Author: GOP 'walked into a trap' set by Valerie Jarrett

A lot has been written about Valerie Jarrett's influence in the Obama White House. It's been suggested that she convinced the president to delay the raid that killed Osama bin Laden and some have speculated it was Jarrett who issued a "stand down" order for rapid response teams in Benghazi.  While the White House denies both accounts, concerns still remain and the latest news out of Washington won't help resolve them. 

Ed Klein, former foreign editor at Newsweek and author of "The Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House," now claims that Jarrett is behind the president's "no negotiations" stance, a "trap" set for Republicans on Capitol Hill.

The New York Postreports:

“It was during one of those nightly sessions that Jarrett devised the no-negotiating strategy that Obama has employed in his fight with the GOP over the government shutdown,” Klein said, citing sources within the administration.

“Valerie came up with the concept late at night, after the kids and grandma and were gone.”

“She convinced the president that a government shutdown and default offered a great opportunity to demonize the Republicans and help the Democrats win back a majority in the House of Representatives in 2014 .

Valerie also came with the idea of using the words `hostage’, and `ransom,’ and `terrorists’ against the Republicans,’” Klein said.

According to Klein, Jarrett's strategy was meant to weak the GOP's majority in next year's House elections to give Obama's plans for comprehensive immigration reform a boost.  She derives her influence from sheer proximity, Klein says, noting that no one with the exception of Michelle Obama has such access to the commander in chief.

Jarrett is the one who advised Obama “do not cooperate one iota on ObamaCare. Don’t given an inch. Let the Republicans stew in their own juice,“ Klein said.

“The Republicans walked into a trap set up by Valerie Jarrett and President Obama, The Republicans are in an untenable position,” he added.