Collins: Private Meeting With Obama 'Was Amazing'

[babylonsister]

Obama wields the Oval invite
By JOHN BRESNAHAN & MANU RAJU | 2/9/09



President Barack Obama speaks with reporters in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.
Facing an unexpectedly uphill fight on his economic recovery bill, the new commander in chief has deployed one of the highest-profile assets at his disposal — one-on-one meetings in the Oval Office with senators whose votes he desperately needed.
Photo: AP


With Arlen Specter, the president was “crisp” and “professional” and threw in some talk about judges.

With Olympia Snowe, he was more casual, warming up with memories of the late Paul Simon, a mutual friend.

With Ben Nelson — a conservative Democrat and stimulus skeptic — the president connected on a personal level by talking first about families.

Facing an unexpectedly uphill fight on his economic recovery bill, the new commander in chief has deployed one of the highest-profile assets at his disposal — one-on-one meetings in the Oval Office with senators whose votes he desperately needed.

The tactic seems to be working.

As the Senate prepares to vote on the plan Monday and Tuesday, the four fence-sitting senators who met privately with President Barack Obama last week — Specter, Snowe, Nelson and Maine Republican Susan Collins — all say they intend to vote yes.

The four senators described their separate sessions with Obama as a “soft sell” — there was no horse trading, no twisting of arms, no LBJ-style browbeating. And there was no one else present — just the president and a senator, alone together in the Oval Office.

“It was amazing,” Collins said of her private half-hour meeting with Obama. “Presidents don’t do that. But it does help to be alone and have a free exchange.”

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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18569.html

[Thrill]

1. We're going to need her on Supreme Court Nominees

Lets not forget that

[AtomicKitten]

14. first thing that came to my mind

:thumbsup:

[babylonsister]

I'm happy to see some of Prez Obama's reaching across the

aisle has had the desired effect. For all those naysayers, this is proof positive that it's not such a bad thing.

[Better Believe It]

17. Why?

We need 51 Senate votes to approve any nominations President Obama makes to the Supreme Court.

Surely we can get at least 51 Democratic Senators to vote for President Obama's nominees.

[DevonRex]

2. That's my president! :) Thanks. nt

[flobee1]

3. Not true Susan!

YOUR president didn't do that

Ours does

[ejpoeta]

10. newsflash.... he isn't just 'our' president.... he is the president of

everyone in this country.

[Bicoastal]

12. Boooo.

Obama is every American's president, not just those who voted for him.

The "Birthers" at FreeRepublic say the exact same thing, only with the emphasis on the negative.

[liberal N proud]

4. Obama knows how to engage people.

Republicans don't know how to act with a bipartisan President, one who doesn't threaten them to get what he wants.

[babylonsister]

5. He's not just engaging, he's impressing! I love it! nt

[Captain Hilts]

7. And it's another case where he compares so favorably in comparison to GWB, who

Republicans didn't even like dealing with.

[Captain Hilts]

6. We need to send chocolate-wielding, pastry-baking prostitutes to Collins and Snowe. nt

[Barack_America]

8. Can anyone find a time she said the same of Bush?

:rofl:

[lame54]

9. But did he hand out nicknames?...

How is supposed to get their support without giving them nicknames?

[Beetwasher]

13. Arly, Limpy and Benjy

Then he told some fart jokes and gave Collins a rubdown. Oh wait, we have an adult in charge now!! WHEW!

[Snotcicles]

11. Amazing isn't it? how a humble man can connect with others when treats them as equal.nt

[AspenRose]

15. "It was amazing"

Uh oh, someone's been drinking 'Messiah kool-aid....'

:sarcasm:

[opihimoimoi]

16. Failure is not an Option.....Obama knows how to avoid the big F

[underpants]

18. Damn now the press can't hide behind the "Bush was such a charming guy in private" BS

turns out Obama is too

Well how about THAT?