Obama On Republicans: 'I'm An Optimist, Not A Sap'

In an interview with columnists aboard Air Force One, President Obama talked about what he learned from the stimulus battle. Pronouncing himself impressed with his team for moving the legislation through Congress so quickly, he said the plan wasn't everything he wanted but was still a "very good start on moving things forward."

As for his experience with congressional Republicans, the president said, "I made every effort to reach out to Republicans early to get their input and to get their buy-in. I think that there were some senators and House members who have a sincere philosophical difference with the idea of any government role in boosting demand in the economy. They don't believe in [John Maynard] Keynes and they're still fighting FDR ... I think we can disagree without being disagreeable on that front."

He added that the GOP also made a "political and tactical" decision to oppose the stimulus as a way to rally their base. "Whether that's a smart strategy, I think you should ask them." He said that it was his impression that the House Republicans decided to vote party-line against the bill before he met with them. "I'm not sure that there was a whole host of things that we were going to do that was going to make a difference." (Republicans dispute that interpretation, claiming they were open to the stimulus when they met with Obama.)

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said recently that Obama lost control of the stimulus debate by focusing too much on bipartisanship.

Asked if he would be so willing to reach out to Republicans in the future, the president responded, "You know, I am an eternal optimist. That doesn't mean I'm a sap."

Looking more forward, the president also outlined his priorities for the rest of the year:

My priorities for the rest of the year. Number one is to get the right structure for the successor to TARP; spending the $300-some billion that has already been authorized as wisely as possible, and injecting transparency and trust into the financial system. Having a housing program that provides relief to people who are at risk of losing their homes. Financial regulations that ensure that the crisis doesn't happen again. A innovative and aggressive push for health care reform that focuses not just on access but also on costs, and trying to just provide relief to working families. And a push for an energy policy that puts us on a path to sustainability.

Comments

[little]

Hehe, the Rethugs are disputing that they were not open to negotiations?!!! Remember when they sent out a memo to all representatives to vote against the bill just a day before Obama went to Capital Hill to meet them?!!! Bold faced liars!!!

[sidx]

My Republican Congressman (J Gerlach 6th PA) has issued a statement that
he has 'stood up' for his district by voting no on the stimulus bill. He doesn't want to burden future
generations by a cost of $10,000 per household.

This might be a plausible action if the economy was fine. I, however, and I suspect many
like me, have lost value in stocks and home that far exceeds ten times that amount.

I much prefer investing in the economy to create jobs, which is the only way to
restore value and profits. This burden on future generations is a red herring. My heirs will do a
lot better in the future by investing now,to provide jobs. a thriving economy,
and value to their inheritance.

[bubbuh]

I know how you feel. We have tough times ahead; vut, the Stim Bill is a step toward setting things right.

[timm0]

If Jimmy Hair-Piece ever stands up, it'll be straight onto our necks by the strength of his party buds lifting him. Sad thing is we haven't had a solid opponent for this guy since Dan Wofford.

[bygollymissmolly]

If J Gerlach is so proud of his vote, I assume that he will be turning down all federal money slated to come to his district.

It never ceases to amaze me that they are worried about this debt we are accruing through an investment in this country and they have absolutely nothing to say about the 5 trillion in debt that the Bush Crime Family and the Republicant's ran up over the last 8 years with zero benefit to this country.

[bubbuh]

Yeah, Yeah. Dem's good. GOP's bad. Except it did take two GOP votes to pass that bill. It also took Joe Lieberman And Bernie Frank. Oh, yes, and every single Dem voting the party line despite their individual misgivings. When (if?) Franken gets his seat, important bills will still need GOP support. When invoking cloture, one is not playing horseshoes.

Despite everyone's overuse of the word, bipartisanship isn't what Obama's been reaching for. He's reaching for a working coalition. he's been working to that end since last November. That means working the Democratic Caucus to retain all 56 votes If you think that's easy, you haven't been paying attention even a little bit.. It also means satisfying both Lieberman and Frank. And, it means persuading two Goopsters to cross party lines.

How many of you folks trashing the Goopsters as absolute evil and crowing about how you know better than Obama wanted to kick Lieberman out of the Democratic Caucus? How exactly would you folks who are yammering about how you voted for change and not what we have, how would you have gone about passing this bill?

