White House photo
The White House announced yesterday that is canceling public tours, citing budget cuts and the fact that sequestration will slash as much as $84 million from the Secret Service budget.
A phone recording on the call line for White House visitors informs callers that White House tours will be canceled, starting this weekend.
"Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration, we regret to inform you that White House tours will be canceled effective Saturday March 9th, 2013 until further notice," the recording says. "Unfortunately, we will not be able to reschedule affected tours. We very much regret having to take this action particularly during the popular spring touring season."
The reason for the cancellations, an official with the Secret Service told NBC News, is because the Uniformed Division Officers normally tasked with securing the tours will be reassigned to other security posts at the White House. The move will reduce overtime costs and may reduce the number of furloughs the Secret Service could potentially face, according to the official.
Generally speaking, this is hardly scandalous. The news will no doubt disappoint some tourists, and there's arguably a symbolic significance, but when evaluating the sequester's effects, this seems fairly minor. Indeed, if scrapping tours helps prevent Secret Service furloughs, it's a no-brainer.
It's why it came as something of a surprise when congressional Republicans reacted furiously to the news. The Huffington Post published a sampling of angry responses from GOP lawmakers, and Roll Call noted several more. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the chair of the House Republican Conference, said, "[I]nstead of making responsible spending cuts, the president has now denied American people access to the White House."
That President Obama has already cut spending -- and proposed even more spending cuts as part of a bipartisan compromise -- is a policy detail that McMorris Rodgers chooses not to understand.
But even putting that aside, I'm struck by what sequestration-related news congressional Republicans find outrageous -- and what sequestration-related news leaves the GOP feeling indifferent.
Jason Linkin's take rings true.
The pain of cancelling the White House tours is going to felt by a statistically negligible portion of the population, who will simply have to make do with any of the many thousands of other things to do in Washington in the meantime. On the other hand, the real pain of the sequestration is more likely going to come in the form of the 750,000 jobs that the Congressional Budget Office projects will be lost by year's end, if no deal is made. (And there are offers on the table!)
Quite right. The Congressional Budget Office tells lawmakers sequestration would cost the U.S. economy 750,000 jobs, and it doesn't stop Republicans from calling the sequester a "victory." Congress is told the policy will hurt military readiness, and most of the GOP shrugs its shoulders. Republicans are told the sequester will hurt low income families who rely on WIC and Head Start, and GOP officials look the other way.
But told that President Obama is halting White House tours, Republican lawmakers respond, "He did what?"
The congressional GOP may want to revisit its list of priorities.
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They are just pissed off because the only way a Republican can get into the White House now is by tour...or maybe dinner?
Your sarcasm is so thick, Steve, you could cut it with a knife. This is just Republicans being Republican... You know... Finding anything about the Democratic administration to criticize and using all of their forces to do the job.
Just more Republican desperation politics! They haven't got the "smarts" to do their job, so they look for stupid, inconsequential details to whine about!
I just WISH that everyone would give these kinds of right wing blathering the respect they deserve by just IGNORING them!!
Talk about "smarts to do their job" http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/capitol-janitors-making-ends-meet-with-overtime-nope/2013/03/05/f07a4f8c-85f9-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_blog.html?hpid=z3
There doesn't seem to be much coherance in the White House response. This whole thing is so silly
Tom-3671033 you and Fact Checker need to learn simple math.
Overtime is paid at time and a half; that is your hourly wage plus one half (1/2) of your wage for each hour your work over 40 hours in a week.
Lets see $1,000 a week and if you qualify for overtime that would be any thing over 40 hours week or 8 hours a day.
Math (1) $1000/wk ÷ 40/hr = $25/hr
Math (2) One hour overtime = $25 + $12.50 = $37.50
As you see one janitor has taken any extra $37.50 home at the end of week, for one (1) hour of extra work not $6.50.
By the way if the janitors need to work overtime to get the place cleaned on an on going bases, then there is an under staffing problem.
The Right is accusing Obama of deliberately making cuts in areas that have no business being cut in order to make the pain of sequestration be felt sooner than it otherwise would. What difference does when the cuts take place if they are to take place eventually, anyway? Shifting personnel around in a cut seems to make sense to me. Ah, there's the key...it makes sense.
The right is accusing him of faithfully executing a law that makes across the board cuts by making across the board cuts.
