Why-Bama: Obama Caves To GOP Request To Move Jobs Speech

Boehner and Obama during debt ceiling talks

Democrats are wringing their hands over the latest apparent sign that President Obama is a wimp: After yesterday's public squabble—the White House announced Obama's jobs speech would be September 7, at the same time as the GOP debate, which then prompted House Speaker John Boehner to issue an angry letter!—now Obama will give his speech on September 8. White House spokesman Jay Carney said today, "Our intention was merely for the president to address a joint session of Congress as soon as possible upon Congress’s return from recess. Both houses are supposed to be -- will be in session next Wednesday, so we asked for that day," adding that Boehner's office never objected when September 7 was initially requested.

Carney continued, "You know what? That’s fine - we’ll go Thursday. Our interest is not in having a political back-and-forth here, at all. … Look, Americans are sick and tired of the partisan bickering, the gridlock."

One Democratic congressional aide moaned to Politico, "The narrative about the jobs speech has now become about when the speech is given, not the substance of the speech." The White House apparently didn't tell either party about a September 7 speech either—a Democratic Senate aide said it was "pure Obama — keeping us in the dark until the last minute."

According to the Washington Post, "The dust-up underscored Obama’s dilemma as he attempts to show progress on the economy while distancing himself from a dysfunctional Washington." The NY Times also called the exchange between the White House and Boehner's office "a surreal volley of letters" and "a very public game of chicken."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on September 1, 2011 12:47 PM

Comments [rss]

publikhan

Note how the gothamist liberals are nowhere to be found. The man has lost his own base. Good luck 2012

JackBrat72

Because he's the 'WTF Jerk-In-Chief' !- that's why!!

Oh No! Not yet ANOTHER speech from this incompetently foolish man!
Enough aleady!

BrassMonkeyBallz

As Elvis says, "A little less conversation, a little more action"

xXxMExXx

The White House staff looks severely incompetent if they didn’t realize there has been a Republican debate scheduled for weeks, or incredibly petty to purposefully schedule the speech at the same time. Now his base are pointing to this as yet another example of this administration’s inability to negotiate competently!
November 2012 can’t come quick enough...

BottomlessChips

When will the idea that government can create jobs finally die?

We can't give up that premise no matter how many programs we create and grants we grant, they fail to deliver...or even worse, create nasty unintended consequences.

SonnyBobiche

To many of Obama's admirers if you give a man a dollar you are a saint, but if you create a for-profit enterprise with jobs you are a greedy capitalist pig.

BottomlessChips

...and the dollars they want to give aren't even their own.

Taking from others and then creating programs to give to others isn't saintly. They pat themselves on the back for re-allocating wealth, whether it succeeds or, most likely, fails.

SonnyBobiche

Yeah he's back to highlighting "Green jobs". Wonder if he'll mention that solar panel factory that he visited? He touted it as representing the future so much that it got millions in government loans. It has now filed for bankruptcy; no jobs and no loan repayment.