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Arianna Huffington On MSNBC's 'Andrea Mitchell Reports' (VIDEO)

Posted: 07/01/11 05:33 PM ET

Arianna Huffington spoke on MSNBC's Friday edition of "Andrea Mitchell Reports," reflecting on her role as a moderator for a panel discussing the Obama presidency.

The conversation centered on President Obama's tough talk against the GOP, and whether his responses are satisfying the demands of the Democratic base. Arianna said: "There seems to be a disconnect between the rhetoric and the political actions."

On issues ranging from rising unemployment to cutting taxes, Arianna added: "Obama is very good at articulating the problems, and even positioning them in terms of morality and basic American principles. But when it comes to policy and legislation, he's constantly being outmaneuvered by the Republicans."

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Arianna Huffington spoke on MSNBC's Friday edition of "Andrea Mitchell Reports," reflecting on her role as a moderator for a panel discussing the Obama presidency. The conversation centered on Presid...
Arianna Huffington spoke on MSNBC's Friday edition of "Andrea Mitchell Reports," reflecting on her role as a moderator for a panel discussing the Obama presidency. The conversation centered on Presid...
 
 
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04:17 PM on 07/04/2011
Arianna makes alot of sence!
04:27 PM on 07/04/2011
Since when ??
11:10 PM on 07/02/2011
The single most important thing we can do to save this country is to set term limits. This one thing alone would eliminate a lot of the slothful attitudes that seems to appear when someone is elected to office for life. Oh, and they should receive the same health care as the US citizens. These two things alone would jolt them back to reality.
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01:07 PM on 07/02/2011
President Obama has one of the most remarkable set of achievements in his first three years in office of ALL Presidents.

And were it not for obstructionist Republicans in Congress, many times invoking undemocratic and arcane rules to block his every move regardless, he would have achieved more of what he promised and worked so hard to put into place for he benefit of the American people.

So, let's look at the record:

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/
01:15 PM on 07/02/2011
The "record" as you present it is simplistic analysis that presents all "promises" as being equal.
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MyNameIsJames
What should a person say in their micro-bio
01:55 PM on 07/02/2011
Everyone on Huffington Post has looked at this..... and well not so impressed and neither is the public.
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TremoluxMan
Politics: BS on Steroids.
11:48 AM on 07/02/2011
I think it's more a case of being two-faced with Democrats and the public than being out-maneuvered by the Republicans. I thinks he acts out what he believes, not what he says. The talk is all PR, the actions are a reflection of his true positions.
11:45 AM on 07/02/2011
The top 1% pay over a third, 34.27% of all income taxes.
The top 5% pay 54.36% of all income taxes
The top 10% pay 65.84%
The top 25% pay 83.88%
The top 50% pay 96.54%
The bottom 50%? They pay a paltry 3.46% of all income taxes

Sorry to interject facts here, but someone had to.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Allison Winkler
If social engineering persists, I'm an ex-pat
12:31 PM on 07/02/2011
Where did you get your facts? Sources please.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
EconomicFairness
04:14 PM on 07/02/2011
he made it up .. fanned..
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
norby413
Don't Mess with the Pengiwolf...
12:34 PM on 07/02/2011
Like the saying goes. Lies, damn lies, and statistics.
How bout weighting your numbers to include how much of the total WEALTH those top percentages control, THEN comparing tax rates? Cause your "bottom 50%" also make "paltry" wages...
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
1088
11:31 AM on 07/02/2011
Every thing is blame on this president! Nothing is said, about the obstructionist Republicans, you know, the hell no party. The blue dogs, who are Republicans. This President has tried to do something for the middle class, while swimming up stream. He has to compromise, is order to get something, rather than getting nothing. He is keeping his promise, that he will reach across the aisle, to work with the Republicans, and my God, he has bent over to do so. So, if nothing getting done fast enough, or pure enough, or whatever enough, BLAME THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! I thank God we have a President, that won't allow the Republicans to totally destroy what is left of the poor and middle class.
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UnknownSolider
11:39 AM on 07/02/2011
exactly
12:04 PM on 07/02/2011
"He is keeping his promise, that he will reach across the aisle, to work with the Republicans...."

Unfortunately, he has not taken the rest of his promises quite so seriously.
11:14 AM on 07/02/2011
He was so consumed with HC that jobs and unemployment fell right off the cliff. Anything he does or says now is just for reelection. He has been silent for far too long on too many important issues. I understand that the Repubs have blocked everything he has proposed, but he never voiced his opposition and, or at the very least, tried to "look" like he was fighting for us. He's not my cup of tea, but I would never vote Republican .....and he's banking on that. Also, all the Dems in the House and Senate that have voted against liberal issues need to be voted out next time around, no more free rides for any of them!
kittycarumba
What we think we become
12:25 PM on 07/02/2011
This country was losing 850k jobs a month when he took office. The job loss figures actually began to decline dramatically after his 2d month of his term.
01:06 PM on 07/02/2011
I get all of the figures and I blame the Bush/Cheney admin for the state this country is in. Although, lately Obama is earning his share. My point is, that It rubs me the wrong way when he had over two years to make his case to the American people and all I saw were Boehner, McConnell and the other idi)t all over the tv spewing their lies. Where the h&ll was he? Better yet, where were all the other Democrats counteracting their noise? That's my question.
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MyNameIsJames
What should a person say in their micro-bio
02:00 PM on 07/02/2011
Once Obama agreed to extend Bush tax cuts - HE OWNED the economy. There is no way he is squeezing out of that one.
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izekman
11:13 AM on 07/02/2011
the indigestible fact is that we are owned lock stock and barrel by corporate interests that reach deep and far into this planet and it's resources. Obama and all of our yammering, disquietude, is and will be impotent in the face of these nameless monster like entities whom greed and heartlessness rule.
Your republican 'leaders' are so obviously bought and sold by these entities, but lurking in the wood work your so called liberal leaders as well.
People, welcome to the jungle.
arrianna is just pointing out the undisguised blatant truth. will i vote for Obama? won't be any other choice.
RTIII
Poster of over 0.0135% of all HufPost comments
08:55 PM on 07/02/2011
Count Obama as one of those Republicans of which you speak.

