I was so ready to write a post saying "hallelujah!" about the President finally taking a swipe at the Republicans.
Then I keep reading, and what does the President do? He takes a generic swipe at "congress" (because he wouldn't want people to think that the Republicans in Congress are the actual problem), and then he takes an additional swipe at Democrats (in and out of congress) for being concerned about Medicare and Social Security.
Responding to a question by a lung cancer survivor worried about changes to Social Security and Medicare, Obama said that he wants to preserve the programs but that he is “frustrated” by Democrats who sometimes say “you can’t make changes to any government programs.”I'm sure the President thinks such a message will resonate with "independents," the people who are now the focus of any and all policy decisions in the Obama White House. But the President, by continually taking swipes at Democrats and not explaining that Republicans in the Congress are the problem, not just "congress," is also hurting the chances of Democrats in Congress to hold on to the Senate, and take back the House.
He's also hurting the chances of Democrats by constantly putting Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block (neutering the number one advantage the Democrats had going into the next election).
And he's hurting our chances for protecting both programs by constantly telegraphing his willingness to put them on the table.
(Here's a thought: If you're really dead set on cutting Social Security and Medicare, why not at the very least let the GOP "force" you to put them on the table, then get a concession in return? Why keep offering them up for free?)
Maybe it's time the Democrats in Congress gave the President a taste of his own medicine. Every time the President implicitly or explicitly criticizes Democrats, they should publicly quote a little Krugman about how "President Pushover" is the real problem in "Washington." Then see how often he does it in the future.
The President isn't the only Democratic pushover in town.
(PS Jonathan Cohn from the New Republic seems more impressed by the new Obama showcased in the midwest this weekend.)
