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
Of course the Republicans want the president to fail. They want the rich to keep getting richer. Bush knew he would never drink bitter coffee, so we are the ones who will.He and all his cronies are living high on the hog!
Hey Steve....... I think that Republicans like Bush and Cheney, not to mention the ones on Wall Street and Detroit, can dodge the blame for their actions without your help. It's pathetic when Republicans accuse others of behaving exactly as they do in hopes that no one will notice them doing it.
Smart thinking to have these press conferences regarding the Repubs. It's all about strategy: now America knows that Obama has extended his hand to them and if they block the bill, then say goodbye to most Repubs come 2010. Or did everyone forget that Obama is a Democrat?
Boom Baby!
the prepubs are goin througha big chg here, its not always goin to be in their favor(woohoo) so its time to work with barack and do whats best for america,, tighten the belts of the CEO'S limit thier spending on luxuries,,, take that money and donate it to amreicans or organizations of cause,,,, if modern americans have to tighten their belts so should the "big wiggs"thas my opinion and im stickin to it!!!!
Time for the Democrats to exercise the "nuclear option" and just steam roll these obstructionist GOP hypocrites into the dustbin of history.
Now that "the boner" has shown his hand and his intent it is time for him and the party of failed ideology to be kicked to the curb where they belong.
Bang, Bang, Bang – the last coffin nail is being driven!
Did he really think the the GOP was going to support him on anything? GOP support is Obama's pipe dream, hopefully he's learning his lesson now and whipping the Dem's into shape so he can push his policy through without wasting time and energy on the Republicans.
PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL PREVAIL. THE HARDER THE REPUGS PLAY. THE HARDER THEY WILL FALL. BUNCH OF LOOSERS. JUST LIKE BUSH
mike,I totally agree.I am so sick of this bickering over clashing ego's.I will change myself to"unaffiliated" before the next election.AAnd if we remove the illegals,there will be no need for increased spending,and we may evn have a surplus.
get all the republicans and tried them in a court of law for having them country the way it is, find them gulity and burn them alive
Just another day on the hill. So what's new??? You really expect congress to work together for "we the people".. That flew out the window when they starting looking out for their own districts where the big $$$$ donations and perks come from....wake up and smell the pink slips!!!!
The Republicans never come up with any good ideas. They are only concerned with tax cuts for businesses. We already tried that and it has not worked, except for the top 1% and Rush Limbaugh (who by the way is antiamerican and should be taken off the air).
I applaud President Obama, he has tried to include everyone...but the right wing republicans (including Fox News and other talking heads) want him to fail.
What a shame......Remember what President Obama said when he was nominated in Denver:
WE ARE NOT RED STATES, NOT BLUE STATES, WE ARE THE UNITED STATES.....
I hope all Amereicans will embrace that statement and become UNITED.
President Obama you don't need these selfish republicans, look what they did with taxpayers money when it was in their hands, they have no right to say anything about your stimulus package, if they don't get their act together and get palin to shut her mouth up, i'm afraid their party will soon be history. Bless President Obama.
Repubicians load their bill up with 'pork' also. To me, PORK can also be described as giving major tax cuts to rich people and corporations. The 'trickle-down' effect just does not work. We see what greed on Wall Street has done. We see what the bailout had done. We see businesses ship jobs oversees.
I work extremely hard but have lost so much money in my 401K that I will be able to retire 10 years after I am dead. My job stopped pensions about 5-6 years ago. Thank goodness we did not listen to idiot Bush and the others you wanted to invest Social Security in the stock market. With the job market today, if I loose my job. there goes my health benefits. Give me the same health care and pension plans as the Senators and Representatives receive and I will be happy. I sincerely believe healthcare and retirement are rights and should not be covered by employers. I believe all American citizens should be covered for both.
"- grow up, take responsibility for your failures, get a job, become a productive member of this world. ..." Steve ... read the headlines – as in today's news!!!
With unemployment at its highest level in decades, millions of Americans would love to get a job: that pat, pathetic, totally thoughtless jingle sounds good and is totally useless –
Did you notice that Obama & staff has already contacted CitiGroup about their new $50 million dollar jet – and asked Nancy Pelosi to pull some of the less well thought-out provisions out of the House bill. Nootice Obama went to the Hill to meet with the GOP: he didn't ask them to come to him. He listened: Did they have anything productive to say?
The GOP needs to offer ideas, not just moan and groan: they have less credibility after their last stint at leadership.
Let the Democrats push this through on their own. If it fails then we can vote them all out. Old habits do die hard- Tax, Spend, Pork etc.
President Obama,
I'm impressed with your style. Our country certainly needs many changes, but I still think we are missing some of the obvious needs of any problem solving. What are the needs of this nation. Does anyone realize that one of the reasons the auto industry is in trouble is they are trying to sell to a glutted market. What we need is no fluff, but down to earth needs. We need nurses, doctors and medicine that is affordable. My Yugoslavian grandmother told my Dad that you aren't helping anyone by giving them something for free.
Sincerely yours,
Susan Buric
Good luck Mr. President, they are a hard bunch to deal with completely self-centered and not a patriotic soul in the gaggle.
I want to let all Republicans know that I forgive them. I forgive them for electing the worst president in history, I forgive them for denying stem cell research, I forgive them for being against a women's right of choice over her body, I forgive them for not believing that our planet is warming up, I forgive them for being against gay marriage, and finally I forgive them for not wanting to accept a stimulus package that will revive our economy. I hated Republicans for most of my life. But you see Republicans, a good leader sets a good example and I am following our President's example and trying to see both sides of the coin. I am willing to come together with Republicans so our country can move forward. So all of you bashing our new President ask yourself what have you done lately besides complaining? I can tell you that you certainly haven't done half of what President Obama has done in one week in office all with a stroke of pen. So lets put our differences aside and follow the example of a great president and reach across the table like Obama has done this week with Republicans even though he doesn't have to.
So he finally admits its harder than he thought. I thought about his inaugral speech where he reminded people that "its not the marble that surrounds us but the spaces in between". Lol. Oh my ! The republicans are right on the money. One has to go through the system to understand where the loopholes are and make the reforms to get the country back on track. Something obviously lacking in the politicians to address issues swiftly and boldly like Obama is hoping for in addition to creating jobs and boosting small businesses. This is not an American effort. Make it known it is a REPUBLICAN idea and has been all along. DEMS need to back off and give credit where credit is due.
Republicans are supporters,sports that is,the kind they should wear on their heads.
Politically incorrect translation: Stimulus Plan=Welfare program your great-grandchildren will be paying for. Tax Break=Government handout to those that pay NO taxes. Middle East Peace Agreement=One more time Israel will pull out of Gaza before a Hamas led terrorist attack kills 20 children in a school. Bipartisanship=Bowing down to the mighty Obama, regardless of his policy proposal and your principals.
To Proud American ( January 27th, 2009 4:49 pm ET
Republicans must stop wasting valuable time. America cannot afford political pettiness. We need action now!!)
Looks like this old schtick "Hurry up! Sign This! No, don't read it...just sign...quick...we don't have much time!!!!" took you along hook, line & sinker.
Thank goodness the Republicans are looking closely at this little trillion dollar spending bill and not just rubber stamping it just " to get along". By the way that's what we are paying them for. And by the way this bill stinks. How about just a little stimulus and not so much spending?
most republicans are RACIST, especially limbaugh and palin, who needs them?
"This is the first major piece of legislation we've been working on the Hill."
This includes when he was in the Senate.
Time to do what is necessary for the country to recover.