President Obama shifted the debate this week by announcing a new strategy for the deportation of illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. On Meet the Press this morning, White House Senior Adviser David Plouffe defended the decision and dismissed critics who say the new strategy was purely political.
"It wasn't about politics," Plouffe said, later adding, "We are a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. The president has often said those things don't need to be in conflict."
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) argued the new strategy effectively amounts to a power grab by the president.
"The president of the United States is now dictating that certain laws will not be enforced," he said. "That is a rather serious step."
Also of note during the interview with David Plouffe was his use of the term "congressional allies" and that he pointed out Mitt Romney's event today with House Speaker John Boehner in Ohio. As David says above, this shows an attempt by the Obama campaign to try and tie Mitt Romney to an unpopular Republican Congress in order to gain favor with Independent voters.
McCain, a champion of campaign finance reform, lamented the amount of outside money in presidential elections and called the Citizens United decision that gave birth to Super PACs the Supreme Court's "worst decision" this century.
"Uniformed, arrogant, naive," is how McCain described it. "I just wish one of them had run for county sheriff. That's why we miss people like William Rehnquist and Sandra Day O'Connor, who had some experience with congressional and other races in the political arena."
Our roundtable analyzed the biographies of both Romney and Obama and how their pasts have shaped who they are today. We were joined by the author of the new biography on President Obama, David Maraniss; presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin; Time Magazine's Mark Halperin; former Congressman Harold Ford; and the Wall Street Journal's Kim Strassel.
Also don't miss our Take Two web extra with David Maraniss to hear more about his revealing biography of the president.
We'll be back next week with an exclusive interview with possible Vice Presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).
If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
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I continue to be disappointed by the willingness to coddle guests and not challenge them below the surface. How do you let McCain get away with saying Obama wants more government jobs when 600,000 public employees have been laid off? Government is now smaller than at any time since the Carter Administration. How do you fail to connect the dots between that issue and massive layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters, particularly when the Republicans are so publicly obsequious about our "commitment" and "gratitude" to our first responders?
I am continually disappointed that you have turned the show into a billboard for republican propaganda
Amnesty is ILLEGAL, unless Congress changes the law! When are people going to wake up and realize that there is a reason the military takes an oath to defend this country against ALL enemies Foreign AND Domestic!
Wake up JOHN&wash your FACE ok?America do not belongs to Americans nomore,it is A political"RAT RACE"nation of united states of GLOBALICA,now.You hit Obama with Republican1%money,he hits you back with Democrat99%PRO-ILLEGAL-FAMILY votes.@
If Obama broke the law, why doesn't the House impeach him?
I cannot begin to tell you how much I long for the days of Tim Russert. Todays program was the most blatant example of NBC's Democrat and Obama bias that I have seen to date on what was once under Russert an unbiased REAL NEWS show. Talking points went unchallenged over and over again during the gross misrepresentations of David (may say "Fluff") Plouffe on both what the POTUS has done during the course of this disastrous administration and where he is going...where is he going? I believe that is down the road that has worked so well as socialist policy in Europe. Flabbergasted by Doris' "historic" perspective as a student of history myself, and having lived extensively in Europe...America, you don't want to go there. I was a registered Democrat for nearly 50 years and my mother 70 years. We have left the party running wildly with our hair on fire toward a much more sane solution for our beloved Republic...I believe we are the face of reason and the new wave of Independent thinkers in America. Get back to basics "Meet the Press."
KMCinColorado's comment is obviously a fake.
Notice the use of the word "Democrat" rather than "Democratic", a conservative pejorative right out of the McCarthy hearings. Also note the implication that the Democratic party is now more liberal than at any time in the last 70 years. Nonsense. Obama's policies are right out of Bill Clinton's DLC playbook and far to the right of FDRs and LBJs policies.
The above post by KMCinColorado is a typical conservative tactic in message boards and talk radio: Pretend to be a former Democrat who has seen the light and changed affiliations. A transparent ruse that won't get past thinking Americans.
You're a goofball KMC.
Pardon me! This retort from Bob Klemola represents in totality what concerned Americans can expect from the left. Every word I wrote was true, my only mistake over the past years was not leaving the Democrat party (btw, a term they use themselves) for an Independent standing long long ago. In the wake of JFKs assignation, I voted for LBJ. By '68 Nixon was a no go for me twice, as I just never trusted the man. I supported Ford over Carter, the last one term Democrat. I supported Reagan twice, Bush 41, then Clinton twice, Bush 43 twice, and of course held my nose for McCain over the current man residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., as I did my homework regarding Pres. Obama and, his words 5 days prior to the election regarding "fundamentally changing the United States of America" struck fear in my heart. He told us what road he would take...I choose another road! I'll match my "open minded" independent thoughtful voting record up against any dyed in the wool "party line" type any day. This nation is in big trouble resulting from bad decisions on both sides of the isle and the time is far overdue for sensible God fearing patriotic Americans to stand up and say ENOUGH !! My 90 year old mother who was not only a party faithful until Obama, would be horrified to be called a fake after 40 plus years of volunteer work for the FL Democrat Party. It is people like you who are so quick to condem others point of view that are on the front lines to destroy the greatest country the world has ever known. This is the very first I have ever commented on a public blog because I feel so strongly regarding the direction of our country, and I am not alone...be advised that we (those of sound mind) will not be silenced, nor called fakes and we will continue to express our concern and volunteer, vote and donate to stop the loss of our liberty. The party of Barack Hussein Obama is not the party of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Get out your history books and do a little review. I am not alone in the action of leaving the party in power...Wake Up, Get Honest, and realize that well being of the Republic should always trump party politics.