Any other choice?

MAYBE this will be the time we elect a Green!

Frankly, I'd like to see Dean or Feingold run....
Paulo1
Thanks for reading, (even if you disagree)
11:04 AM on 07/02/2011
I am with Arriana on this one with one minor exception. Obama has a tendency to blame the base and it is now expected by us that he doesn't mean it when he makes these speeches.
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UnknownSolider
11:21 AM on 07/02/2011
So when a group of Democrats in the House decide they don't want Federal money from the Health Care Reform Act to go insurance companies that offer to pay for family planning........its Obama's fault

When the House and the White House ask for middle class tax cuts to be made permanent and the Republican say No........ its Obama's fault

The Hillary camp floats the birth certificate rumor, the Republicans run with it......... oh yeah its Obama's fault
12:09 PM on 07/02/2011
Reinforcement and expansion of many of the Bush Administration's worst anti-terrorism policies, claiming the right to kill American citizens with no due process, expanding the use of drone aircraft, handing over billions to Wall Street with no accountability whatsoever, scuttling the public option in a deal with the hospitals, ignoring the War Powers Resolution.

I could go on. And yes, every one of those is Obama's fault.
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UnknownSolider
10:57 AM on 07/02/2011
Here we go again with the Mainstream Media distorting recent history or pretending like they don't remember what they reported just 6 months ago.........

The Republican said NO
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EconomicFairness
04:16 PM on 07/02/2011
fanned and fav
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
UnknownSolider
10:54 AM on 07/02/2011
FAIL

Obama asked for top marginal tax rates to restored to the Clinton levels and that the other lower rates be made permanent. Nancy Pelosi got the House to pass EXACTLY what the President asked for and it got BLOCKED/Filibustered in the Senate by Blue Dogs and Republicans.

Harry Reid countered with a compromise that would have broken the Bush Tax Cuts up into 2 bills, one for the top marginal tax rates and one bill for the working class tax rates. The middle class tax cuts bill would be one to make them permanent and the top marginal tax rate bill would be extended for two more years............... the Republicans said NO

During the Bush years working Americans watched their incomes go down, and many "Real" small businesses watched their revenues go down or had to shut their doors because of the entrenchment of large corporations in DC that often have their lobbyist write legislation to keep small businesses struggling.

IF Obama and the Democrats had let the Bush tax cuts expire the effects would have been onerous on working families many of whom are living paycheck to paycheck. Many of them would have watched their taxes go up after their salaries went down. Real small businesses would have watched their revenues go down while their taxes went up, the Republicans knew this. That 100 dollars per month may not mean much to people typing away here, who would have been happy to pay it, just to stick it to the Republicans, but in many places in the country that is a week's worth of groceries. Obama and the Democrats had to protect the working class, and the GOP was willing to sacarafice them in order to placate their financial base.

The economy is still recovering and a pure political play would have hurt the country, the woman in the interview called it being out maneuvered, anyone who understood what was going on would call it being dangerously irresponsible.

Would you play a game of chicken if your kids where in the other car, with a reckless idt behind the wheel.
11:10 AM on 07/02/2011
Thank you so much. Very well stated!
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
1088
11:23 AM on 07/02/2011
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
10:31 AM on 07/02/2011
correction everything they were elected to do
10:28 AM on 07/02/2011
Well, it has been twelve hours and my post has still not been let through. Either that or the ONLY one that has been delete is mine. I really don't understand why. It was a personal story with what I consider a rational observation of who seems to think they can speak for me. All of my shorter post have been let through. I simply do not understand why the one that really came from my heart is held hostage. Oh well, it is not the first time I have be censored on the site and I guess it will not be my last.
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plages
Take a plunge
10:36 AM on 07/02/2011
Didn't you receive the message Frenchie? It seems as though freedom of the press is only when you own that press, and any dissenting thought's can be washed away, or at the very least when you sell that press to others who abhor your thought's, right or left.
10:43 AM on 07/02/2011
You know, I thought it might be something like that. I guess I didn't get the message, but thank you so much for passing it on to me plages. I do appreciate it. A word to the wise and all that.
10:27 AM on 07/02/2011
I honestly believe that Obama does not believe his own rhetoric but was pressured into talking like that by frustrated democrats which is why it appeared so strange and disconnected from his actions. He was pushing job killing free trade deals in the same speech and I cannot imagine him holding firm against the republicans when crunch time comes.