" Obama defends GOP outreach, even if some think he's a 'sap'"

[KoKo]

Obama defends GOP outreach, even if some think he's a 'sap'
By Justin Sink - 04/24/13 10:08 PM ET


President Obama said Wednesday that he would continue reaching across the aisle to Republican lawmakers even if some of his donors "think I'm a sap."

[]The president spoke Wednesday at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in Dallas, the fifth fundraiser he's held since being sworn in for a second term earlier this year. Obama told the attendees, who paid between $10,000 and $32,400 to attend the dinner, that while he was proud of his first term, the country "still had work to do."

“Unfortunately, right now Washington is not – how do I put this charitably? It’s not as functional as it should be," Obama said. "It could do better.”

The president also pledged to continue his charm offensive with Republicans. Tuesday night, Obama hosted a gathering of the Senate's female members — including four Republicans — at the White House. In previous weeks, the president has dined on multiple occasions with groups of Republican lawmakers in an effort to find common ground on budget and policy issues.

“Occasionally I may make some of you angry because I’m going to reach out to Republicans, and I’m going to keep on doing it,” he said. “Even if some of you think I’m a sap, I’m going to keep on doing it because that’s what I think the country needs.”

The president added that he would still prefer that Democrats control Congress, saying that when his party can set the agenda, "we don't have a country where just a few are doing really well."

The president is in Dallas for the dedication of former President George W. Bush's presidential library on Thursday, and the fundraiser was held in a ritzy neighborhood just a mile away from the home of Obama's predecessor. Obama said he was "really looking forward" to the celebration, which will be attended by all the living former presidents.

"One of the things I will insist upon is whatever our political differences, President Bush loves this country and loves its people and shares that same concern, and was concerned about all people in America, not just those who voted Republican," Obama said. "I think that’s true about him and I think that’s true about most of us.”

The president was joined at the dinner by first lady Michelle Obama and top White House and Democratic officials, including advisers Valerie Jarrett and Dan Pfeiffer; Ron Kirk, the former Dallas mayor and former U.S. Trade Representative; and Henry Munoz III, the DNC's finance chair.

The event was held at the home of Naomi Aberly, a top bundler for both of Obama's presidential campaigns. According to campaign finance records, Aberly has also donated to Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). Aberly has also donated to causes including Planned Parenthood and EMILY's List, records show.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/296049-obama-vows-to-continue-outreach-efforts#ixzz2RWGo8XEi
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[MotherPetrie]

1. Right, Bush loved this country so much he lied it into an illegal war.

And Bush loved its people so much he saw them as nothing but cannon fodder to fight his illegal war for him and his pals.

I get that Obama has to be diplomatic. But he doesn't have to sound like a total fool, and that's what saying these things about war criminal/election stealer Bush makes him sound like.

OTOH, maybe Bush really is his kind of guy.

[blkmusclmachine]

2. Quite frankly, couldn't care less what BHO has to say.

We have to mobilize to contain/minimize his "bipartisan"/"Centrist" damage potential to the Party for 2014/2016.

[Doctor_J]

3. I am afraid this is probably the last straw for me

This is not what I campaigned, donated, and voted for:

I’m going to keep on doing it because that’s what I think the country needs.”

What he's saying is that the campaign was a lie, and that the fix is in. The electorate overwhelmingly repudiated the Repukes in 2006 and 2008, yet Obama wants to continue that agenda and trajectory.

I wonder if he has any clue how much this statement is going to crush the spirit of the 60 million who voted for him.

[GTurck]

4. Is President Obama...

pushing because he knows that it keeps the GOP unsteady and unbalanced? It could explain a lot and be a master stroke.

[FiveGoodMen]

5. Outreach? No. Collusion.

Trojan horse.

[Ash_F]

6. You're not going to out-Republican the Republicans

Dems are just going to get slaughtered by low turnout. Keep pushing for the policies the majority of Americans want right now and let the voters decide after the Pubs are forced to show their ass, time and again.

Right now, Obama is just sparing them an ass-showing.