Research Briefing

Obama Accuses Others Of Playing Politics, When Just Last Week He Bragged About His Focus On Campaigning

TODAY, OBAMA CRITICIZES ANY OPPOSITION AS PETTY POLITICS

OBAMA: “I Know It’s Getting Close To An Election, But There Are Times Where You Put Elections Aside. This Is One Of Those Times.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Unemployment Benefits. Washington, DC, 7/19/10)

• OBAMA: “It’s Time To Stop Holding Workers Laid Off In This Recession Hostage To Washington Politics. It’s Time To Do What's Right. Not For The Next Election, But For The Middle Class.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Unemployment Benefits. Washington, DC, 7/19/10)

JUST LAST WEEK, WHITE HOUSE TOUTED THEIR FOCUS ON MIDTERM ELECTIONS

White House Circulated A Memo Claiming The Obamas, Vice President Biden, And Administration Officials Had Participated In 187 Political Events Since Obama Took Office. “The memo, first reported by Politico and obtained by CBS News, lays out in great detail all the campaign events that the president, Vice President Joe Biden, first lady Michelle Obama, Cabinet members and senior staffers have attended. It states that they have ‘participated in 187 political events in the last 18 months, all with the intention of directly supporting candidates on the ballot in 2010 or building up the infrastructure of party committees.’” (Jill Jackson, “White House Defends Campaign Efforts,” CBS News, 7/14/10)

Obama Alone Has Participated In 32 Fundraisers To Help Democrats In Midterm Elections. “The document shows that Mr. Obama participated in 14 events for the Democratic National Committee, four for the House and Senate campaign committees, 10 for Senate candidates and just four events for House members that benefited a total of nine candidates.”  (Jill Jackson, “White House Defends Campaign Efforts,” CBS News, 7/14/10)

• He Also Attended “Hundreds” Of Events In Swing States. “So far, Obama has appeared at 32 political events during his presidency and attended hundreds more in swing states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida.” (Erica Werner & Philip Elliott, “Obama Promises To Help House Dems,” The Associated Press, 7/14/10)

And As Obama Spoke Today About Putting Elections Aside, Biden Is In Pennsylvania And Maryland Campaigning For Democrats. “Biden Will Visit Philadelphia And Baltimore Today. “From Monday's White House guidance: ‘At 12:30 PM, the Vice President will attend an event for Congressional candidate Bryan Lentz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... At 5:30 PM, the Vice President will attend an event for Governor Martin O'Malley in Baltimore, Maryland.’” (Alexander Burns, Politico’s Morning Score, 7/19/10)

• And Biden Is In South Carolina Later This Week. “Vice President Joe Biden will attend a fundraiser in Columbia next week for South Carolina's longest-serving congressman. The Herald of Rock Hill reports Biden will be the featured guest at a July 23 fundraiser for U.S. Rep. John Spratt.” (“Biden To Speak At Spratt Fundraiser,” Post And Courier, 7/15/10)

Obama Has Two Fundraisers Next Week In NYC. “I reported the other day that President Obama is coming to New York on July 28 for Democratic National Committee fundraising, but apparently he has two events planned on the day - including one at the home of Vogue editrix Anna Wintour, several sources tell me.” (Maggie Haberman, “Obama And Anna Wintour, For One Night Only,” Politico, 7/14/10)

Obama Also Heading Back To Chicago For Giannoulias. “President Obama hits Chicago on Aug. 5 to headline a fund-raiser for Illinois Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias and will be the draw at another event for other Democrats, Giannoulias spokesman Kathleen Strand told me on Sunday. Vice President Biden, in Chicago to fund-raise for Giannoulias in June, will be doing more to help him, likely in the early fall.” (Lynn Sweet, “Obama Heading To Chicago For Giannoulias Fund-Raiser,” The Chicago Sun-Times, 7/18/10)

• Just A Week After Senior Advisor David Axelrod Fundraises For Alexi. “Senior White House advisor David Axelrod will be in Chicago on July 25 for a Giannoulias fund-raiser.” (Lynn Sweet, “Obama Heading To Chicago For Giannoulias Fund-Raiser,” The Chicago Sun-Times, 7/18/10)

EVEN WHEN OBAMA CLAIMS TO FOCUS ON ECONOMY, HE PLAYS POLITICS INSTEAD

Obama, Democrats Locked In A Perpetual Campaign. “Obama has been looking more and more like a candidate, even though his name won't be on the ballot this fall. Campaigning for Democratic Senate candidate Robin Carnahan in Kansas City last week, Obama said the current recession is the result of a decade of irresponsible Republican policies.” (Kenneth T. Walsh, “Obama, Democrats Locked In A Perpetual Campaign,” US News & World Report, 7/15/10)

During “Economic Remarks” In Pittsburgh Last Month, Obama Took “Sharp Jabs At Republicans” With “Midterm Elections Looming.” “President Obama adopted a decidedly partisan tone in economic remarks delivered Wednesday in Pittsburgh… But with midterm elections looming in November, Obama also took sharp jabs at Republicans, blaming them for saying ‘no’ to proposals such as tax cuts for small business, credits for college tuition, and investments in clean energy.” (Linda Feldmann, “With Election Looming, Obama Joins Partisan Finger-Pointing,” Christian Science Monitor, 6/2/10)

• In Carnegie Mellon Speech, Obama Strikes “Partisan Tone.” “Striking a partisan tone, President Barack Obama said Wednesday he is working to rebuild the economy without much help from Republicans, saying they have mostly "sat on the sidelines and shouted from the bleachers.’… The president's political speech also underscores the importance of the upcoming midterm elections, in which the outcome of House and Senate races could shape Obama's ability to enact his agenda for the rest of his term.” (Julie Pace, “Obama Challenges Republicans To Help On Economy,” The Associated Press, 6/2/10)

At “Official Policy Event” On Economy In Nevada, Obama “Spent A Lot Of Time Talking About Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid -- Who Just Happens To Be Involved In A Tough Re-Election Battle.” “The White House billed today's speech by President Obama in Las Vegas as an official policy event, but he spent a lot of time talking about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid -- who just happens to be involved in a tough re-election battle in Nevada. ‘One of the first stories I heard about Harry was that he was a boxer back in the day here in Nevada,’ Obama told supporters at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He later said Reid ‘knew how to take a punch. And Harry Reid became a pretty good boxer because he would simply outlast his opponents. He had a stronger will.’”  (David Jackson, “Obama REALLY likes Harry Reid,” USA Today’s The Oval Blog, 7/9/10)

• Asked About The Partisan Tone Of The Supposedly Official Event, White House Spokesman Says Obama “Just Really Likes Harry Reid.” “White House spokesman Bill Burton insisted that the president's speech today was ‘official’ (which means taxpayers would foot the bill) as opposed to political. (In addition to pushing Reid, the president also called on Congress to expand a clean energy tax credit.) ‘He just really likes Harry Reid,’ Burton said by way of explanation.” (Brian Montopoli, “Obama Pushes Harry Reid In Fierce Battle Against Sharron Angle,” CBS’ Political Hotsheet, 7/9/10)