President Obama's proposed $825 billion stimulus package is facing outspoken opposition from Republicans in both the House and the Senate. House Minority Leader John Boehner said today on Meet the Press “Right now, given the concerns that we have over the size of this package and all of the spending in this package, we don’t think it’s going to work."
He and other Republicans are "concerned" that the stimulus package does not offer enough tax cuts and includes slow moving investments like $200 million for fixing the National Mall and another $200 million for contraceptives. Senator and former Presidential candidate loser John McCain says that he will not vote for the plan as is. He stated on Fox News Sunday, "There should be an end point to all of this spending.say two years...The plan was written by the Democratic majority in the House primarily. So yeah, I think there has to be major rewrites, if we want to stimulate the economy," McCain said. "I am opposed to most of provisions in the bill. As it stands now. I would not support it."
The dinner that the President held for conservatives last week did not have the desired effect Mr. Obama was hoping for vast bi-partisan support for his plan. Many Republicans and Conservatives seems very reluctant to work too closely with the President because as the opposition party, they are searching for something to oppose him on. They have decided to make a stand on the stimulus package. President Obama has a decision to make now. Does he continue to try to court the opposition and compromise his plan or does he put his foot down?
The way I see it, if the stimulus plan is a success, it will be a HUGE victory for President Obama. If the stimulus package fails, it will be a HUGE defeat for the President. Congress, the House or the Senate will not get glorified if it succeeds or vilified if it fails . This is all about the President and they know it. It's sad to say, but to me it's becoming increasingly obvious that these Republicans would rather see this plan fail than actually pursuing the recovery of the economy. If the stimulus package doesn't stimulate, the President will lose much of his popular support and it will erode the confidence that the American people have given him thus far.
President Obama needs to come out strongly this week and let Congress know that he will not allow them to let this plan fail. He has met many of their demands and the compromise is over. He needs to continue to make his case to the American people, quoting economists from the left and the right and stress the point that this package cannot be watered down and politicized. It is too important. The President has more public support and capital right now than he will probably have at any point going forward in his first term. Now is the time to use it.
Cross posted on Filibusted