Obama is a pragmatist. He hopes for the best and plans for the worst. The only sap in his house is the syrup on his pancakes.

[gr8fullib]

Why would you think Franks wouldn't vote for this bill? Did you mean Bernie Sanders (I) Vermont?

[bubbuh]

yep, thanks for the correction. :-)

[quixoto]

Bernie Frank? Who the hell is Bernie Frank?

Barney Frank is a Democrat, head of the Finance department or something.
Bernie Sanders is a Socialist, listed as an Independent. Just like Joe Leiberman, he caucuses with the Democrats. And also like Joe Leiberman, on economic issues like this his politics are CERTAINLY more in common with the Democrats than the Republicans. I don't get your point in bringing either of these people up.

[bubbuh]

My Bad, I meant Sanders, of course.

Having politics in common is certainly not the same as voting the same way. Sanders would certainly vote with the Democratics virtually every time as things stand. Lieberman can and has voted with the GOP. In fact, he almost joined the GOP Caucus last year. The point of a coalition is that it has to be meaningful for everyone in it.

Tossing Lieberman to the wolves for his support of the unequivical support of the Iraq War and endorsement of McCain was a favorite topic here not two months ago. Obama not supported his retention in the Caucus, he pressured Reid to support Lieberman's retention of the Homeland Security Committe chairmanship. a move that outraged many lawmakers in addition to most liberal bloggers..

This move has already paid dividends for Obama, by many accounts it was Lieberman who persuaded Specter and Snow to vote the Stim Bill.

[PeacefulRevolution]

How can you prove anything you just said? Please. You are not talking to children.

[bubbuh]

Prove what? That one needs 60 Senate votes to pass important legixslation? That many bloggers today are crowing about how they know so much better than O'bama? That poster opinion on HuffPost last November was overwhelmingly in favor of sending Leiberman of the Goop and was highly outraged that the Dem Caucus let him keep his Committee Chairmanship because Obama asked them to?

I think I am talking to at least one non-adult mentality here.

[nomobull]

only because it needed to be veto proof. next time we can afford to let them filibuster . i say next time they threaten to filibuster we all donate a phone book or a bible to the cause with a note attached "her's some reading material for you."

[bubbuh]

There several important bills having to with the economy, the war, the bufget etc. that are going to need cloture.

One of the forgotten facts about the 1930's is that FDR always had as 3/5ths completely Democratic majority in the Senate. In those days it was 58 votes. He needed neither Goop, Independent nor Progressive Party votes. While some of those Dem votes were really Dixiecrats, FDR could pass pretty much anything he wanted. Some of his most important legislation was introuduced and passed in the very same day.

One of the nicer definitions of politics is "the art of the possible." Obama knows what he needs and he is proving that he knows how to get it. He won't cut the Goop; he will let them cut themselves while he works the seven or so Centrist Goop Senators for the votes he needs.

[roshni]

You have a point though I don't like your style of making it. Hopefully, once Franken is seated and we kick a few more rethugs out, we will have a fillibuster-proof majority and won't need any rethugs any more.
For the time being, I do think you are correct and Obama is a pragmatist.

[bubbuh]

I have a hangover and I have read too man y "this isn't the change I voted for" "how can that Obama be so ..." "all Republicans are un-American" comments this norning.

Demonizing people one disagrees with does nothing positive. I say it loud. And, I write it often because I myself find that behavior so tempting. But, agian, it does nothing good. I watched that sort of thing destroy the Democratic Party from within during the '70's and '80's. I've watched the Goop destroy itself the same way for the past 25 years. It always starts by vilifying the other party. Then, it moves to cutting the throats of one's fellow party members because they aren't whatever enough.

I would prefer we stopped the cycle right now.

[monty]

I say SAP.

I've seen a few posts here start with "If Republicans were smart..."

Therein lies the problem.

Why do Dems continually try to "reach out" to these slimeballs every time they win big in an election? The definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result each time.

The Republicans are Stupid and the Democrats are Insane.

Hang on, it's gonna be a bumpy ride, folks!

