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GOP: Where Was Obama's Outreach in Inaugural Speech?Related Content
The reviews are out on President Obama's second inaugural address, and Republicans are expressing disappointment in what they say was his failure to reach across the aisle in his remarks. "I was more hopeful that you'd hear more bipartisanship," Rep, Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said today on "CBS This Morning." "I was hoping that we would have a second term different than the first term." To the dismay of many Republicans, the president laid out a laundry list of Democratic pillars such as climate change, same-sex marriage and entitlements during his 19-minute speech. "The commitments we make to each other through Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, these things do not sap our initiative, they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great," the president said. However, Republican critics didn't necessarily criticize what was said, but what wasn't, lamenting that he didn't extend an olive branch or an invitation to work together. "It did seem that he wasn't doing the kind of outreach that he needs to do if he wants to get things accomplished in a second term," Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told The Hill. "I would have liked to have seen some outreach...This is the eighth [inauguration] that I've been to and always there's been a portion of the speech where [the president says], 'I reach out my hand because we need to work together.' That wasn't in this speech," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said, according to The Hill. "My disappointment was that in the speech, I think the president missed an opportunity to talk about where we can find common ground," Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, told the Los Angeles Times. "Instead, he chose to talk about it in the abstract and the specifics were about the things he believes, but are not issues where we, as a Congress and an executive branch, can make progress." Meanwhile, not all Republicans were critical. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., the top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, who is often extremely critical of the president, gave the president better-than-expected reviews. He said that "within the context of this capping off a campaign that it was not too political." And Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said he "thought it was a pretty good speech." "Actually, everything he said kind of fits within a 'brotherly love' type of situation. Do I agree with everything in the speech? No. But I thought it was pretty good.," Hatch told Politico. |
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Harvard professor said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 9:35 AM
The President taught at Harvard...but keep whining..
111998866figure8 said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 4:54 PM
It was our 44th President's day, not the GOP, President Obama addressed his vision, his commitment, his stance. We had G.W. for 8, so stop your whining.
111946221Liberals socks said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 4:16 PM
It doesn't matter what Illegal act My way or no way Obama lies about or tries to do, the U.S. Constitution does not allow Radical left filth like Obama to dictate anything. Thank the founding fathers for the Greatest Nation on earth a Constitutional Republic. They foresaw Radical Leftist Marxists like the P O S Obama. The checks and balances in the Constitution will Stop you, one way or another. The Founding fathers saw firsthand and foresaw the Extreme Filth like Obama and Reid that would love to rule by Decree, they knew it would inevitably rear its UGLY head again. Therefore they Gave us; A Constitutional Republic to place limits on the Tyranny of the Majority. The U.S.A. is A Constitutional Republic, NOT a Democracy. A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” Thomas Jefferson
111944252GOP reminds me of... said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 2:34 PM
roadkill bloating waiting to explode...
111936756brian said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 1:14 PM
The gop created this mess with two unfunded wars,a two hundred dollar payout to every u.s taxpayer,and a prescription drug policy that makes billions for the drug company's but does little to solve the overall cost problems.Now the GOP wants to blame Obama for their mess.If MCcain had won 4 years ago we would now be at war with Iran as well as the Bush wars.The GOP needs to get their own house in order before trying to fix the nation and until then get out of the way.You lost,let the man do what he was elected to do.
111930605Guest said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 12:59 PM
He could have presented the whole tree little lone the branch and the GOP have made it very clear they are unwilling to work together. Beings how their stated goal of making Obama a one term president and hopping that he failed. But what they fail to realize if the president fails the whole country fails. That's who you elected, people who want the country to fail thinking that's how they will get what they want. You may not realize it but he has bended many times trying to get GOP support only to be met with opposition. Take one of the first budget talks. The GOP said we want 19 billion in cuts. The Dems agree only to be counter offered with more cuts. Ok we will go a little more. Guess what was next? Asking for more cuts. How is that not reaching out? How is that not willing to work together? I swear Obama could suggest outlawing abortion and the GOP would still find a way to object. Ask yourself this. When has the GOP extended a olive branch to the president? It's a two way street.
111929715Sore Back Salmon said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 12:51 PM
Why would the GOP want any "outreach"? They haven't responded to outreach for the last four years. They slap down outreach even when it is ideas they introduced. Stop crying, GOP crybabies. Bend over and take your medicine. You have followed tea party extremists out of the main stream. Now flounder and die on the stream banks.
111929022Sam Hall said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 12:50 PM
President Obama won the election again because the majority of citizens in our nation knew he had the total best plans. The ultra right wing tea party majority in Congress has purposely ignored every plan Obama prosposed. Obama in his first term tried many times to reach out to the ultra rightwing tea party political people with zero results. He has invited them to many situations with him including meetings and even golf ..yet the GOPtea pary majority whip recently said he will never speak with Presdient Obama again. Their leaders said in the time frame the minute Obama became president they would make him a one term president..it did not work did it. these are the answers to the outreach situation.
111928951Anonymous said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 12:48 PM
where was the GOP for women - right RAPE is the word but sycopant is a better term...
111928781ron said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 10:51 AM
word of the day, sycophant.
111917631still racists said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 8:26 AM
some are still mad that the slave has become MASTER!
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