CONDITION OF THE DAY: Selective Amnesia
The noise from the Right these days is "Obama never reaches out to us. He doesn't like us." Of course, that was before the dinner that a few of them finally attended. The tab was on the President, too.
Let me refresh a few memories that seem to have become clouded over the past four years:
In January, several high-ranking Repubs were invited to the White House for a private screening of LINCOLN. They did not attend.
The noise from the Right these days is "Obama never reaches out to us. He doesn't like us." Of course, that was before the dinner that a few of them finally attended. The tab was on the President, too.
Let me refresh a few memories that seem to have become clouded over the past four years:
In January, several high-ranking Repubs were invited to the White House for a private screening of LINCOLN. They did not attend.
"The guests of honor included cast members Daniel Day-Lewis, James Spader, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones, along with director Steven Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner.
The website says Boehner “may be setting something of a record for sending regrets to the White House,’’ having turned down six state dinners hosted by Obama."
"Also in 2011, the White House held a reception for newly elected members of Congress. Only 27 of the new Republican House members showed up, out of the record GOP freshman class of 87."
Then there is the infamous remark by Mitch McConnell. There seems to be some debate as to when the actual quote was made...but it WAS made:
"McConnell made his remarks in an interview that appeared in the National Journal on Oct. 23, 2010 — nearly two years after Obama was elected president. The interview took place on the eve of the midterm elections.
The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."
Did Mr. Boehner forget about this: "The president of the United States calls the speaker of the House, in the midst of an economic crisis, and the speaker won't pick up the phone? You don't refuse a call from the president, no matter how deplorable you find his policies."
"McConnell made his remarks in an interview that appeared in the National Journal on Oct. 23, 2010 — nearly two years after Obama was elected president. The interview took place on the eve of the midterm elections.
The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."
Did Mr. Boehner forget about this: "The president of the United States calls the speaker of the House, in the midst of an economic crisis, and the speaker won't pick up the phone? You don't refuse a call from the president, no matter how deplorable you find his policies."
President Obama may not play the usual "good ol' boy" political games that DC is infamous for. He isn't cut of the same cloth..and he's not been at it as long. But to say he has NOT tried to reason or compromise is ludicrous. When you have been mocked, denigrated, ignored, lied to, slapped down, called arrogant, and been either described as a "dictator" or a "wus" (depending on the day of the week).....you tend to keep your own counsel. It's hard to say what anyone would do in the same situation.