The tours were ended because the law made because the across the board cuts required a reduction in security. So, in this specific case, they're mad at him for not letting random citizens into the White House under conditions of reduced security. It's almost like they're mad because they were counting on random people getting into the White House under reduced security as some kind of an opportunity that Obama's thwarted by suspending the tours.
...the president has now denied American people access to the White House
Sounds pretty sinister, denying hard working Americans "access" to the White House.
I'm willing to bet that the "access" that corporate lobbyists have to the White House has not been similarly diminished.
It is shocking, SHOCKING, that despite massive cuts, life doesn't go on as usual.
Freedom isn't free.
What, these sequester Republicans don't want the White House to help out and do its share of pain and hurt?
Come on Boehner and Gohmert, wanna play some golf? -Kevo
I hope the President is smart enough not to set foot on a golf course--or a beach in Hawaii, or any other leisure activity--during the Age of Austerity. (Or Congressional Storm Earl, as Rachel named it).
Woe be it to any politician who's not that smart. See you at the Yacht Club!
The Republicans have long complained about the cost of Obama's travel, the security costs to the cities he visits, the traffic delays due to motorcades, etc. Nevermind that those amounts are in line with previous presidents.
So they should be happy that the administration is taking steps to reduce overtime for the Secret Service.
But of course they are not happy, because no matter what the President does or says, they will complain.
I imagine that the President will be savvy enough to suspend the "barnstorming" campaign he's been making against congressional inaction. It would be a real gift to the GOP if he canceled White House tours and then spent the resources on making speeches in swing states. --But somehow they will find a way to complain about him "holing up in Washington" or something like that. (Nevermind that it's exactly what they want.)
And the intellectual leader of the House Republicans, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), has proposed an amendment to the Budget Resolution which will prevent the Secret Service from spending any funds for the purpose of providing transportation for President Obama to play golf.
Not THAT's the way to have people know you are SERIOUS about protecting the people's money.
Now you know why people pray for assistance from the gods.
Sometimes all sarcasm and humor is just wasted, and the only word left is: pathetic.
Seems to me that more and more of our elected representatives are practicing tantrum politics. They don't get what they want, so they get ugly. Vokoban is right: it's pathetic. So, what can we do? Well, we can't give in, or bribe them with shiny objects. We have to stay calm, quietly ignore them, and wait until they tire themselves out. There will be many, many episodes before they realize that they can't get their way by acting out. Punishment will only strengthen their resolve, so we can't give in to that temptation. This situation requires extreme patience and fortitude.
So, politicians are complaining loudly that POTUS is being political! Who would have guessed at that?
I'm just waiting for one of the historically challenged Republicans to claim that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson wouldn't have suspended White House tours. <cue Louie Gohmert>
Maybe we could tell Gohmert that it is Obama's fault that the Sistine Chapel is closed to tourists. He won't know what it is or where it is at. This could be a lot of fun if he gets up on the House floor and repeats the story.
They are freakin' fools. It's ALL OVER the right wing blogs about the cost of TSA uniforms. They WANT TO KNOW why they COST so much. WHO got the contract god dammit! It's all small ball and their 'outrage' is a joke. Nothing said about the cuts to Native American schools? Nope.
What I think is striking is that the GOP loves to whine that the sequester is cutting "this not that" i.e. they need to focus on waste. How is scrapping a few tours in order to keep people employed not "waste." I know the tours are popular but isn't this the exact area that we should hit first rather than giving secret service officers a pink slip.
Cutting white house tours is a highly public and visible effect of policy, that makes it obvious that policy has real effects. It's that it LOOKS bad that matters, not it's actual effect. You have to view DC politics as if they were a road show theater. They don't want people to see behind the curtain. As long as "the show goes on" and looks good on the surface (WH Tours), that's what matters.
Had Obama not nixed WH tours, Republicans would bitch that "oh, he finds the money to do THAT!"
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/03/05/1677941/gop-rep-offers-amendment-prohibiting-obama-from-playing-golf-until-white-house-tours-resume/#comment_link
No doubt there is an abortion issue attached to that, as well.
Part of me wonders if they ever would have tried that with Clinton.
For too long golf courses have been "whites only".
This is the most dishonest, deceitful White House in the history of the country. This just demonstrates their lack of willingness to honestly engage in cutting anything. I suppose all you asses think it's fine that the Obama's have already spent $20 Million on their personal vacations this year instead. All of you deserve the crash you are about to suffer in your personal wealth because of supporting this mess.
