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President Obama hosted a luncheon yesterday for Senate Republicans behind closed doors. Although the session was not televised, by nearly all accounts, it is evident that Republicans must have entered into heated arguments with president during a private 75-minute session.
Obama’s former presidential rival, Senator John McCain lashed out at the federal government for its portrayal of the new immigration law in his home state of Arizona. And Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee alleged that Obama administration had been less than sincere in trying to seek a bipartisan deal on the financial regulatory overhaul. The bill was passed last week with just four Republican votes.
“To come in on the Tuesday after it all occurred and to now talk about seven or eight items he wants to do in a bipartisan way, I just asked him how he could reconcile that duplicity. I was very aware that we were props today as we move into an election cycle,” said Croker. On their part, White House officials played down suggestions of hostility at the meeting, saying the meeting was friendly. A White House statement noted that there were “continued differences” on important issues.
“I don’t think we were going to hash out agreement on anything with a whole big group like that. That was not anticipated by him or by us,” said the Republican leader, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Obama last met the Senate Republicans in January 2009 when he was newly inaugurated and was seeking support for his economic stimulus plan. The difference of opinion between the two sides has grown since then in the aftermath of the health care fight and the overhaul of rules governing banks and Wall Street, which have been passed recently.
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