Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama called Tuesday for the Senate to "stand up and move forward" on the issue in the aftermath of the Gulf oil disaster.
"This has to be a wake-up call to the country, that we are prepared and ready to move forward on a new energy strategy that the American people desperately want but for which there has been insufficient political will," Obama told reporters after a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
However, two Senate leadership aides told CNN later Tuesday that the White House abruptly postponed a planned meeting Wednesday with senators from both parties to try to reach agreement on a proposal that can pass the Senate.
The Senate aides, one from each party, did not know why the meeting was called off.
The White House had portrayed the talks as a chance for all participants to pitch their best ideas, similar to the health care summit earlier this year that emboldened Democrats to push through a Senate bill with no Republican support.
However, sharp differences between the two parties are evident, as well as some infighting among Democrats over what kind of final proposal would have a realistic chance of getting the 60 Senate votes needed to pass.
Updated: 8:32 p.m.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Mr. President, ENOUGH OF THE BIPARTISANSHIP. REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT YOU TO SUCCEED!!!! YOU EXTEND THE OLIVE BRANCH AND THEY SLAP YOUR HAND. AFTER HEARING THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE GOBP THIS PAST WEEK, DO YOU REALLY THINK THEY WANT TO PASS ENERGY POLICY?
the GOPers reserve the right to say 'no' and really have no other ideas
everything else is up for grabs
as long as Obama says 'no' the two sides should get along famously
Trying to be bipartisan with the Republicans is like trying to herd cats. Try and you only have them pee on your carpet and then leave a slimy hairball in your slipper.
Hope it's televised so we can see the GOP go on it's apology tour for the oil industry.
Now might be as good a time as any to welcome back all the lobbyists who disappeared from CNN's Ticker shortly after Health Care was passed.
I wonder, though, if your attempts to defeat Wall Street Reform or Energy Reform will be any more successful than were your lobbying attempts last time around?
Wasting your time Mr. President.
Shove it down their throats via reconciliation if necessary, and then go and play a round of golf! We're cool with that.
We need alternative fuels, we need to stop being dependent on Middle Eastern Oil!
Please, please televise this meeting. I want to see how these Republicans try to fall all over themselves trying to defend BP.
I'm tired of the word "bipartisan". Will it ever work when the other party says no 100% of the time, no matter what?
Ruh roh! Here come all the science deniers. Tell me this all you armchair climatologists: If mankind doesn't affect the atmosphere, how do you explain the ozone hole growth stopping once we banned CFCs? Funny that the studies you always cite were funded by big carbon. Why don't y'all read a peer-reviewed journal article or two on the subject, if you even know what that is. Have a nice day!
It might be helpful if he actually includes some people that know and work in the energy business. His usual list of intellectuals he puts on these committees have never worked in the private sector. Obama is starting to feel like an anchor on our countries productivity.
President Obama needs to for get about the republicans as they will never be responsible or do what they were elected to do. Their goal to destroy him, supported by their obstruction on everything regardless of merits, takes priority over us and our country. Their undying love and support of Wall St is more important to them than saving the environment. The American people know we cannot allow another oil diaster, know our environment is being attacked every day so give them the inititive to let their politicians know.
Yeah, and make sure barton is right in the middle of the table. Then again, don't let him into the WH just ask him to step down from the energy committe.
YOU LIE!!! Maybe thats a bit harsh, but I struggle to see this administration, or any in the near future for that matter actually doing anything bipartisan.
Bipartisan?? When has Obama EVER been bipartisan. To Obama bipartisan means "I don't want to hear your ideas and you do what I want you to do or else".
Republicans are the party of "Know" but the Democrats don't want to listen.
If Obama wants to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, the GOP will say NO
If Obama wants to make key investments in clean energy technology, the GOP will say NO
If Obama wants anything...the GOP will say no.
I think he should ask for the opposite of what he wants in order to get the GOP to move in the right direction
WOW! This guy doesn't give up. Let's hope the Grand Obstructionist Party finally decides to participate in helping move this country forward on energy reform. Wait, now energy reform is a dirty phrase...let's all bow down immediately and apologies to the OIL GODS. Oh, we are so sorry for making you clean up your mess. We know it's our fault, and you should be allowed to continue drilling and spilling. We need your jobs, oh master. We need your oil, all might one!
Obama is determined to push his cap and scam bill through no matter how many jobs are lost or how much hardship it causes people. What an arragant self center man.
It's bipartisan in name only – the Obmanation has already decided that he wants what he wants and if anyone disagrees, they too shall be gotten rid of or blamed. Obama – it's time for a change – a change that will actually be believed!
If the Republicans were sincere, they would produce suggestions. They always have the "media" to publish their ideas if the President were not to listen. They would rather say "no" to everything. One has to give the President an "A" for trying to get bipartisanship. But he has to get realistic that with the new Republicans of these days they will not work with him. All they do, including their followers, is spew hatred and the sound bites don't distort that. Of course, they will blame the "press". What happened to the type of Republican who used to exist? I guess they ran for the bushes or someone surely has put a muzzle on them. Sad state of affairs these days.
Just like health care...the Republicans will water it down. Pres. Obama will encorporate many of the ideas they have. Then the Repubs will villify it, even their own ideas, and vote against it just to try to create another "waterloo". Is this getting old for anyone else?
I bet Sarah will claim there are solar death panels in this legislation.
Bipartisan? Is that where Obama, Pelosi, and Reid conspire to ram down the throats of the American people something they neither want nor need? Something that will cost them a couple trillion dollars they can't afford?
That's kinda what it meant last time...
Greer June 22nd, 2010 4:49 pm ET
"It might be helpful if he actually includes some people that know and work in the energy business. His usual list of intellectuals he puts on these committees have never worked in the private sector. Obama is starting to feel like an anchor on our countries productivity."
Because the private sector did such a swell job running the economy, rebuilding Iraq and drilling for oil? Have a nice day!
It will be just like Obamacare. Dems will call for bi-partisan talks, ignore everything the republicans say, then vote in favor of the worst solution but one that involves heavy governmental intervention.
We have all seen this movie before, and it still sucks.