Clinton went with what was popular. Obama is an ideologue. Such working together won't happen.
I am skeptical of your claim, O accepted and signed the extension of all the tax cuts late 2010 including cap gains and high income. Then he ran against it. In fact he ran against it before he signed it too. That talk was candy to his lib base. And it obviously workled for him too. But now who knows what he will try?
If he holds a hard line NOW then the automatic spending cuts and tax increases together will doom his party in the next midterm, unless the Boehner crowd are his bitches.
Wouldnt now be the time for the House to take a stand, while talking publically 'working together' ?