yes we all need to be heard and we all have an opinion that is what this country was built on i agree in sum part that it is just not one party ore the other that is to blame. sadly the blame for the problems that we (and I say we) face is just not a small problem but a much bigger one one that if left unchecked and a solution not found! could ultimately destroy our way of life there is plenty off blame to go around and if that's all we do is point are fingers and say its his fault and never come together as a country to address the cause and affect of what each and every one of us are responsible for and continue then we we all Will Shirley suffer. we can no longer hold are PERSONAL agendas over what is truly the best for all and NOT! for just the chosen few the degree of selfishness, greed, and regents that i see has been plaid out before Meany times with disastrous results. the true enemy here is are self's we can no longer stand idly aside and expect things to change ore get better. it is time to stop the blame and look for a Chang
hey my dear fellow americans,
we are all stupid and following what the politicians designs your life...follow just your instincts, you will be happy tommorrow..not hungry,not homeless,good credits...and lots of fun...i definitely sure uuuu will help each other...what else??????????????????deejay for america..vote me...vote yourself....
The Cons must be getting desperate. Normally when you call them on their phony tricks they fold their cards and move on to some other scam, but this guy doubled down. Nevertheless, after his last post, he is even more obviously a Republican pretending to be a former Democrat.
If he really isn't a Republican, after 8 years of observing the worst that Republicans have to offer, he would have welcomed Obama's call to fundamentally change the US. If he really isn't a Republican, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to use Obama's middle name, as if there is something wrong with a US President having the middle name "Hussein". If he really isn't a Republican he wouldn't be expounding meaningless jingoisms like "God fearing patriotic Americans" and "loss of our liberty" when he could instead use facts to bolster his point of view.
But he doesn't state facts because the facts show that Conservative policies are detrimental to most Americans. If he looked at the facts, if he looked at the data, he would see that Conservative economic policies over the past 30 years (including those under Bill Clinton) have led to almost no growth in middle-class wages while fabulously benefiting the most wealthy amongst us. If he looked at the data he would see that America has always had lower unemployment and higher middle-class wage growth under Liberal policies. If he looked at the data, he would see that we are in a period very much like the 1920's in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and only a fundamental change such as what we had in the 1930's will bring us middle-class prosperity like we had from then until 1980.
@Mr. Klemola, What KMCinColorado wrote was the truth. Tim Russert was unbiased. He would be so upset with the state of affairs today, I could not imagine what it would be like. I am an Independent. I do not like President Obama and consider him incompetent. I do not like most in Congress because they have failed the American people. Your use of labels conservative, liberal, middle class, rich, poor screams out that you are not looking at this country as America, where all Americans are citizens and we are united. Why don't we look at it from a new perspective. Throw the labels out and do what is right for our country. In my state, there is an "ultra liberal" running for Senate. She tells it like it is. I will support her. There is an Independent running for Congress. He tells it like it is. I will support him. There is a Republican running for office he tells it like it is. I will support him. Brutal honesty matters. Labels and politically correct baloney are just that. Baloney and that's what I get from you.
Bobby-2359554:
Ignoring "labels" as you suggest is to ignore how the system works. Political systems have always been divided into 2 camps: Those who believe that government has a useful role (labeled Democrats, liberals, progressives, leftists, labor, etc.) and those that believe minimum government is best (labeled Republicans, conservatives, right-wingers, Torries, etc.). The 2 beliefs are mutually exclusive and a government can no more function under mixed control than a car can drive on 2 roads simultaneously.
Voters who call themselves "Independent" usually have convictions one way or the other but just don't want to admit it, although some are just uninformed and vote for the personnal characteristics of the candidate rather than that candidate's governing philosophy.
The worst thing a voter can do is vote a split ticket because unless one philosophy or the other has complete control it cannot completely implement its policies. This has always been the case but it has become very apparent since Obama was elected and the Republicans in the Senate have used the filibuster an unprecedented number of times to block his policies.
The reason the Republican minority blocks most things that Obama proposes is because they are well aware of the facts I pointed out in a previous post: Americans as a whole do better under Democratic policies than under those of the Republicans. Unemployment is lower and wages are higher under liberal government. The data shows it and the facts are not "baloney".
This show has become a platform for Republicans (85% of the time it's McCain) to spew their lies only to not be challenged. Case in point: McCain said Obama had the majority in the House & Senate for two years & could have passed the Dream Act if he'd wanted to. I know that the Senate Republican filibustered the bill making it necessary to have 60 votes. I think they had about 55 votes. If I, a simple viewer, knows this, why doesn't Gregory? If Gregory lets liars go unchallenged, I have no reason to watch this right-wing propaganda show. Change the name to "Meet the lazy FOX-want-to-be press."
