Democrats Falling Out Of Love With Obama's New Stimulus Plan

Democrats Are ‘In Open Revolt’ Over President Obama’s New Stimulus Plan
President’s Appeal: ‘If You Love Me, You Gotta Help Me Pass This Bill.’

PRESIDENT OBAMA: “If you love me, you gotta help me pass this bill.” (“Obama: If You Love Me, Help Pass Jobs Bill,” ABC News, 9/14/11)
“In five speeches over a week, President Obama has said ‘pass this bill’ or some variant of it 90 times. That’s 18 times in his speech to Congress, 18 times at the University of Richmond, 12 times in the Rose Garden (when he officially unveiled his 155-page bill), 18 times at a high school in Columbus, and 24 times at North Carolina State University.” (“Pass The Bill, Obama Says 90 Times,” Politico’s 44, 9/14/11)

Dems ‘Prefer To Stay Just Friends,’ Give ‘Cool Reception’ To ‘Desperate’ President

“…Mr. Obama told voters in North Carolina, ‘If you love me you’ll pass this bill,’ but even some members of Congress from that state may prefer to stay just friends.” (“Democrats In Congress Balking At Obama’s Jobs Bill,” The New York Times, 9/15/11)

MSNBC’S JOE SCARBOROUGH: “Their problem is though of course, Chuck, this morning, the Democrats are the ones that are in open revolt...” NBC’S CHUCK TODD: “That’s right. It’s the Democrats.” (MSNBC’s Morning Joe, 9/15/11)

NBC’S CHUCK TODD: “In a moment, at a time when the campaign, the Obama campaign is desperate to have him seen as a tough leader again, you don’t want to get rolled by your own party.” (MSNBC’s Morning Joe, 9/15/11)

NBC’S CHUCK TODD: “…to have this string of Democratic Senators come out and tell the New York Times… Joe Manchin this thing seems too big and Bob Casey saying, I would like to deal with it piece meal. Oh by the way, Casey and Manchin are up for reelection in swing states/red states in Pennsylvania and West Virginia respectively. So, that is not a good sign.” (MSNBC’s Morning Joe, 9/15/11)

JAMES CARVILLE, Democrat Strategist: “What should the White House do now? One word came to mind: Panic. We are far past sending out talking points. Do not attempt to dumb it down. We cannot stand any more explanations. Have you talked to any Democratic senators lately? I have. It's pretty damn clear they are not happy campers. …For God's sake, why are we still looking at the same political and economic advisers that got us into this mess? It's not working.” (James Carville, “What Should The White House Do? Panic!,” CNN, 9/15/11)

POLITICO: “It’s open season on President Barack Obama — and that’s just from members of his own party. With frustration and disappointment mounting from defeats in Tuesday’s two special elections and over Obama’s jobs plan, the media is filled on Thursday like never before with Democrats on the record publicly questioning and doubting the president and some of his policies, and a few even unleashing biting criticism.” (“Obama Under Attack - From Dems,” Politico, 9/15/11)

THE NEW YORK TIMES: “President Obama anticipated Republican resistance to his jobs program, but he is now meeting increasing pushback from his own party. Many Congressional Democrats, smarting from the fallout over the 2009 stimulus bill, say there is little chance they will be able to support the bill as a single entity, citing an array of elements they cannot abide.” (“Some Democrats Are Balking At Obama’s Jobs Bill,” The New York Times, 9/15/11)

ROLL CALL: “President Barack Obama's plans to pay for his jobs legislation are facing a cool reception from some House Democrats who wonder how the proposals — which went nowhere in the 111th Congress, when Democrats held majorities in both chambers — can attract support now.” (“Lukewarm Response For Jobs Bill Payment Plan,” Roll Call, 9/14/11)

“…the ideas, which include limiting tax deductions to charitable contributions and increasing taxes on hedge funds and private equity groups, have not fared well in Congress, prompting opposition from key Democrats.” (“Lukewarm Response For Jobs Bill Payment Plan,” Roll Call, 9/14/11)

