Obama Reaching Across the Aisle
Published by Pamela Gentry on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 9:34 am.By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst
Feb. 8, 2010 – The winter wonderland that hit the nation’s capital didn’t keep President Obama from braving what he called “snowmageddon,” to deliver a forceful and at times defiant speech before the Democratic National Committee Saturday morning.
The president touched on his first year in office and his agenda for job creation, health care reform and abolishing “don’t ask don’t tell.” Acknowledging stumbles he pledged to move forward.
“Now is the time to do everything in our power to keep the American dream alive for the next generation,” he said before a packed crowd at the Capital Hilton.
He reassured his party leaders he’s still keeping his top policy issues in the forefront, telling the crowd, “So just in case there’s any confusion out there, let me be clear. I am not going to walk away from health insurance reform. I’m not going to walk away from the American people. I’m not going to walk away on this challenge. I’m not going to walk away on any challenge. We’re moving forward.”
“Sometimes we may be moving forward against the prevailing winds. Sometimes it may be against a blizzard. But we’re going to live up to our responsibility to lead,” he said.
The president’s message also included reaching across the aisle and changing the tone the Washington, which brought low mumbles of laughter from some of the audience. “We need to change the way we work with the other party as well. Now, I’m proud to be a Democrat. I’m proud to be a leader of this great party. But I also know that we can’t solve all of our problems alone. So we need to extend our hands to the other side — we’ve been working on it — because if we’re going to change the ways of Washington, we’re going to have to change its tone.”
For the first time since becoming president the unemployment number didn’t increase in January falling below 10 percent. “Look, when unemployment is 9.7 percent, when we are still digging ourselves out of an extraordinary recession -– people are going to be frustrated.
And they’re going to be looking to the party in power to try to fix it. And when you’ve got another party that says, we don’t want to do anything about it –- of course people are going to be frustrated,” he said.
To end some of the frustration the president has extended an invitation to Republicans to meet on Feb. 25 for a half-day televised health care summit. “Now is not the time for sitting on the sidelines, or blocking progress, or pointing figures, or assigning blame. Now is not the time to do just what’s right for your party or your poll numbers. Now is the time to do what’s right for the country.”
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By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst