(CNN) - White House aides are saying there's a "strong possibility" President Obama will take on Sen. Jim Bunning during the president's 1230 p.m. ET economic remarks at Savannah Technical College.
The president's staff has already been making political hay out of Bunning's filibuster against extending unemployment benefits.
"This is an emergency situation," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Tuesday morning. "Hundreds of thousands have been left in the lurch....I don't know how you negotiate the irrational."
12:20 p.m. ET UPDATE: A White House official tells CNN the president and his aides decided at the last minute to drop any reference to Sen. Bunning in his economic remarks to avoid getting mixed up in the "Senate debate du jour" today.
The official said the White House wants the president's remarks to focus instead "on the employment picture in Georgia" and the nation in general, and will let Gibbs' pushback on Bunning stand on its own.
From CNN Politics
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Of course Obama won't say anything about Bunning. If he does, it will just call even more attention to the fact that the Dems are, as they usually do, are writing rubber checks and are doing their best to ignore out of existence the very PAYGO legislation they voted for last month.
The Dems are irresponsible spendthrifts on a perennial spending spree with other peoples' money who really, really, need to have their taxpayer-backed credit cards cut up.
BUGS Bunning is a rascally NUTjob!!! He's angry at himself and could care less about the unemployed!!!
Gibbs/Obama: Continuing to spend money we don't have is the "IRRATIONAL" operation here, not Sen Bunning's standing in the way on behalf of the country that wants this irrational spending to stop now.
The mighty irresponsible out of control spender Obama is going to take on responsibility.................ought to be a good one. Democrats are demonizing Bunning for being responsible, playing on the taking food out of babies mouths crap. Emergency situation to keep on handing out the free money. Unemployment benefits have and expiration date for a reason.........or do they, unemployment is the new welfare. Sorry, folks, but there are jobs to do if you had to, but since you don't I don't blame you for taking the free money as long as they will give it to you.
As long as BUnning, sincerely, not eat or drink, like the rest of the unemployed, then I am fine with him.
BUT if HE EATS AND DRINKS, THEN HE SHOULD BE THROWN OUT!!! of office, to really feel our pain.
Yeah, best to just back out at the last minute. Wouldn't want anyone to actually believe that you stand for anything. Good grief...
As sad as this is for a KY native, I can't help but say that Mr. Gibbs' assertion that "This is an emergency situation. Hundreds of thousands have been left in the lurch....I don't know how you negotiate the irrational.", is quite laughable. This is, I think, how a majority of Americans feel about the push to health care reform when no one really wants it. If these senators would just listen to their constituents, they would find out that most of us do not want to be "left in the lurch" with ridiculous health care regulations that will tie the hands of the doctors and take away our individual freedom to choose where and when we want to go to the doctor or seek other medical treatment. There is no way to "negotiate the irrational" when it comes to this issue, and Mr. Gibbs and the president need to take a second look at their irrational attempt to get health care reform pushed down our throats!
I have to wonder if this Senator is doing what his constituents want of if he is doing it on his own. Kentucky has a high unemployment rate, so I have to believe he is doing what he wants and not what the people who elected him want. However, I can see his rational. The Bush/Cheney administration and now the Obama/Biden administration just keeps running up the deficet higher and higher with no end in sight. We have all had to make sacraficies during this economic crisis. I say cut the salaries for our congresspeople and senators and also everyone in the White House including the President to fund the unemployment benefits. You all sit there living high on the hog while the rest of the country struggles. You all ought to be ashamed.
Good. Bunning does not deserve any air time. Were was he when Bush's 2 wars, 2 tax cuts for the wealth were done with no way to pay for them. Okay when it is a Republican president and congress. I don't think so Bunning.
If he was not leaving this stunt would have caused him to lose.
To all: no more fear/hate/obstructionist/purity Republicans.
Vote in 2010 for either a true Democrat or Independent.
Obama needs to shut his mouth. I'd like to 'take Obama on' for his total disregard for other people's money. Obama makes speeches to avoid debate. When there is a debate, he doesn't answer questions and cuts people off.
Obama needs to lead by example not by forcing his whacked opinions on others.
I just want all of you who are ready to jump on Bunning for this that your beloved Obama stated, less than a month ago, that pay-as-you-go is essential to a responsible government.
By attacking Bunning, you are indicating that Obama is a hypocrite.
This time, I agree with Obama and Bunning.
Not the Obama that is telling everyone what they want to hear today but, the one who told everyone what they wanted to hear last month.
Bunning is the poster boy for nasty angry old bigots who should have retired in their early sixties. That's 1960s!
someone should take a bat to Bunning's arrogant head.
we need jobs, not more benefits. the libs make it worse by trying to make us more dependent
"Obama to take on Bunning..." sounds so thuggish, CNN...so typical of you to try and instill some swagger and depth to this waffling empty suit. Bunning's shaking in his boots, I'm sure....he'll send that boy packing...
Bunning is nothing but an old, disgruntled white-haired Republican who cannot except change.....oh, how he misses the days of George W. and the glorious wealth he and his fellow Republican thugs accumulated. Those were the days my friends!!!
So basically Obama unofficially made his statement by not officially making his statement.
Welcome to Chicago.
You dont want to remind any more votes that this little boy Owhiner just put in place pay go. The first thing that come up democants throw it out the window. Good for bunning, we should not have to pay because of bunch of people took the easy way out and have zero skills to be hired.
We need to help ALL unemployed workers. People are applying for jobs, just none out there. Either over-qualified or sorry, we're just not hiring at this time. I'm desperate!! God help us all.
And all you liberal RETARDS say Sen. Bunning is a coward.
Who's the COWARD now?
go barck