POLITICO: “President Barack Obama’s new jobs plan is hitting some unexpected turbulence in the halls of Congress: lawmakers from his own party. As he demands Congress quickly approve his ambitious proposal aimed at reviving the sagging economy, many Democrats on Capitol Hill appear far from sold that the president has the right anecdote to spur major job growth and turn around their party’s political fortunes.” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

“…as details of the plan began to be vetted on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, it was clear that the White House needed to redouble its sales job — or tweak its plan — to force Democrats to fall in line at a pivotal point in Obama’s presidency.” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

Dems: Bill ‘Terrible,’ ‘Frustrating,’ ‘Not Going To Fly’

SEN. BOB CASEY (D-PA): “I think the American people are very skeptical of big pieces of legislation … For that reason alone I think we should break it up.” “‘I think the American people are very skeptical of big pieces of legislation,’ said Senator Robert Casey, Democrat from Pennsylvania, in an interview Wednesday, joining a growing chorus of Democrats who prefer an a la carte version of the bill despite White House resistance to that approach. ‘For that reason alone I think we should break it up.’” (“Democrats In Congress Balking At Obama’s Jobs Bill,” The New York Times, 9/15/11)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “I have said for months that I am not supporting a repeal of tax cuts for the oil industry unless there are other industries that contribute…” (“Some Democrats Are Balking At Obama’s Jobs Bill,” The New York Times, 9/15/11)

LANDRIEU: 'That offset is not going to fly, and he should know that," said Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu from the energy-producing Louisiana, referring to Obama’s elimination of oil and gas subsidies. ‘Maybe it’s just for his election, which I hope isn’t the case.’” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “I don't know exactly what I'm going to do yet with the president's jobs bill, but we're going to have a full caucus meeting on it on Thurs,’ Reid told reporters, saying merely that he had introduced the bill Tuesday. A number of Democrats have previously opposed some of the ideas in the bill.” (“Reid Not Sure if Obama's Jobs Bill Can Pass,” Fox News, 9/13/11)

SEN. JIM WEBB (D-VA): “‘Terrible,’ Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) told POLITICO when asked about the president’s ideas for how to pay for the $450 billion price tag. ‘We shouldn’t increase taxes on ordinary income. … There are other ways to get there.’” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “Frustrating … There’s an unfairness to it.” “Democratic Sen. Mark Begich, from the oil-rich state of Alaska, said it was ‘frustrating’ to see the president single out the oil industry after calling on the congressional supercommittee in last week’s address to Congress to find savings. ‘When you start singling out certain industries, there’s an unfairness to it,’ he said in an interview. ‘On the pay-fors, I have a problem.’” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): “I have serious questions about the level of spending that President Obama has proposed, as well as the actual effectiveness some of these policies will have when it comes to creating jobs…” (“Manchin’s Strategy For Surviving 2012 In A Red State: Bash President Obama,” The Hill, 9/14/11)

SEN. BARBARA MIKULSKI (D-MD): “I disagree with the president.” “Senator Barbara Mikulski, a Maryland Democrat whose state includes some of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., said she didn't support the health-care tax. ‘I disagree with the president,’ she said.” (“Obama Plan To Tax Health Benefits Stirs Democratic Opposition,” Bloomberg, 9/14/11)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA): “I don’t think anybody expects it to pass en bloc.” “‘I don’t think anybody expects it to pass en bloc,’ Kerry told reporters Tuesday afternoon after the Senate Democrats’ weekly policy luncheon. ‘So, the issue is going to be what, if any, parts of it might be cherry-picked. And really that depends a lot on the overall mix of the negotiation.’” (“Obama Jobs Proposal Won’t Pass In One Piece, Kerry Says,” Washington Post, 9/13/11)

SEN. TOM CARPER (D-DE): “I think the best jobs bill that can be passed is a comprehensive long-term deficit-reduction plan… That’s better than everything else the president is talking about — combined.” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

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