Obama Puts Congress on Notice

In his statement and news conference yesterday, President Obama decided to take off the gloves in his fight with Congress over the debt ceiling increase.

His performance should stand as a reminder to Congress that, ultimately, only the President has the bully pulpit.

As we at the Bipartisan Policy Center have written before, when then-Speaker Newt Gingrich and his advisors decided to "close down the government" in the 1995-96 confrontation with President Clinton over appropriations and debt ceiling, most Republicans thought that Clinton would get the blame.  He didn't.  The House, and more specifically the Speaker, got the blame.  This incident remains one of the main things most alert Americans remember about Newt.

We have heard the same contention by some Republicans over the last few months as the debt debate reached the front pages: "Obama will get the blame if something bad happens because we didn't increase the debt ceiling."  History instructs us otherwise.

Take a practical step back.  When husband and wife discuss things over morning coffee, they most likely don't think about debt ceilings, bond markets, or other esoterica.  They talk about kids, schools, work, chores around the house, money, maybe sports or even Oprah-type things.  If they read or hear that the Congress has failed to pass a debt extension (a strange concept in and of itself since this husband and wife pay their bills faithfully,) that financial markets are in turmoil, and that maybe a whole bunch of folks will lose their jobs, their response will most likely be, "Holy cow, what are those idiots doing up there!"

Why would this be the majority response?  Well, because Congress must pass the debt extension.  It is its duty.  The President doesn't pass the debt ceiling increase.  On television, over the radio, in the newspapers, and throughout the blogosphere, it will be Congress, not the President, who has failed to pass the debt extension.

Clearly Obama realizes this.  He knows the ill-fated 1995-96 history. He knows that all he really has to do is declare Congress irresponsible, and say that it’s holding hostage the American economy and hurling the country into another Great Recession or worse.

Clearly, most Republican leaders in Congress know this fact of life.  They have tried to say that the President is to blame for this impasse, that they want no default on American sovereign debt, but that the President is making this happen because he insists that revenues (taxes) be part of the fiscal solution attached to the debt bill.  Wisely, but so far unsuccessfully, they have tried to change the subject from what they have to do (pass the debt extension) to what the President wants (raise taxes).

As poll after poll reveals this past several months, Congress continues its slide toward single digit popularity in the eyes of the public.  The "change the subject" manuever hasn't worked.

What the President said yesterday was, "Hey, Republicans, listen up.  I am going to continue to compare you to my kids who don't get their homework done on time, and continue to tell you that as adults you must get your work done before you go on your extended summer vacation.  Here's just a taste of what is to come."

Of course, the President has been playing the famous "lead from behind" game.  Of course, Republicans are frustrated because the President and other Democrats have demonized them on Medicare and Social Security, and very unfairly done so.  Yes, the President has failed to lead sufficiently and has shown little boldness.

But, the President has also retained the ability to make his voice heard throughout the country, on his terms and with a pliable media elite as an echo chamber.

Republicans cannot expect mercy.  They have painted themselves into a corner.  The President isn't going to get paint all over his shoes by trying to  extract them from that corner.