GOP Leaders Soften Tone Against White House

[cal04]

By Steven T. Dennis
Roll Call Staff
http://www.rollcall.com/news/gop_leaders_soften_tone_against_white_house-208589-1.html


With August poll ratings for the president and Congress in a tailspin after the messy debt deal and a report of stagnant job creation, GOP leaders are breaking out their olive branches.

Indeed, the rhetoric of the top two House leaders, Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.), has softened since the August recess, when many of their Members were confronted at home by constituents fed up with Washington, D.C., and concerned primarily with unemployment.

(snip)
“There’s definitely a change in the rhetoric — it remains to be seen whether there’s going to be a change in policy,” said Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio). He attributed the change to Members listening to voters in August.

“A lot of base Republican supporters in my part of the world said, ‘You know, you have to show us something. ... This cut-and-grow thing has a limited shelf life. You actually have to produce something, and if you can work with the president, you should, to get something done because everybody wins,’” LaTourette said. “I think they probably heard the same thing and I think that’s great.”

[DrunkenBoat]

1. Is anyone else sick of being blatantly manipulated by the media & our political class?

Sometimes it just gets to be too sickening.

They think we're cretins.

[GeorgeGist]

8. +1000000000000000000

Welcome to DU.

There's more cretins here than you might have expected.

[Historic NY]

2. Well Obama better ramp it up even more, give no more ground.

[whosinpower]

3. I think they got their asses called out

This August. I am not talking just about constituants....I am talking about their big money patrons who took a hit when the markets plunged and everything ground to a halt due, to the debt limit fiasco. When Wall Street finally began to grasp the depth of their beligerancy - that the tea party would allow the country to default....on principle and bedamned with the consequences.

The August job numbers simply relay the monumental lack of confidence their little escapade created.

[customerserviceguy]

4. Sorry I smell a rat

There's either one of two things at work here:

1) This is all an act, the real truth comes out when it's time to vote, and by that time, the proposal will have been torn to shreds.

2) The Repukes actually like the tax cuts, especially the ones contributing to the marginalization of Social Security, and that makes me awfully distrustful.

[GeorgeGist]

9. Of course you do.

Bubba's back with a new act.
The game is the same.

[sabrina 1]

11. I think you got it right, on both points!

[customerserviceguy]

14. Thanks

I've gotten very cynical when it comes to dealing with it when Repukes make soothing noises after our Democratic President speaks. They've committed themselves solidly to making him a one term president, I have to be deeply suspicious when I hear them say nice things about anything Barack Obama has said.

[Curmudgeoness]

15. It kinda reminds me of when the kids in the next room get quiet.

There is always something going on that you are not going to be happy about. They are up to something. Too bad I can't just get up and go into that next room and find out what is up.

[C_U_L8R]

5. They read polls

as much as they deny it...
polls are what make politicians tick... or tock

[ibegurpard]

6. why not?

they're going to get tax cuts and free trade agreements

[JoeyT]

10. +1

If someone gave me absolutely everything I wanted, I'd be mighty nice to them too.

[madamesilverspurs]

7. Good. Glad to hear it.

Now I'll wander over to the zoo to watch the leopard change its spots.


-

[War Horse]

12. He's got them backed into a corner - for now /nt

[kentuck]

13. Only if they're getting what they want...

and what is not to like?