After latest budget battle, Obama calls senators looking for common ground

Reuters and Huffington Post ^ | 4 Mar 13 | Richard Cowan and Steve Holland

[SkyPilot]

President Barack Obama, unable to persuade Republicans to accept higher taxes, is attempting to cobble together what he calls a "common-sense caucus" among lawmakers to help resolve U.S. budget woes and push his legislative agenda.

On Monday and in recent days, Obama has made individual phone calls to a number of senators in a search for common ground on $85 billion in budget cuts that went into effect last week, as well as his top priorities like deficit reduction, gun control and an overhaul of U.S. immigration laws.

Gene Sperling, the White House senior economic official, said on the CNN program "State of the Union" on Sunday that Obama was contacting to lawmakers to talk about compromises that could include reforms to both the tax code and entitlement programs, which include Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare healthcare for the elderly and disabled.

It was unclear whether Obama hopes to craft a deal on these two controversial issues this month, as Congress attempts to pass legislation funding most government activities beyond March 27, or the president is eyeing other upcoming budget initiatives this year.

The list of lawmakers Obama contacted include Republican Senators Bob Corker of Tennessee, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Rob Portman of Ohio and Susan Collins of Maine, according to either the senators or congressional aides. The White House declined to confirm the names.

[SkyPilot]

Obama is not pivoting, he's spinning in the wind. The above is a lie. Obama personally called them? They'd take the call and the WH would confirm it. This is a media story for consumption by the simple-minded, meaning liberals and the lieberal press.

Easy there trigger.

From today:

Obama calling GOP senators to talk sequester fix

Remember. I was way ahead of the See BS story with my post last night.

Graham talked to the press today and confirmed things are moving forward - but it is way too early to tell if they will bear fruit.

I have never, ever seen a political force as unstoppable as Sequestration. Nobody wants it - and it is still a freight train.

Do you know why?

The only way to "fix" it is to reform Entitlements.

They are the holy grail of Gimme Politics.

[1010RD]

Trigger should be capitalized, although I prefer Golden Cloud.

Entitlement reform is the third rail of politics and I’ll believe it when I see it. There’s not that much courage in DC and I’m counting every living person. Ping me when it happens.

The Sequestration is targeting our military which is a Constitutionally mandated organization. Obama is lying.

[House Atreides]

I think that Rush Limbaugh and his argument that Obama has been avoiding governing (in favor of perpetual “outsider” campaigning) has begun to have an effect. Rush has always succeeded in getting under Obama’s skin. I think that Rush is not only continuing to irritate Obama but that his avoiding governing theorem is gaining traction in the broader mainstream media of all things.

In recent days I’ve noticed photo-ops where Obama was pretending to govern. For example he had the press in to videotape a portion of a cabinet meeting where Obama was pretending to be engaged. I think that this latest “outreach” to some Republicans is simply further pretense of governing.

Obama’s game is being recognized finally. Keep it up Rush—you’re being effective!!