[MissKaren]

I'm not at all sure I agree. I think it's essential, given that 45% of the American electorate voted for McCain, that we have some kind of GOP input. That does not mean they should be allowed to shut down the machinery but it is essential to educate them in what works. If they want to be obstructive, sure walk all over them but if they want to be reasonable like Snow, Collins and Specter, cultivate them, strengthen them and make them your ally.

[bygollymissmolly]

Ok, were you protesting when 48% of the people voted for Gore and Kerry and yet the Republicant's shut the Democrats out of the political process completely?

[PeacefulRevolution]

We don't need your commentary monty. Try this

http://couplesforchristglobal.org/v2.1/

[bygollymissmolly]

SPAM.

[golferman]

"The Republicans are Stupid and the Democrats are Insane."

The Republican statement made some sense.

But the Democrat statement was insane.

And I am hanging on for the best ride of my life.

[timetorevolt]

if you are accurate, i'm going with insane because i don't like what STUPID did these past 8 years..

[Bodie1]

Pack it in Republicans. It's over for you.

[victoria38]

gotta go folks....it's been fun...happy hour at my local mexican tavern...margaritas waiting..
I'll come back later and it should really be fun conversing after a few of those!!

[judyc]

Enjoy!

[Jamchinadian]

Sadly, most Republiican'ts (and a few Dems - but most Repubs) are not comfortable with calm, reasoned logic. They rely on sound bites and bluster. And it works for them as the "media" repeat, in Pavlovian fashion, the inane catchy phrases.

So, for example, we heard it was not a stimulus, it was a "spending bill". And until the President pointed out the obvious, both the wrong wingers and the "press" (same thing?) repeated that mantra.

Now that POTUS has debunked that particular bit of idiocy, they are now saying it's "generational theft". Can you believ that - coming from this crew? The ones who have mortgaged our children's future to China! The ones who have been burning tax payers money in Iraq - a country that posed no threat to us? The gall of these relics - and, once more, the media are right into the "hook"!!!

[workturtle]

As I recall the Democrat controlled congress funded the war in Iraq over the last four years. In total the war cost us like 1.2 trillion over six years. 1.2 trillion in 6 years or eight hundred billion in two weeks:0 It's easy to be an optimist when you're writing checks with other people’s money.

[Jamchinadian]

Shrubco were "writing checks with other people"s money" - the Chinese. Do you think the Chinese are about to write-off all that debt, that "generational theft"? Also, your arithmetic is 100% off; you doubled the 2 years (2006) to 4 years!!! And you very conveniently "forgot" who controlled congress the previous 6 years; as you also forgot the Repubs very liberal use of filibuster. These too are also examples of the wrong wing M.O. Thanks for making my point for me.

[bygollymissmolly]

Since the Democrats were only in "control" for two years, your post is a l*i*e. And, the Democrats really had no choice but to vote for the spending bills because they were not willing to leave our troops high and dry.

[NotMcCain]

When you see Republican leaders, one after another, criticizing Obama's plan but UNABLE TO OFFER anything substantive of their own...well, clearly, Game. Over.

When they came out after it passed saying, "Ours had twice as many tax cuts, would have stimulated the economy twice as well--and cost half as much!" Well, you could laugh till you cry.

Their base is fooled by their obstructionism. But no one else is.

[RepugsOut08]

How about Arlen Spector's claim that some of his fellow Reps congratulated him for having the courage to vote for the bill, and were themselves too afraid of their base to do what they knew was right for the country. What a bunch of selfish losers.

[roshni]

Does not surprise me.

[Mugzi]

Yes, the drama of that character in Congress...what fools they are!

[bygollymissmolly]

Fortunately for us their base is hovering at around 24% and shrinking daily.

[Troll Spray]

Let's face it, the President is making the GOP look bad, not hard to do when you think about it. But his strategy is not only brilliant, it's working.

[DiogenesOfAlaska]

Now Obama has officially cracked the code.

He is even able to provide adequate self-descriptions. "You know, I am an eternal optimist. That doesn't mean I'm a sap." - priceless.

For all I know now, I wouldn't be in the least surprised if he were also able to dance on the wings of an airplane, as Pan Tau famously did.

