Obama Admits to Not Changing Political Gridlock in Washington
EmailABC News’ Sunlen Miller reports:
President Obama appeared at two fundraisers this evening in Boston, racking in $2.5 million for the Democratic Party. He was clearly feeling his oats before the crowd and even joked a bit about his foul-mouthed vice president.
Touting the progress made passing health insurance reform into law, President Obama joked, “As Joe Biden said, who has a way with words, this is– What? He said it’s a big deal.”
Someone in the crowd yelled “BFD,” which made the president chuckle.
He said that the victory of passing a health care bill was a “long-overdue victory” for the American people, as well as for himself.
“Well, it turns out health reform wasn’t my Waterloo,” he said. “And it turns out that the day after I signed the bill was not my armageddon either.”
The president recalled the night that the House of Representatives passed the health care bill. He invited his staff out to the Truman balcony. He said it was an “incredibly satisfying” moment, looking out to the Washington monument with his young staffers, who “put their shoulders versus the wheel of history in a more just and fair direction.”
The president said that the debate over health care reform – among others – has proved that he has not changed the tone in Washington as he promised during his 2008 presidential campaign.
“What our recent debates have laid bare is [that] even though [there has been] some success overcoming political gridlock, we haven’t had as much success in changing political gridlock,” he said. “We have to admit that. I wanted to change the tone in Washington. It hasn’t changed. Not yet.”
Much to the dismay of the Democratic crowd, the president said he would continue to reach out to Republicans in an effort to change politics.
“Folks can keep on calling me naïve if they want,” he said. “I’ve been called that before. I am going to keep on reaching out to Republicans.”
Someone in the crowd yelled, “Why bother?”
Obama answered, “It may be heresy to say so at an event, I know, but I believe that those of us in public life have to care less about what’s right for our party and more about what’s right for our country.”
Biden Reflects on Grief, Suicidal Thoughts 
Is Congress Sounding Dumber?
Now he will swing a little to the right
to appease the other side. That will
last until the November elections then
he will go back to his true compass of
socialism.
Posted by: wis134 | April 1, 2010, 11:58 pm 11:58 pm
To make fun of Bidens comment and
show what a classless bunch we have
in office, just reinforces the fact
that we have the people who are from
the Second City and not ready for prime
time.
Posted by: wis134 | April 2, 2010, 12:01 am 12:01 am
To make fun of Bidens comment and
show what a classless bunch we have
in office
__________________________________
Compared to the mean-spirited tyrant Cheney telling people to ‘f’ off – this has been lighthearted.
Posted by: tierra | April 2, 2010, 1:20 am 1:20 am
“versus the wheels of history.” what nonsense. what a narcissist.
Posted by: davidfrat21 | April 2, 2010, 6:32 am 6:32 am
funny how some of obama’s supporters think history began in 2000. funny also how anything and everything regarding the obama administration is viewed exclusively against bush/cheney. funnier still how, although bush/cheney was hell on earth, whenever obama is criticized, the defense from his supporters is “well, bush/cheney did it too.”
Posted by: davidfrat21 | April 2, 2010, 6:35 am 6:35 am
Wow, our little president is growing up.. I’m proud of him (and I never liked him..).. he’s right.. this is not a one size fits all country.. it’s a bunch of people with diverse viewpoints that need to be embraced .. not railroaded and demeaned.
Democrats can’t expect others to fall in lockstep with their ideals and personal choices.. it’s unrealistic and unhealthy (I am a lifelong Democrat.. conservative/moderate).
Posted by: DontGet818onMeNow | April 2, 2010, 7:38 am 7:38 am
I’m sick of his permanent campaign mode. He has not ONE clue how to lead or what this country is about. November will be devastating to Dems and he is to blame.
He’s ruined the party and has made cynics out of most of the country towards our elected officials with his lies.
Question is: what will the left wingers do when we say….Obamas fault in 2012?
Posted by: mjishernameo | April 2, 2010, 10:07 am 10:07 am
An now he is going to dramatically increase the political gridlock by forcing policy based on the discredited AGW theory. Policy which will mean still more job loss and a crippling of American productivity.
Meanwhile the amount of arctic ice continues to increase contrary to all expectations. Could we be entering a new ice age? (Search on Arctic Ice Extent)
Posted by: Quo Warranto | April 2, 2010, 10:24 am 10:24 am
Posted by: mjishernameo | Apr 2, 2010 10:07:20 AM
Anyone whose cynicism started with Obama and his so-called “lies” just isn’t that bright or well-informed.
