In a report for Tuesday's NBC Today, chief White House
correspondent Chuck Todd touted President Obama supposedly being nicer
to the GOP while in pursuit of a fiscal cliff deal: "Mr. Obama
was noticeably less confrontational toward Republicans....The
President's softer tone came just a day after he sat down with House
Speaker John Boehner..."
While Todd focused on Obama's "softer" side, Monday's New York Times reported [1]
on the President's team playing hardball: "The White House is also
cranking up the machinery of the Obama campaign to help in the battle.
On Monday, the campaign sent an e-mail to its entire mailing list from
its deputy manager, Stephanie Cutter....'Who will decide if your taxes
increase in just 22 days?' Ms. Cutter said. 'A few dozen members of the
House of Representatives, that's who.'"
Seeking
to separate the President from nasty Democratic Party rhetoric, Todd
announced: "But as the President dials back his rhetoric, the campaign
arm of the House Democrats is doing just the opposite, unveiling this
not so subtle petition, GOPHostageTakers.com, accusing Republicans of
protecting the wealthy from tax hikes."
At the top of the Today segment, Todd asserted: "...another way to
judge how serious the talks are this week, the President has no public
events today, doesn't have many planned for this week. And many at the
White House and in Congress believe the less anybody campaigns publicly,
the better their chances are at striking an actual deal."
Todd then immediately promoted the President's latest public
campaigning on the issue: "President Obama back on the road Monday,
trying to wield his political capital to get the deal he wants on the
fiscal cliff."
Todd began pushing the "softer" Obama talking point on Nightly News
Monday night: "Mr. Obama was less confrontational today, signaling that
the time for posturing may be over....Today's conciliatory tone comes a
day after the President and Republican House Speaker John Boehner had
their first one-on-one meeting in 18 months."
After Todd's Today report, news reader Natalie Morales kept
the theme going during news briefs at the top of the 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
et hours: "On Monday, the President softened his public criticism of
congressional Republicans....The President is dialing back his rhetoric
in his latest bid to find common ground with Republicans and avoid the
fiscal cliff."
Here is a full transcript of Todd's December 11 Today report:
7:01AM ET TEASE:
MATT LAUER: Also, you may have noticed that in the recent couple of
days the tone has softened a bit there in Washington, especially on the
subject of the fiscal cliff. Some tea leaf readers are speculating that
could mean a deal is in the works. Could it come by the end of the week?
We'll have more on that subject as well.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: The clock is ticking.
7:03AM ET SEGMENT:
LAUER: Negotiations to reach a deal on the fiscal cliff seem to be
intensifying this morning. Chuck Todd is NBC's chief White House
correspondent. Chuck, good morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Towards a Cliff Compromise; Will Congress Be Home for Christmas?]
CHUCK TODD: Good morning, Matt. You know, in another way to judge how
serious the talks are this week, the President has no public events
today, doesn't have many planned for this week. And many at the White
House and in Congress believe the less anybody campaigns publicly, the
better their chances are at striking an actual deal.
BARACK OBAMA: It is good to see everybody in the great state of Michigan.
TODD: President Obama back on the road Monday, trying to wield his
political capital to get the deal he wants on the fiscal cliff.
OBAMA: All Congress needs to do is pass a law that would prevent a tax hike on the first $250,000 of everybody's income.
TODD: But Mr. Obama was noticeably less confrontational toward Republicans.
OBAMA: I understand this is – you know, people have a lot of different views. I'm willing to compromise a little bit.
TODD: The President's softer tone came just a day after he sat down
with House Speaker John Boehner, the first one-on-one meeting between
the two men in 18 months. The details of which were kept secret to give
them the freedom to negotiate without political interference.
But as the President dials back his rhetoric, the campaign arm of the
House Democrats is doing just the opposite, unveiling this not so subtle
petition, GOPHostageTakers.com, accusing Republicans of protecting the
wealthy from tax hikes.
The enemy now may be the calendar. To avoid the slew of tax hikes and
spending cuts from taking effect on January 1st, leaders in Washington
need to pass their agreement by Friday, December 21st if they want to be
home for Christmas. To make that self-imposed deadline, Boehner and the
President have to agree on a framework by the end of this week for it
to work its way through Congress in time next week. Veterans of other
budget battles are now optimistic about the tone and timing of the
meeting between the President and the Speaker.
ERSKINE BOWLES: Oh, gosh, I think all you've got to do is look at the
atmospherics. I'm more optimistic now, Chuck, I really am, now that
they've been meeting.
TODD: But there's more work to do, some Republicans doubt the White House is that serious about cutting spending.
KEVIN MCCARTHY [REP. R-CA]: I don't think Republicans or Americans want
to raise any taxes just to continue the spending in Washington.
TODD: The talks now revolve around three big sticking points. Tax
rates, the White House wants them raised on the wealthy but is willing
to negotiate by how much. Entitlement reform, including changing how and
at what age folks receive Medicare and Social Security. And the debt
ceiling, the President wants more unilateral power to raise the
country's virtual credit card limit with less input from Congress.
The best I understand, though, is that they're actually closer on taxes
and entitlements than on the debt ceiling, Matt. That seems to be the
biggest sticking point. The White House is determined to get it out of
the political arena. Republicans are not ready to get rid of that
leverage and – that they would have in February in exchange for what
they'll agree to on taxes.
LAUER: Alright, Chuck Todd in Washington. Chuck, keep us posted. Thank you very much.