‘Top Line’ — Sen. Alexander: Obama Going ‘Down a Road’ to Nixon
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Republicans are using a new line of attack against President Obama: They’re accusing him of being like Richard Nixon. Or getting there, at least. On ABCNews.com’s “Top Line” today, Sen. Lamar Alexander — who worked as a low-level aide in the Nixon White House — explained what he meant. Obama’s no Nixon yet, but the signs are in place, he said. “I’m seeing the same seeds now that I saw then,” Alexander, R-Tenn., told us. “My suggestion — friendly suggestion — to the Obama administration is, don’t create an enemies list. But . . . they’re going to boycott a major news network; they’re going to take away the anti-trust exemption from an insurance industry who disagrees with them; they put a gag order on a big healthcare company that let its beneficiaries know that their benefits might be cut.” “Instead of characterizing those who disagree as enemies — that takes us down a road we’ve seen before — it’s better to work with people with different points of view. And I think the president would be better served by that.” Regarding his experience in the Nixon White House, Alexander said: “It started off innocently enough, with Vice President [Spiro] Agnew saying ‘nattering nabobs of negativism.’ But after a while here came the Nixon enemies list. My advice is, don’t create an enemies list.” The senator also talked about his suggestion — as highlighted in a story that Newsweek put on its cover this week — that colleges adjust the standard academic schedules to make it possible for more students to graduate in only three years. “It would save time and money for students,” he said. “And I made it clear that I didn’t think a three-year degree is for every student anymore than a hybrid car is for every driver. But there are a lot of well-prepared students who come into college, they’re ready to go on.” Alexander also endorsed the concept of extending unemployment benefits by reallocating unspent stimulus dollars — even though he voted against President Obama’s stimulus package. “We’d have to pay for it. We’d have to find ways either to raise taxes or cut out of other programs,” he said. “The money’s obligated to be spent. And rather than spend it on non-stimulative projects, I’d rather spend it on unemployment benefits.” Watch the full interview with Sen. Alexander HERE. We also checked in with Ana Marie Cox of Air America, to discuss MoveOn.org’s new celebrity endorser of a “robust” public option, and to talk about the gubernatorial race in Virginia. “It looks like Creigh Deeds is going to lose, going to lose pretty badly. However, I don’t think Virginia is lost to Democrats. I think it’s just lost to Creigh Deeds,” she told us. And check out the new Website for Ana Marie’s Air America program, the conveniently named “The Inside Story with Ana Marie Cox” — with new Web-only interviews coming soon. You can see the full discussion with Ana Marie Cox HERE.
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Nixon was a socialist stuffed suit who did nothing while single handedly destroying the nation in 9 months? Huh, who knew?
Posted by: jhw539 | October 21, 2009, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Sweet Lord, the GOP is in it’s last death throes and this fool Lamar Alexander is waxing philosophical.
Posted by: WTFGOP | October 21, 2009, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
Ever since Joe Wilson’s infamous “You’re a Lie”, Republicant’s seeking Publicity and Media Attention, simply “Take A Shot At President Obama!”
That’s getting rather old, and as soon as the majority of the public acknowledges “This Drama”, the ACT will become “Stale” and die its’ Natural Death.
Posted by: bobj72 | October 21, 2009, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
There’s an old black song that goes, “Is He or Is He Ain’t” which brings us to another “Obama drama” and the WH fight with Fox News. Since the president is an “empty suit” puppet the public needs to look at those members in the administration who are pulling the strings. Obama is only a mouth-piece and hasn’t a clue about leadership.
Posted by: prontoranger | October 21, 2009, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
i couldn’t agree more with mr. alexander. the obama administration is looking so foolish attacking anyone who disagrees with them. it’s thuggish and certainly not presidential. he has two other cable networks to be his mouthpiece. let fox do what fox does. if he wants his message on fox, go on the network, have his people go on…debate them. it’s just so childish.
he also might want to start working with the republicans…they have some pretty good ideas. didn’t he run as a uniter?
Posted by: linda | October 21, 2009, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
Remember those famous words….
Elections have consequences.
The country voted this guy in for “change”….sometimes the grass is NOT greener on the other side!
Careful what you wish for America.
