Obama the "Conceder-in-Chief"

I was thinking about President Obama and his negotiating style with the GOP because of the latest manufactured crisis by the GOP--the alleged "fiscal cliff".  In the end, it probably would just mean the Bush tax cuts that helped to destroy the US economy would be increased and there would be some kind of financial stabilization.

Yet, it seems once again that President Obama conceded or caved to the GOP.  But, I am starting to think differently of the President.  He is not the usual Washington DC politician and does things that appear to be unusual.  But, if you look, it appears Obama always bends not just to the GOP but to help the poor and unemployed.  In this deal, the unemployed will get another year long extension in benefits while low income tax credits are extended for five years.

Of course, the GOP and some Democrats got their wealthy benefactors some goodies, too.  And, I am sure the math is accurate that it is a lot more money than what was done for the poor and unemployed.  However, I think many are missing the big picture and that is how does God view what happened?  And I think we can get a good sense from Matthew 25:31-46.

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

I view what President Obama is doing and has done is relevant to Matthew 25:31-40 and what the GOP and some Democrats have done is relevant to Matthew 25:41-46.  And I think it is rather clear cut that the GOP and some Dems are truly working to benefit and support the extremely and obscenely rich in this country--and they are rewarded by their patrons quite handsomely.  While Obama is trying to help out those who truly need it.