Obama 2.0? Jake Tapper Suggests A Bipartisan Approach Has Benefited The White House

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by Colby Hall | 10:18 am, December 22nd, 2010

» 14 comments

Yesterday Senator Lindsey Graham complained to Fox News radio that the GOP had effectively capitulated to the White House on a number of policies during the lame-duck session, that “wouldn’t have passed in the new Congress.” In fact, the last week and a half have been good to President Obama as he’s seen the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Education reform, and the anticipated ratifying of the START treaty. This morning ABC News’ Jake Tapper reports that this is all part of a new bipartisan approach from the White House that could spell more political victories to come.

Tapper writes in his Political Punch blog:

Gibbs said the message from the midterm elections “is that people want Washington to put aside the games that it normally plays and get things done. I think that what has been accomplished over the past few weeks demonstrates certainly that that’s possible.”

When he returns from Hawaii, the president intends to hold a bipartisan retreat at Camp David and White House sources tell ABC News the president feels there is potential for bipartisan compromise on:

• education reform — soon-to-be-Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, after all, chaired the House education committee that helped write the No Child Left Behind bill;
• spending cuts and reducing the deficit, which Republicans talk about wanting to tackle; and
• government reforms like eliminating earmarks and adding transparency — which Tea Party candidates campaigned on.

White House officials also believe the template of the tax compromise – a bill containing provisions each side likes, even if they deplore the ones the other side is offering – may work for job growth, say, with a bill offering infrastructure spending and targeted business tax cuts.

Watch Tapper’s report on Good Morning America from earlier today:

barack obama, don't ask don't tell, Jake Tapper, Lindsey Graham

Atticus Draco

‘
So the Republicans are indeed NOT Hostage takers?!
Liberty Back For More

“Gibbs said the message from the midterm elections “is that people want Washington to put aside the games that it normally plays and get things done. I think that what has been accomplished over the past few weeks demonstrates certainly that that’s possible.””

No what people don’t want is an over reaching unchecked federal government regardless of party. People believe that more government does not translate into better government. Additionally, people believe that the government should be able to at least balance a freaking check book – a check book furnished by taxpayers.
skyfet

The Republicans are so stupid theat they fell for it again. Dumb shit, they should have known that was his plan all along, they should have stalled longer and asked for more and take more hostages. BO is doing what W would have done. Next step for them all is to continue the Immigration Bill that W started but didn’t finish.
roxsteady

I hate to sound like the many dipshits who come on this site and trash the writers but, this is the kind of story that drives us Liberals crazy. Did Jake mention the letter signed by McConnell and every Republican Senator in the GOP who held ALL legislation hostage until they got their tax cuts for the wealthy? Did he mention McConnell’s op ed YESTERDAY where he said that if the Dems thought it was bad now, just wait until next year? Please stop pretending that this party of assholes gives a damn about bipartisianship. They don’t and neither do Liberals. The only people who seem to care are the beltway villagers! Bipartisanship doesn’t mean shit if it produces bad legislation. The Republicans suck at governing. When will you people admit that?
The Count

AH AH AH AH AH !
roxsteady

By the way, those of you who keep repeating the fox talking point “cut spending” will feel differently when your grandmomma’s Social Security check doesn’t show up! I can’t wait for the wingnuts that many of you voted for to shut down the government. After all, it worked out so well when Gingrich did it.
The Count

AH AH HA AH AH !
roxsteady

Very articulate!
Liberty Back For More

roxsteady said:
The only people who seem to care are the beltway villagers!

LOL….hahahahahahahahahaha…..OMG
roxsteady

I’m going to go now because I’ve just done to you what the President has been doing to the GOP for 2 straight weeks. I need a cigarette!
Liberty Back For More

roxsteady said:
By the way, those of you who keep repeating the fox talking point “cut spending” will feel differently when your grandmomma’s Social Security check doesn’t show up! I can’t wait for the wingnuts that many of you voted for to shut down the government. After all, it worked out so well when Gingrich did it.

Actually it did. It forced President Bill “I cheated on my wife and nation” Clinton to work with them on issues such as spending and welfare.
The Real Royal King

Yes, I think President Obama moved a bit.

I also think the Republicans over-played their hand, and some Republicans, like Coburn, are still doing so.

I think the Democratic leadership in the Senate has been poor. Reid apparently discovered his spine, and he is better now.

The Republican leadership in the Senate is atrocious. That surprises me a bit, but not nearly as pronounced as the look of surprise on the faces of Chinless Mitch, Kailse, Gramps McCain, the Graham Cracker and CornNuts.
writer

Graham cracker? Corn nuts? King, is that your post or your grocery list?
felixw

The tax bill was the first bipartisan bill of the Obama administration. Both in the Senate and the House, a few more Democrats voted for it than Republicans, but the mix was as close to half-and-half as we have seen with any important piece of legislation from this administration.