Obama Makes It Official: GOP Caved on Nominees

By: Charles Cooper
Topics: In The News

(CBS/ AP)

The White House put out a statement under Mr. Obama's imprimatur late Thursday, expressing satisfaction with the Senate's confirmation of 27 presidential appointments. But the president, who earlier had threatened to use his power to make recess appointments if the Republicans kept the nominations bottled up, didn't pass on the opportunity to, well, rub it in a little. The text reads:

"At the beginning of the week, a staggering 63 nominees had been stalled in the Senate because one or more senators placed a hold on their nomination. In most cases, these holds have had nothing to do with the nominee's qualifications or even political views, and these nominees have already received broad, bipartisan support in the committee process."

"Instead, many holds were motivated by a desire to leverage projects for a Senator's state or simply to frustrate progress. It is precisely these kinds of tactics that enrage the American people."

"And so on Tuesday, I told Senator McConnell that if Republican senators did not release these holds, I would exercise my authority to fill critically-needed positions in the federal government temporarily through the use of recess appointments. This is a rare but not unprecedented step that many other presidents have taken. Since that meeting, I am gratified that Republican senators have responded by releasing many of these holds and allowing 29 nominees to receive a vote in the Senate."

"While this is a good first step, there are still dozens of nominees on hold who deserve a similar vote, and I will be looking for action from the Senate when it returns from recess. If they do not act, I reserve the right to use my recess appointment authority in the future."

The not-so-subtle ranslation: My kung fu is stronger than yours.

Earlier in the week, when he met with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Rep-Ky.) the president expressed annoyance and called the delay on the votes "unprecedented." At the time, Mr. Obama said he planned to start making recess appointments if Senate Republicans continued to drag their heels. Republicans say that Democrats did the same when George W. Bush was in the White House.

Charles Cooper is an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. E-mail Charlie.
Follow on Twitter »

39 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 39 Comments


by rexrox2 February 15, 2010 3:15 PM EST: Obama is the weakest individual that ever became President of the United States, bar none. All this tough talk, is a joke. "THE BARKING DOG IS NOT THE ONE YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, IT'S THE QUIET ONE". Grown-ups know this. The Republican senator who was holding up nominees until he got his booty was "informed" that he's an idiot, and if he wants to be re-elected, stop taking these ugly bribes. Our gov. is finally taking this money game seriously. This does not compare to Ben Nelson, and Landreau who still thought it was to their "credit", that they got this dirty money. They made no attempt to even hide it. Despite Obama's claims that he would have the most open, transparent government, he willingly participated to get what he wanted, HEALTH CARE. The citizens are surprising everyone, what a nice change.; Reply to this comment

by earlysaid February 14, 2010 4:25 PM EST

The polls will be coming up for the honesty President Obama proves. He will fight against the lying republicans who will continue to lie as long as they can. They will be proven wrong. They will be proven liars. They will be proven hateful. They will be proven anti-American, anti-patriotic, anti-truth, anti-goodness and against all things that will help America.

Reply to this comment


by iirishamerican February 16, 2010 6:18 PM EST: If you don't agree with me you must be wrong and stupid, unamerican liers and now even the dreaded anti-goodness against all thing that are good ha ha I'am trying to stop laughing whaooha ha ha! Perfect example of obama and the fools that voted for him. Poor little fella still getting taken for a ride and doesn't even know it, pfhh you would probably even thank him for it. WAKE UP, by the way king obama has already been caught lying so many times that I lost count so who is to blame at this point the lier or the people that keep believing his lies.

by whosaid1 February 12, 2010 11:12 AM EST

"didn't pass on the opportunity to, well, rub it in a little." Just another indication that Mr. Obama...is not interested in obtaining the support of the "other" party. Why didn't he just leave it to the democratic members to "rub it in"...and keep himself "above" it. Not smart...not smart...

Reply to this comment


by ianlou February 12, 2010 12:25 PM EST: by whosaid1 February 12, 2010 11:12 AM EST
"...Why didn't he just leave it to the democratic members to "rub it in"...and keep himself "above" it. Not smart...not smart..."
****************************
Umm, Maybe because the appointments are Obama's? Or because the threat of making Recess Appointments is the sole power of the President? The Democrats in Congress have nothing to do with this.

As far as playing nice with the Republicans, I think it's time for President Obama to tell the Republican members of Congress to go F### themselves.
After a year of trying to be bipartisan, it should be obvious that Republicans won't support anything they have not drafted themselves.


by whosaid1 February 12, 2010 2:00 PM EST: "Umm, Maybe because the appointments are Obama's? Or because the threat of making Recess Appointments is the sole power of the President? The Democrats in Congress have nothing to do with this."

All statements of fact....but you missed or avoided my point....he didn't have to "rub it in"..and to do so....in my opinion...just encourages continued problems...