[sheaintsayin]

;-)

[Shozen]

While I was against giving the Republicans any input, I now realize Obama was quite savvy. Obama reached out to the Republicans in a spirit of cooperative bi-partisanship to see if they would provide good ideas for a national solution. They responded by carping on the old failed policies of the past and stonewalling everything that was proposed.

Obama clearly showed the Republican mind. They would rather than be part of the problem than part of the solution. There is no point or reason for Obama to "reach across the isle" now.

[skymuffin]

Well, I think you've hit upon something. Obama did look like a sap, but, he did get farther than any of these "experienced" politicians, who all think they can be president. So, he's a political animal. I'm skeptical, but hopeful that he can pull this off, even though I don't agree with a lot of his personnel choices.

[chitown8]

That is the way your comprise. You might not agree but you are willing to accept it. If the republican would act that way we would be able to really govern.

[bubbuh]

Obama's inexperience is a myth. This is his 12th year in elected office. State government counts and counts more than being a mayor of a small town.

[Shozen]

I hope he can pull it off too. I wonder about some of his choices too. But I suspect they will be far more flexible to new ideas than what we had for the last eight years.

I feel the Republicans took a real gamble. If Omaha succeeds they will loose badly. But if Obama fails, there is no guarantee that the public will forget that the Republican CAUSED the whole mess and they could still lose.

[Totto]

Can you imagine the McCain/Palin Plan for the Economy? Tax cuts on luxury goods: Christofle, Baccarat, Mercedes, Armani, etc. Tax rebates on yachts over forty feet. That'll do the trick!

[bubbuh]

A turkey geeker in every yard.

[Jazzcomedian]

The alternative plan that McCain offered in the Senate last week was $445 Billion--all tax cuts. All tax cuts!!!! Absolutely ridiculous for the complex financial and economic mess we're in. But that's his best shot. Imagine if he'd won the election.

[bubbuh]

And, he also got the two GOP votes he needed to pass this bill. It's only been two days, but this little item seems already to have been forgotten.

[StillIRise]

Everyone was criticizing President Obama because of the way his outreach to Republicans LOOKED ... a look that was largely shaped by Republican talking points. But we are often blinded to reality by the delusion of appearance.

In reaching out to Republicans, President Obama shows true leadership, as a President is mandated to do. He shows honor to his office and honor to the American people, even to those who disagree with him and will never support him. The Republicans, on the other hand, are simply showing themselves for who they are, and it's not a pretty picture. Therefore, President Obama is not only winning on the PR front, but he's also still winning on his agenda, whereas the Republicans are losing both!

With a Democratic majority in Congress, he could easily choose the easy way out and be another Bush, but that's not the kind of President our country deserves nor the kind of President we voted for.

The Republicans also have a choice: They can choose to be statesmen or they can choose the same partisan games that have already destroyed their party. Obviously, they chose the latter!

The Democrats who voted against the bill showed the spirit of bipartisanship that the Republicans can't understand. Even though we disagree with their vote, they engaged in the discussion and were ultimately guided by their conscience; as opposed to Republicans who refused engagement and were merely guided by partisan party politics.

[MomfromTexas]

The president responded, "You know, I am an eternal optimist. That doesn't mean I'm a sap."

OMG! LOL! I've used that line about myself, before. How funny!

[candyc]

It seems to me like there may only be a small handful of GOP Congressmen and Senators come 2012.

[rubinoff]

party time is over.

[roshni]

We have to work hard and make sure that is so. 2010 elections around the corner.

[blurredtruth]

Reverse what he said and this is his perception of himself. More mistakes will come from the person who has never governed.

[judyc]

Please list the "mistakes" thus far.

Thank you.

[hialoha]

It's all in your name.

[rubinoff]

...and the 'one' who did 'govern'...aaah, let me count the ways/ones.many...many,...many.
how soon ye forget. :(

[stanjz]

Reverse what he said, add a couple words, and divide it by Rush Limbaugh. You just turned the President into a Republican.

[chitown8]

Make sure you tell your Governor to return all funds ASAP!

Also any monies you received from your paycheck return it to Washington. If you are not willing to do that then sh ut your pie hole!

[jojothedoggirl]

Makes you proud to be a Dem. and a liberal.

[uniquelyme]

Yep, got that straight!

[roshni]

I always was, but now even more so.