The Politics About 1.3 Million Losing Unemployment Benefits

According to Barack Obama, those heartless Republicans in Congress decided to go home for the holidays and let 1.3 million Americans lose their much-needed and extended unemployment benefits --- just four days after Christmas.  Certainly, this makes the GOP the Grinches. Of course, they could have been even more heartless by allowing benefits to expire just before Christmas.  But, mercifully, and unlike Ebenezer Scrooge, they waited until the Saturday after.

In reality, the loss of these benefits was part of the bipartisan budget deal that was approved by both Democrats and Republicans alike; in both Houses of Congress; and, was signed into law by the President.  Everyone (Obama, the Republicans, and the Democrats) knew that the budget deal would drop extended benefits for the unemployed.   Never once was there a threat by Obama to veto the deal if the benefits weren't extended, nor was there any movement on the part of the Democrats to extend them before the bill was passed into law. Of course, once signed, the President, unlike the Republicans, who only went home for the holidays, flitted off to Hawaii for perfect weather, beautiful sand and beaches, and, of course, some of the best golf courses in the world.  No way was he going to stick around frigid Washington and attempt to get an eleventh hour deal to save those unfortunate workers from heir fate

Now, after the benefits are gone, Obama and the Democrats think that they should be renewed. Not by 13 weeks, or 26 weeks, but instead, by 47 weeks.  This odd number conveniently extends the benefits until after the November elections.  As usual, the President could care less about people losing their benefits.  Instead, like the delay of oh so many ObamaCare mandates, it's all about winning elections.