Change – “Chicago Style” is running out of control!
Posted by: Mike_C | October 21, 2009, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
“he also might want to start working with the republicans…they have some pretty good ideas. didn’t he run as a uniter?”
linda | Oct 21, 2009 4:10:45 PM
The stimulus bill included an amendment that shifted about $70 billion away from state aid (teachers and police – a big Democratic constituency) into a tax cut for the upper middle class. The amendment was written by a Republican, who in an incredible display of bad faith negotiating them voted against the bill anyhow. Working with the Republicans is impossible at this point, they have made it their blind strategy to say now. 30 Republicans even voted against an amendment aimed to prevent the government from doing business with companies that make employees waive the right to press rape charges in court…
Obama has (to the point of infuriating his left supporters) made many attempts at bipartisanship, and many Republican ideas are in the health reform bills. It’s a proven waste of time with the current crop of Republicans.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 21, 2009, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
Please – Nixon?! Buscho was the ultimate Imperial Presidency. As far as Obama working with those who disagree – he has bent over backwards and all the repugs do is say NO. No-won’t negotiate, no-won’t try to work together, No – we want Obama to fail and if that means America fails we blame it on him.
They are all intellectual and moral cowards.
Posted by: vet24 | October 21, 2009, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
When our government, openly creates an “Enemy List” , the death thores are for the American way of life, not the GOP. Nixon had one and was run out of town. How can any American accept this concept of listing anyone, if they disagree ? And now, openly, going to police the Inter-net for any info they deem in resistance to obama.
Is this why we elected obama?
Does anyone really think that if he endorsed his current direction and real intent during the canpaign, he would have been elected?
Posted by: LLM | October 21, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
“When our government, openly creates an “Enemy List” , the death thores are for the American way of life, not the GOP.”
LLM | Oct 21, 2009 4:50:25 PM
Citation please. Always interesting to see the basis of these right wing paranoid ravings.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 21, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
jhw539- got a quote for you by oscar wilde
“I’m not young enough to know everything”
why don’t you ruminate on that…develop wisdom. read beyond huffpo, media matters and daily kos.
Posted by: lind | October 21, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
“why don’t you ruminate on that…develop wisdom. read beyond huffpo, media matters and daily kos.”
lind | Oct 21, 2009 5:09:35 PM
? I only read those sites when they come up in a google search for primary sources. Do you have a problem with asking people to support their assertions with actual reality? I do not know everything, but I know enough to not respect opinions based on lazy lies and falsehoods.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 21, 2009, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm
he is now attacking the chamber of commerce.
Posted by: catman | October 21, 2009, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm
john copeland – you seem to enjoy the thought of the GOP becoming dead and buried. Such an event would give our country a “One Party” government. While I’m sure you’d love a Democrat-Only Government, remember history all through the centuries. Just about all the evil, totalitarian governments who enslaved their peoples and destroyed freedoms were “One Party” governments. To preserve rights and freedoms for everyone, no matter what party, we need a multi-party government. No matter if you agree with the current policies or not. Just think if the GOP decided to “get rid of” the Democrat Party when the GOP had so much power. I doubt you’d be looking favorably at a “One Party” Government then.
Posted by: Terrence O'Day | October 21, 2009, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
“prontoranger” | Oct 21, 2009 4:04:54 PM
You said; … “Obama is only a mouth-piece and hasn’t a clue about leadership.” … [Go and tell John McCain - such ridiculousness!]
Be advised; CNN Poll 10.21.09] “Does President Obama possess the characteristics you admire in a President?” 66% – YES!!! (Your opposition says “It’s his Leadership!” What say you? … He’s ONLY a chrismatic, intelligent, eloquent and mannerable man???
Posted by: bobj72 | October 21, 2009, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
Alexander is just throwing more Republican BS around to confuse the issue. The Obama administration called a spade a spade….everybody knows there is one Network that shovels Republican BS at the country at least 20 hrs a day. I would like for the Tennessee Senator to work to make the country safer, to help in the health care reform and to straighten our the banking system instead of trying to gum up the system. It will be interesting to see where he stands on the Insurance exemption on the Anti-Trust Law.
