Obama downplays expectations of GOP support
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/27/art.obamaradio.gj.jpg caption="Obama met with House and Senate Republicans Tuesday."](CNN) - President Obama seemed to lower expectations Tuesday on how many Republicans he expects to vote for his stimulus package, telling CNN Radio he's not sure even 50 percent of GOP caucus will support the bill when it comes to a vote.
“We're not going to get 100 percent agreement, and we might not even get 50 percent agreement, but I do think people appreciate me walking them through my thought process on this," Obama told CNN Radio's Bob Constantini.
"I hope I've communicated a sincere desire to get good ideas from everybody. And my attitude is that this is the first major piece of legislation we've been working on the Hill, and over time some of these habits of consultation and mutual respect will take over. But, you know, old habits die hard."
LISTEN to the full interview
Let's not put all republicans in the same basket. I'm beginning to see lines being drawn between republicans who care about America and want to move forward and republicans who want as much power for themselves as they can get. We will look at which republicans have requested which changes in the stimulus package. We can all tell what is reasonable and what is not. Those republicans who are reasonable will have my respect. Those who put dogma above pragmatism will find me writing a check to their opponents in the next election cycle.
Obama is providing a true opportunity for republicans to offer up some constructive ideas. They will either take advantage or continue to drift into never never land whence they came.
The acid test of genuine criticism is the willingness or the ABILITY to come up with a better idea. Got that, Republicans?
I actually just listen to House minority leader John Boehner. I had to comment on that.
"600 million for Digital Television Coupons."
Well Mr House minority leader John Boehner there are millions of people who are not working and cannot afford to buy a New TV so a coupon would do just fine....
On February 17, 2009, most television broadcasters in the USA will be turning off their analog signals. So whats wrong with giving these people coupons?
"Signs"
@ uncle Sam – LOL....You are SO right !!
wait til people that are in the un-employment line finds out who / what / when is dragging their feet !!
I'm sure you know the "Voting people" will "vote" in 2010....I'm sure they will know IF or WHEN they were un-employed !
So are you saying the Republicans should go along to get along.
Perhaps they realise that this "stimulus" is not going to work and don't want their hands anywhere near it. Why are you worrying, if it succeeds they will look stupid. Or maybe you just want them to share the blame when it goes wrong. You have enough votes to proceed without them. Get on with it.
Typical lazy uneducated Americans – gimme, gimme, gimme. I want to sit in my $400,000 home that I knew I could not afford, I want money from the government for doing nothing, I want free health care, I want to blame someone else for all my problems then sit back and have the government take care of me. How about this – grow up, take responsibility for your failures, get a job, become a productive member of this world. Your country is failing, read your constitution – a country for the people by the people....I don't see George Bush or Carl Rowe or Rush Limbaugh mentioned there, only the people. So the people are the reason for the failure.
Though I agree with the basic principles of the stimulus plan being proposed, I do have to agree that the democrats have once again loaded up a bill with pet projects. Increased funding for medicaid and food stamps may indeed be needed to help people currently unemployed. But this funding should not be part of the stimulus plan. And I totally disagree with providing health insurance to the children of illegal aliens, under any circumstances. If they want or need health insurance they should go back to their own country to get it. We should not have to pay for it. For once I would like to see the democrats actually present a clean bill that sticks to the ideas that preceded the need for legislation. It is a big reason why I switched from the dem ranks to that of an independent. I am so tired of loading up bills with pork.
My prediction is that by the time Obamas term is over (Depending on how left they veer the country) four to eight years. That America will be somewhat surprised, and maybe pleased by the way Obama handled foreign affairs. Race issues will be farther along, and better than ever, the economy will cycle back around by this time, and his administration can take credit for it, and the abortion business will be booming! I also predict that by the end of that time people will be sick of the Democrats and be ready for change yet again. They will be sick of the Global warming agenda(expensive cars, taxes on BBQ grills via carbon credits, and no camp fires after midnight), we will be sick of Nancy Pelosi, and the still low approval rated congress. And they will be sick of the extreme left influence on our politicians. Biden will have stuck both feet in his mouth by then. Conservatives will win by landslide because of these things, a women will be elected President because of her gender regardless of her experience (these things happen).
So lets just sit back and support our President.
the Congressmen from Ohio, and the Senators from So. Carolina appear unable to understand the word, "change". I would have thought 68million votes, and 2 million cheering spectators, would have given them some idea of what "we the people"want and what we voted for. I guess öld habits really do die hard. "However, the key word is "die" Take heed, Republicans
Lets keep track of the exact vote for later reference.I will do my best to see their next job is on K street where they belong anyway.
