WSJ: Did Obama blink?

By
• JASON L. RILEY

President “I will not negotiate” Obama has agreed to meet with congressional leaders, including Republicans, to discuss the government shutdown. Apparently, Mr. Obama thinks that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker John Boehnerdeserve the same respect as foreign dictators. This is progress.

Or maybe not.

Shortly after the after the meeting was announced, White House press secretary Jay Carney said that the Wednesday night meeting won’t be a negotiation. The president is “not going to sit down and start asking for puts and takes,” he said, according to Politico. Hmm.

Mr. Boehner’s office, meanwhile, is under the impression that the White House called the meeting to, well, negotiate an end to the shutdown. “We’re pleased the president finally recognizes that his refusal to negotiate is indefensible,” said a spokesman for Mr. Boehner, according to Roll Call. “It’s unclear why we’d be having this meeting if it’s not meant to be a start to serious talks between the two parties.”

Part of the reason that Mr. Obama has been able to drive a hard bargain is the polling. Yes, surveys show that ObamaCare is unpopular with voters and growing more so by the day.