Steve Benen: The very first question in this morning’s White House press conference was pretty discouraging:
“On your jobs bill, the American people are sick of games – and you mentioned games in your comments. They want results. Wouldn’t it be more productive to work with Republicans on a plan that you know could pass Congress as opposed to going around the country talking about your bill and singling out – calling out Republicans by name?”
Towards the end of the event, another reporter asked the nearly identical question…. these questions make it seem as if it’s incumbent upon President Obama to change strategies – stop taking a compelling message to the public, stop trying to create conditions that would pressure Congress to do the right thing, and start asking Republicans if they might please consider working with him on some half-measures that probably wouldn’t do much good, at their convenience, if they don’t mind.
Have we not already been through this? The president has pleaded with congressional Republicans to work with him on good faith …. It’s proven to be pointless …. As he said this morning, “I’m also dealing with a Republican Majority Leader who said that his number-one goal was to beat me – not put Americans back to work, not grow the economy, not help small businesses expand, but to defeat me….”
…… And some White House political reporters want to know why Obama isn’t trying to negotiate with those bent on destroying his presidency? Seriously?
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