Obama lashes Republican rivals for sowing division

[Turborama]

Source: AFP

US President Barack Obama Wednesday took a tough line with Republican rivals accusing them of blocking legislation and hobbling Congress in the hope of making political gain in an election year.

"We cannot wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about their opponent - a belief that if you lose, I win," Obama told US lawmakers.

"Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can. The confirmation of well-qualified public servants should not be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual senators."

=snip=

Obama said some might think mud-slinging was all part of the usual political game. But he warned: "It is sowing further division among our citizens and further distrust in our government."

Read more: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1033641/1/.html

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More quotes at the link.

This was awesome to watch. The look on their faces was priceless.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. He scolded the party of no for saying no

good! at last!

[old guy]

2. And he did it on national TV so it can't be hidden or ignored.

[The Northerner]

3. He doesn't need their votes

Just use reconciliation whenever they say no.

There. Problem solved.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. That was one of my favorite lines of the night. "If it's now going to require 60 votes

rather than 51 votes to pass legislation, then you need to be statesmen, too!" Something like that...

[Jefferson23]

4. Obama knows how to give a wise ass smile, I loved it!

Keep calling them out and all their NO's!

[Stargleamer]

6. What Did He Expect?

Sometimes he's seemed so utterly naive. Maybe being a community organizer made him think things are doable, such as working with total reactionaries, when they're not.

[Mithreal]

8. Sometimes we inflate the myth to mean all sorts of things

[AsahinaKimi]

7. I am betting that

The Republicans truly don't care what Obama had to say.

They won't play ball AT ALL.

Well, then there is only one course to take..If they are standing in the way, either push them out of the way, or run them over. Its the only language they truly understand.

[Mithreal]

The House GOP invited Obama this year to speak at its annual retreat.

I agree with you but I don't see him pushing them out of the way or running them over.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/25/AR2010012503691.html

[Left Coast2020]

11. Damn glad he called out Supremes on their corporate

cronies ruling. He may be in the records books for giving that spanking which could be a first. I was hoping he could have used a bit more fire too i.e Jesse Jackson.
:kick:

[No Elephants]

17. Thing is, most of America had no clue what he was referring to.

And that probably was not the only remark that went over most people's heads.

It's amazing how little people know about what goes on day to day, even people who think they are savvy.

[Cobalt-60]

13. Crush The Pukes

They're still owed a massive slice of payback for their behavior during the
B*sh administration.
They're a party of thieves and war criminals.
Every one of them should be put against a wall and shot.

[depakid]

9. Sure sounded like a BIPARTISAN scolding of both parties to me

I suppose people can infer what they will from the words.

[Mithreal]

10. Agreed, people hear what they want. Still talking bipartisanship.

[Turborama]

12. "Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership.

We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions."

Those are "the words" I was referring to in the OP.

I don't know his motives for the bipartisanship approach, maybe he's giving them another chance to prove how unwilling they are to serve the country? That's just speculation, though.

He's not stupid and has seen how they've been behaving. That isn't speculation.

[troubledamerican]

14. Abraham Lincoln: "A House divided cannot stand"

quoting the Bible.

[SlingBlade]

15. Yea, That'll Teach 'Em

NOT !

[lib2DaBone]

16. Obama is still trying to govern from the center right...

I agree with everything he said (wonderful speech).. but he reminds me of he kid in high school who wanted to be "popular".

You CAN NOT deal with the right from a position of weakness.. they are thugs, bullies, crooks, criminals and religious nut cases.

They own the banks, the courts, the media, the corporations and now the Supreme Court.

Mr. Obama.. no more Mr. Nice Guy.. you got to kick ass and take names with the party of No.

[No Elephants]

18. Whether Obama, Rahm, Gibbs, etc. are scolding Republicans or Democrats, the whole scolding

business is out of line, IMO.

Treating everyone who does not agree with them all the time like naughty children is condescending, disrespectful and simply not their place.

Inspire, lead, persuade, debate, whatever. Fine. But no one elected any of them schoolmarm in chief over any of American's adults.

[Turborama]

19. Are you defending the Republican's against President Obama's correct comments towards them?

What did he say that was wrong?

[Mithreal]

20. Nothing wrong with the perpetual campaign though, right?