# Obama should target Republican districts with the consequences of the sequester **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 15, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378 "2013-02-15T13:34:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/1 "2013-02-15T13:34:10Z")
If Republicans refuse to compromise on the President’s balanced approach to debt reduction and the sequester occurs, I think Obama should target Republican districts with the consequences of the mandatory cuts. Close military bases, but only in Republican districts. Cancel federal construction projects, but only in Republican districts. It is time the recalcitrant minority understands elections have consequences. We can no longer allow the tail to wag the dog. LBJ would never have allowed them to ratfuck the country without paying a political price, and it is time to extract retribution for their childish obstructionism. If we are going over the cliff together, we should at least make sure we land on top of them at the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/2 "2013-02-15T14:09:13Z")
My understanding is the sequester cuts are across the board- I don’t know what how much flexibility the President (or anyone else) has, if any, in determining what is cut and what isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/3 "2013-02-15T14:18:36Z")
The White House says it can’t pick and choose where the cuts fall. And my understanding is that that’s how the sequester was written, in order to make it a more effective cudgel to encourage negotiations. (Another great theory ruined by the facts, as my grandfather used to say.) ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/4 "2013-02-15T14:25:29Z")
I hope that Pres. Obama will base any decisions on less partisan feelings. While I don’t feel the debt is as big a issue as it is been made out to be, it was made possible by both parties so it seem to me that the cuts should hit both sides. To target specific districts strikes me as quite childish and something that those in the House would do. Pres. Obama is better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/5 "2013-02-15T14:46:34Z")
The debt was created by both parties, but the debt crisis was made completely and entirely by the Republicans. They want to cut spending, fine, let them. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/6 "2013-02-15T14:58:11Z")
> [@DrumBum](#): > > the debt is as big a issue as it is been made out to be Just the facts that it causes circus and extreme response should give you a feeling that it is indeed bad. If not that, then how about the fact that there’s a whole industry, a whole segment of economy whose growth is tied to increase in US public debt. That’s why any reduction in debt and debt issued by US Government would affect stock market in quite a dramatic ways (as in, a selloff). Even the most cautious analysis points to a debt dynamic to be the biggest anchor that holds US economy down. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/7 "2013-02-15T19:10:27Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > Just the facts that it causes circus and extreme response should give you a feeling that it is indeed bad. If not that, then how about the fact that there’s a whole industry, a whole segment of economy whose growth is tied to increase in US public debt. That’s why any reduction in debt and debt issued by US Government would affect stock market in quite a dramatic ways (as in, a selloff). Even the most cautious analysis points to a debt dynamic to be the biggest anchor that holds US economy down. Certain industries which get money from the government would immediately cut back. People laid off due to the cuts would stop spending as much, and businesses dependent on them would cut back. I heard yesterday of a defense electronics conference where exhibit booth sales are way down due to reduction in spending and the fear of reduction in spending. That immediately translates into few hotel rooms sold, fewer restaurant meals, fewer airline tickets, etc. etc. I don’t know what you mean by debt dynamic. The debt itself isn’t holding the economy down - the economy almost certainly would be worse if we cut into a balanced budget. The uncertainty is, however. It is interesting how the same Republicans who claimed that Obamacare was hurting the economy due to uncertainty have no problem with creating uncertainty due to threats of voting against raising the debt ceiling. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/8 "2013-02-15T19:17:48Z")
> [@DrumBum](#): > > To target specific districts strikes me as quite childish and something that those in the House would do. Pres. Obama is better than that. As our Republican friends have taught us, taking the high road is for saps. I certainly hope Democrats have learned that, and will start doing what is in the interests of those who voted for them. I am content to let the poltical struggle decide what is best for the country, and not cede my interests just because my political adversaries want me to feel guilty about using hard won political captial to protect them. The sequester is quite specific about [what programs are subject to cuts](http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/legislative_reports/stareport.pdf), and by what percentages. But I see nothing that would limit the President from closing military bases in red districts and protecting bases in blue districts. If I am mistaken, I am open to correction, but I think Obama has a great deal of executive power to determine what districts are hit by the cuts mandated in the sequester. