Critics ask if Obama's 2014 strategy has backfired

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-- less than two months into his second term there's a growing debate over what we're told is the president's strategy to win -- the 2014 mid terms that he's been.

-- maneuvering thus far in his second term to do just that.

The Washington Post and other media outlets recently suggesting that the White House -- an upper hand in this budget fight we've been talking about some you know -- of that term.

Would help the Democrats win back the house 2014.

And that is one reason why you've heard the president keeping so much blame on the Republicans.

For the those budget changes that it Qichen last week.

But take a look at some of the headlines that are out there right now from The Washington Times Obama poll numbers -- post sequester dive.

Another from of the Washington Post did Obama cry wolf on sequester.

In US news and world report how Obama bungled the sequester.

And in Politico Obama administration sequester claims it shot down by fact checkers this from CNN.

Rocky start to second term raises questions about Obama approach.

So where we now.

I don't Rosenberg is president and founder of -- and which is a think tank and advocacy organization also former campaign advisor to President Clinton.

And Chris -- it is in today he's host of the Chris Plante show.

-- pieces often joining Margarita on the beach I think I have no idea how about that happy to have you here Chris.

Let me start with you -- you know those -- mainstream media outlets that think this backfired on the president this strategy.

Why are they -- Listen maybe we got a long way to go here and I think what the president knows is that the the best.

Way to win the mid terms is by governing effectively of the economy is.

Recovering and he passes major legislation.

Then the Democrats have defined -- 24 -- so I think that if there's been any changes more of a tactical and a strategic one it's him and what I'm pleased by.

Is that we've stopped I think Washington has agreed now that this the way we are running this town which is the president meeting.

With four legislative leaders the heads of the house and senate both parties.

It was too much summitry we needed to get down a rank and file guys like Rand Paul made a speech yesterday the president met with Paul Ryan today and had dinner with the senators last night.

We're allowing that rank and file senate and house members to have a voice -- what's going on here.

I think that's an improvement and and I'm glad to see it over the last couple weeks -- I've.

Love Simon that that you know we.

Nothing because I've often wondered about these headlines today who -- -- gonna go from here about what he's Atlanta saint today Chris.

Is that the president had a strategy and that strategy as of today has failed your thoughts.

Well when you see CNN and the Washington Post and other news organizations running for cover -- in traditionally.

Happy to carry water for this administration.

You know that the White House has a problem that they've got to address.

When the poll numbers have headed south as they have just in the the last week or so.

The American people I think are waking up to the fact that the president is not leading that there is nothing but.

You know part of certain partisan food fighting going on in Washington and that.

Believe it or not the president actually bears at least some if not most of the responsibility for this at this point.

They Republicans control you know one half of 13 of the government -- -- -- of -- The president is not leading he's on vacation he's playing golf his schedule.

Looks like -- of the schedule of a homeless person on a lot of days.

And that the news media is.

Finally at long last perhaps.

Recognizing that the president is going to have to step up here and do something now the president meeting with Republicans last night meeting with the public is today I think has just -- hard to give.

His friends in the media.

The ability to say see Obama is trying but it's the Republicans that are so obstructionist.

The reality is the president came into town with a governing philosophy of -- elections have consequences we won you lost.

-- the homeless thing I think that although the homeless guy doesn't really get the hang out at any unlocked and there.

Golf with Tiger Woods but I I your point is that he's got free time on his hands that he could a lot of it.

Art but here's a question for you -- -- because the reasons some of these mainstream media outlets are cracking down the president coming his conclusions he saw some of the headlines they were running there.

Is because at that -- administration was caught flat footed on several of its claims and and political has -- article today talking about six of that sequester claims that were shot down by the fact checkers.

Including the president's claim and that of his his top aide about that that.

That got four for -- from the Washington Post about how the federal prosecuted prosecutors got to let criminals go out.

That was rated mostly false by -- -- affect.

About how meals on wheels are gonna have four million fewer meals to serve to -- -- Teachers who are right now getting pink slips for -- is from the Washington Post 70000 young children are going to be kicked off head start to -- -- from the Washington Post.

And so they over reached when they.

And and sacrifice some credibility in the process now.

I don't really know what happens -- all that and and I and I think it was clearly -- -- a mistake the the administration made but I think it it doesn't -- the fact that the sequester is gonna have very real consequences and I think that.

You know -- there's a story today that I've read about you know border guards not being able to use overtime and so.

-- you know they're gonna be less able to -- the border region in the country.

I think there's going to be real consequences and you and I discussed last week Megan I think the change in this debate now.

And one of the reason you -- Paul Ryan for -- praising the president right he's done it several times last couple days is that.

I think we're hitting a place of greater reality now about what it's gonna take to bring the deficit under control there's going to be both pain you hear the Republicans -- the pain of tax increases.

We're also going to be -- about the pain of cuts and I think that in many ways I think we're getting closer to a real solution because I think there's real I think we're getting to a greater place.

A reality on this and I'm sure the administration just if you're gonna I'm sure you're gonna ask me.

Sure the White House regrets the mistakes they made in the representation this but the truth the underlying truth is still there and despite.

The mistakes they made in the representation of it.

But that on the poll numbers Chris that means that where if we're getting to a place of greater reality that this bill -- -- I mean the poll numbers are showing that the people they don't really like they didn't enjoy the journey and and there may have been some damage done to the president's.

Approval rating which -- -- pretty high since his reelection -- now is down it.

46%.

Which is about -- 6% 66 point drop from few weeks ago.

Yeah I mean those affected as it's generous to describe these things -- mistakes or misrepresentations.

They were outright falsehoods that were knowingly orchestrated by the white house with one cabinet official after another.

Are peddling these falsehoods the American people and I think that the American people at this point even if you're not paying close attention.

Recognize that we were being sold the sky is falling bill of goods and it wasn't real want in -- in album my -- -- would have called these things.

Lies if I were peddling them.

And in reality that's why there where you know will they haven't impacted on the line.

That quite honestly is up to the president who can choose to soften the blow or not and thus far is chosen.

Not so.

You know going forward.

If we feel the pain it's going to be because the president.

Made sure that we felt the pain and that's become pretty clear I think -- so the president is forced to.

At least start looking like he's being reasonable if not actually being raised.

All my -- like the term live but she does.

-- people on whether or not they have an adult relationship with the truth.

I believe -- -- So that they can also much.

Making congratulations on about three thank you so much.

I've got an injury and I hope I hope you know you're doing.

I mean Tino and I thought I got tightening got good -- -- look -- --

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Critics ask if Obama's 2014 strategy has backfired

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