I really don't like this kind of thing from Obama.

[closeupready]

It's like he's saying Democrats can not conscientiously disagree with this bill.

>>The president will refuse to make fund-raising visits during November elections to any district whose representative has not backed the bill.

A one-night presidential appearance can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds which would otherwise take months to accumulate through cold-calling by campaign volunteers.

Mr Obama's threat came as the year-long debate over his signature domestic policy entered its final week.<<

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/7450237/Barack-Obama-threatens-to-withdraw-support-from-wavering-Democrats.html

I guess he wants to see Republicans win, instead?

[WCGreen]

1. I tell you what...

This is his first huge test...

If the party doesn't stand with him why should he stand with them...

Anyway, a lot of things are said in the heat of the moment.

Take it with a grain of salt for now...

[spanone]

2. +1. they play hardball with him, he should play back.

[damyank913]

16. 100% true

[tbyg52]

87. Gee, too bad he didn't apply that logic to the Repubs and the corps..... nt

[Raineyb]

6. Maybe if he actually kept his promise they wouldn't have to stand against him to

vote their conscious.

Meanwhile he's standing up for the blue dogs who watered down what was already watered down into this POS bill. I would really like to see Obama stand up to the blue dogs for a change instead of constantly sticking it to the progressive wing of the party.

[joeybee12]

37. +1000 for this fricking obvious response...

...he screwed them over big time by ignoring this for months then trying to ram down something without their input...if ONLY he played hardball with repukes half as much as he does with dems.

[inna]

69. No kidding. +1

[polpilot]

86. Obama: "Why can't we be friends..Why can't we be friends...Why can'y we be friends?.."

[loudsue]

42. Stand up to the blue dogs? Obama IS a blue dog.

He's still better than a rightwing conservative republican, but he's a blue dog, nevertheless.

[Raineyb]

52. Well it would be nice if people were honest about that. There's a lot of people

here claiming that he's a progressive and I've seen no evidence of that whatsoever. In fact his behavior is more in line with a blue dog but don't give me blue dog and tell me it's progressive then get mad when I call bullshit. (Not YOU in particular it's more a general DU thing)

[Individualist]

57. Obama has admitted he's a New Democrat; NDC is a subsidiary of DLC.

Anyone who says he's a progressive is lying.

[closeupready]

66. Clearly, he is NOT a progressive, a liberal or socialist. He is conservative.

He is also a Democrat, yes - but left? Not in a million years, no.

[Raineyb]

105. No shit. I voted for him knowing this but with the belief that he was the one

out of the two choices that was left by the time the NY primary popped up, that we could work with most.

Boy was I wrong.

[Lorien]

106. He's a Reagan era Republican; to the Right of Nixon and to the Left of BushCo

the DLC has wanted someone like Obama in office for some time now; their final death blow to Liberalism.

[loudsue]

113. True that. n/t

[Myrina]

47. AMEN!

:applause:

[closeupready]

Okay.

I just hope that in the hopefully unlikely event that we lose a lot of seats in November, those who traditionally blame progressives, liberals and gays for those losses remember that our party leader also promised not to be there for his own party members when they needed him to raise money.

But as you say, lots of things do get said that aren't truly meant, so we'll just have to see. Because of course, you can say you won't do something, but then do it anyway, because you're obligated. Who knows.

[WCGreen]

58. Once the heat of the battle cools down...

Obama will be out raising money where it is needed...

For many of the reps on the fence, the idea of withholding a great fundraising event might be too much to risk,..

[JDPriestly]

23. When has Obama stood by the Democratic Party?

On public schools? No.

On public option? No.

Against nuclear energy? No.

For strong moves toward energy independence? So far, lots of talk, but no action. So, no.

On Don't Ask Don't Tell? So far, just talk, no action. So, no.

On separation of church and state? So far, Obama continues the Bush administration policy with some adjustments. So, no.

On privacy of internet communications and wiretapping? Definitive No.

On prosecutions of those who authorized torture? No.

On closing Guantanamo? Talk only, so far. So, No.

The change to union voting procedures? No.