Wow this is what i fought 2 wars for to seehalf of my government say " I don't know what it is and I don't know what good it can do I just know I want what I want and that is LOWER Taxes for my friends or I won't help others."
This make me really question my years of service and standing up for those that couldn't stand for them selves
What was wrong with my last comments – nothing except the truth again.
Until Boener and McConnell produce an idea that hasn't been a miserable failure for the past 8 years, they need to sit down and STFU.
Republicans are OBSTRUCTIONISTS!!
They won't vote to approve billions for ACORN, $30 Billion in new health benefits, $15 Billion in new Pell Grants, and other PORK??
None of these initiatives will add one new job.... but Republicans are the problem???
Yall idiots need to get your head examined!! Now if you could just figure how to dislodge it from your back-side......
Illegal aliens who work in this country and who also overwhelm the healthcare system with emergency room visits should be paid only by check. They then should have a manditory deduction from their pay towards a separate health care fund that will help defray their uninsured healthcare costs. Once they become bonified citizens this contribution can be eliminated. Hopefully at that point they can be covered by some type of health insurance. Any employer who pays illegal aliens only by cash should be subject to a stiff penalty.
I appreciate the "politics not as usual" approach by the President. We need the stimulus package NOW!!
Republicans need another wake up call. They've been the Kings of pork barrel spending for 8 long years and now have room to nickle and time the President's stimulus plan? Give me a freak'in break. This garbage coming from a bunch of Senior Republicans who NEVER voiced their concerns when they were spending this country into the ground with focus on protecting their RICH banker and oil Executives on Wall Street rather than protecting millions of families on Main Street. Where was their outrage 8 years ago?
Let's not get it twisted here, President Obama doesn't OWE these Senior Republican squat. They've done enough damage by running this country into the ground. The decent and honorable thing to do is pitch in and HELP clean their devastation up.
I commend President Obama for being the gentleman that he is, however, if the Republicans are not focused on providing solutions to the problems, then they don't need to be pacified.
The republicons have since Rep Gin-grinch been selfish, self-absorbed, self-centered unpatriotic power gluttons.
Unfortunately this disease does represent a self-destructive part of the American body.
And so the destructive republicons get elected and re-elected by their own kind in the population; so that they can either 'close down the govement' and, under the wild bush, completely ruin everything American.
Wow griff,your a real Einstein arent you?
This is a very crucial time in American history, the stimulus vote should take place on nationwide television during prime time under tha light of public scrutiny so everyone can see how these people we elected will vote.
Good job of recognizing reality there Obama. Most of the remaining [R]s have no real desire for bi-partisanship. The last election cycle has winnowed the [R]s down to their hard right core. They will continue to use this nation's problems as a political wedge, instead of trying to work out compromises towards workable solutions.
But let's see how many of these remnant [R] congressmem are dumb enough to follow their moronic leadership who have called for no suport of the stimulus bill. Those that follow, risk political oblivion. It appears many of these [R]s learned a lesson from the last election — unfortunately its the WRONG lesson....they think the solution is even more hyper-partisanship. Well if that's what they want, BRING IT ON BABY! If it weren't for the abject stupidity of some areas of this country the [D]s would be shooting for having 80 senators after the 2010 elections. When the [R] senators and congressmen start mis-behaving this time, I say Mr. Obama and the [D] leadership should show no mercy. Slash and burn, baby!…. with my full support.
Mike from WV umm in case you have not ever actually read the Constitution children, born in the US, from illegal alien parents ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS and due all rights and privledges as any other American citizen, just like your kids so unless these kids were brought here after birth your comment holds no value.
idiots
Evidently party is more important than country. The people in
Congress cannot understand the plight of someone earning minimum wage. Even $10 per hour is only $20,800 per year. I challenge anyone in government to try living on that much less raise a family. Corporate greed over the past 2 decades has eroded most of the benefits that employees had enjoyed since WWII. At one time an employee might have said, "I don't make a lot but I have good benefits and a pension coming." No more. I do not have the solution to this problem but I would like to see our representatives at least pretend to work together. Our idea of a viable wage is certainly messed up when someone make $10 Million to make a film or bat a ball and a hard worker earns $7.25 an hour. Get together down there in Washington......we elected the Democrats so let them do their thing. Support – advise – but do something!
All the left wing welfare recipients are really loud today, they are worried they won't get their checks on time. What a bunch of losers!