RUSH: From the Associated Press: “President Barack ObamaÂ’s jobs bill, facing a critical test in the Senate, appears likely to die at the hands of Republicans.” It was never meant to live, you people at the AP. But, see, this is exactly — I hate being right sometimes — this is exactly what I told you the purpose of that whole jobs bill was. It is the Democrats who can’t pass this bill. It’s the Democrats who don’t have the votes. It was Mitch McConnell’s idea to push for a quick vote on this. He wanted to illustrate the fact that Obama does not have Democrat votes. And right on cue, here comes the AP blaming Republicans for blocking the president’s tax bill.
One-point-nine million jobs hang in the balance, $427 billion jobs bill and, if it were passed, 1.9 million jobs immediately created, which is flat-out absurd, it’s not possible, there’s no way, and yet Obama’s jobs bill appears likely to die at the hands of Republicans. There’s a vote around six o’clock tonight in the Senate. If you read almost to the end of this, you find this. “Democratic unanimity is not assured. Moderates like Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. — both are up for re-election next year in states where Obama figures to lose — may abandon the party, even as oil-state Democrats have been assuaged by a decision to get rid of an Obama proposal to have oil companies give up tax breaks.”
This thing doesn’t stand a prayer because of Democrat votes. It never did stand a prayer. It’s not supposed to pass. So the Republican leadership thought that by forcing a quick vote on this they could once again embarrass Obama and have it illustrated to the country that it is the Democrats responsible for this bill not ever seeing the light of day, and yet again, opening paragraph, “President ObamaÂ’s jobs bill appears likely to die at the hands of Republicans opposed to stimulus spending and a tax surcharge on millionaires.”
From TheHill.com: “Democrats Scramble to Save Face on Obama’s Jobs Bill — Democratic leaders in the Senate are scrambling to avoid defections on President Obama’s jobs package, which appears headed for defeat [today]. A lack of Democratic unity…” At least they get it right the upper tier of the story. “A lack of Democratic unity on the president’s bill would be embarrassing for the White House, which has been scolding House Republicans for refusing to vote on the measure. Obama has been touring the country, aiming to put pressure on the GOP to act. But Senate Democrats have indicated they are feeling some heat. Last week, Democratic leaders revised Obama’s bill, scrapping his proposed offsets.
“Instead of raising taxes on families making more than $250,000 annually, Senate Democrats lifted that figure to $1 million. Despite the changes, the legislation still does not enjoy the support of all 53 senators who caucus with the Democrats. A handful of Democrats are undecided or leaning no on the bill. … Republican and Democratic analysts say it will be politically difficult for Obama to blame the GOP for blocking the bill if more than a few conservative Democrats break ranks.” Why would it be hard? Not gonna be hard. The media has just shown how it’s done. All you do is blame the Republicans! Have it as the lead in an AP story; that gets picked up by all the dunderheads in the local TV stations and local newspapers all over the country.
“That’s how AP does it. How many clients do they have, over 4,000? So, four thousand news outlets get a story where the opening line is, “Republicans responsible for president’s jobs bill failing.” That’s the game plan here, and it would be whether there was a vote on it or not. That’s the game plan. That’s what this was supposed to be about in the first place: “Republicans want to make sure the rich hold onto all their money! Republicans want to make sure that the middle class continues to lose their jobs! The Republicans want to make sure that people don’t get work. The Republicans basically want people to die. Get sick and die,” and this is the message. Now you have the rabble-rousers on Wall Street helping to convey that particular message.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: The headline that the media wants is the headline they’re going to get, and it’s gonna be used regardless what happens. Regarding the president’s jobs bill, the headline (mark my words) after the vote tonight, is gonna be “Republicans Kill Jobs Bill.” It’s what it’s gonna be. No matter how many Democrats don’t vote for it, no matter how many Democrats defect, “Republicans Kill Jobs Bill.”