Americans on both sides of the political aisle agree on an increasingly smaller number of things. One of those things is a recognition that President Barack Obama loves to campaign and deliver speeches.
Obama chose to spend time today delivering a speech at a toy company in Hatfield, Pa., on the pending “fiscal cliff.”
President Barack Obama is taking his case for avoiding a potentially unsettling “fiscal cliff” to the Philadelphia suburbs, employing campaign-style tactics in hopes of mobilizing public support for his plan to hike taxes on the wealthy. The trip comes amid signs of impatience in the negotiations between Republican leaders and the White House.
Obama was scheduled to go to Hatfield, Pa., to pressure Republicans to extend existing Bush-era tax rates for households earning $250,000 or less, while allowing increases to kick in for those with incomes above that threshold.
White House officials believe Friday’s trip will build momentum for the president’s case, even as Republicans describe it as an irritant and an obstacle to fruitful talks. The White House said Friday that Obama will insist on higher taxes for the top 2 percent of earners during his Pennsylvania trip and that he would cast Republicans as an obstacle to a deal. Republicans have said they are open to new tax revenue but not higher rates.
The speech itself was full of theatrics.
Pres Obama warns all taxes go up Jan 1 if Congress doesn't act: "sort of like the lump of coal you get for Christmas. A Scrooge Christmas."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 30, 2012
Enemies list? Obama says he's "been keeping my own naughty and nice list for Washington.
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) November 30, 2012
Tells toymaking audience he's keeping a naughty and nice list: that some members of Congress will get toys – and some who don't.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 30, 2012
Obama: Biden wanted to buy some of this stuff, and I told him he has too much work to do & I didn’t want him to be building roller coasters
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) November 30, 2012
But with our country more than $16 trillion in debt, some Tweeters say it is time for Obama to quit campaigning and start governing:
No seriously, who forgot to tell the President the campaign is over and he's supposed to lead now?
— Brittany (@bccover) November 30, 2012
https://twitter.com/GregCarroccio/statuses/274560138747187200
https://twitter.com/CarterEltzroth/statuses/274560194745339906
Obama's tears at his last campaign rally were premature, I see… #eternalcampaign
— Andrew D. Evans (@anevans12) November 30, 2012
Why is President Obama campaigning about the Fiscal Cliff? Oh that's right. he's kicking off his campaign for a 3rd term.
— Tanner ? (@Brumbarger) November 30, 2012
Looks like Obama has launched his campaign for a third presidential term…
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) November 30, 2012
@toddstarnes Obama doesn't know how to do anything but campaign.
— Sheryl #rescue #loveofcountry (@sav01) November 30, 2012
Sorry to be political, but unlike Obama, REAL leaders dont campaign-they get other leaders together and MAKE DECISIONS! GEEZ!! #fb
— Carl Williams (@CarlMWilliams) November 30, 2012
If Obama was serious about the fiscal cliff – he would be talking to Republicans – not campaigning in Hatfield, PA
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) November 30, 2012
https://twitter.com/WI_LibertyGirl/statuses/274561473500561408
@BretBaier @seanhannity did the Obama admin not tell O that he won and the campaign is over? Hes given more speeches then press conf's
— NorCalCracka (@iCobalt1) November 30, 2012
https://twitter.com/McGweegan/statuses/274561615184134146
"I'm already missing spending time on the campaign trail" –@barackobama…..OMG!
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) November 30, 2012
Giving speeches is easy. Governing? Reaching across the aisle, dealing with the loyal opposition, and having to compromise? That’s hard, and it is something that Obama has not shown a willingness to attempt in any office he has held from the Illinois state legislature to the United States Senate to the White House.
Democrat, Libertarian, or Republican … we all want leadership from the President.
Sadly, it doesn’t appear to be on the horizon of the “eternal campaign.”
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