Obama GITs MO Controversy

Hello, I’m Erica Nochlin and you’re watching Newsy.com.

U.S. President Barack Obama’s promise to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center by January of next year was thrown into jeopardy this week.

Both the House and Senate overwhelmingly denied funding for the closure.

The President spoke Thursday morning to defend this policy and address other national security issues.

A Democratic Senator tells MSNBC his party is behind closing GITMO, but wants a seat at the table:

“And it took the House and now the Senate withholding the funds for GITMO to basically get the administration’s attention and I actually have to say, Rachel, that it was very effective.”

The American Spectator disagrees with the senator, and has harsh words for those on both sides of the aisle:

“Republicans' public fearful fretting about detainees being brought to the states is a shameless political stunt offered in considerable bad faith. The shame is that Democrats continue to have leaders in Congress who are easily manipulated by shallow hacks in search of the next cheap political point.”

The President held a closed meeting Wednesday with human rights groups following reversals by the administration on the release of torture photos and the use of military tribunals.

These moves prompted criticism from Obama supporters.

The Weekly Standard slams Obama - saying he was just going through the motions of appeasement:

“I imagine this meeting felt like the first post-break-up coffee with an embittered ex. It's Obama's unpleasant duty to lie to them, let them yell, and validate their feelings. It's their place to yell, feel momentarily assured, and walk away knowing deep down inside that he doesn't really care about them anymore. Oh, the angst! The melodrama!”

CNN reports Obama must take control of this issue or risk becoming vulnerable on defense.

“Democrats live with the constant fear of being called weak on defense.  The president will be defined by this and the president can define this.  I think that’s where he can use the power of the bully pulpit.”  

While this debate rages on … what about the prisoners? Well, Politico takes a new perspective saying…

“The big problem is not going to be with potential defendants…We’re going to do something with them. It’s the indefinite detention guys.”