Obama Urges Setting Aside ‘Petty Politics’
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- current89
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more from News:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/obama-urges-setting-asi...
President Obama declared today that “a sense of purpose that transcends petty politics” must be forged by Democrats and Republicans to create more jobs, reduce the deficit and find at least some common ground on health care.“We can’t afford grandstanding at the expense of actually getting something done,” Mr. Obama said as he made a surprise appearance at the daily White House briefing for the media only hours after he convened his first monthly bipartisan meeting he called for in the State of the Union address.
The president praised Republican leaders for coming to the White House on a snowy day in Washington. He said the meeting went so well that Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic leader, and Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, were “out doing snow angels together on the South Lawn.”
But his laughter gave way to a forceful message, saying that bipartisanship was a two-way street and neither side – including Democrats – could get their way. He said there needed to be at least some cooperation, but he offered no specific path for the legislative way forward.
“Bipartisan can’t be that I agree to all the things that they believe in or want and they agree to none of the things that I want,” Mr. Obama said.
The president took several questions from behind the lectern in the White House briefing room, the first time he has appeared before reporters in a formal setting in months. The appearance by Mr. Obama had the effect of giving him the final word after the bipartisan meeting of lawmakers a few hours earlier.
It was the latest effort in a revised White House approach for the president to appear more transparent and more bipartisan in the second year of his term. He touched upon health care, saying that he would be willing to consider tort reform in the overall debate on expanding coverage and bringing down the costs of health care, but he said Republicans needed to consider some of the Democratic ideas.
“Bipartisanship cannot mean simply that Democrats give up everything that they believe in,” Mr. Obama said. He added, “That’s not how it works in any other realm of life. That’s certainly not how it works in my marriage with Michelle. There’s got to be some give and take.”
His bipartisan appeal came with sharp words for Republicans, whom he asked to stop blocking the confirmation of his administration appointees. He said he would consider making appointments during recess – a prerogative of the president – if Republicans did not give in.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/obama-urges-setting-aside-petty-po...
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Chique
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I hope this message chips away at a few consciences. At some point some will realize they were elected to get results and find solutions, not for personal political agendas but for the people who elected them. If they don't they should experience another aspect of "Change" when replaced.
- 1 month ago
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Chique
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JohnA
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He wants them all to just agree with him in a bi-partisan manner. As long as they agree with him.
- 1 month ago
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JohnA
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csmonut
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I wish him luck, cause' he's going to need it.
For some reason though, I keep thinkng he's got the repubs where he wants them. Backed into a corner and really beginning to show their true colors....white - 1 month ago
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csmonut