Errr.....when the Obama's go on vacation, they pay for it themselves, that is a legal requirement. Didn't you know? Seems to be a lot you don't know.......
Check please!
Seems to me that the party advocating the cuts should name the specific ones they want to make. It isn't the other fella's job to do that.
Of course they want POTUS to name them so they can then decry the ones picked. It is obvious and stupid. Sort of like Gov Rick Perry and the departments he would close but couldn't remeber their names.
McCoy: So... by cutting the tour... that "demonstrates unwillingness to cut"... Does your computer have Liar Check, it's a cool new feature that warns you when you reach wing nut level discourse...
Your outrage at President Obama's vacations makes you look like an ass! How about the 2 weeks a month that Congress is in session and making $179,000.00 to do nothing. How about some outrage regarding that? I hope reporters are following those Repubs around to make sure they are meeting with constituents like "they claim". G.W., I would like to remind you was CONSTANTLY playing at his ranch in Texas during his term. Nobody complained because we felt it was safer than having that Dumby in the White House making more tax cuts and planning more wars.
Screw you McCoy, the whole congress is getting paid for doing nothing. I can make one cut here for sure. I can cut your arrogant ass from this blog. It's people like you that make it impossible to compromise. Take you bigoted as to some other blog.
Sorry, double post
Y'know, late at night sometimes Obama calls me and says "Hey, let's go get a drink at a strip club and get some lap dances. I've got McCoy's tax money, because I had the treasury take out double his rate and send it directly to me!THAT STUPID McCOY WILL NEVER KNOW!" Then we laugh at how all of the world is being paid for driectly by McCoy, and 6 billion people freeload off of McCoy's work.
Leave it to Bond-girl and corporate evil beeyatch C#nty McMongoose-Rogers for today's laugh out loud line from the Retardicons.
I'm certain the cuts in tours were made so that Obama can have secret socialist Muslim Kenyan Satanic rituals in "the back yard" donning his African headpiece, dining on aborted fetuses while dismantling firearms and throwing knives at the Constitution.
Too far?
The Republican sequester is nothing but a trap for the president. It's easy for Obama to slam the Republicans as nothing but a bunch of extreme Tea Party radicals with a horrible agenda for America. The people of this country generally agree. But the president needs a positive agenda of his own. He can't simply trust that voters will instinctively support him because he's not as crazy as the other side. We need jobs. We need government investment in our future. We need a leader who will not simply "compromise," but who will, you know, LEAD. - progressive
Have you ever tried to hurd cats? that's what it's like working with the past and current congress. I think Obama is trying to get 5 republican senators to see the light and they will try to pass the alternate plan that was tried when the Republican's filibustered....again!
We don't need government investment in jobs, we need an atmosphere that encourages private sector job creation. Even touting jobs to build infrastructure is only a very temporary fix. Those kind of jobs are not lasting. We need encouragement for American citizens to start businesses. A pro business environment.
Sure Jes, maybe if only those corporations were like, you know, enjoying record profits. But yeah... you have some good ideas... How about a law that gives businesses the incentive to not outsourse jobs!!! Oh... the Republicans fillibustered that... gosh golly...
Jes
There are people who spend their entire lives working in jobs that you say are "temporary" and "not lasting". Roads, bridges and the like will always need to be built and repaired. Infastucture is very necessary for the economy and businesses to flourish. It is sad and pathetic for you and others to denigrate those jobs.
Seriously, WHY did jes33's post above (19.2) get "collapsed by the community"? WHY??? What is wrong with her opinion? This is happening more here. I understand collapsing some yahoo that calls the POTUS names or is just trying to get under people's skin, but read Jes33's post right above and tell me why.
Is this an example of progressive thought? If you do not agree with someones opinion or idea (and Jes33's comment is a pretty tame and reasonable opinion) just get rid of it. Only opinions that are exactly the same allowed?
To be fair Maria (#19.4), I don't think Jes33 was denigrating infrastructure jobs. I think jes's has an opinion (right or wrong) that the positive economic infusion in the local economy of say a small town or rural area would be fleeting (with regards to a specific project).
The comments were collapsed because the commenter has no demonstrable knowledge of the topics on which he/she/it posts.
