Veering one way and then another as part of a campaign-like speech in Virginia, President Obama appeared to be unaware of whether he was coming or going yesterday. Standing in front of a huge ship propeller in a Navy ship yard – perhaps the perfect representation of the spin Obama was peddling – Obama blasted the Republican idea to give him more flexibility in choosing where spending cuts would occur. What became quickly clear is that the president simply doesn’t want spending to be reduced…at all…ever.
"Lately, some people have been saying, ‘well, maybe we'll just give the President some flexibility. He could make the cuts the way he wants and that way it won't be as damaging,’" Obama said. "The problem is when you're cutting $85 billion in seven months, which represents over a 10-percent cut in the defense budget in seven months, there's no smart way to do that. You don't want to have to choose between, let's see, do I close funding for the disabled kid, or the poor kid? Do I close this Navy shipyard or some other one?"
Well and good, but then Obama noted, "I'm not interested in spin; I'm not interested in playing a blame game," Obama said to applause. "At this point, all I'm interested in is just solving problems." Great…but here’s another portion of the speech: "I just have to be honest with you: There are too many Republicans in Congress right now who refuse to compromise even an inch when it comes to closing tax loopholes and special interest tax breaks. And that's what's holding things up right now." Huh? Either the president is not interested in spin, or he is. Either he wants to play a blame game, or he doesn’t. Despite the fact that he tried to spell it out, we’re just as confused as when we started. What we know for certain is that "solving problems" in the president’s world does not include lowering the U.S. debt and deficit.
"Lately, some people have been saying, ‘well, maybe we'll just give the President some flexibility. He could make the cuts the way he wants and that way it won't be as damaging,’" Obama said. "The problem is when you're cutting $85 billion in seven months, which represents over a 10-percent cut in the defense budget in seven months, there's no smart way to do that. You don't want to have to choose between, let's see, do I close funding for the disabled kid, or the poor kid? Do I close this Navy shipyard or some other one?"
Well and good, but then Obama noted, "I'm not interested in spin; I'm not interested in playing a blame game," Obama said to applause. "At this point, all I'm interested in is just solving problems." Great…but here’s another portion of the speech: "I just have to be honest with you: There are too many Republicans in Congress right now who refuse to compromise even an inch when it comes to closing tax loopholes and special interest tax breaks. And that's what's holding things up right now." Huh? Either the president is not interested in spin, or he is. Either he wants to play a blame game, or he doesn’t. Despite the fact that he tried to spell it out, we’re just as confused as when we started. What we know for certain is that "solving problems" in the president’s world does not include lowering the U.S. debt and deficit.
