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The media is making quite a fuss over the fact that President Obama intends to deliver his speech on the economy to a joint session of Congress at the same time as a debate for Republican presidential candidates. Today, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney fielded questions from reporters who wanted to know if the president is trying to step on the GOP field’s toes.
“No, of course not. There were a lot of considerations that once you decide you want to do a speech to Congress, and you have to deal with congressional schedules and there are many other factors here. And obviously one debate of many that’s on one channel of many was not enough reason not to have the speech at the time that we decided to have it.
“[T]here are a lot of factors that go into scheduling a speech before Congress, a joint session speech. And again, you can never find a perfect time. There are major events that occur on television. There are other issues that you have to deal with, as well as congressional scheduling and the President’s scheduling. So as I just noted, there are many channels, there are many opportunities for people to watch the President, and obviously, an opportunity for people to watch the debate. The network involved here can decide how it wants to deal.”
“There’s one president,” Carney added. “There’s 20-some odd debates.”
Also of note from today’s briefing, Carney reminded reporters, “In normal times, the proposals [the president will put] forward next week would gain substantial, broad bipartisan support, especially in an economic situation like we face now.”
It’s helpful to remind the political world from time to time that our current circumstances — i.e., with a radicalized Republican Party running the House of Representatives — are anything but “normal.”
Pressed on fiscal considerations, the press secretary also noted that everything in the president’s agenda will be “absolutely paid for.” That’s a little disappointing — there’s free money sitting on the table — but not terribly surprising.
And in the “Worst Question” category, a reporter asked Carney, “Any concern of potentially upsetting Nancy Reagan by stepping on this?”
You see, next week’s Republican debate will be at the Reagan Library in California, so apparently the White House is supposed to be concerned about whether the president’s speech about the economy is going to hurt the former First Lady’s feelings.
For what it’s worth, rumor has it this afternoon that NBC will shift the timing of the debate so that it airs after the national address.
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Anon on August 31, 2011 4:02 PM:
Ha! Called it. Now the "controversy" around this will eclipse Obama's message and this is over before it even started.
SIGH.
stormskies on August 31, 2011 4:06 PM:
The corporate media is are worse enemy ...
Grumpy on August 31, 2011 4:08 PM:
Just because this isn't an election year doesn't mean we can't let campaigning interfere with the business of governing.
BO_Hank on August 31, 2011 4:09 PM:
By allowing NBC to re-schedule its debate, President Obama again proves that he is most merciful, most magnificent. We are indeed blessed to be gloriously led by a man of this stature and greatness.
John Dillinger on August 31, 2011 4:16 PM:
Holding the debate immediately afterward has great potential. They'll fall over each other to criticize proposals they know little about.
RT on August 31, 2011 4:18 PM:
"In normal times, the proposals [the president will put] forward next week would gain substantial, broad bipartisan support, especially in an economic situation like we face now."
BURN. I love it.
Gummo on August 31, 2011 4:18 PM:
the press secretary also noted that everything in the president’s agenda will be “absolutely paid for.”
Unless it's paid for by huge tax hikes on the parasitical plutocrat class, we're fucked.
jjm on August 31, 2011 4:26 PM:
I think things are warming up for Obama. I'm delighted with this move.
The GOP so far has had absolutely nothing to offer: not the House, not the candidates, nada. Except for 'we oppose absolutely everything from Obama.' Even and especially if it is on their own wish list.
Who needs to hear their tired, worn out platforms which have remained unchanged, only louder, since I was a small child again? The only people really listening to what the GOP might say in their debate are looking for their idiocy and their hostility to intellect to show.
walt on August 31, 2011 4:31 PM:
Offending Nancy Reagan? Who appointed her queen?
Damn, I'm sick of these bootlickers in the media crying over the hurt feelings of prosperous white "victims" while the rest of this country struggle with the aftermath of their policies. How is it that they keep getting a pass? I half think their whining and screaming has so distorted our discourse that everyone simply tiptoes around them.
DisgustedWithItAll on August 31, 2011 4:39 PM:
--------------------------------------------------
"For what it’s worth, rumor has it this afternoon that NBC will shift the timing of the debate so that it airs after the national address."
And so the media answers the question about whether there will be a "Republican response." It'll be a nonstop response.
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"the press secretary also noted that everything in the president’s agenda will be “absolutely paid for.” "
Guess that answers whether or not Obama going to "go big." Fat chance with the Great Compromiser.
Dummy on August 31, 2011 4:41 PM:
Now Boehner is asking President Obama to reschedule his joint address to Congress. Obama has at least a bit of sense (and cover): it's the first day Congress is back in session. Boehner's dick-move is just more obvious.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2011/08/speaker-boehner-responds-to-obamas-call-for-joint-session-of-congress.php?page=1&ref=fpblg
June on August 31, 2011 4:41 PM:
In New York, on Christmas Eve, a local station used to show a video of nothing but a cozily burning stack of logs in a fireplace, and they would keep it running from 8pm through midnight, if I correctly recall.
I would prefer to watch that any night of the week than the collection of GOP nimcompoops, charlatans, lunatics, sell-outs, and sociopaths that will be the Republican debate. They deserve to be upstaged, especially by the President of the United States.