So, Obama supports the policies that Democrats want only sometimes and mostly just with his mouth. Why should Democrats support him?

[Mari333]

60. and continuing the never ending occupations of 2 countries with Bush policies in place

[DonCoquixote]

77. and he was supposed to do all

of that within one year, with a congress that frankly wants NONE of those things?

[JDPriestly]

110. He had a huge mandate.

He sure managed to wield his whip on Dennis Kucinich. Problem is Obama only cracks down on liberals. He is a sissy when it comes to standing up to right-wingers and DLCers.

Obama has forgotten who buttered his bread in the 2008 election. I think he will find out this fall.

[Lorien]

108. His first huge test was crafting a health care bill that would save American lives

instead he's chosen to allow Americans to die while extorting money from us for yet ANOTHER corporate bailout. He's failed us, and WE are the ones that matter. At this point he'll be a liability to any traditional Democrats campaign.

[NightWatcher]

3. he plays hardball with other Dems, but goes on Faux and gives concessions to the Repukes

who NEVER vote for any of his policies. (see Stimulus Bill)

The Pukes said they want Obama to fail, yet he gives in to them time and time again, while Rahm calls Progressives fucking retarded and now Obama is going to cut off any Dems who dont play ball.

Nice.

[FrenchieCat]

4. I thought We wanted to purge the party of conservadems.....

Maybe this time he heard us.....
cause I know many here have been working hard, almost relentlessly
to also make sure that Republicans to win.

Maybe we are all finally on the same page
and ready to enact the big party purge to the purity level
some seem to demand! :shrug:

[Rhiannon12866]

5. That means he'll be making a visit to my district!

On the morning news they said that he called my congressman in for a chat...

[ShortnFiery]

7. President Obama is saying that WE SERVE the Insurance Cartel and Big Pharma ...

In other words, both citizens and legislators should know that their true MASTERS are the large multi-national corporations.

THEY OWN US!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtAX0HfsBtk

[thotzRthingz]

35. re: "President Obama is saying that WE SERVE the Insurance Cartel and Big Pharma"

it sure seems that way!

I say DEMS of good conscience should KILL THE BILL if it does not contain a no-restrictions public option! REAL HCR is why many of them were elected... they'll do just fone, come re-election time, if they do what their constituents want (and on that note... it looks more, every day, like OBAMA plans on not being re-elected)!

[NJmaverick]

8. Yeah most presidents use their valuable time to help Congress people that work against them

are you serious?

[Individualist]

9. It's called coercion.

People who abandon principles due to coercion are morally bankrupt.

[Ignis]

10. Well, it's nice of him to suddenly get involved.

It would have been even nicer for him to take a fucking stand when Max Bacchus was being allowed to hold the whole bill hostage with his anti-women agenda.

:banghead:

[berni_mccoy]

15. Horsehockey. He's been involved. You just don't want to acknowledge it.

[Ignis]

17. So where was his "big stick" approach for the Blue Dogs? (nt)

[saracat]

33. Where was he on the Public Option? Funny, he strong arms now when the bill is reduced to crap?

[Ignis]

76. The answer to our inconvenient questions, of course, is ...

*crickets*

[Skittles]

95. yeah, he's been involved

in backroom deals :thumbsdown:

[Ignis]

111. *cough* Chicago *cough*

:hide:

[Lorien]

103. Indeed. At least it let's us all know where his priorities lie

though it's been pretty clear for some time now. :grr:

[Ignis]

112. And it lets us know where we stand, too.

Want power in the Democratic party? Move to the right. Otherwise, prepare to be marginalized.

[Marr]

11. Odd. When it was Blue Dogs and DLCers refusing to pitch in,

it was a real virtue to "stand up to the party". Politicians who refused to do so deserved "compromise". Now that he's pruned the thing down to a corporate bailout, suddenly it isn't so cool to stand up to the party. How strange.

[Schema Thing]

12. I would hope he couldn't "conscientiously" raise money for fuckers like that.

[BeFree]

13. What is there to like?

The way politics are done these days, what is there to like?

Obama got where he is not by being radical, you do know?
He's a master modern day politician. Deal with it.

