First rule of PR, don't repeat the charge. Having said that, I'm generally a big fan of FAQ's that take the hardest questions and then debunk them. Still, having the White House Web site publish the words "President Obama caved" is still jarring.
The context of this is a new White House web page that explains why the deficit deal doesn't suck. I'm not sure I agree with the White House's arguments. Let's start with this:
Myth: President Obama caved.1. I don't think you can really take credit for stopping the Republicans from destroying the world economy. First off, I'm not entirely convinced that Boehner and McConnell would have let that happen. Second, many people think the President had the authority under the 14th Amendment to continue paying our debts. And third, after you cave to the demands of hostage takers you don't really get credit for "saving the hostages." Not when you do it the wrong way.
Fact: President Obama laid out key priorities that had to be part of any deal. Those priorities are reflected in this compromise. First, we avoided default which would have plunged the economy into a deep recession, imperiling the well-being of millions of Americans. Second, the initial down payment on deficit reductions does not cut low-income and safety-net programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Third, we set up a path forward that will put pressure on Congress to adopt a balanced approach. And finally, we raised the debt ceiling until 2013, ensuring that House Republicans could not use the threat of default in just a few months to force severe cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
2. Odd that the White House is claiming credit for Medicare, Medicare and Social Security not being part of the deal when it's the President who put those programs on the table in the first place.
3.You put us on a path to a balanced approach? So the first deal wasn't a balanced approach? Not that we didn't know that, but it's interesting that the White House is admitting this on a page devoted to "myths" about the deal. And in any case, I don't think anyone thinks the Super Congress is going to end well. All it takes is one Democrat to vote with the crazy Republicans on the committee (Kent Conrad, come on down!) and we're all fiscally dead.
4. You've made sure the debt ceiling isn't an issue until after the election. Again, at what cost? And yet again the claim that the President saved Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security when he's the one who put it on the table in the first place.
There's a lot more, and it pretty much reads the same. AT least the White House is finally fighting.... against us... after the battle is over.
