Bennett: Republicans ‘chipping away’ at Obama

Republican members of Congress are picking their battles against President Barack Obama in an attempt to “chip away” at public opinion about the administration, Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah said Tuesday.Bennett, speaking with Jennie Christensen on KVNU’s Crosstalk, compared what the Republicans are attempting to do to Obama to how George Washington handled his leadership of the Continental Army in their fight against the British, eventually claiming victory at Yorktown.The first front Bennett said Republicans chose to attack Obama on was Guantanamo Bay.”We had an orchestrated plan of raising this issue, talking about it in the Senate, talking about it on the Sunday talk shows,” Bennett said. Then, GOP leaders moved to their next issue. “The issue in which we decided he’s vulnerable and we will pick the place to fight is on his health care plan.”We’ve been picking away at his health care plan, offering alternatives, showing that we’re in favor of sensible health care reform.”Opposition to Obama’s health care plan has risen 21 points in the polls, Bennett said, and for the first time, the president’s approval rating has dipped below 50 percent.”Picking your fights is the way to deal with this.”Bennett said Obama’s proposal for health care reform is in major trouble.”It’s in very serious trouble, the wheels seem to be coming off for a variety of reasons,” he said, noting in particular that he won’t vote for any bill that has a public option in it. Bennett also said tort reform is needed, and noted there are no provisions for tort reform in current Democratic proposals. He said the Democratic proposal would increase costs $1.7 trillion, whereas a Republican counter proposal would save $1.3 trillion.”Even in Washington $3 trillion is a lot of money,” Bennett said. “I’m hoping now they’ll (American people) start turning to us.”Ultimately, Bennett said, Obama is a “rookie president” who is “in a little bit above his head,” and the senator called on Obama to stop what he’s doing and start having a conservation about where the country really needs to go.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!