There really is no end to the cynicism of Barack Obama. Earlier today he slammed the House Republicans for rejecting the Senate’s version of the payroll tax cut extension, accusing the Republicans of “playing politics.” The president called for a year-long extension of the cut on Saturday, saying that it would be “inexcusable” for the cut not to be extended for a full year. Well, apparently now it’s excusable after the House Republicans passed a year-long extension but the Senate Democrats only passed a two-month extension. The House has rejected that and is calling for a conference committee to sort the bill out, but Harry Reid has adjourned the Senate for the holidays, and Nancy Pelosi says she will not appoint any Democrats to the conference committee. A two-month extension does nothing to help businesses or families plan for the long term, but it helps the Senate Democrats avoid the image of selling out their base over the XL Pipeline, a decision on which is included in both versions of the bill. Moments after the president’s remarks, Speaker John Boehner went on the air to call on the president to do something he is apparently utterly incapable of doing — put politics aside for once in his life and lead.
The House Republicans and President Obama are on the same side on the length of the tax cut extension. But Obama is siding with the Senate Democrats for purely political reasons.
Obama tabled the XL Pipeline decision itself for purely political reasons, to appease his green Luddite base, despite the fact that 60% support it and 78% expect it to be approved.
Even in his conduct of the war, this president place politics above all else, including national security.
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