[Demoiselle]

14. I have to disagree with you, closeup.

I think he needs to be much tougher than he's been, and our beloved Democratic Party (and I mean the beloved part) must be more disciplined.
It ain't beanbag.

[closeupready]

18. Maybe so. As I've said before, I'll give him some more time before giving up on him, but

like many other liberals here on DU, I'd like to see him take a more progressive tack. We'll have to see how things shape up - cheers. :)

[JDPriestly]

19. Those who vote against the bill probably won't need fundraising visits from Obama

and would not welcome him if he came.

[AlinPA]

22. I agree with that.

[Hippo_Tron]

20. Pardon me while I go pull up the dozens of "Obama should be more like LBJ" threads

I swear to god, the man can't do anything right.

[saracat]

34. This would be a good thing if this had a Public Option. Now it is just for ego.

[Alexander]

104. It has a single-payer state option in the Senate bill, brought to you by Bernie Sanders.

But don't let the facts get in the way of your Obama hate, lilimuffins.

[Better Today]

46. It isn't the action or the threat of action that many are having trouble with,

it is his choice of enemies.

[laughingliberal]

48. The difference being we needed the LBJ moments when a bill with some form of public option was still

on the table. Those who keep up the 'he really wanted a public option but what could he dooooo?' meme, take note. This is what he could have done. He chose not to and I can only conclude it was because he got the bill he wanted out of the Senate which is exactly what Russ Feingold said after Lieberman tanked the Medicare expansion.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

67. LOL, that was my first thought as well.

[JVS]

80. Evidently he only puts on his LBJ-game while triangulating.

[cherokeeprogressive]

21. I think Obama and the Senate have painted the party into a corner.

Scenario 1

The House "deems and passes" and the Republicans use the next four months to convince the country that IR/HCR was foisted on them without benefit of a vote. The result?

Republican gains in November.

Scenario 2

The bill fails and Obama refuses to campaign for closely contested seats in the House. The result?

Republican gains in November.

[closeupready]

25. And (can I get a drum roll, here?) liberals, progressives and gays are blamed for the losses.

Ta-da!!!

[cherokeeprogressive]

26. That pretty much nails it. n/t

[Ignis]

27. Step 3: Profit

...For the oligarchs in power, no matter what initial is behind their names.

Same as it ever was.

[fishwax]

61. sounds quite likely

x(

[tavalon]

24. If he had stood firm on the public option, I would find this behavior to

be exactly what I want from him. As is, it seems that he only plays hardball for his corporate sponsors.

[Ignis]

29. That's all it really would have taken, isn't it?

It's all well and good to play hardball now, but where was all this outrage when the Blue Dogs killed the PO and Bacchus foisted an anti-women agenda on the bill?

:argh:

[tavalon]

30. Yeah, I'm pretty disgusted with all things Democratic these days

I feel like my party left me in the dust.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

63. Same here. He should have taken a stand earlier when the public option was in play.

[Ozymanithrax]

28. No, he is saying that actions have consequences...

Health care is important to Americans, and it should be a right. Those that disagree can explain to their constituents why they sided with the Health Insurance Companies and the GOP all on their own.

[laughingliberal]

49. Yeah, too bad the actions of killing the public option had -0- consequences.

This was the kind of pressure I kept expecting to see on the Blue Dogs while they gave the bill away to the insurance companies. I can only conclude Feingold was correct when he said this is the bill the President wanted. Sad he couldn't have done this for a bill 70% of the American people wanted.

[Ozymanithrax]

59. The bill was not given away to the blue dogs.

Those that vote against it will be the blue dogs, including Kucinich who is just a dog. By siding with the Health Insurance Companies and the GOP against the American people they deserve less than nothing.

[laughingliberal]

84. Up is down. nt

[Toasterlad]

31. "like" he's saying?

That's exactly what he's saying.

Obama has absolutely no trouble finding his balls when he's telling his own base what to do. It's when he's dealing with anyone else that he gets on his knees to kiss ass.

[closeupready]

40. I think that sums it up very well.

n/t

[saracat]

32. Gee, if only he did that for a Public Option.Guess we know what is important to him

[Political Heretic]

41. Agreed.

I don't fault him for the very fact of doing this. Sometimes it needs to be done.