We can already call what the Republicans' "proposals" will be and how they will frame them with childish, outright lies -- cut taxes to the bone for the wealthy and corporations ("no American should have their taxes raised/American corporations already pay the highest taxes in the world!"); go hog-wild on de-regulation (they'll call that "reigning in Obama's job-killing big gub'mint"); de-fund any government agency whose directives interfere with stuffing big gub'mint money into GOP patrons' pockets (you can file that, too, under "reigning in Obama's job-killing big gub'mint"); de-fund Planned Parenthood (a shout-out to the American Taliban); throw people off their insurance, deny healthcare to all who cannot afford it, inflate healthcare costs, inflate Medicare costs, drive up the deficit -- or what the GOP presidential candidates refer to as, "repealing Obamacare"; insist that America needs a president who "loves America," even though this collection of lunatics, almost to a one, were recently on board with deliberately destroying the full faith and credit of the United States.
"There is only one President." (Love that line). If NBC moves the debates to after the Prez's speech, let's see if this pathetic group of GOP candidates can actually think on their feet and respond outside of their rigid, right-wing-think-tank-crafted scripts. Finally, if the situation were reversed, I have no doubt Democratic candidates would have responded with something like "We look forward to the opportunity to respond to the (GOP) President's proposals and to outline the differences in our approaches." Yet, we can now look forward to a week of screeching and wailing, pouting and moaning about how unfair it all is from the GOP camps - from people who have actually been deluded into thinking they're qualified to lead the free world. Pshaw!
FRP on August 31, 2011 4:49 PM:
It is of the utmost importance to remember who Nancy Reagan is .
First , right off the bat , Nancy Reagan was "mom" "mommy" to the President . Second , without even catching a breath , Nancy Reagan is not totally insane . Third , this is so easy , if they* insult Obama they* insult Reagan .
Now because everyone knows the institution of the President is more shiny than a mere king , or queen . Sheee
Some peeps say that the dignity of the office is only sacrosanct during high holy administrations that fall opposite Democratic admnistrations .
More on the breaking story of Obama Dissing Mommy Reagan !
Stay Tuned !
*Da meedja
martin on August 31, 2011 4:51 PM:
If NBC moves the debates to after the Prez's speech, let's see if this pathetic group of GOP candidates can actually think on their feet and respond outside of their rigid, right-wing-think-tank-crafted scripts. Finally, if the situation were reversed, I have no doubt Democratic candidates would have
Ummm, pretty sure everyone of their rigid, right-wing-think-tank-crafted scripts would contain the exact same responses. It's not like there is going to be anything extraterrestrial proposed. No need for thinking on their feet
dalloway on August 31, 2011 4:55 PM:
Shorter Obama: Our economy is still struggling. We need jobs now. This is my plan to create them. Democrats are behind me. Tell Republicans to help pass my jobs plan ASAP and get America back on its feet.
Shorter GOP: Voucherize Medicare! Privatize Social Security! Make the poor pay more taxes! Cut taxes on the rich and corporations! Outlaw abortion! Gays to the back of the bus! Cut spending, cut spending, cut spending, cut spending, cut spending, cut spending...
The contrast will be screamingly obvious and it's what Obama has to hammer home to be re-elected with more Democrats in Congress, the only hope for our nation. If this is the first volley, good on him. And a joint session of Congress is for Big Ideas. Please, please, please let this be Obama going long...
Brian Williams and John Harris on August 31, 2011 5:07 PM:
This plays right into our hands. You just watch us prime the Repiglican candidates after Obama's press conference so as to do all we can do to help them look good, and Obama bad. That's why our corporate bosses pay us millions.
N.Wells on August 31, 2011 5:20 PM:
the press secretary also noted that everything in the president's agenda will be "absolutely paid for."
Most things that serve as public investment or job creation can be justified as paying for themselves via growing the economy, so this is probably not a phrase that we need to worry about.
jdb on August 31, 2011 5:56 PM:
Great move by the President. Many people were urging that he call Congress back during their vacation to address the economy. He chose, instead, to wait until their first day back to work, emphasizing how important the issue is, without creating any controversy by insisting that Congress quit their vacations. Anyone who felt that he should call them back during recess should appreciate his decision - Mitt Romney, for example:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/08/15/general-us-romney-2012_8624188.html
It will be interesting to hear Romney's response - he felt that Obama should call back Congress from recess, so he shouldn't have any problem with their getting to work the first day back.
myiq2xu on August 31, 2011 9:19 PM:
“There is one president”
And there are THREE co-equal branches of government.
trex on August 31, 2011 9:51 PM:
And there are THREE co-equal branches of government.
One of which is not the Republican debates. Way to misrepresent the quote. Asswipe.
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Neo on September 02, 2011 8:05 PM:
Reagan Payback ?
The June 24, 1986, edition of The Wall Street Journal featured a story headlined, "President's Bid to Address the House On Nicaragua Is Rejected by Speaker." That's right, no quibbling over the date and time, just a flat-out rejection.
Let the name of Thomas 'Tip' O'Neil be stricken from every book and tablet, stricken from all pylons and obelisks, stricken from every monument of the US of A. Let the name of Thomas 'Tip' O'Neil be unheard and unspoken, erased from the memory of men for all time.