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.”
President Obama Exits Air Force One
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 is making a stand with the Republican minority by pointing back to the highly publisized gatherings and meetings with GOP leaders. Those meetings are on record. They are firmly locked in the publics mind as efforts by the President to reach across the isle. Republicans cannot deny those attempts although they have tried and it sounded silly, especially coming from Senator McCain. Every time McCain opens his mouth railling against the President, he sounds like a grumpy old man and a sore loser.
The GOP’s insistence on a party-line vote on the stimulus reinforces the image of obstructionism and is in direct contrast to a stimulus bill that is very popular among the voters. The joyous way in which they danced and celebrated their out-of-touch ideology as evidenced by the last two elections cycles may turn out to be a self-inflicted wound.
This is a good little article that promotes President Obama’s image of pragmatism.
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.”
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