RUSH: Here’s Obama. He thanked FEMA staffers who are working through the government shutdown and he spoke about it, and here’s Obama himself saying that he never said he wouldn’t negotiate.
OBAMA: I heard a lot of talk over the weekend that, uh, the real problem is that, uh, the president will not negotiate. Well, let me tell you something. Uh, I have said from the start of the year that I’m happy to talk to Republicans about anything related to the budget.
RUSH: That’s a crock!
OBAMA: There’s not a subject that I am not willing to engage in —
RUSH: This is a total crock.
OBAMA: — work on, negotiate and, come up with common sense compromises on.
RUSH: A total crock!
OBAMA: What I’ve said is that I cannot do that under the threat that if Republicans don’t get 100% of their way, they are going to either shut down the government or they are going to default on America’s debt so that America — for the first time in history — does not pay its bills. That is not something I will do.
RUSH: That’s not what they’re doing, but that’s even so precisely when you would negotiate! To stop that! It was just last week he said he wouldn’t negotiate. He just said it again. So he’s saying both things: “I’ll negotiate anytime, anywhere. I’m just not going to negotiate when they don’t let me have what I want.” That’s what he’s saying. “I’ll negotiate anywhere, anytime, but if they’re not going to let me have what I want, I’m not talking to them.” The fact that he’s saying he’ll negotiate is proof to me he’s losing this, in their internal polling data.
Even Wolf Blitzer thinks he might be hearing Obama blink here.
BLITZER: I did hear a little greater flexibility on the part of the president. He’s at least willing to say he’s ready to negotiate some of the long-term debt relief spending, if you will. He’s not willing to negotiate over Obamacare, but maybe there is an opening that we’re all hearing right now. Is that too optimistic?
RUSH: Aw… (grumbling) It’s this freaking hero worship! I can’t handle much more. But anyway, the point is they know. Even Wolf said, “I’m hearing he’s willing to negotiate.” They know, folks. They know exactly the Republicans, despite themselves, are winning this thing. In spite of themselves. Well, not all. Cruz and Lee are doing great work, but… I knew over the weekend, it’s all about this negotiation business, and Obama’s out using that word and promising people he’s willing to do. They are losing on that. Trust me.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: The AP had a story back on September 27th and they were ecstatic. The AP was as joyous and happy as they could be. “Obama’s No-Negotiation Stance Setting New Tone.” September 27th. So he’s out there today saying (imitating Obama), “I’ll negotiate any day. I’ll negotiate any day, anytime, anywhere, as long as they’re going to agree with me. If they’re not going to agree with me, why should I negotiate?” And that’s, in essence, his position.
I’m telling you, folks, look, I don’t want to make too much of it because it could all change overnight. But as we sit here now, with this confluence of events, the rolling out of Obamacare, the disaster that’s happening at the exchanges. People sign up, finding out that their premium expenses are skyrocketing and the government shutdown because the Republicans appear to be on people’s side for the first time in their minds. And the Republicans appear eager to talk. Somehow the news has gotten out that Republicans are offering to fund efforts to help kids get cancer treatment and the Democrats aren’t. And one of the ways that happened was Harry Reid said (paraphrasing), “Why should I care about those kids?”
The polling data is all about the fact that it’s the Democrats. You’ve got to remember how Obama got elected. You have to remember what people thought his election would mean. No more partisanship. No more bickering. Obama was going to end that. Obama was magic. Obama was something that had never before graced American politics. Obama was going to end all this chump change infantile stuff. And all it’s done is gotten worse. So Jay Carney today and Obama himself today, “Oh, we’re willing to negotiate every day. We’ve said that.” No, you didn’t. Back on September 27th, AP: “Obama’s No-Negotiation Stance Setting New Tone.” And they were happy about it.
Let me read to you from the article: “This time, President Barack Obama says, he’s not budging. This is the confrontational Obama, the ‘Make my day’ president, betting Republicans blink to avoid a government shutdown or a first-ever default of the nation’s debts. … ‘The entire world looks to us to make sure that the world economy is stable. You don’t mess with that,” Obama said Thursday. “And that’s why I will not negotiate on anything when it comes to the full faith and credit of the United States.” The AP was ecstatic reporting this: I will not negotiate on anything! Mike, if you would, grab the last audio sound bite, number 21. Obama, September 27th, AP: “I will not negotiate on anything.”
OBAMA: I heard a lot of talk over the weekend that the real problem is that the president will not negotiate. Well, let me tell you something. I have said from the start of the year that I’m happy to talk to Republicans about anything related to the budget. There’s not a subject that I am not willing to engage in, work on, negotiate, and come up with common sense compromises on. What I’ve said is that I cannot do that under the threat that if Republicans don’t get 100% of their way, they are going to either shut down the government or they are going to default on America’s debt so that America for the first time in history does not pay its bills. That is not something I will do.
RUSH: So what he’s saying is I’ll negotiate as long as they come to the table ready to agree with me. And again, there’s no way we won’t pay the bills. Even if we don’t raise the debt ceiling, there’s enough tax revenue coming in every month to more than pay our bills. I shared that with you last Friday. Thomas Sowell did the piece, but it’s been widely known. Again, I don’t want to make too big a deal because then stuff can change on a dime. But their polling data must be pretty bad for Obama and Jay Carney to both go out there within minutes of each other: “Oh, yeah, we’re willing to talk, any day. All year we’ve been ready to talk… except we’re only going to talk when they let us have what we want. But we’ll talk to them if that’s what they want.”
Back on September 27: “I’m not going to talk to them.” What the hell? And just last week he reiterated it. What Obama wants is a GOP default and that’s when he’ll talk. That’s what he’s trying to engender and so is the drive bys.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: Grab sound bite 23. John Boehner, John Boehner, speaker of House, went right to the House floor. Right after Obama said (impression), “Hey, I’ll negotiate. Anytime, anywhere, any day, as long as you agree with me,” Boehner went right to the House floor, and it looks like he responded to Obama by ignoring what he said.
BOEHNER: I’m going to say this again: A senior White House staffer this morning said that the president would rather default on our debt than to sit down and negotiate. Now, the American people expect when their leaders have differences, and we’re in a time of crisis, that we’ll sit down and at least have a conversation. Really, Mr. President, it’s time to have that conversation before our economy is put further at risk — and I yield back.
RUSH: Wow. That’s Boehner. “I’m going to say this again: A senior White House staffer this morning said that the president would rather default on our debt than to sit down and negotiate.” Yeah, but then this afternoon Obama said (impression), “I’ll negotiate; I’m just not going to negotiate on the debt. I’m not going to negotiate on Obamacare, but I’ll negotiate.”
They’re playing this the right way. They are playing this the right way. They look like the ones willing to talk. You know, folks, if you are a regular listener, you probably are saying, “Rush, why are you saying they’re playing it right? You know don’t believe in negotiation. You believe in beating them.” I know. That’s true. But sometimes that’s how you do it. We’ll see how this plays out.
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