Pres. Obama to lunch with senate Republicans
Washington (CNN) - President Obama is breaking bread with senators next week, but in a surprise he will do it with Republicans - not his friends on the Democratic side of the aisle.
In what may be a rare moment of bipartisanship in this midterm election year, the president will go behind closed doors with senate Republicans on Tuesday at their weekly policy luncheon in the Capitol, according to a senior administration official and a top Republican aide.
Fresh off major victories on health care reform and the financial reform legislation, Obama requested the meeting with Republicans to try and jump-start his efforts to also revamp the immigration system and break the deadlock on climate change legislation.
It will be extremely difficult to find consensus on those issues but both sides are saying the right things in the days leading up to the lunch in order to at least give the air of bipartisanship.
"Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Policy Chairman John Thune agreed to host the President, and the Republican Conference welcomes his visit where they will have a wide-ranging discussion on the year ahead," said Don Stewart, a spokesman for McConnell.
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I find it so fascinating that many people ignore the facts and accuse President Obama of not soliciting the input of Republicans.
As is typically, such people are either ignorant or intentionally ignoring the facts – perhaps likely both.
Here's yet another example of Obama's courageous leadership....and a clear example of how he is a far superior leader and statesman than his predecessor, or any current Republican of any significant stature.
the "Lecturer-in-Chief" will likely give those dang Repub's an earful.
hope he has a food taster before he eats..I wouldn't trust them the way they've treated him so far since he's been in office.
Watch your back Mr. President. This can be a case of Ceasar and Brutus.
Also, make sure you bring a food taster before you eat anything.
Prresident Obama please do not waist your time with the GOP they are not going to help put this country back on tract.
I hate to tell you Mr President, but you will get no help from the republicans.
I applaud your continued efforts, but I think that it's a waste of time. The republicans don't believe in climate change and don't care about fixing the immigration problem.
He's no dummy. It's not a bad time to get to know the future congressional leadership. They will have plenty of work to do in the next couple of years.
The Republicans should skip the lunch. Obama is poison.
Let's all make a note about who is making the effort on bipartisanship here and previously.....OBAMA. When did the republicans make any attempt? Obama has met both with the House republicans and now the Senate republicans on their own turf, at their policy meetings. He has also reached consistently on the other big pieces of legislation, incorporating their ideas yet they still back off of anything bipartisan.
Is it becoming anymore clear to the independents and the right that Obama is the one offering the hand of compromise and NOT the republicans who are continuing their strategy of saying, "No."?
the republicans have a weekly policy luncheon? what policy has come out of what seems to be a waste of time and food?
Behind closed doors? Wow, Something might get done besides more grandstanding and posturing.
I'll give President Obama credit for one of two things. Either he is not a quitter or he is a glutton for punishment from Republicans. He has ask for bipartinsanship, gone to them and extended an open hand and even given concessions for which he has gotten nothing in return and still Republicans treat him like he is poison.
I hope the people of this nation realize that while he is making an effort, Republicans are turning their backs while knowing our nation needs all of them, Republicans and Democrats,on board if we are going to survive this crap we are in.
We are giving our thumbs up for our president he is a humble man and knows he has to do the right thing for the nation as a whole he will do what is best let's hope repubs stop thinking about ther political careers and also do what its best for usa immigration reformed is needed
I am one that believes that Obama's policies are for the good of the country. That is why if he has to lunch with Republicans to talk about the task of nation building he is more than willing to do so. The problem Obama has is that being a black man some people feel he has upset the natural order of things to win the presidency therefore whatever good policy he brings forward Republicans criticise and demonise it to score political gains. It is time we all think and act like Obama for the good of our country.