Mine started with Reagan when I was in high school. Its never abated. To try to hook it all on Obama is really lame– perhaps, “conservatives” are more cynical now, but they only represent, at best, 40% of the population– and they were pretty darned cyncial and obstructionist when Clinton was elected as well.
As for this I have to laugh:”what will the left wingers do when we say….Obamas fault in 2012?”
Ummm…. the GOP and tea partiers have been blaming him for everything anyway.. since BEFORE he was elected (just being elected crashed the economy according to some wingnuts, as weird as that is).
Let’s look at your own grossly exaggerated claims.
Ruined the party?
LOL.
He hasn’t ruined the Democrat party. He and the Democrats in Congress have put the economy on more solid ground so that we now have positive GDP growth and positive job growth again. They’ve also pulled our country more towards the center so that we’re investing in infrastructure, science and technology again, including Health IT, and working toward insuring our citizens (including the less fortunate in terms of health and wealth, like all other civilized nations). We also are working with our allies in a more constructive fashion, and have a treaty with Russia.
Admittedly, I’m from the “why bother” element of the population when it comes to reaching out to Republicans as there are so few, if any, in elected office with fresh, workable ideas and solutions. Most of them just divide, deny, distort, delay and demagogue.
We need to break out of rigid ideology and the two party system.
But the President, while not perfect, is still the dude I voted for, admire and trust. So much better than anything the Republican party has to offer up.
And he cracks me up: “”Well, it turns out health reform wasn’t my Waterloo,” he said. “And it turns out that the day after I signed the bill was not my armageddon either.”
No kidding.
The repeal talk isn’t going anywhere either.
Posted by: progressive mama | April 2, 2010, 10:42 am 10:42 am
…still more job loss and a crippling of American productivity.
__________
Oh sheesh. Fearmongering. When the headlines at WSJ have been this:
Factories Revive Economy: The manufacturing sector geared up production across the globe in March, fueling optimism that the economic recovery has legs. (WSJ)
China Visit Suggests Thaw Over Iran, Yuan:China announced that President Hu Jintao will visit the U.S. to discuss nuclear security, pointing to a potential thaw in one of the worst stretches of U.S.-China relations in recent memory. (WSJ)
Factory Data Put Dow Run At 5 Weeks:
Stocks began the second quarter on a high note, helped by new data showing that the economies of the U.S., Europe, and China are improving. (WSJ)
And the headlines at NYT:
Tensions Easing, Obama Talks With Chinese Leader
U.S. Adds 162,000 Jobs in March; Rate Remains 9.7%
At WaPo:
March sales: Toyota up 41%, Ford up 40%, GM up 21%, Honda up 23%, Chrysler down 8%
At LAT:
Sales rev up big time for Ford, Toyota, GM
Home prices dip, sales up in the first quarter in high-profile Manhattan:Home prices in Manhattan dipped in the first quarter of the year, but sales activity rocketed from last year’s low levels…
Sales have been helped by low mortgage rates and a healthy stock market
Posted by: progressive mama | April 2, 2010, 11:15 am 11:15 am
Democrats can’t expect others to fall in lockstep with their ideals and personal choices.. it’s unrealistic and unhealthy
_________
Odd that you’d single out Democrats. Republicans can’t either, especially when the ideals and personal choices of many seem to center around greed, fear, loony conspiracy theories, willful ignorance and divisiveness– and of course hot phone sex or whatever. LOL.
The Dems remain the much bigger, more diverse tent.
Posted by: progressive mama | April 2, 2010, 11:19 am 11:19 am
If doctors are going to have to turn patients away because of ObamaCare, his supporters should be the first to go.
If small businesses have to let people go–Obama supporters should be let go first.
Those that fell for his snakeoil, or were too lazy to inform themselves about his record should suffer the consequences for putting him in office.
Unfortunately all Americans are suffering for their mistake. Obama is a job killer. He promotes dependency on the government and is bankrupting the country.
Posted by: larry | April 2, 2010, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
Obama’s “go for it” is his version of Bush’s “Bring it on”.
But Bush was mocking those that murdered Americans on 9/11.
Obama is mocking Americans that simply disagree with him.
He mocks those that made him look bad but ends up looking even more foolish.
For a president of the US to have so little dignity that he mocks the American people–it’s very sad.
So much for Obama’s idea about the “tone of civility”.
He is a thin-skinned, petty, little man.
Posted by: fran | April 2, 2010, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
Into his second year and still immature and unpresidential.
Isn’t it time for Obama to go on Letterman, wearing Biden’s BFD T-Shirt?
Got to stay cool for the college kids.
