Posted on 10/21/2009 2:04:41 PM PDT by reaganaut1
The third-ranking Senate Republican said Wednesday the Obama administration appears to be launching a Richard Nixon-like political strategy of making an "enemies list" of people who disagree with the president.
Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who once worked in President Nixon's administration, warned the White House that such a "street brawl" approach of attacking political opponents "can get you in a lot of trouble."
Alexander offered no evidence that Obama is developing an actual list, as Nixon famously created for his opponents. But, he said, "I have an uneasy feeling only 10 months into this new administration that we're beginning to see the symptoms of this same kind of animus developing."
"It's a mistake for the president of the United States," he said. "Let's not start calling people out and compiling an enemies list."
White House spokeswoman Gannet Tseggai responded that it's Republicans who "seem to be formulating lists of people and policies to oppose" while the president "is focused on tackling the list of critical priorities that Washington has ignored for too long."
The president "remains committed to working with Republicans to include their best ideas, even if he doesn't get their support," Tseggai said.
Alexander's criticism, which echoed weekend remarks from Karl Rove, the former adviser to President George W. Bush and a Fox News contributor, comes amid an unusual public feud between Fox News and the White House. Alexander also cited widening disputes between the administration and business groups such as the insurance industry, Wall Street banks and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Several top administration officials have sharply criticized Fox News in recent days, saying the cable television channel acts like a wing of the Republican Party and shouldn't be viewed as a legitimate news organization.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Good, a Republican with guts.
Lamar is the Mister Rogers of the Republican Party. Tut, tut, feels like rain...(roll eyes)
the AP isn't very sharp in the brain department. I guess they missed snitch on your fellow American: flag@whitehouse.gov
“the Obama administration appears to be launching a Richard Nixon-like political strategy of making an ‘enemies list’ of people who disagree with the president.”
The big difference is Obama has to worry about one little network, whereas ALL OF THEM were after Nixon. Sometimes people are paranoid because they’re being followed, others are paranoid because they’re sheltered little lord what-nots.
Obama’s career has prepared him more for a war with Fox news than it has for a war in Afghanistan.
LOVE your screenname!!!! :-)
Thus Mark Levin's nickname for him...Milhous!
HotAir has the video of Alexander’s speech and a good discussion going. Of course, the AP story focuses on the lack of an “actual enemies’ list” to try to discredit Alexander, but the speech in total is quite damning and Alexander has unquestionable authority on the subject since he worked in the Nixon White House. This administration cannot afford to get tagged with the Nixon label.
Hey Lamar it’s a good start. Now lets keep the ball rolling.
I’ve believed for the past nine months that Obama could very well become the left’s Nixon. As far as I’m concerned, he already is.
There is a big difference, Nixon resigned Obama wouldn’t ever.
Didn’t Obama call out Fox during his campaign and then in the first month or so of his presidency? Then I remember him being asked about something pertaining to not everybody liking him and he said I don’t have time for that I am too busy fixing the country.
And now he all of a sudden has time again...
The pattern is clear and he is worried about the low polls and exposure and he wants all opposing views silenced.
WTMJ Milwaukee local talk show Charley Sykes picked up on Lamar’s statement and expounded on Nixon vs Obama.
The problem is Sykes while very good on conservative issues Sykes at the time of Nixon was but a gleam in his fathers eye. There’s a lot of revisionist history which bears examination not repeating when it comes to recalling Nixon’s term of office.
Fact is Nixon didn’t need to resort to spying on the Democrats. He had that high of an approval rating, and we still don’t know really why he was so closely looking at with the Watergate bunglery.
One thing for sure there is no comparison between what Nixon did and what Obama has done and is doing. A harbinger of comming attractions was the investigation of The Chicago Annenberg Challenge Obama/Ayers funding use report on Chicago’s WGN radio which Obama tried to shut down early in his campaign.
http://www.theusmat.com/
Bambi’s foreign policy isn’t even Carterian. It’s Quislingian.
You can look at it if Lamar Alexander gets it, then it is really bad! :)
We need a new Bumpersticker
[Nixon / Biden ‘12]
Lamar is a RINO.
A good Republican that voted for the Stimulus. patooie!
I don’t think he voted for Obama’s “stimulus” — see http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2009/02/corker_and_alexander_did_they.php .
And do you know why there is a big difference? It's that Nixon did love his country. I think he finally realized that he did undermine it and resigned. Obama has no such qualms.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.