Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/7134
WASHINGTON — As voters lose patience with political gridlock, the Obama administration is embarking on a strategy aimed at putting Republi- cans in a pincher: either they participate in bipartisan exchanges initiated by the president, or be portrayed as the party of obstruction. The new approach is part of a series of adjustments the White House is making as it deals with the after- math of Republican Scott Brown's victory in Massa- chusetts, which cost Democrats their filibuster- proof majority in the Sen- ate. Right now, it's not clear voters blame one party more than the other for paralysis in Washington. A recent poll by NBC News/the Wall Street Jour- nal showed that voters are as apt to blame congression- al Republicans as Democ- rats for the standoff. Virtual- ly everyone surveyed agreed there is too much infighting in the capital. In a flurry of recent pub- lic appearances, President Barack Obama has sent a message that he is prepared to embrace Republican ideas. But he is also signal- ing that if Republicans balk at compromise, he'll exact a political price. Republicans, said White House communications directors Daniel Pfeiffer, "have a role to play in solv- ing problems in this coun- try, or be accountable to the electorate for choosing not to." Republicans don't see Obama's overtures as sin- cere. They view with partic- ular suspicion Obama's invitation to hash out differ- ences on health care at a televised summit meeting Thursday. Republicans who boycott the summit risk looking obstinate. But showing up isn't a winning strategy either, some Republicans caution. They fear the format is one that guarantees Obama will appear the statesman. "When you're the presi- dent you have the loudest microphone and clearest TV camera," said Mark Corallo, a Republican strategist. "You get to stand up and look reasonable, bipartisan and leader-like. And anyone else ends up ... looking like a petty partisan who is just interested in say- ing no. There's no upside for the Republicans in even attending the health care summit." Obama has been busy on other fronts positioning himself as the seeker of bipartisan solutions to the nation's problems. Last week he named former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming to co-chair a commission that will look for ways to curb the trillion-dollar deficit. He also announced billions of dollars in federal loan guar- antees promoting nuclear power _ an energy source that many Republicans see as a solution to the United States' electricity needs. In a recent news confer- ence, Obama said he is open to giving ground in exchange for Republican support for his energy plan, which is floundering in the Senate. "I'm willing to move off some of the preferences of my party in order to meet them half way," the presi- dent said. "But there's got to be some give from their side as well." An Obama administra- tion official said that in coming months, the White House will be quicker to point out instances of what he described as Republican intransigence. While the White House has long believed Republicans were committed to derailing Obama's agenda, officials will be more aggressive in making the case. "The Massachusetts election obliterated the argument that we could (govern) all on our own," said the administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not autho- rized to speak publicly. "What we're doing now is actively reaching out and demonstrating our interest in bipartisanship — but not passively standing by if Republicans are not willing to meet us half way." 4A – Daily News – Tuesday, February 23, 2010 American Embroidery Mart 446 Antelope Blvd. #34 (530) 527-4446 Tuesday - Friday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm e-mail: info@americanembroiderymart.com Custom and corporate logos for embroidery. "If I can hoop it, I can embroider it." 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