Posted by: kyle | April 2, 2010, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
And he cracks me up: “”Well, it turns out health reform wasn’t my Waterloo,” he said. “And it turns out that the day after I signed the bill was not my armageddon either.” Posted by progressivemama.***********
In Obama’s own words, “It has only been a week. Let’s just see how it works.” The man is totally tasteless, mocking anyone who doesn’t agree with his agenda.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | April 2, 2010, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
I love it when Obama mocks the media.
Especially since they deserve most of the credit for putting him in the White House.
That’s called biting the hand that feeds you.
Mighty cocky for a guy that needs the media to sell his agenda, and get him reelected.
Will the MSM continue to be Obama’s doormat? Oh yes they will.
Posted by: greg c | April 2, 2010, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
Continue to reach out to Republicans to make it look good.
Continue to taunt them at pep rallies.
Kind of two-faced.
Why is Barry going in front of friendly crowds to sell Obamacare?
They are already buying anything that he is selling.
Does his ego need stroking?
Forget reaching out to Republicans.
I think OCare proved Obama is totally partisan.
Posted by: ollie | April 2, 2010, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
mocking anyone who doesn’t agree with his agenda.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | Apr 2, 2010 12:22:02 PM
LOL. Talk about gross exaggeration– which is what he’s mocking, not disagreement.
Get real.
Posted by: progressive mama | April 2, 2010, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
The man is totally tasteless, mocking anyone who doesn’t agree with his agenda.
Posted by: wheresmymoney
how thin skinned, fragile, and cowardly the ‘right’ has become, afraid of the future and trying to make it better, a bunch of ‘chicken littles’ crying the sky is falling on every subject
Republicans run around saying HCR will be Armageddon, meaning a day of judgment, the end of the world, and they expect to be taken seriously…… that kind of lunatic fringe speech deserves to mocked… republicans egging on those who want a civil war or violence against the government deserve to b called out on their collective stupidity
Posted by: PO'd | April 2, 2010, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
“The man is totally tasteless, mocking anyone who doesn’t agree with his agenda.”
This apparently the new right wing talking point as all the parrots are using it.
Though its simply a variation past right wing talking points.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 2, 2010, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
To make fun of Bidens comment and
show what a classless bunch we have
in office, just reinforces the fact
that we have the people who are from
the Second City and not ready for prime
time.”
I think someone is a good satirist.
The 2nd sentence is great.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 2, 2010, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
“But Bush was mocking those that murdered Americans on 9/11.”
Bush was mocking insurgents attacking our troops in Iraq, his quote of “Bring it On” happened in July 2003.
CNN
“For the second day in a row, Bush vowed that attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq will not shake his administration’s resolve to stay in that country until a strong and stable democratic government takes root.
“Anybody who wants to harm American troops will be found and brought to justice,” Bush said. “There are some that feel like if they attack us that we may decide to leave prematurely. They don’t understand what they are talking about if that is the case. Let me finish. There are some who feel like the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring ‘em on.”
After Bush said that and right wingers cheered his John Wayne act insurgents killed about 3500 of our men , maiming tens of thousands.
“Obama is mocking Americans that simply disagree with him.”
Obama is mocking Republicans who bluster about repeal when they have no intention of actually repealing anything.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 2, 2010, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
Forget reaching out to Republicans.
Posted by: ollie
you mean the,
death panel, birther, secret muslim, taking away our guns, freedom, secret muslim, Fema Camps, name callin’ ie: marxist, socialist, lenninist, maoist, totalitarian, nazi, indoctrinating our children by asking them to stay in school and work hard, fomenting armed insurrection, secessionist, evangelical militia loving and violence inciting republicans…
hmmmmm, you may have a point, but in spite of all the intense rhetorical nonsense, Obama still tries to ‘reach out’ (good song title)
Posted by: PO'd | April 2, 2010, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
Republicans, ya just gotta love for their universal compassionate conservatism and perverse satisfaction of being sore losers
‘Florida urologist Jack Cassell posted a sign on his office door reading, “If you voted for Obama … seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your health care begin right now, not in four years.”
Posted by: PO'd | April 2, 2010, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
read on prog..mom
I’m in the tent
Posted by: DontGet818onMeNow | April 2, 2010, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
Posted by: progressive mama | Apr 2, 2010 11:19:52 AM
You decribed the democrats to a tee
Posted by: Lizzie | April 2, 2010, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
The Dems remain the much bigger, more diverse tent.
Posted by: progressive mama | Apr 2, 2010 11:19:52 AM
This is like saying “The Dems remain the much shorter , taller, name your adjective….tent”. Diversity in and of itself is a liberal talking point that has nothing to do with the principles of the party (“Diversity” is not a principle).
