Obama: Let Me Be Clear, My Reelection Campaign Is Far More Important Than This Default Stuff

Last week Speaker of the House Boehner said he was done talking to Obama and would work with Harry Reid to come up with a deal.

Apparently that process was going well. A little too well for Obama's liking so he killed it.

But the GOP bill to cut spending and raise the debt ceiling, which would avert the coming default crisis, would also require at least one more debt increase before the 2012 election, and the president, working hard for re-election, does not want to deal with the issue again before November 2012. After consulting with Obama Sunday evening, Reid's willingness to work with the GOP disappeared. (The White House has all along blamed Republicans for blowing up the talks.)

"I think Reid wants to get this done," says the senior Republican. "The problem is, the White House is so far out on a limb on vetoing anything that doesn't get Obama through the 2012 election that it's now kind of personal." For Reid to keep working with the GOP would be a slap at the president and leader of the Democratic party -- a virtually impossible scenario for the Majority Leader.

Obama would rather play Russian Roulette with the financial system than have to deal with this issue (and raising taxes again with the expiration of the Bush/Obama tax cuts right after the election).

Funny, but "the only adult in the room" sure seems like a self-centered little brat to me.

Obama is banking that the Senate Democrats will stick with him so they can lay this at the feet of the House GOP. I'm not sure that's going to work, especially if the GOP keeps offering plans. At some point enough Senate Democrats are going to decide they don't want to get tarred with this (remember, they are the majority there after all, though they don't act like it. Where's the budget?).

One power the President has is that he's the face of the nation, he can command airtime and set the frame work of the debate. The downside to that is he's really the only person people can hold personally responsible. People don't vote for "House Republicans", they vote for their member. Very few people actually get to vote for or against John Boehner and Eric Cantor. Everyone gets to vote on Obama.

I think if the GOP in the House holds tight and can offer Reid another shot at this, they have a better chance to get a deal along the lines they want then I thought possible.

If they can get something to Obama's desk, he'll blink.

posted by DrewM. at 11:44 AM

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