See all 5 Replies


by jimmyc1955 February 12, 2010 11:01 AM EST: And just to re-enforce the continuing decline in both Mr. Obama's job performance and congressional approval - new poll from NYT/CBS this morning

http://corner.nationalreview.co/post/?q=NTBlZTg1NjgzNGY0MDQwYzA0NTc0Zjc0ZjU0MjRiMWM=

The link is in the national review - but the survey is done by the NYT.; Reply to this comment


by erb0087 February 12, 2010 10:36 AM EST: "Obama Makes It Official: GOP Caved on Nominees"

...They say that one good cave deserves another:

"Administration may abandon civilian 9/11 trial

AP - 2/12/2010

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Eric Holder is leaving open the possibility of trying professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed before a military commission instead of the civilian trial originally planned for New York City.

"At the end of the day [I'm so sick of that hackneyed expression, 'at the end of the day' !!!!], wherever this case is tried, in whatever forum, what we have to ensure is that it's done as transparently as possible and with adherence to all the rules," Holder told The Washington Post in an interview published in Friday's editions. "If we do that, I'm not sure the location or even the forum is as important as what the world sees in that proceeding."; Reply to this comment

by erb0087 February 12, 2010 10:19 AM EST

by countrycuz1 February 12, 2010 9:39 AM EST
The american people don't want the kind of liberal govt. Obama is promoting.

==========================================

The RealClearPolitics.com average of polls still gives Obama a small edge on approval, after everything that's happened:

Approve Obama: 47.2%
Disapprove Obama: 46.6%

Almost evenly divided.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html

As of 2/12/2010

Reply to this comment


by erb0087 February 12, 2010 10:22 AM EST: Of the 9 polls, the least favorable Obama numbers are from Rasmussen Reports.

Surprise Surprise.

Scott Rasmussen is in bed with the opposition.


by jimmyc1955 February 12, 2010 10:47 AM EST: Hmmm - ok. How about we look at another realclearpolitics poll - the direction of the country

Poll Date Right track Wrong Track Spread
RCP Average 1/28 - 2/1 35.3 59.3 -24.0
CBS News/NY Times 02/05 - 02/10 33 62 -29
Rasmussen Reports 02/01 - 02/07 30 65 -35
Democracy Corps (D) 02/02 - 02/04 35 58 -23
Daily Kos/R2000 02/01 - 02/04 39 60 -21
Marist 02/01 - 02/03 38 54 -16
Ipsos/McClatchy 01/28 - 01/31 37 57 -20

And before you shoot from the hip about they are angry at the Party of NO - Lets look at the generic congressional poll

RCP Average 1/20 - 2/8 -- 45.2 42.2 Republicans +3.0
ABC News/Wash Post 02/04 - 02/08 RV 48 45 Republicans +3
Rasmussen Reports 02/01 - 02/07 3500 LV 44 36 Republicans +8
Democracy Corps (D) 02/02 - 02/04 805 LV 45 46 Democrats +1
Gallup 02/01 - 02/03 942 RV 45 45 Tie
NPR - POS/GQR 01/20 - 01/23 800 LV 44 39 Republicans +5

I would say there is a lot of anger and it is focused on Congressional leadership and by default - the Presidential agenda.


by jimmyc1955 February 12, 2010 10:07 AM EST: On Democrats blocking Bush appointees:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/19/senate.reid/index.html

Read the article, its fairly insightful.; Reply to this comment

by jimmyc1955 February 12, 2010 10:01 AM EST

Mr Obama has some serious issues.

Coming out to brag how he got republicans to cave won't help a "bipartisan" effort at all. Nobody wants to be called a looser in public and it will only harden republican resolve to oppose him. With the polls leaning the way they are, almost 70% want health care scrapped and started over from the beginning, over 55% dislike the Presidents economic efforts and almost 65% saying we would all be better off if the entire congress were to loose their re-elections, I think now is a very, very bad time to come out pounding your chest about how tough you are - when you can't get one single piece of legislation through congress with a majority in both houses!!

This is like watching a linebacker whose team is loosing by 28 points doing some celebration dance after he made a tackle. Mr. Obama has to stop talking like he is the only person in Washington. I don't think this guy is going to learn - he lost two governorships, a senate seat that should be democratic by default and still he refuses to listen or learn.

Reply to this comment


by johns6797 February 12, 2010 10:22 AM EST: "Coming out to brag how he got republicans to cave won't help a "bipartisan" effort at all."

By now everybody (except you apparently) understands that the Redumblicans have zero interest in bi-partisanship, brainiac. The strategy is simple but effective; call the obstructionist Redumblicans out for anything and everything they have obstructed and/or will obstruct. The party of NO is going be called out all year for doing nothing, and even worse, obstructing legislation that could help people during a tough time when a lot of people could use some help. Many of us who voted for the President think its about damn time.


by erb0087 February 12, 2010 9:44 AM EST: Is the GOP running out of steam ?

Perhaps they broke out the champagne and the party hats prematurely...

---------------------------------------
"3 House retirements spur debate on whether Republicans are losing momentum

A trio of House Republican retirement announcements over the past 10 days have sparked a debate between the leaders of the two major parties over whether the GOP is losing momentum in its quest to score major gains at the ballot box this fall.

With the three latest lawmakers choosing not to seek reelection in November, Republicans will have to defend 18 open seats and Democrats 14. The raw numbers contradict the conventional wisdom that Democrats would head for the sidelines after GOP Sen. Scott Brown's special election victory Jan. 19 in Massachusetts."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/11/AR2010021104715.html; Reply to this comment