Spokesman: New president wants ‘strong bonds with congressional leaders’
Eric Schultz, a senior aide to then-President Barack Obama, delivered the line with a perfect deadpan. The delivery, including the glance toward reporters, summed up the Obama administration’s view about hobnobbing with Congress.
“On Thursday, the president and first lady will attend the Congressional Ball at the White House,” Schultz said on Dec. 2, pausing for a second before delivering the punchline — “one of our favorites.” Reporters gathered in the White House briefing room responded with a combination of knowing chuckles, groans and hoots.
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Editor: When people in Russia ask me on how does the U.S. political system works …. I say that ideally …. the U.S. President proposes, and the U.S. Congress disposes. If as President you want your agenda to be adopted, you must have it approved by Congress to make it into law …. and more importantly …. to have it passed with at least some bipartisan support. If not …. your legislative agenda can (and will) be quickly undone by the next administration …. which is what we are seeing right now. This was President Obama’s failure when it came to governing. Obamacare was adopted with zero Republican Congressional support …. and none quite frankly was really wanted. Executive actions by the White House, nuclear options under US Sen. Reid, this may all have made sense when they were in power ….. but out of power …. these same tactics will be used against them. Interestingly …. President Obama did work well with a number of Republicans on international issues …. both sought each other out …. and not surprisingly …. opposition to President Obama’s foreign policy agenda was limited to only a few issues (i.e. releasing Guantanamo detainees, red lines in Syria, etc.).
As for President Trump …. he is reaching out to certain Democrats, and he is certainly going after their base of support (meeting with union heads 2 days ago). He knows to get his economic policies passed he will need bipartisan support …. it may take longer …. but the rewards are there at the end if you do it right. On a side note …. there will be a big battle on his Supreme Court pick next week …. and this is going to test his outreach to the Democrats …. that I have no doubt about.