Barack Obama, John McCain Reuniting For Private White House Meeting

President Barack Obama and his 2008 adversary, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), are set to convene at the White House Wednesday afternoon for a closed-door meeting to talk about policy.

MSNBC's First Read reports that the two met last December to discuss legislative action on the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" and the passage of the Dream Act, but that the latest invitation, set for 2:05 pm, comes amid a different set of considerations:

A senior administration official tells NBC's Savannah Guthrie that today's Obama-McCain meeting is the result of a call the president placed to McCain after the Arizona senator's op-ed praising Obama's handling of the Tucson shootings. A McCain aide tells Guthrie that the two men will likely discuss Egypt, free trade, earmarks, and immigration.

While Obama and McCain had also tried to bury the hatchet shortly after the election in 2008, tensions between the two appeared to have flared at times during the past two years.

At a health care summit last year, the two notoriously clashed when Obama sharply told McCain, "we aren't campaigning anymore."

"I'm reminded of that every day," McCain responded.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M) is also expected to meet with the president Wednesday.

Comments

[glenn113]

08:51 AM on 02/03/2011

I admire John McCaine for trying to unite this country at this time, yet all the chickenhawks over at Fox News are against the people in Egypt that are fighting for democracy. It's no wonder why Fox is despised by every network. Hannity saying that the only violent revolution that turned out good was the one in Iraq. Try selling that line to the thousands of our kids who are maimed for the rest of their life or the families that lost a loved one.

[RMGofCO]

11:10 PM on 02/02/2011

Well, I would have loved to been a fly on the wall in the presence of that conversation. I hope POTUS will be careful how much he interacts with Mr. McCain and doesn't put too much faith or trust in him. I, personally, believe that a man who can thrust "the woman who shall remain nameless" on an unsuspecting America and support such vitriol and political games from his party and their players...well..I certainly would not trust him, as far as I could throw him. That does not mean, I do not believe they should not have conversations, just watch your back Mr. Obama.

[magyar0 0]

10:30 PM on 02/02/2011

Meh. It was all for circus during elections. The difference between dems and gop?
Right now I can't think of any

[ManwithaParachute]

10:07 PM on 02/02/2011

A shallow move to appease a hallow man or is that a hallow move by a shallow man?

"John, stop yelling at me. Can't we be friends?"

[pursang]

08:49 PM on 02/02/2011

Had I wanted McCains ideas I would have voted for him. Is there no one on the right that Obama won't suck up to? Does he have that big of a need to be liked that he's willing to do this or is he really a Republican dressed up as Democrat?

[Cory111]

09:26 PM on 02/02/2011

When you just shoot from the hip you cannot understand diplomacy. You are assuming that just one party has all the answers. Your repy "Suck Up" is really immature.

[ThatsTheTheWayItIs]

10:03 PM on 02/02/2011

Unbelievable, as if world affairs are a playground for partisan aspirations. Obama did not suck up to the right, he and McCain had a meeting. Afterward McCain issued what was clearly a joint statement with Obama (according to MSNBC) condemning Mubarak and demanding he leave.

As President Obama could not make that statement. That is our military leader making threats, it's a violation of international law. But McCain could, and did. He has joined with Obama to support democracy in Egypt. Isn't that what you want, or are political contests more important to you?

There is no true ideology, just like there is no one true religion. Both are illusions, mask reality. Most Americans are not liberal or conservative, and can't understand those who see the world that way. There is no Left or Right when it comes to US security. That has always been true, study history.

[jozie]

08:46 PM on 02/02/2011

I hope he gives him a big ole dope-slap every time he sees him and says, "That's for unleashing Palin on us!"

[rtx47]

08:44 PM on 02/02/2011

I think McCain must have gotten a reminder from his daughter to "put the country first", and to be "constructive and polite".

It is nice and refreshing when old men, me included, learn from our children and grandchildren.

[TheOverseer]

08:32 PM on 02/02/2011

Why? Unless it's to discuss who's your real Daddy?

[cupcake77]

08:25 PM on 02/02/2011

While Obama and McCain had also tried to bury the hatchet shortly after the election in 2008,

Bury the hatchet.!!!????? The only hatchet I see is McCain unleashing Sarah Palin who then did a hatchet job on the country.

[chris16]

08:24 PM on 02/02/2011

Senator McCain make me proud of you like I was years ago. Be a true elder statesman.

[TheOverseer]

08:32 PM on 02/02/2011

He was NEVER who you thought he was. I was ALL a lie!

[JoannainPA]

08:23 PM on 02/02/2011

Earmark, not are mark.

[Contact1972]

08:19 PM on 02/02/2011

I hope they both let the past go and start cooperating for the betterment of the country.

[JMBrodie]

08:28 PM on 02/02/2011

Agreed. This was a good meeting.

[enigma2]

08:39 PM on 02/02/2011

Co-sign.

[Cabo600]

08:18 PM on 02/02/2011

If the shoe were on the other foot, McCain would have probably wanted Obama to kiss it.

[enigma2]

08:39 PM on 02/02/2011

LOL.

[CraiginPhoenix]

08:10 PM on 02/02/2011

I won't be cynical about this....yet.

I thought McCain's op-ed was fantastic and gave me glimpses of the man I once supported and considered a real "maverick".

I have faith that man is still somewhere in that decaying body, and we could really use him over the next couple years.

[JMBrodie]

08:29 PM on 02/02/2011

I'm with you, Craig. I too once had great respect for Sen. McCain. This is a good step.

[Contact1972]

08:35 PM on 02/02/2011

Hey which op-ed are you refering to? I would be interested in reading it.

[steve-annie]

08:47 PM on 02/02/2011

I presume they're talking about McCain's Washington Post op-ed after the President's Tucson speech. Here's the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/14/AR2011011403871.html