President Obama’s recent dinner with 12 Republican lawmakers
has some wondering if the coming months will see a lessening of the strict
partisan gridlock that has prevented Congress from completing any major
legislation. A number of news articles have reported on the dinner, although so
far the participants have been reluctant to say what was discussed. From brief statements afterwards, however, it
seemed like the Republican lawmakers thought that it had been a useful dinner,
and they hoped that President Obama would more frequently engage personally
with members of Congress. President
Obama apparently took their advice to heart, because he is now scheduled to
have lunch today with Congressman Ryan, chair of the House of Representatives
Budget Committee (and frequently described as the leader of GOP thought
regarding finances) and Congressman Van Hollen, the Democrat’s top Budget
Committee member.
This is
an interesting turn of events, since President Obama emerged from the 2012 election
in a very combative form. This may have
been an attempt on his part to reassure members of his own party, who thought
he had been too conciliatory with Republicans during his first term. In the face of such an obdurate Republican
Party (particularly in the House), however, his combative style has achieved very
little. And with a recent Gallop Poll
showing declining approval ratings, President Obama must have decided that it
was time to change his approach.
Striking a bipartisan tone isn’t new to the President (just look at his
first term), personally engaging with members of Congress is. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have
complained that President Obama has not done a very good job of reaching out to
members of Congress on an individual basis, instead dealing with people in
leadership positions (like house speaker John Boehner), mounting campaign-style
public events, or using Joe Biden (who still has a good relationship with many
members of Congress).
I find
it refreshing to see President Obama making an effort to reach out to
Republicans in an effort to reach some sort of compromise. While I can understand his frustration in
dealing with such an intransigent Republican opposition, his most recent
actions look much more presidential than simply complaining about the other
side. I think that if he is seen as
making a genuine effort to negotiate with Republicans and come to some sort of “Grand
Bargain”, he will have a lot of public support and improve his negotiating
position. I think in the Senate there
may be enough Republican Senators that recognize the public wants action to
come to some sort of deal. The real
unknown is if there are enough Republicans in the House who would be willing to
compromise for the benefit of the country, even if it meant risking a strong
primary challenge from the right.
Speaker Boehner seems like he really wants to reach a deal, but whether
or not he can drag the rest of his caucus along with him is another matter.
Sources
Cowan, Richard, and Susan Heavey.
"Obama Hosts Ryan Lunch in New Outreach to Republicans on Budget." Reuters.
Thompson Reuters, 7 Mar. 2013. Web.
Horsey, David. "Hoping to Break
the Stalemate, Obama Takes GOP Senators to Dinner." Los Angeles Times.
Tribune Newspaper, 7 Mar. 2013. Web.
Lerer, Lisa, and Kathleen Hunter.
"Obama Tries Charm Offensive to Woo Republicans on Deficit." Businessweek.
Bloomberg LP, 7 Mar. 2013. Web.
6 comments:
I agree with the tone and the message of this blog. It is always nice to see the President and Congress togethar and trying to make our country better. Too many times we see bickering from both sides about how bad their apponents really are. With many of the situations that we have today we need all members of government to work hard and togethar if we want any outcomes at all.
Phelan I loved your post. Its nice to hear that there are steps being taken to improve the deadlock. Hopefully it will be enough to get our government working together. Whether they like it or not they are stuck with each other for another 2 to 4 years. We the American citizens elect them to do a job not fight. By electing them we are putting our trust in them to serve us and make this country better.
Good post Phelan. Finally our government is trying to go their jobs and make our country the greatest nation on earth. By just having President Obama invite congress from the republican side this means that he understand that blaming each other won't solve the problems instead working together to accomplish something is very important. However, even republicans have to be willing to compromise with the president in order for citizens to see changes in the way the government function. I think that it is a good start and hopefully something good will come out from it.
Bipartisianship in Washington for the last few years has been that missing piece to the puzzle that is the federal government. Senators and congressional members on both sides of the aisle have seemed more intent on combating policy derived from the opposite side regardless of its content and possible effectiveness. It seems like our parties represent opposite poles on every issue brought to the floor, our esteemed representatives seem to be acting more like bickering school children picking at every decision or proposal regardless of its significance.
Saying that I do not think that Republicans are to blame alone, granted yes they are part of the problem but to credit only President Obama and Democrats for progress is unfair. Republicans in congress have been trying to work in bipartisan manor for years now. In 2011 for example the republican majority house passed the budget control act which increased our debt ceiling to 2.1 trillion dollars. What republicans wanted where across the board spending cuts and institutional reform for many government agencies. Because of the situations urgency they compromised and what they got in the bill was a watered down version of thier demands to the tune of 900 billion in cuts over the next ten years.
I do believe the debt cieling needed to be raised to maintain our nations status quo, and I do believe that Republicans need to consider minor tax increases over some proposed spending cuts but Dems. must be willing to do the same.
Debt ceiling; what the deal will do, Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, August 2, 2011
Nice post Phelan. I guess I'll be the one to go against the grain a bit here. I'd rather see the president go against Republicans and have all the gridlock and rhetoric that they'd like than see drastic cuts to social spending. It's been dubber the “Grand Bargain” but I see it much more like economist William Black as the "Great Betrayal". What they're talking about is how to maintain a bloated military budget and dysfunctional profit driven health care system. Obama has historically been very willing to compromise to appease republican demands, hopefully his second term will be different. I'm not getting my hopes up.
It would be great if we could get something to bring the dysfunction to a halt and get something done for once. This deadlock is a bit out of control and in my opinion is childish and getting nothing done.
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