Obama – Republicans are making life miserable for Americans

Read Time:3 Minute, 28 Second

President Barack Obama  pinned blame on Republicans today for making life harder for the unemployed and for those who could lose their jobs without new federal intervention. As you may recall they did the same for those who had no health insurance and no hope to get any until the president managed to force through the historic health care reform bill.  Regardless his latest remarks came as as he sought to distance himself from the “dreary and familiar politics” of Washington but he recognized there were times when you had to wallow in the mud to find the monsters who live there.

Following a week in which the administration scored a victory — a $20 billion fund to be paid by BP for the victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill — Obama reserved his radio and Internet address to focus on the work that didn’t get done and he didn’t mince words.

His main concern was the rejection of a bill in the Senate that would have provided more money for the long-term unemployed, aid for strapped state governments and the renewal of popular tax breaks for businesses and individuals.

“If this obstruction continues, unemployed Americans will see their benefits stop,” Obama said. “Teachers and firefighters will lose their jobs. Families will pay more for their first home. All we ask for is a simple up or down vote. That’s what the American people deserve.”

The broad economic bill failed Thursday when Democrats could not muster the 60 votes needed to end debate. The 56-40 vote fell four shy of the total required to break the GOP filibuster. Republicans support many of the policies in the legislation but are demanding changes to shrink its toll on the deficit.  At least that is the company line.  The Republicans could care less about the deficit.  They are doing all they can to destroy the Democrats and particularly the president.

“Americans want us to show we’re serious about lowering the debt, so the president and his allies in Congress have a choice to make: they can either vote to reduce the deficit, or they can lock arms and dig an even deeper hole of debt,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.  Now this is a guy we just have to believe, the head Republican who has a reputation for partisanship.

The standoff again revealed the gaps between the Democratic president and the Republican congressional leaders on how to solve the nation’s problems.

Obama was at the same time branding the opposition party as obstructionist while seeking a higher level of debate from his own party and Republicans.

“We have an obligation to care for the next generation,” Obama said. “So I hope that when Congress returns next week, they do so with a greater spirit of compromise and cooperation. America will be watching.”

In his address, Obama also bemoaned the stalling of a separate measure that would lift a $75 million liability cap on economic damages for companies such as BP during disasters like the Gulf oil spill. The Senate is considering a bill to increase that cap to $10 billion.  Only the Republicans could want to protect Big oil.  Just listen to Texas’ Congressman Barton for further evidence of such behavior.

President Obama also said Republicans are the ones at fault for preventing votes on his nominees to key positions in the government.

Republicans used their weekly address to claim that the president has been too slow to react to the threats posed by the Gulf oil spill and that some steps taken by his administration will do more harm than good.  This comes as no surprise.  Under no circumstances will the Righties acknowledge success by the Democrats or this president.

“I’m glad President Obama is finally putting this catastrophe at the top of his agenda, but his response has been too slow,” Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi said. Wicker criticized Obama for pushing for an energy bill and increases in oil cleanup fees and for calling for a moratorium on deep-water drilling, which he said would cost jobs and raise the price of energy.

Enhanced by Zemanta

About Post Author

Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of

4 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
13 years ago

The Republicans hit the ground running the hour they lost the general election in 2008 and have been bleating ever since.

13 years ago

Sounds an odd set up to me. The Prez gets elected fair and square but has his hands tied by opposition politicians?

Not being entirely au fait with American politics, if Republicans are right wing and Democrats left, who’s in the middle?

13 years ago

Although I agree that Republicans seem to revel in their obstructionism, Obama’s oil spill response has been far too slow. I realize he wanted to sit back and analyze the situation and severity of the spill, but come on, 60 days until a major speech and sitdown with BP brass? Teddy Roosevelt would have done that stuff in the first week. I’m glad Obama is finally starting to put his foot down, but what took so long?

13 years ago

If these guys get another chance to win this elections , then America is screwed. They must not win! What they ultimately want is another version of slavery, with the poor working for meager wages while they and their company friends live high on the hog with more tax cuts!

Previous post Leave us Soccer Referees Alone Before I Red Card You All
Next post Critter Talk: Pills for Pets – Chewables, Child Proofing and Common Sense
4
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x