Posted on 02/09/2010 11:43:55 AM PST by jazusamo
President Barack Obama said Tuesday he’s prepared to cut deals with Republicans in order to create jobs and improve the nation’s health care system, but he said he’s seen few signs so far that the GOP is willing to support any of his policy initiatives.
“I’m willing to move off of some of the preferences of my party in order to meet them halfway, but there’s got to be some give from their side as well,” Obama said during a surprise visit to the White House briefing room following a meeting with congressional leaders from both parties.
However, the president complained bitterly about protracted delays confirming many of his appointees. “I also won’t hesitate to condemn what I consider to be obstinacy,” he warned.
Obama’s unusual appearance before reporters came as the White House is making a renewed effort to convince voters that the president is making a sincere attempt to find common ground with Republicans. After working largely with Democrats on health care legislation that is now stalled on Capitol Hill, Obama has summoned Republicans to a televised meeting Feb. 25 to hear their ideas on reforming the health care system
“Bipartisanship cannot mean simply that Democrats give up everything they believe in, find the handful of things that republicans have been advocating for and we do those things, and then we have bipartisanship,” Obama said. “That’s not how it works in any of realm of life. That’s certainly not how it works in my marriage with Michelle, though I usually give in most of the time, but there’s got to be some give and take.”
As for the health summit, Obama said, “My hope right now is this doesn’t become political theater. . .I want a substantive discussion.”
Obama said he’s also open to talking about Republican concerns, such as limiting medical malpractice lawsuits, but also made clear that if that’s not the majority of the reason costs are going up, that he expected Republicans to address the other causes as well.
“There is no short cut in dealing with this issue. I know the American people get frustrated debating something like health care because you get so many competing claims,” Obama said. “It’s a complicated, tough issue, but what is also true is that without some action by Congress, it’s very unlikely we see an improvement over the current trajectory” of higher premiums and more uninsured Americans.
Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Republicans might support a job-creation bill if it was narrowly tailored.
“We’re certainly open to it. There’s a chance we could move this forward on a bipartisan basis,” McConnell told reporters in the White House driveway. “We hope it's not another stimulus bill. We hope it’s truly a job generator. We know that wasn’t a job generator."
The House passed a $174 billion jobs bill back in December which included funds for public works projects, additional aid to state governments, along with extensions of unemployment benefits and health care subsidies.
McConnell called the possible Senate bill “a work in progress.” He also indicated Tuesday that if the jobs bill becomes too costly, Republicans could back away.
“I think there’s a chance the Senate could get there with a small package,” he said.
You have majorities in the House and Senate.....and any GOP member that works with you should be targeted for removal, period.
Obama spent all of 2008 and most of 2007 telling us all how wrong the Republicans were ... wrong in EVERYTHING!
Everything they said, everything they did and everything they stood for,
Now he wants Republican opinions?
You won, Obama. You said so. Your Democrats won. You won everything.
Now go do it all ... On YOUR OWN!
No, Mr. President
You haven’t moved on iota off your agenda.
You could actually be a good president if you did an about face on a lot of your stuff.
The Union stuff is in this job bill. That should draw 100% GOP opposition by itself.
“I’m willing to move off of some of the preferences of my party in order to meet them halfway, but there’s got to be some give from their side as well,”
I love this guy...now it is his party’s bill! Hey asshat, your party could not get a bill together, they have resolutions passed in both houses and cannot get a bill together between the two...if they could, you would not be “holding your hand out in a spirit of bipartisanship.” You idea of bipartisanship is here is what I want you to agree to, see, that makes it bipartisan. Go bipartisan yourself.
Now this, I like. Let's redefine the language for THEM like they have been doing to us for 60 years, and see how they like it.
I can fully expect Senator McMilquetoast caving in faster than we think.
As a lifelong Conservative Republican I would gladly work for this president.
I’d work hard to build the fire to roast his sorry ass.
I’d work hard building a gallows to hang his sorry ass.
And I’d gladly be a member of the crew who keel Hauls his sorry ass.
but to work for this marxist p.o.s. and his agenda? Never.
TRANSLATION: Obama on the prowl for RINOs, SELL-OUTS and SUCKERS. Unfortunately the GOP has more than its share of each.
Amen to that. The turkey wants people to work with him as long as it’s his way.
Sadly, you’re right.
“let’s meet and work together”.
Crappola.
Again if you dance to this clowns tune you deserve what ya get.
Oh yes. Come rinos, come all. Come help me, the pied piper of socialism. Help me, the increasingly unpopular president who happens to be your political opponent. Together, we can shove an unpopular socialist government take-over of the health care system down the country’s throat. And even better, I will work hard to defeat you in the next election. You will surely receive your just desserts for helping me.
The does NOT have to be give from our side.
Republicans, Obama is sinking fast. Do not save him or any of the Democrat Party. Obama and his Democrat Party are anti-American, socialist and are dedicated to destroying the powerful economy of the USA. Do not give that socialist Obama an inch. Force him to agree to your terms. He is out of his league, he is an empty suit, he is a total lightweight, he has failed miserably on both domestic and foreign issues, the federal government and congress are out of control and, POTUS Obama does not have a clue!!!
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