Posted by: msgijoe | October 21, 2009, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm
Interestingly, Sen. Alexander’s alleged “victims” all include rich Repub. contributors and allies like Rupert Murdoch, banks, and health insurance companies. Dishonesty and greed are not traits exclusive to the right-wing. Lots of liberals suffer the same maladies. But since when is criticizing dishonesty and trying to end corporate favoritism and greed “creating an ememies list.” Not reported here, Alexander also blamed the “list” for lack of bipartisanship. RUK,Lamar? Finally, Some of us have long memories.Where was Sen. Alexander critical Nixon voice in 1974? Supporting the “Trickster.”
Posted by: B. Bear | October 21, 2009, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
This is really getting beyond obsurd. First and foremost President Obama has hit a wall created by the Republican Party when it comes to creating Bipartisan anything. The Party of No is supported by Fox.. Who has been on the attack for a couple of years now. So.. explain to me again what is HE doing to cause this problem? Did I miss something?
Posted by: Sharonkathleen | October 21, 2009, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
When the administration punishes a news channel because it doesnt like the critique, what you will be left with is the remaining news channels feeling like they had better only report favorably for the president. Not that Obama needs more help, but the public is the one in need of help if accountability has been eliminated in the press.
Posted by: TimCarssen | October 21, 2009, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
WTFGOP:
Just wait until the 2012 elections
and we’ll see which Party is in a
“deaths throe”.
We the American people are going to
throw the Dems in Congress out on
their butts!
The dictatorship end in 2012!
Posted by: reaganfan | October 21, 2009, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
Screw Fox with all their lying right wing BS from Hannity, Beck, Rush…etc.
They don’t care anything about this country or the people in it. All they care about is protecting their corporate sponsors who pay them to lie to the American people and keep them down while the corporations make all the money. Rich get richer and the poor poorer.
Posted by: Chet | October 21, 2009, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
Bush was Nixon on steroids. Cheney, Rumsfeld, Roger Ailes of Fox “News” and so many other paranoid, power hungry, pathological liars cut their teeth under Nixon and ran rampant in the Bush years. Bush did Nixon better than Nixon. Even John Dean, Nixon’s lawyer, said that Bush’s crimes were worse than Nixon’s. So these GOP clowns can just sit down and shut up while Obama cleans up their mess. That’s how they could best help the country right now.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | October 21, 2009, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm
The rest of us have seen this coming for some time. Hopefully enough people wake up by the 2012 elections that we can get this corruption out of Washington and take back our country. BO and his cronies need to go. The sooner the better!
Posted by: JustMe | October 21, 2009, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm
reaganfan, replace them with what?
The GOP ? LOL Every proposed candidate
is a wasted vote. Not one in the horizon.
Better start all over again.
Posted by: spacerook1 | October 21, 2009, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
Can anyone tell me why Alexander and those of his ilk can only think to hurl insults and lies based on nonsensical theories and paranoia? Can anyone tell me why, with all the problems facing this country, not one GOPer et, al have offered any sort of solution or constructive idea that could help the country rebound? The GOP has turned politics into blood sport where the only objective is to win and make the other guy look bad to the detriment of every single American.
Why does the media put so much effort into reporting the nonsense expressed by these clowns instead of actually reporting on substantive issues? Shame on you ABC.
Posted by: Marlene | October 22, 2009, 1:27 am 1:27 am
Deeds, only the first of many more to come!
Posted by: Gunrunner | October 22, 2009, 7:37 am 7:37 am
Our government is becoming a blob absorbing everything it touches. It is rolling along taking over businesses and gaining more control over our lives. There is a segment of the population that believes it will stop when the blob gets to their doors.
Posted by: Jeff in WA | October 22, 2009, 9:12 am 9:12 am
The only possible result of creating an enemies list is to threaten others enoough to not want to be on it. When this happens to the press, and any of us let it happen, the result is that we are left with an impotent press. The only ones happy with that result are the ones who support Obamas agenda and want everyone else to be controlled and brainwashed by a fearful media.
Posted by: Wurryd | October 22, 2009, 9:17 am 9:17 am
Man , I’m going to enjoy the next 8 years. keep it up Republicans, your party is down to twenty percent who call themselves Republican
Posted by: Dee | October 22, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am