Obama Throws Reid Under the Bus: Hey, That Guy's In Charge of All of This, Not Me

But note how very laudatory The Hill is regarding the wily Reid. And note the article goes out of its way to protect Obama from any political fallout from Reid's aggressive, no-compromise stance -- claiming that Obama is just a spectator in all of this, and himself only wishes to compromise.

President Obama has handed over the reins of leadership on government funding and the debt limit to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

Reid is now fully in charge of his party’s negotiating strategy, a significant change from past showdowns with Republicans.

He has taken the initiative from Obama, who played the principal role in the 2011 debt-limit talks and New Year’s fiscal cliff deal. Some Democrats on Capitol Hill are relieved by the switch.

The majority leader has brought a more pugnacious style to the debate, bashing House conservatives as “anarchists” and mocking the “Banana Republican mindset.”

This is a welcome change for Democrats who thought Obama was too accommodating to Republicans during previous crises.

Wait, I thought compromise was a good thing? I also enjoy the Democrats' efforts (assisted by the Hill) to try to shield Obama from the political consequences of his decisions -- "Hey, Obama is just a big compromiser who wants what's best for everyone, but he's not in charge now, so don't hold any of this partisan squabbling against him."

Wait, the President of the United States isn't in charge?

I can't keep excerpting, but the passage I cut has more Democrat quotes talking about how open to compromise Obama is, but that he's been sidelined by... well, by someone who has no power to sideline him.

“There’s no question, Reid is now the quarterback,” said a Senate Democratic aide.
That became clear when Reid persuaded Obama last month to abandon an effort to set up a bipartisan meeting of congressional leaders before government funding expired.

All of this is obviously coordinated (though the Hill didn't notice the obvious) to protect Obama from the fallout from his own chosen policy.

What is interesting is that Obama would apparently prefer to be thought of as weak and voting present rather than taking charge of, and standing personally behind, his own chosen strategy.

posted by Ace at 01:45 PM

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