"Why won't the Republicans compromise?" they ask. "Do they want Americans to suffer?"
They point to John Boehner who indicated that the last CR that passed would be the last one, that he and the House Republicans were going to hold out for a budget agreement that lasted the rest of the fiscal year, and that they were willing to go through a partial government shutdown if that's what it took.
Ahh, the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth in DC was audible clear out to Chicago. It seemed that all the media could talk about was how many people would be hurt by the shutdown and how irresponsible the republicans were being by trying too force the Democrats to meet their demands for real spending cuts.
Then a funny thing happened. As we got closer to the shutdown, the Republicans gave ground and reached for a compromise. They reduced their goal from $61 billion to $40 billion. But that was not enough for the Democrats, and they continued to hold out for more spending, higher deficits, and bigger debt.
Then we all discovered that because there had been no appropriations bill, and because Obama had decided to vacate an OMB directive that authorized payment of the military during a government shutdown, Boehner changed his mind, and authored another CR, this one lasting a week, calling for minimal spending cuts, and funding the military through the end of the fiscal year, making sure our troops, including those in three different combat zones, would continue to get paid.
Their wives would be able to pay rent, bills, and buy groceries and their spouses in harm's way wouldn't have to worry about their families being held hostage to political gamesmanship in Washington.
In short, the Republicans put the well being of our troops ahead of politics, and compromised by proposing and passing another CR.
So of course, Obama and his Democrats, in the spirit of compromise, and having gotten significant compromises from Republicans, acted immediately to pass the CR, fund the troops, and keep the government running.
Yeah, right.
Obama said he would not accept any continuing resolutions, that he wanted a budget to last to the end of the year, and that if the Senate passed Boehner's CR, he would veto it.
This bill is a distraction from the real work that would bring us closer to a reasonable compromise for funding the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 and avert a disruptive Federal Government shutdown that would put the Nation’s economic recovery in jeopardy. The Administration will continue to work with the Congress to arrive at a compromise that will fund the Government for the remainder of the fiscal year in a way that does not undermine future growth and job creation and that averts a costly Government shutdown...If presented with this bill, the President will veto it.
That's what Democrats mean when they ask for compromise. Do it their way, or somebody gets hurt.
This President is willing to force our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to face combat without pay, leaves their families back home without money for groceries, rent, or other bills, all so he can get his way. republicans showed a weakness, concern for the troops, and Obama and the Democrats are going to exploit that weakness.
Obama may call this compromise; I call it extortion.
The man has no shame whatsoever.
If you're a Democrat, and you support this man using our troops, including those in harm's way, as bargaining chips, then I have absolutely no respect for you.
As for compromise, it takes two parties to compromise. Democrats have shown that they view compromise the same way all bullies do; as a sign of weakness.
A trait they share in common with union thugs and Islamic terrorists.
Imagine that!