This show has become a platform for Republicans (85% of the time it's McCain) to spew their lies only to not be challenged. Case in point: McCain said Obama had the majority in the House & Senate for two years & could have passed the Dream Act if he'd wanted to. I know that the Senate Republican filibustered the bill making it necessary to have 60 votes. I think they had about 55 votes. If I, a simple viewer, knows this, why doesn't Gregory? If Gregory lets liars go unchallenged, I have no reason to watch this right-wing propaganda show. Change the name to "Meet the lazy FOX-want-to-be press."
Gregory sold his soul to corporate America, and he couldn't be happier with his transformation. Wall Street must think Gregory is Superman, which is apparently the way Gregory likes it.
oo ouch
Unless and until David Gregory discontinues his standard practice of allowing Republicans to readily lie on "Meet The Press," at will, unabated. and unchallenged, David Gregory will continue to be reviled by the left and "Meet the Press" will continue to lose ratings in the 25-54 demographic. On the other hand, the further that David Gregory drags "Meet the Press" through the mud, the more ebullient he seems to be. The more he is reviled and the more he degrades the "Meet the press" legacy, the more clueless and vapid ... and cheerful ... he seems to become. It is all very peculiar. It looks like Gregory will achieve personal nirvana when he completely destroys "Meet the Press." He also seems well on schedule to achieve his aim of total destruction of MTP.
Something is wrong with the corporodroid David Gregory, his ethical control center is on the fritz, his corporate media masters need to reboot him, unless of course he is operating within NBC "News", haha, parameters. As if such parameters continue to exist. NBC has gone corporate, they're workin' for Wall Street.
Seems I have gotten under your skin Bob, was never my intention...merely lamenting the demise of legitimate journalism and the fact that Russert was a REAL journalist.
I have not moved on because I am legit.
And just for clarification, I am female, highly educated, and an informed retiree with 40 plus years in the private sector, and a middle class American who did really well under Bill Clinton, thank you. Indeed, I have been a registered Dem since the LBJ era, however you can see I was always
a swing voter...I think in today's terms that makes me really an independent. From your Birdseye view of our Republic....I'd say it is time for you to publish your real party affiliation and it is not Democrat...much more sinister than that. It is the likes of you and your ilk from whom true patriots are attempting to save America from a Socialist, or far worse, a Communist regime which offers nothing but sorrow and pain for future generations of Americans...all our children and grand children are in dire jeopardy if this trend of "gimme" continues in our country. Check on the roaring 20s Bob and see how free enterprise lifted us out of what was a pretty low point in the country...and if you are such a proponent of these United States, how come terms like patriotic American and loss of our liberty are "jingoisms" to you. Time to fess up Mister and show everyone here your true alligence...put down Marx, Mao and "Rules for Radicals" for a moment and stand up and proudly admit you are out to change the lives of all Americans forever. Be proud of the Card Comrad! Oh and one last thing before I close the door on your lies. I changed party affiliation in 2008, of course I talk like the Republicans...I now proudly am one, with a brain and a love for this country, its founders and all the good she has provided throughout the world. There are many Dems who think like I do and you'll see the results in November.
As for middle names, think I used "Fitzgerald as well as Hussein. Just making a literary point, Bob.
I will fight to the death to protect this country from subversives like you. America is a free nation and she will remain so.
KMCinColorado:
Your ignorance of history is stunning. The lack of government oversight and the corporate excesses of the 1920's caused The Great Depression. It was only what would now be called the Liberal Democratic policies of FDR that got us out of it. Today's Republican policies are a complete repeat of the Roaring '20s and the results will be the same.
Just as you used glowing generalities like "liberty" to avoid discussing facts in your previous post, now you've resorted to calling me names to again avoid responding to the facts that I pointed out. I'm not calling for Communism - the facts show it doesn't work. I'm calling for what the data shows did work - policies (practiced by both Democratic and Republican Presidents from 1932 to 1980) in which the government implements taxes, regulations, and programs that allow the middle-class to thrive - rather than the policies we have had for the past 30 years that have nearly destroyed the middle-class.
You would be well served to read something other than revisionist history. We should hope we have the financial explosion today as we did in the 20s. Go rework your OWS banner and quit attacking a woman well schooled in history, government and life and go get a job.
My post here, the first ever for me, was to object to what I see as a fall from grace and legitmate reporting at MTP. You have more than revealed your true political leanings in your posts. Go attack someone who cares what the far left wing extremists believe. You are on the wrong side of history right along with your perception of history. This discussion is over, check the election returns on November 6th for the nation's soul.
KMCinColorado:
Again with the insults. You can't argue with the fact that Democratic policies have always been better for the middle-class than Republican policies (in fact it was the Democratic policies of the 1930s that saved us from the Republican policies of your lauded 1920s) so you call me names instead.
By the way, in stereotyping me, you've fallen victim to the ignorance that Rush and his ilk spew everyday. Not all liberal Democrats are unwashed punks - I'm a 52 year old successful small business owner.