Obama To GOP: You Have To Start Meeting Me Halfway

One hundred days into office, Barack Obama's list of accomplishments is certainly immense. From the budget, passed by the Senate on Wednesday night, to a stimulus package, the current administration has put in place an economic framework that will shape domestic policy for decades to come. Those achievement, however, have come at a cost to another tenet of the Obama agenda: the dawning of a bipartisan age.

Only three Republican members of Congress in total cast votes in favor of the aforementioned proposals. One of those, Sen. Arlen Specter, decided that life would flow more swimmingly if he changed party affiliations.

Confronted by the fact that, in his words, "there is still a certain quotient of political posturing and bickering that takes place even when we're in the middle of really big crises," Obama offered a stricter definition of what he views as a Washington bipartisan. The GOP, in short, has to start meeting him half way.

"Simply opposing our approach on every front is probably not a good political strategy," Obama declared at Thursday night's prime time news conference. "I want them to realize that me reaching out to them has been genuine."

To his "Republican friends," Obama offered something of a rebuke for their conduct just 100 days into his administration. "I can't sort of define bipartisanship as simply being willing to accept certain theories of theirs that we tried for eight years and didn't work."

In particular, he laid the groundwork for compromise on what promises to be the next big partisan hurdle. "I've said this to people like [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell. I said, 'Look, on health care reform, you may not agree with me that I've -- we should have a public plan. That may be philosophically just too much for you to swallow. On the other hand, there are some areas like reducing the cost of medical malpractice insurance where you do agree with me. If I'm taking some of your ideas and giving you credit for good ideas, the fact that you didn't get 100 percent can't be a reason every single time to oppose my position."

Certainly the White House was not naïve to the realities that the Republican Party would oppose vast swaths of its agenda. But the extent of opposition (not on all policies, but the major ones) has been remarkable. And the Specter defection not only underscores just how lacking the GOP is of moderate members, but how difficult it will continue to be to secure bi-partisan achievements. The pressure to toe the party line, even Obama acknowledged, was that dominating.

"I do think that having Arlen Specter in the Democratic Caucus will liberate him to cooperate on critical issues like health care, like infrastructure, and job creation," he said, "areas where his inclinations were to work with us but he was feeling pressure not to."

Comments

[ThanksMatt]

Obama is just a great leader, absolutely no doubt. He gave the GOP's the opportunity to join without a loss of face.

Since they do not seem to want to cooperate he has to be more pointed now. And even this he does so decent, as shows what he said to the minority leader:

"If I'm taking some of your ideas and giving you credit for good ideas, the fact that you didn't get 100 percent can't be a reason every single time to oppose my position."

No doubt, over time more people will quitt the GOP or it will become more moderate. But the latter is not likely to happen.

Obama is interested in solving the problems, not in bickering whether he puts mustard on his food or not.
Whoever wants to join him might be forced to let go of the GOP, but certainly not because of Obama.

[Vance1]

From its name, cap-and-trade legislation sounds harmless enough. Unfortunately, cap-and-trade would be more aptly called "tax and trade" or "tax and spend" and it is far from harmless, posing a serious threat to our economy and our personal freedoms.

[bonum]

The "Party of No", what part of "no" do you not understand?

it's an issue of values:

if you value withholding-controlling (conservative) then you will not provide for everyone

if you value giving-liberal (Latin: Libertas - free) then you will provide for as many as possible

it's a clash of values. I would prefer a govt. that freely gives then one that withholds

[clarryr]

If you can't blame your problems on the government then you would have to acknowledge that you are a loser. Thus the 21% remnants of the Republican Party will never meet anybody halfway.

[ltyler01]

These GOP characters conveniently forget how Obama wined and dined them at the beginning of his term to discuss the problems we're facing. He initiated the olive branch to these guys. He had them over to the White for the Super Bowl where he played server. He had separate discussions with members of the conservative media that made many on the left angry.

This President made strong and honest attempts towards ending the division in the capital that most of us detest.

During these discussions with GOP leaders including Boehner and Canter, they "praised Mr. Obama's willingness to hear and listen their ideas, which is something they have often felt did not take place under President Bush."

What did these guys do...?

They listened to Limbaugh's rantings and stabbed the President in the back. They sat back and allowed for personal attacks on the prez character.

Now they sink themselves lower with nonsense about national security.

These guys cannot be honest with themselves so why should we believe they will be honest regarding the county?

[espresso4me]

In order to work together, both sides need to understand the issues, be able to discuss advantages/disadvantages in a civilized manner, reflect on what would be the optimum outcome, then work together to implement changes.
Of course it would require both sides to be intelligent, thoughtful, objective and have a desire to work for the betterment of this country and its citizens.
Unfortunately, it seems as if the bulk of the GOP is contentiously focused on mememememe and has no desire to engange in meaningful dialogue--simply because they lost to Obama. They are the bratty little bullies who never learned how to play together with others. They are the insecure little bullies who picked fights to make them feel powerful. Apparently, they never really grew up.

[solarian]

they wouldn't meet anyone half way my way or the highway

[stylenease]

The Republican Party is dominated by radical right wing nuts. To assume some of these diehards will EVER willingly go along with certain aspects of Obama's agenda is utter foolishness. The best thing Obama can do for the majority of Americans who voted for him and for real change, is to extend a hand of bipartisanship, but cram it down their throats while he still has the votes to do it -- especially if becomes anymore obvious that all the Republicans really want to do is maintain the status quo for the rich, while simultaneously obstructing the will of the majority in this Country -- The Middle Class.

[MacQ]

Does this mean he is going to come halfway now? That would be good.
Even part of that would be good.
Anything more than "I won get over it and keep your ideas to yourself" would be good.

[slowtono]

I haven't suffered in the last 8 years. Fact is Americans are fat fat fat. Fat houses, fat cars, fat jobs. There is no middle. 2 years ago Americans were working making investments and secure. Hell, gas got up to $5.00 a gallon and Americans were driving Hummers, Escalades and 1 ton pick ups. Now here this! the media and so called youthful America see their wants as Apartment dwelling with kids, riding mopeds, where the community is without Libraries, swimming pools, tennis courts, skate parks, dog areas, freeways. It may surprise you to find national news readers on the big screen make up to $1million and more a year for their reading abilities. Get a horse! Even local broadcasters in large areas make great money. Listening to them is like your boss telling you cut backs are necessary but things will get better. When,... after you've been let go and the remaining employees agree to work for less. A national work program is a bubble. Bailout to banks is a false unearned security, a BUBBLE. Halfway starts with the working class middle. Halfway is bailing out the middleman not the rich.

[NASW]

In College, they teach you to write compositions where you state your case, lay out your argument and then conclude with an assertion that your argument supports your case.

in short...

what's your point?

[Pammy2]

Good point NASW. When my daughter was in THIRD grade they were teaching the writing concepts you mention.

I can't figure out if slowtono is mad about bank bailouts or mad about there being no middle class anymore or mad that he doesn't have his hummer anymore.

[stylenease]

Hey man.....pass me a hit of that. It must be killer!

[Victor Olise]

I think it is about time that the American people realized that the image of Republicans as tough is false; Republicans are mean, not tough, there's a big difference. Notice how the ones that most strongly advocate fighting wars or projecting power in most cases never volunteered to join the military (deferments come to mind) yet are the first to want to commit others to fight. Please we need to get this image straight; Republicans are not TOUGH, rather they are just MEAN!!

[domicile]

You forgot immature and cowardly.

[bluejoni2525]

Can someone explain to me why those on the right who say that they hate the "government" run for office?

[marco01]

So they can drown it in a bathtub and invade other countries.

[Abrafo]

yeah I would love hat explanation too.

[solarian]

they don't hate the government they want to tell everyone what to do except them

[bluejoni2525]

There is no dealing with the under 20%ers .They don't want to deal so why should we!!!!! They beleive fantasies when presented with facts(Iraq and 9-11, wmd's,etc.)

[marco01]

Exactly. You can't have bipartisanship with the "my way or the highway" crowd.

[winstonian22]

Someone should tell Obama that "bipartisanship" is a two way street. The underlying problem is you have to like someone to work with them, and a lot of people really don't like Obama. (And no those people are not racists.)

[SDindependent]

Well according to the polls, 81 percent of America like Obama with or without his policies. So I guess that leaves the 21 percent remnant right wing republicans that don't like him. I am curious what percent of that group do you think might be racists?

[pinkindie]

No, you don't have to "like" someone to work with them. We all work with people we don't "like." That's life and you still do your job, because you are paid to do it. If you can't stomach working with someone you don't "like" -- then you quit and get another job. It's that easy.

[cwpetrol]

here here.

That original comment is so absurd it's bordering on hilarious. Elected public representatives have to "like" somebody to work with them. What are they? Schoolchildren?

[marco01]

Obama has shown himself to be gracious, thoughtful and dignified on every front. The only reason some people don't like him is because they have difficultly with people with different ideas.

In the GOPs eyes, bipartisanship is, at best, a tool to manipulate the opposition. The current radical crop of GOPers disdain bipartisanship and comprimise and see it as a weakness. I recently heard a GOP pundit angry because Obama was only willing to accept about a third of the input of the GOP Congress on the STIM. What does he think it should be - half and half?

When the GOP was in power it was "my way or the highway."

[Garrett123]

You make absolutely no sense.

[ltyler01]

I'm convinced the right has selective amnesia.

You forget how Obama wined and dined these guys several times soon after the inauguration. He even wined the dined conservative members of the media (Will, Brooks etc). Even had these guys at the White House for the Super Bowl.

Your argument falls flat.

[Chem is she]

This is a party that cannot even meet some of its own leaders a quarter of a way. Any hope for them behaving like professionals is lost.