When we want false equivalency we have you or Robikins. If we want Fox's latest talking points or outrage du jour, there Blanksy. If we want drivel about the 2nd Amendment, Alva pops up.
There's only so much time in the day, you know...
Can you hear the whine coming from Washington? The President has just told the republicans. You want to play, we'll play. Now he should order the heat turned down in the House of Congress, and dimmer switches installed in all offices. Since they are so fond of telling the President that families have to cut back to stay within their budgets, they should be willing to do the same. Right?
My view of sequestration is so dim that by contrast a coal bin at midnight seems brighter than a supernova — but I think canceling tours of the White House is a mistake, both as policy and politics. Not all business can continue as usual under sequestration, but some can and should. The President and his political tacticians are trying to bring pressure on the Republicans by making symbolic cuts that hurt ordinary citizens in the hope those citizens will blame Republicans for the cuts and shutdowns. But people are smart enough to know that money to continue the tours can be found, so the anger over the canceled tours (from, say, the parents of 5th graders visiting Washington) will be directed at the White House, and rightly so.
This sequestration is exactly what the Republicans want. Since laying off people takes any help away from people plus the removal of any guard dogs at the hen house for rich bastards. If you want to really deceive the people than do this sequestration that will help block in getting any real justice for the American people so these rich bastards can continue in getting away with their crimes. Why would Republicans want to raise taxes on the rich bastards, when that very money can be used to provide the necessary personnel to effectively run government, help all people and prosecute corporate criminals. Plus on top of it finally steal Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for rich bastards. After all to Republicans, it is rich bastards that deserve all that money and not some freeloading middle class and poor people who are worked like slaves.
It's funny watching President Obama with Bo. You know I love the prez, but he doesn't 'get' animals. Look at his body language. Very tentative, unsure. I noticed it the other day in the photo when he was sitting on the sofa and Bo looked like he was trapped, almost pulling away. A little confidence and assertive energy would go a long way. Perhaps the same is true in negotiations with Congress? Just saying. . .
I imagine the lights and camera flashes have an effect on the poor dog. Could you be relaxed under those conditions?
No, I'm talking about Mr. President's body language. I have learned SO much about interacting with humans from my experience training horses and dogs. The energy you project is hugely important. We don't think about it too much in our human-to-human interactions, but it's far more important to us than most people realize. Animals take comfort from and give respect to someone who projects calm assertive energy; it's not surprising to me that humans react similarly. What you'd find is that Bo would look to his humans for their leadership and actually be relaxed if they acted more like leaders for him.
Again, I really love what the Obamas are doing in this country (both of them), but you can know a lot about people by watching the behavior of their animals. They are amazing mirrors of us.
I really am so tired of this crap. I have no patience for it anymore.
Why is it that when the republicans are down, rather than kicking them and finishing them off, Obama offers them a hand up in the form of potential SS and Medicare cuts? Correct me if I'm wrong or if that is a misstatement, but I think it's true.
And Reid? A "gentlemens" agreement with McConnell about filibuster reform? A deal with a man who stated his only goal was to destroy the leader of Reid's own party?
A lot of this fiscal cliff crap and sequestration could have been stopped before it ever came to be if the democrats played hardball. Why wouldn't they? It's like a game to these people, democrats and republicans, all of them - all the grandstanding, the brinkmanship. Their lives are not affected by all of this like ours are. They are so completely disconnected with reality it's mind boggling.
I have always been a democrat and will always believe in progressive ideals, and I do understand that the political climate is poisonous today, more so than it ever was except during the civil war, but why must the democrats continue to engage the republicans, after all of the evidence that has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt they do not want to negotiate in good faith, and do not have the best interest of this nation at heart?
I've come to this conclusion: Money has completely and utterly subverted and corrupted our democracy to it's core.
The only difference between republicans and most democrats is that republicans are already corrupt when they get into politics; and it happens to democrats gradually over time.
It might help to understand just how weird American politics are to recall that the Democrats were once the party of Southern segregationists while the GOP was the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt (the progressive, good clean government guy with big plans). The GOP kept the Dems at bay for decades, waving the bloody shirt (Civil War Union casualties).
Both have done 180's and doubtlessly will again.
Let's face it, the GOP expresses "outrage" about way too many things, and so often that people just ignore the hissy fits.
I wish the media would have the sense to ignore them, too.