Just one week ago, President Barack Obama asked for 15 minutes of our time to talk about the debt ceiling “crisis.” I put that word in quotes because this crisis is entirely man-made. Unlike the earthquakes in Haiti or the hurricanes of Katrina, we have been in complete control over the events leading up to today’s deadline.
But this crisis is man-made in another regard: a simple vote to raise the debt ceiling would avert yesterday’s disaster. Yet that vote wasn’t easily gotten. Since 1962 the congress has raised the debt ceiling 74 times. That’s an average of 1.5 times every single year for 49 years. But in the third year of Obama’s term he needs to raise it for the first time and Republicans have refused. Reckless and unchecked government spending for almost three continuous decades have brought us to this point. But now, suddenly, this is the line in the sand for them. This is where they are willing to shut down our government, destroy our credit rating, raise our interest rates and cause a chain reaction that will affect every country’s economy in both large and small ways.
The President would be well within his rights to tell them no. No to any deals. Give me a clean bill to raise the debt ceiling -like has been done half a gross times before- or you will single handedly be responsible to the worst economic disaster the world’s economy has ever known.
Instead he chose to compromise. He walked down the halls of the East Room, stood behind a podium, and addressed the nation of talks underway. He said
The President was serious. The President was firm. The President was decisive. If there were to be negotiations, they must include raising taxes for those making $250,000 and above and increasing our revenue. He’s been asking for this since he was Senator Obama campaigning for the right to walk down the East Room and address us as President.
He ended his speech with a call for help from the American people.
The American people heard and the American people responded. Phone lines were jammed. Congressional websites crashed over the increase in traffic. People got out and protested. I let my Congressman, Emmanuel Cleaver, know. But since he shares my views on this issue the gesture was largely symbolic on my part.
Six days later a tentative deal was reached. It did not include a raise in taxes. When I first heard the news, I literally could not believe it. I felt as if Obama had stabbed me in the back. He asked the American people to make their voices heard and then he turned around and ignored it the first opportunity he had.
I have to ask, if even Obama wasn’t convinced by the sheer number of people in support of his plan, why did he expect any member of Congress to be influenced either? Why would he ask that of us if he wasn’t prepared to have our backs?
Oh sure, one could argue that the deal isn’t entirely bereft of the possibility of a tax increase. It creates a “bipartisan committee of Congress to report back by November with a proposal to further reduce the deficit, which will then be put before the entire Congress for an up or down vote.” Did the President even listen to his own speech?
Supposedly, Boehner couldn’t sell a tax increase to his party. The President’s response should have been “then I suggest you find a way to get your party in line.” Instead, he handed the Speaker a win at the expense of our long term economic stability.
I see this pattern again and again and again. The President attempts to compromise with a right that keeps moving further right the more he tries to compromise. He not only leaves the left, but the moderates and the centrist behind in his need to reach a deal. He sells out the ideals of his party in the hopes of appeasing a group of people to whom there is no appeasing. Because to many Republicans, this isn’t about what’s best for the country but what’s worst for Obama. The President refuses to learn this lesson despite being taught it repeatedly over the past two and a half years.
I, for one, am close to saying “enough.” I’m close to saying that I won’t vote for Obama in the next election. I know a number of people feel the same way.
When I say this out loud, I sometimes get a gasp from others. “But how could you not? Would you rather have a Republican win the election?” Until Sunday, I used to feel the same. If you don’t vote, you let the other side win. But, really, does it matter what President we have when no candidate is willing to stand up and support my ideals? When no one is willing to support me –not just in words but in actions- why should I take the time to support them?
Obama bargained away the health and welfare of the poorest and most needy in our country for nothing. He got nothing. We, as a country, got nothing.
So why should I support a President who doesn’t support me? Frankly, my time would be better used elsewhere. I’ll be spending my efforts, my money, my time and my sweat supporting local, state, and national candidates who I can count on to fight for me and my beliefs.
Last Monday the President asked for 15 minutes of our time. Then I saw what he did with it. Obama called on us for action and then let us twist in the wind. I do not have 15 further minutes for a man without the courage behind his convictions.