I can't tell you fine people how many times over the last coupe of days that I've heard these same right wing talking points repeated:
1) "Why won't President Obama and Dems negotiate?"
2) "Why will President Obama negotiate with Putin (or Iran) and not with us?
Of course this is combined with a fervent denial that the Republicans are taking the Govt hostage in order to get their way.
The sad reality is that there is one very simple and easy way to blow these talking points out of the water, and I have not heard it from one progressive media person or Democratic politician:
All we need our people to do is ask one question: "What are the Republicans offering?"
The whole concept of a negotiation is based on two sides wanting something and having to give up something else in order to get it. This question lays bare the hostage taking reality or our present situation. The Republicans aren't offering anything to the Democrats except to fund the Govt. Its not like they are offering an increase in medicaid funding in return for the delay.
Russia offered to make Assad sign the chemical weapons ban and to turn over his gas stockpiles in EXCHANGE for Obama not crippling Assad through a bombing campaign. Thats a negotiation.
Iran is offering to deal on their nuclear program in EXCHANGE for the lifting of sanctions. Thats a negotiation.
So if we want to make it crystal clear to the nation just what the nature of the Republican hostage demands are. All we need to do is ask: "What are you offering?"