Obama Goes To GOP Lions' Den -- And Mauls The Lions

President Obama traveled to a House Republican retreat in Baltimore on Friday and delivered a performance that was at once defiant, substantive and engaging. For roughly an hour and a half, Obama lectured GOP leaders and, in a protracted, nationally-televised question-and-answer session, deflected their policy critiques, corrected their misstatements and scolded them for playing petty politics. (Full video and transcript available HERE.)

White House officials told the Huffington Post they were absolutely ecstatic. MSNBC's Luke Russert, who was on the scene in Baltimore, relayed that a Republican official and other GOP aides had confided to him that allowing the "cameras to roll like that" was a "mistake."

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So effective was the president that Fox News cut away from the broadcast 20 minutes before it ended.

It was the type of performance that Obama's supporters have long demanded and that his own aides have been eager to deliver. The question-and-answer session at the end wasn't initially supposed to be broadcast, but the White House pressured GOP leadership to bring the cameras in. They knew the optics it would generate, a source with knowledge of the planning relayed. Hours before the event began, Republican leaders finally relented.

What resulted was what one Democratic strategist described as "amazing theater" -- certainly for cable news. Standing on a stage, looking down at his Republican questioners, Obama assumed the role of responsible adult to the GOP children, or, at the very least, of a college professor teaching and lecturing a room full of students.

He chastised Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) for calling his economic agenda radical and poked fun at the GOP's own platform. "I am not an ideologue, I'm not," he said. "It doesn't make sense if somebody could tell me, 'You could do this cheaper and get increased results,' then I would say, 'Great.' The problem is, I couldn't find credible economists who could back up the claims that you just made."

He rebuked a questioner who insisted that the monthly deficit is higher now than Bush's annual deficit. "That's factually just not true," he said. "And you know it's not true." He lampooned Republican lawmakers seated in front of him for portraying his health care legislation as "some Bolshevik plot." He mocked Republicans for railing against the stimulus package and then showing up at "the ribbon-cuttings for some of these important projects in your communities." And he did it all while calling for "a tone of civility instead of slash and burn will be helpful."

Whether it was chutzpah, political savvy, or both, it certainly was refreshing. Reporters were thrilled with the British Parliament-style exchange between president and lawmakers. The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder asked that forums like these be held monthly. The Nation's Chris Hayes suggested Obama next go before the progressive caucus. Ezra Klein of the Washington Post labeled it "the most compelling political television I've seen...maybe ever. NBC's Chuck Todd added: "The president should hold Congressional 'town halls' more often. Public needs to see this if they'll ever trust Washington again."

From the narrower vantage point of the White House, the event also made for effective politics, spurring some comparisons to the type of political engagement relished by former President Bill Clinton.

"Most people thinking about this would have thought 'ooh Obama is going into the lion's den," said Dee Dee Myers, Clinton's former press secretary. "But there was a great opportunity to jujitsu that. On one level it looked brave but on another he was the substitute teacher there, lecturing the audience.

"A lot of us have been waiting for that moment, a little more fight, a little more politics," she added. "He is in a political business and he has to pay attention to not just the substance but the politics."

WATCH:

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Comments

[boxiana]

10:53 AM on 03/28/2010

Lions? More like simpering Coyotes sniffing around for something smelly and already dead.

[leftbrnrightbrn]

07:13 PM on 02/22/2010

You can't shine doo-doo. Obama and the dems are dead meat on the health care issue. Obama can look good or great or whatever to radical left wing political observers and it means nothing. Self-congratulatory remarks by Obama's camp mean nothing. The country has had its eyes opened to the socialistic plans of the Democratic Party, and they are fiercely rejecting them.

[bccmeteorites]

10:53 PM on 03/21/2010

It's March 21, 2010 and it looks like your predication did not pan out. What happened?

[boxiana]

10:51 AM on 03/28/2010

Look kind of stupid now don' t ya? But you've moved on to making new bad predictions.

[capitaldysfunction]

02:01 AM on 02/04/2010

Your comment that this was like the British parliament exchange rings true and makes me question if this is something that should be included in our system of government. I am so sick of speeches or TV political ads with no immediate response or any response at all until forgetful America forgets what the speech was about.

This is the kind of give and take that our politics doesn't have and needs. Even our Presidential debates don't live up to the lively exchanges in the British parliament.

Then again, I'm prejudiced. I think British parliamentary democracy is superior to begin with. Let us derevolutionize for better government and better medical care. Oh boy, here come the lies and distortions.

[bnsam]

03:56 PM on 02/03/2010

He didn't "maul" the lions - he spoke in a straightforward manner, respectful and with humor.

Mr. Obama's main thrust other than correcting the record which he did magnificently, was to begin to alter the environment in which political discourse takes place. Right now it's poisonous.

The journalists could help this effort by cleaning up your own word usage to state what happened without hyping it up with emotionally-laden words.

[Alfred Regius]

08:14 AM on 02/03/2010

When the president is trying to persuade the Republicans to work with his administration for the good of the country, it does no one any good to say "Obama goes into the GOP lions' den--and mauls the lions." Rather than play politics as a zero-sum game, let's try to respect the opposition and treat them as if they have something to say that we need to hear.

[treat2day]

12:00 AM on 02/03/2010

Calling 911 is an example in which we believe help arrive when we need it. However, Americans have been constantly told too much government is not good for them and the bogeyman is out there. We stop regulating utilities and our bills went up, we stop regulating banks and our interest rates are inflated, we stop regulating and we continue to stop regulating. Dumb people need leaders to stop putting fear of government in every sound bite.

Americans Leery of Too Much Gov't Regulation of Business
Half of Americans (50%) believe government should do less to regulate business. The rest are divided between saying things are about right (23%) and that the government should regulate more (24%). The majority (57%) are worried that there will be too much government regulation of business.


http://www.gallup.com/poll/125468/Americans-Leery-Govt-Regulation-Business.aspx?CSTS=tagrss

[Cye]

06:35 AM on 02/02/2010

Some of the Republicans in this Q&A session seem to grasp the enormity of the challenges facing the country.

However, everytime I hear the Republicans speak about "struggling families" or "the unemployed", I find it difficult to believe that they're genuine an any subsequent concern they express.

Aren't the Republican/Conservative Party ideologically opposed to helping families and the unemployed? By that I mean, don't they consider any government assistance to families or people without jobs communism or socialism - unless, that is, assistance comes indirectly, in the form of tax cuts?

Similarly, can the Republican party speak with any credibily about an alternate heath care plan? Isn't this just another form of government provision and thus communism/socialism also - as they themselves constantly assert?

I'm not trying to be cynical, I just don't get it. What are these people talking about when they talk about helping families or the unemployed? Is the idea to fix the economy and then everything else will take take of itself (ie indirect assistance)?

[SayLessDoMore]

07:19 PM on 02/01/2010

Interesting thread, here.

The righty sycophants don't have as much to say when both the message and the medium haven't been manipulated for them.

Really. Sarcasm aside, there's some humor ... bit of pathos, too ... in seeing/reading some of the uncharacteristically tepid criticism of folks who often don't get to weigh news information for themselves.

The phenomenon suggested by reaction to this event reinforces both the danger, and the success, of Fox "News" programming. By selective censorship and suppressing critical debate in favor of simplistic criticism, they rig the game. They make the news - not just commentary - comfortable for their demographic model.

Confronted with an overdose of balance, some righties don't quite know what to do.

When Obama gives a speech and the right-wing listens to it, their immediate cover is that it's ambiguous; or a clever manipulation; or contradictory; or ... it just doesn't matter, because he's just a talking head reading from a teleprompter. (As if that, in itself, isn't a bazillion-percent improvement over a president who couldn't read anything. Or talk.) Plenty of fodder for spin, and that's what gets "reported."

But, whaddaya say when a guy speaks in short, complete, sentences? Makes sense?

Going to be interesting to see how Fox spins the story in the next few days ....

[leftbrnrightbrn]

07:21 PM on 02/22/2010

Confronted with your stupefying condescension, I realize what you and your fellows on the left are: Phonies. The bottom line numbers have been cited and cannot be disputed. Obama care, cap and tax, etc etc etc, are socialistic programs. The problem with socialism is you eventually run out of other people's money. The American public gets it. They don't need Fox News to tell them anything. That's why your side is losing. You can't shine doo-doo.

[vagabond78666]

04:43 PM on 03/26/2010

what is it with you and doo-doo? And your comment that "our side is losing"..? I thought we were all here for The USA? Obama is doing great. Its tough taking care of someone elses fug-ups

[PhineasGage730]

07:08 PM on 02/01/2010

I just watch this video again and I gotta be honest, I must have looked how Ilsa looked when Victor Laszlo forced the band to play the French National Anthem. You know the look I'm talking about, when your heart swells and your eyes are glassy as they fill with a mixture of pride and love. Yeah, that was me.

And please don't confuse me with the blind Obama supporters. If you can look through my comments (probably be hard to find with all the inane ones I make), I've been disappointed and hard on our President. He just didn't seem to be who I thought he was...that is until I saw this.

Before seeing this I almost felt robed...I began to have contempt for the man...I know, so quick to judge, but I was...And then now display has put me right back in line. Back straight, chest out, chin up, head held high...deep breath and heart swelling with pride. I guess he is who I thought he was (ala Denny Greene). I will no longer doubt the man.

My apologies Mr. President.

[mjtaylor22]

09:28 AM on 02/02/2010

I just wanted him to take the fight to them. He was palying too nice, and they were at the total other extreme.
I watched this a few times, and Obama, handles over 100 of those guys without breaking a sweat.
dam proud of our president.

[Maezeppa]

03:16 PM on 02/01/2010

There are no GOP lions. Obama descended into the snake pit and laid waste to them.

[adevarul]

01:23 PM on 02/01/2010

Obama's speech was fine. The problem is that, as the last year has shown, Obama is more talk than anything else. Moreover, he does not really need more than one GOP senator to agree. Obama's real problem is within his own party.

[millertime]

02:27 PM on 02/01/2010

This was not a speech, but a question and answer session....I think you must be confusing it with the State of the Union....for this event, he absolutely was on top of his game....I wish that it was talked about more...then you could really see how hard he is trying to work with the GOP, and all they care about are sound bites, as you heard most of the questions were based on completely false statements....Obama obviously did his homework, and they didn't...

[L-DUB]

02:35 PM on 02/01/2010

This wasn't a speech. It was Q&A. The GOP had all the Q's and the Pres had all the A's!!! He smashed those punks in their own house. And he did it so gentleman-like.

[LoyalOpposition]

01:10 PM on 02/01/2010

I thought it was less Obama "going into the lion's den," than it was more like The Lion King confronting the hyenas in their den.

Sorry, GOPers, it is difficult to forgive and forget what the past 8 horrific years have been like, especially since we are just beginning to feel their ill-affects with high unemployment, the trillion dollar deficit, and two wars raging on. But, if the GOPers would work at true bi-partisanship to begin to tackle the problems we the people are experiencing, instead of being the party of NO!, then perhaps what the era of GW Bush tore down can be built up again. No matter what the FOX Network puts out, the people of this country know the score.

[Godweiser]

12:41 PM on 02/01/2010

Baltimore's perfect for the GOP; they can look out upon the poverty, squalor and urban decay and get a warm fuzzy feeling as they look at the future they have in mind for the rest of the country as people get kicked out of their homes on ground rent and eminent domain so big hotels can move in and gentrification can happen.

I bet it's the only time the likes of Mitch McConnell and John Boehner feels arousal anymore.

[Godiva]

11:43 AM on 02/01/2010

Well Faux News cut-away because they don't want the Stepford husbands/Wifes to wake up.

One of my students told me last week that her elderly grandparents watch nothing but Faux News all day long.

Just think, there are not hundreds of thousands of people like that out there. Therefore, this group of people no of nothing but the Tokoyo Rose type propaganda that comes out of that network.

Just so sad, to be so limited.

However, there is a bring side. That young student is not favoring the grandparents beliefs. The Gen "Y" group are also called Echo Boomers, and that's a little refreshing. Independent thought is good!

[InLosAngeles]

11:32 AM on 02/01/2010

The articles written about this "historic" event read like a rorschach test. Both parties' partisans saw & heard what they wanted to see & hear. Nothing of substance happenned here, except it will provide footage for political ads in a few months.

[ComonSenseMan]

12:16 PM on 02/01/2010

Obama faced the GOP talking points and delivered facts right back at them. Thats what just happened! We just saw all the Teleprompter myths die!

[tjntn]

12:37 PM on 02/01/2010

InLosAngeles, some republican partisans have admitted that Obama did well. Joe Scarborough did just this morning on Morning Joe. Tom Cole, former head of the NRCC, and congressman from Oklahoma told Luke Russert, "He scored many points. He did really well." Russert also says that one Republican told him, off the record and behind closed doors “It was a mistake that we allowed the cameras to roll like that. We should not have done that.”

It takes a very one-sided victory for the other side to make statements like that (especially in today's political environment). Hopefully the substantive part that will come from this is some of lies and near-lies of the Fox News and the conservative talk show crowd will have some light shed on them.