I do think his choice of when to "stick" and when to punt are very telling - and tragic.

[Lorien]

102. Yep. He couldn't be more transparent. nt

[Political Heretic]

36. No, politically he's gotta do what he's gotta do. I understand it, though I don't agree with him.

We want a President that will get tough with his own party to get his agenda accomplished.

I don't resent him for doing that. I think he should have done it before now.

It's just a shame that he's doing this for a vote in this shitty bill instead of say, refusing to fundraise or campaign for any democrat voting against a PUBLIC OPTION.

:shrug:

[closeupready]

64. Valid points.

n/t

[Deep13]

38. Sorry, but this is BFT.

'bout fuckin' time.

As unpleasant as it is, this is how party leaders enforce discipline. This is how Bush did whatever the fuck he wanted for eight years with either a slim majority or a minority.

[laughingliberal]

50. I think it was BFT back in August when the Blue Dogs were killing the public option.

We have to ask ourselves why we saw none of this towards the Blue Dogs who killed all hope of a public option. I think it's clear what the answer is.

[Deep13]

55. It was. I think the problem then was POTUS was still...

...pretty inexperienced and was dealing with Congress and the conservadems as if they really were negotiating in good faith over geniune concerns.

[laughingliberal]

70. Perhaps. I am, however, of the opinion that POTUS was more interested

in making the industry happy. It was obvious to me and most anyone else paying attention the conservadems weren't going to play nice cause they were asked to. 4 committees passed better bills than the Senate Finance committee. Yet, not one word of praise for these committees passed the President's lips while he kept lavishing the praise on Bauscus' gang of six thugs every time they went another notch down on the effectiveness of their reform bill.

It was not chess. It was just what it looked like. The President came out fighting when he had the bill he wanted and this is the bill he wanted. And he's probably going to get it. But he doesn't get to ask me to be happy about it or deny what was right in front of my eyes through the whole process.

[Political Heretic]

39. Imagine if he had done that for the EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT, PUBLIC OPTION, ARR, etc.....

Priorities, Priorities.... ho hum... :crazy:

[Ignis]

45. Those weren't so important. But scoring a win before Nov?

Oh, that's VERY important. :eyes:

[laughingliberal]

72. Yeah. Sad. nt

[Better Today]

43. No pressures put on Repubs, bends over to kiss their collective asses,

but won't support the liberals. I hope he plans on upholding this for the BlueDogs that vote against it as well, though I imagine he'll find some way to forgive them just in time to make the rounds while progressives will be left in the cold.

[laughingliberal]

44. This was the response I expected towards the Blue Dogs who wouldn't support a Public Option in the

Senate. Of course, that was back when I still believed the President really wanted a public option.

For all those who asked what more I thought the President could have done to get the Senate to vote for a public option and claimed he was powerless to affect that process, THIS was what I thought he could have done. Now we see this response to pass a bill that does not have a public option. It is apparent the President knows how to bring pressure to bear on the issues he chooses.

[gleaner]

51. He has so much invested in this version if the bill ...

that he is trying to force us to accept it. His threat is not appreciated, and if it was not my decision before not to support him, it would be my decision now. I don't like feeling extorted or given no alternatives. Obama has said a lot about himself by doing this. I am very saddened that he would go this low, but not surprised. In answer to your question he has seemed to favor the Republicans all along. He has given them every concession they asked for against the interests of his base and he has pretty much followed their lead. I'm gritting my teeth and waiting for the Democratic primaries where I can find someone who I can support without always having to wonder exactly whose interests are being represented. If he had made a dynamic effort to deliver what he promised last year we would not be here now.

[stray cat]

53. Obama is damned by DU either way it seems

[laughingliberal]

73. Untrue. Imagine if he'd come out like this against the opponents of the Public Option

Or do we have a whole lot of DUers who preferred a bill without a public option?

[troubledamerican]

92. + 1

[Hawkowl]

54. It would probably HELP dems if he stayed away

Considering what's happened lately in Massachusetts and New Jersey. I can only hope he brings about the demise of Blanche Lincoln with his support for her.

