McConnell: If Obama Acts Like A Republican, We Can Negotiate With Him

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

McConnell: If Obama Acts Like A Republican, We Can Negotiate With Him
Evan McMorris-Santoro | January 25, 2011, 10:30AM


Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell took a stab at reaching across the aisle this morning, saying he'd like to work with President Obama on what he called "the really serious, seemingly intractable problems" in the country today. His advice to a president who's signaled he's willing to come to the center and make deals with the new Republican-heavy Congress? Become one of us, and bipartisanship should be no problem.

"If the president is willing to do what I and my members would do anyway, we're not going to say no," McConnell told an audience of journalists and political insiders at a breakfast meeting hosted by Politico in Washington today.

Moderator Mike Allen asked McConnell if there are any concessions he'd be willing to grant the White House in the course of negotiating solutions to Social Security and other large-scale topics dividing Washington these days.

"It depends on the issue," McConnell said. "We can't negotiate sitting here this morning."

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/mcconnell-if-obama-can-be-a-republican-we-can-negotiate-with-him.php?ref=fpblg

[villager]

1. And evidently, Obama agrees!

n/t

[Roland99]

12. +1

[RedSock]

35. +2

[begin_within]

2. So what are they waiting for.

[jaxx]

3. McConnell is a riot.

Out there pushing the pub agenda. They never quit.

[yellowcanine]

4. Mighty big of him.

[nxylas]

5. That's actually a compromise for the man-turtle

Before, he was blocking everything Obama proposed even when they were Republican ideas (like Romneycare).

[groovedaddy]

6. "the really serious, seemingly intractable problems" - You mean the ones you and Bush

helped to create? You didn't seem to concerned about the problems when you created them.

[gateley]

7. Those dicks seem to always forget who the American people elected President.

He is insufferable.

[msongs]

31. obama does the same thing since he ran as a democrat nt

[ElsewheresDaughter]

8. is this guy for fucking real?!?!

[LynneSin]

9. Perhaps when McConnell starts acting like a human with a sense of decency we can too

:grr:

[RedCloud]

10. If they would stop acting like complete assholes, maybe. But don't hold your breath,

[Bennyboy]

11. More than he is now?

love the reps. They play the game all the time.give them an incha dn tehy will scream from the top of the mountain that only a mile will do.

Seriously these guys got game and you gotta admire them for it.

[AlbertCat]

13. Seriously these guys got game and you gotta admire them for it.

Acting like high school "bad girls" and embarrassing the entire country is nothing to admire.

[Bennyboy]

21. They are best at the game...

Stay on message. Get what you want, then rail against it. repeat. Call the Pres out, get what you want, call the Pres out, get what you want, call the Pres out, get..... Simple.

And as long as those that can do something, refuse to, them this is what we get.

[AlbertCat]

27. Simple.

Only when there's little or no opposition.


And it's still nothing to admire. It's like admiring a thief because he's now rich with the money he stole.

This culture of the ends justifies the means is subpar. Crappy game.

[florida08]

14. oooh what a clever devil

Become one of them? rofl..yeah that's what the country wants. Let's see polls are saying that most Americans want to keep the health care provisions and/or expand them. Most of them want the uber wealthy to pay more taxes. LOL no Mcdonald..I don't think so, but nice try. Also Obama's poll numbers are up..yours? not so much

The Hill:

Support for the new GOP Congress has dropped since November among centrist Republicans, a new Pew poll said Friday.

Support for congressional Republicans' plans has dropped 21 percentage points among Republicans who identify themselves as "moderate" or "liberal," according to a Pew Research Center poll, while support has declined by 3 percentage points among self-described "conservatives."

Fifty-seven percent of centrist Republicans said they approve of GOP leaders' policies and vision for the future, down from 78 percent in a Pew Research Center poll in November, right after the GOP won control of the House in the midterm elections.

http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/republicans-just-not-that-into-new-gop-congress/

[NewJeffCT]

15. He could give the GOP everything they want

and more, and they'd still call him a socialist who hates America.

[nonoxy9]

16. It's Repub diplomacy: Give us everything we want, and then we'll talk to you!

:puke:

[Dawgs]

17. Worked on "tax cuts for the rich". Why not try it again?

:cry:

[bvar22]

25. Worked on Health Care Reform too,

and it also worked on Wall Street "regulations".

[DBoon]

18. meaning he should act like a mean middle aged white guy with a grudge

is that what he means by being republican?

[Joanne98]

19. GRRRR

[nyy1998]

20. Say goodbye to the political center McConnell nt

[Roy Rolling]

22. Two words---

"F you." If Republicans acted like grown ups then they are worthy of negotiation. If not, they are like children who cannot be reasoned with. If the other side capitulates before negotiation that is not negotiation, that is hostage-taking.

[madamesilverspurs]

23. In order to act like McConnell

President Obama would have to have the bulk of his active brain cells surgically removed.


=

[DeSwiss]

24. What the hell does McConnell mean "if"?

- K&R

[Shining Jack]

28. +1

Yeah, he's already there. Maybe he should act more like the Teabaggers?

[aggiesal]

26. This is their idea of compromise, ...

Republican Definition of Compromise: Do it our way, or nothing gets done.
Democrats Definition of Compromise: Do it their way, or nothing gets done.

[Major Hogwash]

29. Hell, if he runs as a Republican in 2012, you can even vote for him, Mitch!!

But, then what party would assholes like you join, McConnell?

[Sparky 1]

30. McConnell is in luck, then, since Obama often acts exactly like a Republican n/t

[ProudDad]

32. Oh, don't worry, Mitch. He will...he will... (n/t)

[Skittles]

33. "IF"

:rofl:

[yurbud]

34. why don't Democrats ever use this definition of bipartisanship?

[tblue37]

36. Not true anyway. He often adopts policies that were originally

proposed by Republicans, but when they are coming from Obama, the Republicans automatically reject them. Even the specific Republicans who originally proposed the ideas will reject them if Obama suggests them.

(For example, the individual mandate for health insurance was originally a Republican proposal.)

[SomeGuyInEagan]

37. I'd laugh, but am already crying. n/t