Update: Boehner tells press he thinks Obama was sincere in wanting to find common ground and wanting to hear ideas
President Barack Obama put his vow to govern without partisan rancor on the line Tuesday, after holding exclusive talks with increasingly truculent Republican lawmakers about his massive stimulus plan.
And strangely enough, Congressional Republicans are aflutter over the "respect" being shown to them by President Obama, even as they continue to criticize the economic stimulus plan.
"If [the] President carries this on it does open door for a new tone!" wrote Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) on his Twitter page as the negotiations progressed.
"Swooning," said The Hill of the unexpected outpouring of GOP appreciation.
"The statistics every day underscore the urgency of the economic situation, and the American people expect action," said President Obama between mettings with House and Senate Republicans, as quoted by the Associated Press. "I don't expect 100 percent agreement from my Republican colleagues, but I do hope we can put politics aside."
But it's what leaked out on the edges of the mainstream press that might best explain the surprised reaction from Republicans.
"I will be judged by the legacy I have left behind," an unnamed source cited Obama as saying, in a post by US News and World Report's Washington Whispers blog. "I don't want to leave our children with a legacy of debt. I am inheriting an annual yearly debt of over $1 trillion.'"
Other tipsters told Whispers:
- "Obama said the he would 'like not to have to spend the stimulus money.'"
- "He also said that he has 'no interest in increasing government just to increase the size of government.'"
- On GOP complaints, "he said that 'there will be time to beat him up and a time for politics. He said I understand that and I will watch you on Fox News and feel bad about myself.'"
