I really wanted to trim this clip down even more, to hone in on a few things. But really, it’s all right up the same alley. Carney gets hit first by Tapper on the bill actually failing in the Senate due to bipartisan support, but Carney won’t accept that and continues to say Republicans are ‘blocking’ it and blames the filibuster. Given this, a second reporter asks Carney if Obama has given up on Republicans and is thus taking his argument “campaign style” to the American people in states critical to his reelection. Carney didn’t much care for that characterization by saying “I know it sticks in your craw that the President actually leaves Washington and goes out and talks to the American people…”
Ed Henry furthers the ‘Obama not working with Republicans’ theme by asking why the President doesn’t come back to Washington and get the Republicans together to work out a bill that will pass. Carney, once again defensive, says that it’s Congress’ job to act now, insinuating that Obama has already acted and that the ball is in their court. And lastly, just when you hear Henry ask about GDP numbers, don’t worry. The conversation quickly comes back to Republicans blocking the bill at which point Jake Tapper challenges Carney by saying that Democrats didn’t even have 50 votes to pass the bill in the Senate. After wrangling over the cloture vote, Carney finally gives an answer based in fantasy saying that if the bill had gotten to a vote, it would have passed.
Here’s the full clip:
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