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/9 "2013-02-15T19:43:27Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Certain industries which get money from the government would immediately cut back. People laid off due to the cuts would stop spending as much, and businesses dependent on them would cut back. I heard yesterday of a defense electronics conference where exhibit booth sales are way down due to reduction in spending and the fear of reduction in spending. That immediately translates into few hotel rooms sold, fewer restaurant meals, fewer airline tickets, etc. etc. You cannot spend your way out of this crisis. At one point, incurring debt to maintain jobs stops making sense. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/10 "2013-02-15T19:51:28Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > You cannot spend your way out of this crisis. You cannot cut your way out of the crisis either. ---
**Author:** ![movax0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@movax0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movax0)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/11 "2013-02-15T19:57:28Z")
The sequester was pretty much bi-partisan. It only cuts the rate of increase in spending. There is still an increase in spending and an increase in debt to whomever will loan us the money. We still print more money. Money will still de-value and we can all spew our party ideology to the bottom of the pit. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/12 "2013-02-15T20:04:05Z")
Obama should do what’s best for the country. Always. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/13 "2013-02-15T20:39:36Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Obama should do what’s best for the country. > > Always. Agreed. Anyways, such an attempt would be sure to backfire. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/14 "2013-02-15T21:18:37Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Obama should do what’s best for the country. > > Always. And which party has a better grasp on what is best for the country? I don’t know if you have noticed, but they agree on very little these days. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/15 "2013-02-15T21:59:06Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > You cannot spend your way out of this crisis. At one point, incurring debt to maintain jobs stops making sense. At this point, yes we could. You’re 100% wrong about debt and its present impact on the.economy. . ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/16 "2013-02-15T22:27:49Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You cannot cut your way out of the crisis either. There is no crisis! It is a fabrication of the political Rightwing. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/17 "2013-02-15T22:49:20Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > And which party has a better grasp on what is best for the country? I don’t know if you have noticed, but they agree on very little these days. I think he means that ‘trying to stick it to the other side’ is not the best motivation for doing something. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/18 "2013-02-15T22:57:18Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > And which party has a better grasp on what is best for the country? I don’t know if you have noticed, but they agree on very little these days. That’s not the point. If the cuts cannot be avoided, and Obama has any control over where they are applied, he should choose to apply them where he thinks they will do the least damage to the country as a whole, regardless of the political affiliation of any given district where the cuts may be applied. Indiscriminately cutting spending in Republican-leaning districts only, regardless of the merit of the cuts, is nothing but stupid, childish, petty, vindictiveness. Obama has his faults, but he is better than that. Intentionally making decisions that he believes are harmful to “punish” districts for voting Republican is, to put it mildly, not something that will improve American politics. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/19 "2013-02-15T23:06:57Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Indiscriminately cutting spending in Republican-leaning districts only, regardless of the merit of the cuts, is nothing but stupid, childish, petty, vindictiveness. In case you haven’t noticed, that is how sausage is made these days. If my political adversaries employ such tactics, I would be a damn fool not to. Taking the high road is not in the best interest of the country if it neuters your party’s goals. Democrats need to grow a pair, and quit being so afraid that someone might think poorly of them. Republicans are laughing at Democrats who can’t see that. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378/20 "2013-02-15T23:11:52Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > In case you haven’t noticed, that is how sausage is made these days. If my political adversaries employ such tactics, I would be a damn fool not to. Taking the high road is not in the best interest of the country if it neuters your party’s goals. Democrats need to grow a pair, and quit being so afraid that someone might think poorly of them. Republicans are laughing at Democrats who can’t see that. Can you point me to any instances of Republicans targeting Democratic districts with policies they consider harmful out of spite? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-target-republican-districts-with-the-consequences-of-the-sequester/650378.md?page=2)