“I Won” * Open Thread

From Politico’s story, “Obama to GOP: ‘I won’“:

President Obama listened to Republican gripes about his stimulus package during a meeting with congressional leaders Friday morning – but he also left no doubt about who’s in charge of these negotiations. “I won,” Obama noted matter-of-factly, according to sources familiar with the conversation.

The exchange arose as top House and Senate Republicans expressed concern to the president about the amount of spending in the package. They also raised red flags about a refundable tax credit that returns money to those who don’t pay income taxes, the sources said. …

Writes Ed Morrissey at Hot Air:

The golden age of bipartisanship beginneth.

[...]

Just how rancid is this crap sandwich, anyway? Even David Brooks thinks it’s too much of a liberal Christmas tree: [...]

[...] McConnell and Boehner put on a brave face after the meeting but there’s simply nothing they can do. Skip ahead to the end for an inkling of the super-secret plan to jumpstart the economy with hundreds of millions of dollars for contraception.

The Republicans stressed that they want to include more middle class tax cuts in the package, citing their proposal to cut the two lowest tax rates — 15 percent and 10 percent — to ten percent and five percent, rather than issue the refundable credit Obama wants.

At another point in the meeting, sources said Obama told the group: “This is a grave situation facing the country.” [WOW! Really?We did not know that.] White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama would hold another economic meeting in the White House Saturday for a “broader group.”

After Friday’s meeting, Democratic and Republican leaders publicly wrangled over the developing stimulus plan.

But perhaps taking a cue from Obama’s “I won” line when Democrats were asked if they were concerned about Republicans blocking the package, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had a swift one-word answer: “No.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill was on track for passage by February 16, while Republicans continued to voice their opposition.

“We expressed our concerns about some of the spending that’s being proposed in the House bill,” House Minority Leader John Boehner said after meeting with Obama.

“How can you spend hundreds of millions of dollars on contraceptives?” Boehner asked. “How does that stimulate the economy?”

Boehner said congressional Republicans are also concerned about the size of the package. …

Read all: “Obama to GOP: ‘I won’.”

NOW for the pro-Obama POV, via the “Political Animal” bloggers at The Washington Monthly:

OBAMA TELLS GOP, ‘I WON’…. President Obama is, for good or ill, making a sincere effort to work with congressional Republicans, most notably on an economic stimulus package. That doesn’t mean, however, that’s he’s going to get pushed around.

President Obama listened to Republican gripes about his stimulus package during a meeting with congressional leaders Friday morning — but he also left no doubt about who’s in charge of these negotiations. “I won,” Obama noted matter-of-factly, according to sources familiar with the conversation.

In context, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) told the president that the Democratic plan to give a tax credit to those who don’t pay income taxes isn’t a tax cut, but rather, a check. Obama responded that this was a common point of debate during the presidential campaign — McCain/Palin called Obama’s plan “welfare” — and voters were not swayed by Republican arguments. “I won,” Obama told lawmakers.

So, Obama wasn’t throwing too sharp an elbow, but it was nevertheless a not-so-subtle reminder to the minority party. There are two sides to this debate, and one of them has the backing of the American electorate, and was endorsed after a national campaign based on a specific policy platform. Hint to Kyl: it’s not your side.

I can only hope the president keeps this in mind as the negotiations continue. It’s very gracious of him to try to bring in the failed and unpopular party to work on these issues, but before any major concessions are made, that single phrase — “I won” — should be front and center.

…

You can find more blog and MSM reactions to Obama’s statement at Memeorandum.com.