Posted by: vox064 | April 2, 2010, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
I’m in the tent
Posted by: DontGet818onMeNow | Apr 2, 2010 3:40:01 PM
So you say, and I didn’t refute that. Proves the point. But you singled out Dems. . I pointed out that Republicans also can’t can’t expect others to fall in lockstep with their ideals and personal choices.. not only is it unrealistic and unhealthy, but many of their ideals and personal choices seem to center around greed, fear, loony conspiracy theories, willful ignorance and divisiveness.
And then there’s their scorched earth tactics, vandalism and warmongering.
The Dems remain the much bigger, more diverse tent.
Posted by: progressive mama | April 2, 2010, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
“Diversity” is not a principle).
Posted by: vox064 | Apr 2, 2010 3:51:22 PM
LOL. And where did I say it was?
I said: The Dems remain the much bigger, more diverse tent.
In regards to principles, Dems aren’t perfect (understatement that, but look at the horrid alternative) but given the two party system they much better represent the liberal ideals this country was founded on– liberty, justice, equal opportunity, pursuit of happiness… all that.
Posted by: progressive mama | April 2, 2010, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
“Obama is mocking Republicans who bluster about repeal when they have no intention of actually repealing anything.”
To wit
Politico “Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has begun to simmer on the GOP’s message of “repeal and replace” on the new federal health care law, saying it is improbable the entire reform can be rescinded.”
Posted by: Ryan C | April 2, 2010, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
To wit
Politico “Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has begun to simmer on the GOP’s message of “repeal and replace” on the new federal health care law, saying it is improbable the entire reform can be rescinded.”
Posted by: Ryan C | Apr 2, 2010 4:07:04 PM
Of course, it’s improbable.
TPM: “Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) says to forget about repealing health care reform.
“The fact is that’s not going to happen, OK?” Corker said today at Vanderbilt University. He also said last week that repeal is “probably not going to be practical.”
Posted by: progressive mama | April 2, 2010, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
“Of course, it’s improbable.”
I’ve been enjoying Hot Air’s sneering at McCain for embracing it to protect his right flank from the insane Hayworth.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 2, 2010, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
Lowest approval rating yet…per CBS. 44%
The democratic party is in shambles.
And I can’t wait to rub their noses in it come November.
Believe me…it will be Waterloo.
This petty little man will have his waterloo.
We’re not forgetting.
We’re biding our time.
WATERLOO !
ha!
Posted by: mjishernameo | April 2, 2010, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
This petty little man will have his waterloo.
Posted by: mjishernameo | Apr 2, 2010 7:04:32 PM
Gallup has the President at 50% today.
The Real Clear Politics poll of polls has the President at 47.8%.
Both these figures are right where the President has been for months now.
Your ‘petty’ little comments are fading into the sinking sun of the Republican far right.
Posted by: tierra | April 2, 2010, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
Heady start, big hopes …
Spring warmth melting the dreams
“This is really hard” …
Posted by: Quo Warranto | April 2, 2010, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
The democratic party is in shambles.
Posted by: mjishernameo
more right wing whining..
more projection of their own problems
the republicans should rename themselves to something like the DESPAIR Party
Posted by: PO'd | April 3, 2010, 12:18 am 12:18 am
Your ‘petty’ little comments are fading into the sinking sun of the Republican far right.
Posted by: tierra | Apr 2, 2010 10:29:57 PM
I have to laugh at the right wing accusation of being petty and little while being so very, very petty and small-minded. The unembarrassed hypocrisy is truly stunning. If I’d ever identified with the Republican right at all, I’d feel so embarrassed, and I’d quickly want to unidentify (which many did for a short time, but they’re showing their true colors again.)
Posted by: progressive mama | April 3, 2010, 10:45 am 10:45 am
the republicans should rename themselves to something like the DESPAIR Party
Posted by: PO’d | Apr 3, 2010 12:18:27 AM
Despair, scare and never, ever share.
Posted by: progressive mama | April 3, 2010, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Gallup has the President at 50% today.
Posted by: tierra
—
You shoulda thrown CBS in there also. Or maybe Katie Couric is a right-wing demon. They have him at 44%.
Posted by: smartlillena | April 3, 2010, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
The same CBS poll has his hc disaster at 34%.
Quinnipiac- 46%
Marist- (rising to) 46%.
Posted by: smartlillena | April 3, 2010, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
Party loyalty has and always will be more important than national interest.
Whether we admit it openly or not the truth is we want an “Opposition” party in place to take on the “Party in power”
Politics is a “team sport”.
Posted by: Dashingscorpio | October 11, 2010, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm