Gibbs' Comments On Sanders Filibuster Show White House Toning Down Cracks At Liberal Critics

WASHINGTON -- White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded carefully Monday to the nine-hour filibuster Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) led Friday in protest of the tax-cut deal President Barack Obama struck with congressional Republicans.

Addressing the issue for the first time since the largely-ceremonial filibuster ended at 7 p.m. Friday night, Gibbs seemed to laud Sanders' philosophical point but did not endorse the senator's procedural tactic, and fell back on the administration's position that letting all the Bush-era tax cuts expire on Jan. 1 could slide the nation's economy back into recession.

"About Sanders," he said. "I think the president would be the first to agree that there are aspects of this that he doesn't like... our preferred method was to make permanent the tax cuts for the middle class. The votes weren't there in the Senate to do that. And rather than threaten our economic recovery, the president believed that this bipartisan agreement was the best way to go."

The press secretary did, however, attempt to strike a note of commiseration with Obama's more progressive critics. "He respects and understand the frustration of those who have a different viewpoint on the agreement," Gibbs said. "I think, at the same time, he believes it is important for our economy, it is important for middle class families to get [this] done."

This slight moderation in tone has been noticeable ever since Obama blasted Democrats he called "sanctimonious" for decrying the deals he's struck with Republicans on such issues as tax cuts and health care. The administration has been cautious about inflaming intra-party frictions. Instead of acting with alarm, Gibbs and others have stressed a shared frustration with the current tax-cut package.

The tone is far different from how the White House reacted when progressives wanted to "kill" the health care bill last year and senior adviser David Axelrod called such a position "insane." And it seems to be in the general spirit of what some party elders were hoping for.

"Attacking [Democratic critics] was a huge mistake by this White House," longtime strategist Paul Begala told The Huffington Post last week. "It was just unwise ... it would be much better if they were saying right now, 'I understand and respect the principles animating my critics, but here is why I think this should be passed.'"

"That would be so much better than gratuitously sticking a thumb in their eye," Begala added, "because you are going to need these folks going forward."

Comments

[Guytar]

03:48 PM on 01/05/2011

Good man supported President Obama in every way but loose.

[Counterglow]

01:59 AM on 12/16/2010

The White House is more than welcome to quit telling the base to kiss its rosy heinie in a futile effort to placate the Blue Dogs and GOP. The Republicans have proved conclusively that the only thing the administration understands is slaps, kicks and ridicule.

OK, fine. You asked for it...you got it.

Tell the prez to get back to the base when he's got "Proof of Spine".

[shelagh63]

11:11 AM on 12/15/2010

As a Senator, I doubt that Obama ever worked as hard as Senator Sanders. As a back bencher for example, Obama voted against the war in Iraq. Yet I don't recall any real fight that he put up against the illegal war,other than to use his no vote in his MTV -easy answer -lie riddled- campaign to woo the youthful masses that clearly abandoned him in the mid terms. Even if Senator Sanders 9 hour fillibuster was largely ceremonial, Sanders was at least sincere in his efforts. How many true believers can say that about their man Obama now?

[Counterglow]

02:00 AM on 12/16/2010

Even if you don't agree with him, I don't see how you can fault the man on the way he sticks to his principles.

[truthisneeded]

03:07 AM on 12/15/2010

I wonder if Obama banged his head playing basketball because he sure seems to act and think differently than the Obama with all the grand and beautiful promises during his campaign against McCain

[ALiberalKidd]

02:46 AM on 12/15/2010

How many more times will politicians use the old, too big to fail, fear argument?

Obama and Gibbs are pimping another Bush/republican lie/claim that slipping back into recession and further economy growth are contingent on future extension of Bush tax cuts. The same tax cuts that were in place when this economy dropped. Tax cuts that failed to stimulate the economy in past years and prevent this recession, but extending them now is supposed to be the cure all? This economy cannot slip back into a recession from which it is yet to exit.

Once elected into office, both Obama and Clinton were quick to make upholding the appearance and facade of the office of the presidency more important than honoring the greater truth and intent of the executive branch of our government. In addition, to its own determent, the Obama administration was too eager, kind, and zealous in taking ownership of a decade of conservative republican failures: two wars, torture prison/camps, corporate bailouts, international disdain, and recession.

Obama, phone home.

[Toa Reap]

11:07 PM on 12/14/2010

I am a big Sanders fan - but this is ALSO a verbal display of philosophy and nothing more - one Obama would most likely agree with.

We can not and will not effect any real change until the majority of Americans are on the same page.

We will only get that when the MESSAGE is clear.

We must regain the ability to drive the discussion to facts and not fearful distractions.

If the majority of Americans knew what Progressives stood for and can implement.

The whole country (save a few dolts) would be Progressive (of varying degrees :))

[shelagh63]

11:13 AM on 12/15/2010

F & F'd. Mostly because I love colorful terms like "dolts". And you do make a valid point of course.

[Toa Reap]

10:57 PM on 12/14/2010

Bernie is Awesome - and did not turn on Obama!

I was PO'd but I've noticed a pattern and many Progressives hamstring progress!

Roosevelt received blistering criticism from Progressives, often much worse than liberals give Obama today.

http://ukiahcommunityblog.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/liberalcriticismoffranklinrooseveltandthenewdeal

You guys must stop tearing us apart with unrealistic expectations.

BEFORE YOU FLIP YOUR LID please understand that I am with you! I am very angry – however the fact of the matter is WE, as a party, need to unify and stop turning on each other when things go sideways - fighting Obama is absolutely fighting the WRONG fight!!

We MUST take back the discussion (For example we spent months discussing Arizona's BS law when Obama has been the toughest on Illegal Immigration ever?! Why? Cause the right directed the discussion.

IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW CORRECT WE ARE IF THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE NOT AWARE OF IT; and 70% of them support this bill. 70%!!

The only reason that number is that high is we DO NOT have any influence on the message!

If Obama fought this, they would've turned him into the Raised taxes, lost another 600k jobs, turned his back on families during xmas President.

WE have got to start having unity under pressure!!!

We KNEW this would be hard. Don't make it impossible.

Let’s fight the right fight and not turn on each other.

[twistedboomer]

11:38 PM on 12/14/2010

it begins with working people coming to the conclusion that the democrats are just as bad as the republicans. There are so many examples of democratic betrayal of Wage Labor that they would fill a book. A BIG book.

Then there has to be a call to action followed by a solid response in support of a real Labor Party for the US: the US Labor Party. Working people have to be convinced that their interests are not being served, and will never be served by EITHER political party in power.

One thing is clear and it bears repeating: Wage Labor in the US is potentially the most powerful political force on the entire planet, if it were organized and acted in unison. That's not an exaggeration.

We are only 1 general strike away from 'energizing the base' of the US working class. Just 1.

[Toa Reap]

01:09 AM on 12/15/2010

Interesting point.

fanned.

[Toa Reap]

01:14 AM on 12/15/2010

Just to clarify - I agree with the spirit of what you're saying (a 3rd party) but I think it would take too long to get that party to the size needed to win.

It would be easier if we could push/pull the already established Democratic party in the direction it was intended.

i.e. we already have a Corporate vs Labor partisan battle - we would make the line clearer by developing unity around a common message/platform (as opposed to the "everything they're not" platform we currently have).

But again - your point about the strike was very interesting.

[shelagh63]

11:27 AM on 12/15/2010

Don't you think he struck the first blow? Rick warren for example, if that was not a punch in the face to his GLBT supporters...It started as whisper yes?.

[CT Independent]

01:19 PM on 12/14/2010

Bernie is trying to extend his 15 minutes of fame; and he probably deserves it. Let him have his fun and then we can move on.

[sal678]

01:34 PM on 12/14/2010

Bernie Sanders has principle ! Obviously this is a trait which Obama lacks ! He has no ----s !
He has let the Republician's weaken Social Security so it can be dismantled later !

[CT Independent]

01:57 PM on 12/14/2010

Middle income tax cuts cost 5 times more than the tax cuts for the rich. Does Bernie know that? And where were his principals before Nov 2nd (elections)?

[MadAppraiser]

01:08 PM on 12/14/2010

Senator Sander’s congressional presentation could possibly be one of the most important in this century!

[sonofsonoflars]

12:42 PM on 12/14/2010

come on, gibbs. grow a pair will ya? the votes WERE there if the republicans weren't forcing an artificial 60 vote super majority on EVERYTHING. why not just say 'since the REPUBLICANS SAID NO to anything that didnt have a deal for millionaires and billionaires this was what we came up with in order to make sure the unemployed were still able to buy groceries' fu@king namby pamby douchebaggery.

our preferred method was to make permanent the tax cuts for the middle class. The votes weren't there in the Senate to do that.

[lobear00]

12:29 PM on 12/14/2010

Mr. Gibbs' were you taken under the wing of the then bush media membership club! you sound an aweful lot like the liars of that period.

[Hakumen]

12:20 PM on 12/14/2010

Too late at this point. The bridges have mostly been burnt and its been a two-year process, not an overnight thing. This is just the tipping point.

[twistedboomer]

11:26 PM on 12/14/2010

More and more Americans are getting fed-up. It takes time + pressure. May be a first-shot-across-the-bow. 2011 == 1934 ?? We'll see...

[jsob]

12:01 PM on 12/14/2010

Sanctimonious is a good description of some progressive pundits. They ignore political reality, and little, if anything, Obama does is good enough for them. Instead of taking on Republicans, they constantly blame Obama for compromising. In the case Obama's tax deal, progressives who disapprove of the compromise never explain how to overcome a Republican filibuster in the Senate, which would be necessary to end the Bush tax cut for the rich. In their desire for a fight, progressive pundits wishfully believe expiration of the middle class tax cuts would not harm the economic recovery. If the tax cut for the rich were not extended, Republicans would have blocked renewal of unemployment benefits and, along with sanctimonious progressives, blamed it on Democrats in general and Obama in particular.

[joyfulworld]

12:27 PM on 12/14/2010

How do you overcome a Republican filibuster? Simple. Force them to actually filibuster!!! Make a Republican stand there and talk until he loses his voice. No food, no leaving the floor for any reason. Those are the rules, maybe we should stand by them for a change.

[lobear00]

12:30 PM on 12/14/2010

Mr. Obama' is a true conservative republican at heart.

[Fairie Dust]

11:47 AM on 12/14/2010

Robert Gibbs has a history of not only dissing progressives but of using inflammatory/Karl Rove-type tactics against progressives, liberals and the left.
In 2003, according to the New York Times, Gibbs was spokesperson for a group that smeared candidate Howard Dean using Osama Bin Laden pictures and languages like Dean is too weak and "dangerous" while saying that "Dean cannot compete with Bush on foreign policy". In fact, the title of the article in the New York Times pretty much tells everything: "THE 2004 CAMPAIGN: ADVERTISING; New Democratic Group Finances a Republican-like Attack on Dean".

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/i/c/ickyma/2010/08/robert-gibbs-spokesperson-for.php?ref=reccafe

[Mark Frazer]

11:42 AM on 12/14/2010

i can't figure out what the repubs gave up.

[MissMel10]

11:59 AM on 12/14/2010

Repubs gave up almost everything. They did not want to extend the tax credits or unemployment. They also wanted to make the Bush tax cuts permanent. They conceeded on everything just to keep those tax cuts for 2 years. That should tell EVERYONE exactly who the Repubs care about--the rich!!

[mecormany]

01:08 PM on 12/14/2010

So how about for once saying, ok, you go out there and tell the country why the UI extension isn't getting passed and for what part of the populace you're doing it for. Everything? Tell me about what they conceded on the estate tax.
We know the Rethugs care only about the rich, make them admit it for a change instead of caving at their first no.

[twistedboomer]

11:11 PM on 12/14/2010

So do the dems...