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FNC Digital Politics Editor Chris Stirewalt on the debate over the debt ceiling and the impact of Obama’s fundraising instead of focusing on the deb...
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Today's fundraisers the latest in a flurry of campaign events for the president.
Some of those events held at the White House raising new questions about the line between the presidency.
And the president's campaign organization.
Joining me now is -- -- star wall for Fox News digital politics editor Chris thanks for being rose I've got to -- And do you think that Jay Carney is topping Robert Gibbs as Press Secretary I mean he's got some rule -- He's got several potential effect.
Well there -- special.
-- in their own individual -- that's all I that's all I'll say about that.
Well let's turn to the -- to the president.
Of the answer I love answer the Jay Carney offered as to why the president would cancel those fundraisers and get right to work with both.
With the senate and the congress -- decided to focus on the debt ceiling negotiations.
Why wouldn't -- Well right now the problem for the president is this is that he in the press conference yesterday framed the debate in a way that is not favorable to himself.
He was a little snap patient and him when he accused the congress -- not working hard enough -- this.
He framed the debate that he really can't win because he has a lot of obligations when it comes to raising a billion dollar war chest that he wants to raise.
And campaign in a difficult electoral electoral environment.
And it's it's hard for him to do both so he's gonna look bad every time he does something other than govern and that's what he's doing tonight.
Well speaking of looking bad I mean that the White House and Capitol Hill both parties look a little.
Well peculiar I think it's fair to say.
Given that Timothy Geithner -- we we began with the day with the reports that the -- may step down at the end of the depth negotiations.
Then comes word that he will not be.
And that the senate has decided to -- forgo its recess next week.
And because of the depth negotiations and now it turns out those -- negotiations may be deferred yet again.
If they reports are at least accurate.
That -- -- but a short term extension.
In the well that -- so I mean here -- Motorola the other day and it comes out well not very attractive.
Not it is it is -- interest -- do that they're brewing up there in the capital but.
There are two kinds of short term extensions that are being discussed Democrats are floating the idea of when they say short term extension.
They're talking about.
To a two trillion dollar or a trillion and a half dollar extension.
To carry through until after Election Day whatever the bare minimum is to do that they hope they can lower the threshold for what they have to give up.
To get that in return when Republicans talk about a short term increase they mean short short term increase as -- extending by a matter of weeks in order to keep the negotiations going so those two positions are miles apart and.
And it looks as though there is literally no movement whatsoever.
The Republicans insistent that there'll be -- tax hikes they've been very clear about it they've been unified and and that position.
The president.
Is almost if you will over emphasizing.
The balance revenue point through the and to the extent of one starts to wonder if balances.
Well can -- defined as almost any effect.
Well it is and the the president -- all presidents like to do this the President Obama particularly is fond of using these sort of view for mystic descriptions -- segment -- he says a balanced approach balanced approach balanced approach we hear that all the time.
The good news for them is that it's a fungible definition.
As they get closer to the end in desperation sets in and they have to finally do a deal with Mitch McConnell.
-- and balance will be able to be re defined as -- political situation demands.
And and the Republican leadership our -- -- stuffing up and sharpening its position Mitch McConnell in particular today.
I thought the -- has lifted his game if you will in response to the partisan attack of the president yesterday.
Making it very clear that he's not going to.
-- one -- in the the war of rhetoric.
And and won't and remember Mitch McConnell is a tough character and he took a Barack Obama.
Right to the edge on the extension of the current tax rates in December during the lame duck session.
Mitch McConnell knows how to do deals and he knows how to apply pressure.
He has some advantages right now that Obama can't undo.
The president's only choice to get a better deal quite frankly is to push this up to the brink.
Try to create a panic conceding -- Republicans to break.
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