”
sbj, I think obama would certainly give Repubs credit for helping pass the bill if they voted for it, dont you? that’s his style through and through
I’m not happy with these moves, but when I look at the nearly flawless way the Obamabots ran both their campaign and their transition, it’s obvious that they are awfully smart and clearly know what they’re doing. So I think this move will work to corner the Rethugs and these programs will get passed later on.
“I think obama would certainly give Repubs credit for helping pass the bill if they voted for it”
And a lot of good that would do when Nancy and Harry and all the rest would simply go on their merry way attacking as I described. A lot of good it did the Dems to go along with Bush on No Child. Bush praised them and the Republicans stopped their disingenuous attacks . . . wait – they didn’t, did they? Didn’t work out for anyone involved, did it?
And why don’t you respond regarding your cheap shot about how they’re just gonna vote no anyways and it’s all politics no matter the concessions? President Obama disagrees with you and acknowledges that it’s quite possible that Repubs will vote no for philosophical (read good) reasons. When it comes to following the cues of the leader, you don’t and Congressional Dems won’t either.
BTW, this is Jerry – your old email foe. Keep up the good work and get more of those straight from the mouth quotes, such as Goldfarb. How about adding some quick icons for quoting, bolding, links to poster’s previous posts, and so on?
hah, jerry — I shoulda known. glad to have you here.
Hey Greg, come’n over from TPM,…they linked. I am definitely in a Happy Hour Groove, sitting at the Burrito Union Bar in frigid Duluth MN quaffin’ a Pale Ale.
I agree that I wonder if Team Obama actually believes that they will get GOP votes by jettisoning some provisions.
One outstanding thing that these concession accomplish is to make the Republicans involved enough in this that when things go sideways, they can’t (I know they’ll try, but I’m talking about making a legitimate claim) turn around and blame it all on us.
All I know is that my husband’s brother has lost his job and his sister’s husband called last night and they are in financial trouble and we’re the ones left with a steady income. And his mother is 86 and has to have care.
I’m more scared than I was and I would like to see this settled -
Now Obama can say he’s trying to show a good faith effort with Republicans,” the aide continued. “He’s reaching out a hand to them, they keep slapping at it.”
I was saying this below. I’m glad they see it the same way.
Not a Repubican vote in sight for Clinton’s budget balancing bills either and look how well that worked out for the economy. Obama is batting 1,000 and the Republican House is 0 for forever on fiscal stewardship. I think Obama is handing them a nice long hunk of rope and they are looping it around their own necks.
As for the cramdown, that really belongs in a banking bailout bill. We’ve given the banks plenty of quid and they’ll need more; cramdown (and credit card reform) is the quo.
hey all, open thread/roundup is up
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/probes-of-bush-administration/happy-hour-roundup-2/
g
Hey Common Sense – You picked your handle well. Great comment.
Hey Common Sense, with Republican majorities in both houses, how do you think Bill Clinton got anything passed? Don’t try to rewrite history. The fact is that the budgets signed by Clinton were primarily written by Republicans. So if you want to praise a perjurer/rapist that’s fine, but try to have at least a glimmer of truth to your comments!
Hey, Albo58: you’re a moron. The budget was passed in 1993, before Republicans got the majority.
In answer to this thread in general, I thought Obama already said he was going to do cram-down-like stuff with the TARP funds, didn’t he? So he might have considered this uneccessary.
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