After President Obama encouraged voters to “email” or “Tweet” lawmakers in order to “keep the pressure on Washington” to reach a compromise and avoid default, media conservatives announced that Obama had declared “Twitter War on Republicans.”
Unto The Breach: Media Conservatives Uncover Obama's “Twitter War” On The GOP
Written by Jeremy Holden & Kevin Zieber
Published
After President Obama Called On Voters To “Email” Or “Tweet” Congress To “Keep The Pressure On Washington” ...
President Obama Calls On Voters To Contact Lawmakers: During an address on debt ceiling talks, President Obama called on voters to call and Tweet their representatives in Congress:
Now, on Monday night, I asked the American people to make their voice heard in this debate, and the response was overwhelming. So please, to all the American people, keep it up. If you want to see a bipartisan compromise -- a bill that can pass both houses of Congress and that I can sign -- let your members of Congress know. Make a phone call. Send an email. Tweet. Keep the pressure on Washington, and we can get past this.
And for my part, our administration will be continuing to work with Democrats and Republicans all weekend long until we find a solution. The time for putting party first is over. The time for compromise on behalf of the American people is now. And I am confident that we can solve this problem. I'm confident that we will solve this problem. For all the intrigue and all the drama that's taking place on Capitol Hill right now, I'm confident that common sense and cooler heads will prevail. [WhiteHouse.gov, 7/29/11]
... Conservative Media Decided That Obama Declared “Twitter War” On GOP
Following the call to contact members of Congress, Fox Nation declares it a “Twitter War on Republicans.” Fox News' Todd Starnes wrote on Fox Nation: “President Obama declared a Twitter war on Republican lawmakers today through his online account, @barackobama - just moments after telling the nation it was time to move beyond politics.” From Fox Nation:
[Fox Nation, 7/29/11]
Drudge Report: “Obama Launches Twitter War On GOP.” From the Drudge Report:
[Drudge Report, 7/29/11]
Fox News' Jon Scott: “Some Critics On [Twitter] Are Calling This Cyber-Harassment.” Fox News anchor Jon Scott said:
Well the president, for his part, even sending a rare Tweet, calling on Americans to pressure Republican lawmakers into what he calls a balanced deficit solution. It reads, quote, “The time for putting party first is over. If you want to see a bipartisan compromise, let Congress know. Call. Email. Tweet. BO.” End quote.
The BO at the end means the president sent the Tweet himself. The president's campaign staff sent the others. They are now Tweeting the handles of Republican members of Congress in each state.
Some critics on the social networking site are calling this cyber-harassment. [Fox News, Studio B, 7/29/11]