Research Briefing

Obama’s Noticeable Lack Of Leadership Illustrates A President Looking Out For Himself Above All Others

OBAMA IS “KEEPING A LOW PROFILE” IN A BID TO AVOID DIFFICULT POLITICAL DEBATES

Obama Is “Keeping A Low Profile” On The Important Political Debates On Spending Cuts And Labor Disputes. “On hot issues that Democrats and Republicans have found cause to fret about — from spending reductions to state labor disputes — President Barack Obama is keeping a low profile.” (Jim Kuhnhenn, “On High-Profile Issues, Obama Keeps Low Profile,” The Associated Press, 3/11/11)

Obama's Presidency Has Been Marked By A Series Of Politically Calculated Dodges On Tough Issues. "He didn't want to get mired in legislative details during the health-care debate for fear of repeating the Clinton administration's prescriptive, take-ours-or-leave-it approach. He doesn't want to go first on proposing entitlement reform because history teaches that this is not the best route to a deal. He didn't want to say anything too tough about Libya for fear of endangering Americans trapped there. He didn't want to weigh in on the labor battle in Wisconsin because, well, it's a swing state." (Ruth Marcus, Op-Ed, "Obama's 'Where's Waldo?' Presidency," The Washington Post, 3/2/11)

• Marcus: "My Biggest Beef Is With The President's Slipperiness On Fiscal Matters." (Ruth Marcus, Op-Ed, "Obama's 'Where's Waldo?' Presidency," The Washington Post, 3/2/11)

OBAMA’S MAIN PRIORITY IS TO AVOID ANY POLITICAL FIGHTS THAT COULD BRUISE HIS REELECTION HOPES

Obama’s Political Advisors Say He Shouldn’t Get Dragged Into “Every Single Political Skirmish.” “‘There is a very strong gravitational pull in this town to try to drag the president to every single political skirmish and news story,’ said White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer. (Jim Kuhnhenn, “On High-Profile Issues, Obama Keeps Low Profile,” The Associated Press, 3/11/11)

• “[White House Communications Director Dan] Pfeiffer Said Obama Has Enough Issues On His Agenda And Said The White House Doesn't Believe The Public Wants The President Weighing In On An Array Of Subjects.” (Jim Kuhnhenn, “On High-Profile Issues, Obama Keeps Low Profile,” The Associated Press, 3/11/11)

Obama Is Avoiding Social Security Reform Because His Political Team Says The Debate Could Be “Disastrous To His 2012 Reelection Hopes.” ‘Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling and Sperling’s deputy, Jason Furman — leading figures in the president’s economic team — are pressing Obama to cut Social Security benefits if necessary, say sources familiar with their positions. But Obama’s political team, led by David Axelrod, David Plouffe and Jim Messina, are urging the president to understand that backing benefit cuts could prove disastrous to his 2012 reelection hopes, sources say.” (Alexander Bolton, “Social Security Reform Splits White House Political, Economic Teams,” The Hill, 3/15/11)

WHILE CONGRESS IS BEGGING OBAMA TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE ON THE BUDGET

Congress Is “Still Waiting” For President Obama To Engage In The Budget Debate. “When President Barack Obama opened the first meeting of his fiscal commission last April, he promised to be ‘standing with them’ as they produced recommendations for curbing the nation’s escalating debt. Republicans and Democrats say they are still waiting.” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “President Obama Staying In Background On Deficits,” Politico, 3/14/11)

• Obama Has Made It Clear He Won’t Get Involved In What He Deemed “An Appropriations Task.” “But he made it clear that resolving the impasse rests mainly with congressional leaders. "This is an appropriations task," he said, putting the issue firmly in Congress' domain.”  (Jim Kuhnhenn, “On High-Profile Issues, Obama Keeps Low Profile,” The Associated Press, 3/11/11)

“Senate Democrats Wonder If Or When The White House Will Take The Reins” On The Budget.“Senate Democrats wonder if or when the White House will take the reins in a budget fight that has several of their vulnerable colleagues in a vise. Democrats suffered a setback Thursday when their proposal to cut spending this year won fewer votes on the Senate floor than a rival bill approved by the GOP House that proposed cutting far more. Democrats suffered 11 defections in the vote, while Republicans maintained more unity.” (Shane D. Aprile, “Parting Ways: President’s Path Is Diverging From Senate Dems,” The Hill, 3/14/11)

• Democrats Are “Chagrined” That Obama Is Leaving For South America Just As The Current CR Expires. “Senate Democrats were further chagrined to discover that Obama plans to take a multi-day trip to South America, scheduled to depart right after the stop-gap measure funding the government runs out, which is March 18. Obama and his wife Michelle are scheduled to travel in Brazil, Chile and El Salvador March 19-23.” (Alexander Bolton, “Democrats Demand Obama’s Budget Help,” The Hill, 3/10/11)

Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) On Obama: “I’d Like To See Him More Visible.” “Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said these proposals can gain traction in Congress only if Obama gets more involved. ‘He’s played a role but it’s been behind the scenes. I’d like to see him more visible,’ Levin said.” (Alexander Bolton, “Democrats Demand Obama’s Budget Help,” The Hill, 3/10/11)

The President’s Priorities Are Out Of Sync With The Budget Debate On The Hill. “But the growing divide between Congress and the White House isn’t simply about presidential involvement. Often, the president doesn’t seem to be speaking the Hill’s language. After the Senate deadlocked last week over how to cut billions from the budget, Obama on Monday called for a rewrite of the federal education law — and made a full-throated pledge to shield education from the budget knife.” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “President Obama Staying In Background On Deficits,” Politico, 3/14/11)