This is just a quick diary to call attention to a hard-line GOP spin that's propagating across our nation's newspapers today, courtesy of our friends at the Associated Press.
I noticed following "analysis" in my hometown paper, the Rocky Mountain News, just in time for Obama's trip to Denver next week.
The story was written by Liz Sidoti of the Associated Press.
Notice how their breakdown of Obama's losing combativeness mirrors Karl Rove's WSJ column this week. Oh, and the party-line vote was the Democrats fault--again apparently.
From the AP:
THE LOSERS:
_Obama. He spent weeks preaching of bipartisanship and spending his political capital but reverted to combative, buck-stops-here talk when Republicans rebelled at the cost and scope of the plan. With the economic downturn worsening on his watch, Obama runs the risk of facing the ultimate political punishment if doesn't turn around — a one-term presidency.
_Bipartisanship. So much for all that talk. Obama wanted broad support from members of both political parties. But House Democrats shut out the GOP as the original bill was written, and no House Republicans voted for the measure. Only three Republicans voted with Democrats in the Senate. A largely party line vote was expected on final passage. [bold mine]
Set aside the obviously warped interpretation of how the economic recovery debate broke down: Democrats are at fault apparently--naturally--for provoking deranged hyperpartisan behavior from their GOP counterparts. And of course, everyone in the country, including the 68% approving of Obama, are somehow worried about a one-term presidency.
The notion that Obama's "combativeness" was a cause and not an effect of GOP gamesmanship came from none other than Karl Rove in his now infamous Wall Street Journal column this week:
House Republicans had the wisdom to continue to talk to the Obama White House. This made them look gracious, even as the president edged toward a "my way or the highway" attitude.
The AP, Ron Fournier and company, dutifully transcribed the instructions from Rove and are running with it.
If you see this story in your local paper, please take the time to write the editors.