Obama is finished. He's painted himself into a corner. Pass this piece of shit bill and lose the base or don't pass it and really be revealed as weak and ineffectual. Idiocy

[ecstatic]

56. I'm sure Palin or Bachmann will be available for campaign appearances

they can get together and complain about Obama's health care bill.

[Brickbat]

62. Oh, wait, I get it! He's got it all backwards! Someone tell him quick that he's supposed to reward

the DEMOCRATS and punish the REPUBLICANS!

[mopinko]

65. everybody wants a dem with a spine, until they see one in action.

then they cry and wring their hands. well, boo fucking who. people who can't be on the president's side on this one really important thing SHOULD find themselves wandering in the wilderness. with all the opposition that he has had to put up with, i would hope these people are smart enough to see a test of power for what it is. we elected him to use that power, not to spend his whole 4 years groveling for support from his own fucking party.

keep it up, please, sir.

[glitch]

82. A Dem with a spine working to pass a DEM bill is what we want, not working to pass

another industry bailout tarted up as not even as good as Nixonion "healthcare reform".

It's like putting lipstick on a can of past its sell by date Spam.

[krabigirl]

94. Um, I'd like to have seen this spine when the public option was on the table.

[mopinko]

96. wouldn't we all.

still.....

[deaniac21]

68. I'm guessing that many Democratic congressmen are asking

for that promise in writing.

[laughingliberal]

75. Lol! nt

[treestar]

71. I read many a post on DU demanding that he do this

to the Blue Dogs since they would not vote for the public option.

And when we said Republicans would win instead, they said they were tired of hearing that.

[laughingliberal]

74. Yeah, funny he had no will to use these persuasive powers to get a public option

Wonder what that's about?

[JVS]

78. Why couldn't he use these hardball tactics BEFORE the bill turned to shit?

[karynnj]

79. I have no problem with this

Obama has no obligation to appear everywhere and why support someone against you on the what might be the biggest vote of his Presidency.

[JVS]

81. Ok, go ahead and shrink your majority! Has Rahm called him retarded yet?

[Missy Vixen]

83. He only stands up to those in his own party

After all, they don't matter.

"Winning" does. At any price.

So, apologists, still believe he has anyone's best interests at heart besides his own?

[saigon68]

85. A One term President

Enjoy the applause while it lasts

[MadBadger]

88. Just wondering, when did Obama say this?

[ljm2002]

89. I don't mind at all...

...this is how politics is done. The President doesn't have a vote but he can offer carrots as well as pressure with sticks.

Now I'd be a lot happier if he had used this kind of persuasion back when it was all starting, say to promote the public option. I'm not at all happy about that. But when push comes to shove and it's time to get the thing through, you do what you gotta do. I have no problem whatsoever with him wielding the levers of power.

[ProSense]

90. Oh why oh why

can't he be like LBJ!


Cue feigned outrage.

[Motown_Johnny]

91. I Love It !!!

If they want to ride on his coattails they need to help do to laundry.

[krabigirl]

93. honestly? Yes, I do think his handlers want more Republicans to win ro

This will make his "bipartisan" bills (ie neocn and corporatist policies) sail easily through Congress..

[Lorien]

100. Yep. It will be the PERFECT political cover

I think they were blindsided by the super majority. They made up the "we must have 60 votes" excuse, which was pretty lame. Probably the worst thing that could happen to Obama and the DLC is to have MORE Dems voted into office in November!

[mmonk]

97. Especially since he backs

Blanche Lincoln. My memory is not short.

[Name removed]

98. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

101. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lorien]

99. He could have leveled that threat against Dems who opposed the Public Option

but no, he gets tough only when his "win" for his insurance pals is on the line. Disgusting.

[Mari333]

107. especially enlightening is how he is bent over for the GOP to be bipartisan

but slaps other dems around with glee.

suddenly he is a tough guy??


corporate sponsors applaud.

[Pushed To The Left]

109. He should make some fundraising visits for some progressive primary challengers in those areas!

It's good to see him fighting back.