First that idiotic move of inviting Barry to the GOP retreat and now this. What good could possibly come of this fiasco? Why in the world are they so afraid of Barry and his pet ballerina? Tell them to go to hell. Come on guys, grow a pair.

How many times will the GOP leadership fall for this phony bipartisanship line?

As someone who works in institutional PR, I have to say that I have been shocked on how, since the original letter from Cantor and Boehner – which was spot on – the Republicans have been fumbling the messaging on this. They are worried about the independents, but that’s EXACTLY who they are losing the messaging battle with by hemming and hawwing instead of going right back at the facts. Consider that Mr. Obama has stacked the deck on his own side by saying which Republicans can come to this conference. From the moment that was known, there should’ve been an immediate and oft-repeated response (i.e. joint Republican Leadership press conference; news media avails; social media; etc.) along the lines of:

1) Mr. Obama says he wants open dialogue yet he hand picked the Republicans who he will allow at this meeting. In doing so he is ignoring our right to bring to the table some of our best and most innovative legislative voices on health care solutions.

2) – “This is like saying, ‘OK, I’ll play ball with you guys but I get to pick the players for both teams.’ Since when is that fair or open-minded?”

3) Mr. Obama, Mr. Reid and Mrs. Pelosi keep giving lip service to “bipartisanship” in efforts to reform health care, and all continue to try to find way to push forward the Senate and House bills which have been widely dismissed by public opinion and repudiated by experts across the country.

4) If the President, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are serious about a true solution to health care then the will agree to let the Republicans choose which representatives they wish to bring to this meeting AND will agree to start with a clean slate rather than to attempt to find common ground on two bloated bills laden with things that even President Obama recently admitted were wrong and didn’t serve the needs of the American people.

Or, in soundbites:

- This is like President Obama saying, let play ball, but I get to pick the players for both teams. Where is the bipartisanship in that?

- “How can this be open dialogue when the President bans certain members of congress from the meeting?”

“This is like saying: ‘Help us build a better car. But we”ll tell you which mechanics you can bring. Oh, and you have to use our lemon that doesn’t run for all the parts.’ ”

- “They continue to demand that the starting point is two bills that they had to sneak around in the middle of the night to pass, and that no one wants? And this is bipartisan?”

- “With all due respect, Mr. President, bipartisanship doesn’t mean saying, ‘Let’s take our plan that no one seems to like, and say, ‘OK, let’s use this as the foundation.’ ”

And on and on.

Be polite. Be respectful. But stay committed to your message and question “fairness” “fair play in the process” “hearing the other side of this” throughout.

It’s PR 101. But the leadership seems to be dropping the ball at the 1 yard line here.

I previously believed Republicans should go to this meeting. I no longer believe so. It is such a sham, only the Iranian Presidential election can be used for comparison. Republicans have nothing to gain and everything to lose by showing up, unless Obama accepts a few reasonable preconditions.

http://neoavatara.com/blog/?p=9898

. . . to admit gregg “represents” NH. There is nothing to be gained by lending any suggestion of legitimacy to the three stooges and their socialist agenda. This kowtowing to the left is entirely in keeping with the rest of his genteel blue blood RINO career. Like so many other self-anointed New England aristocrats (e.g., jeffords, snowe, the chafee clan & collins) he only demeans himself to treat with commoners in election years. The rest of the time these “limousine conservatives” sleep with the parasite party enemy on a fairly regular, incestuous, basis.

to amaze me. Just when I think they’ve reached the utter depths of worthlessness, they prove that there apparently no depth to which they cannot go.

Or, as that National Guard General said after Katrina – you are stuck on stupid.

You actually allowed your *opponent* to choose who is and who is not allowed a seat at the table for a bipartisan get together? Without a murmer? Without a peep?

Hey s@#t for brains!! Yeah, you in the GOP leadership. How in God’s name can you not figure out how to make mincemeat out of Obama’s call for bipartisanship by utterly mocking the fact that Obama is so ‘bipartisan’ that his idea of having a ‘bipartisan’ discussion starts with him getting to choose who he wants to talk with.

Un. Be. Lieveable

ya know, the ones without the n*ts.

and enough hits with a cluebat that life will beat the stupid out of anyone who has the capability/capacity/willingness to learn.

Apparently I am wrong.

Jed’s article translates to “Don’t even think about cooperating with the Democrats on anything, ever.”

There’s a reason why public opinion of Congress is lower than Obama right now. Nothing is getting done, and the mentality that Jed puts forward is a clear indication as to why that’s the case.

Great platform you got there Republicans!

Considering what Barry & the Dems have in store for them it’s more like
S&M Republicans.