Obama, Republicans engage in spirited policy discussion during House GOP annual retreat
Andrew Zaleski
Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: News
House Republican leaders gathered in Baltimore's Renaissance Harborplace Hotel this weekend for their annual retreat. At center stage was Friday's lunchtime address by President Obama to GOP representatives, followed by a question-and-answer session in which House Republicans questioned the president's positions and actions on health care reform, reducing the deficit, climate legislation and job creation.
While the dialogue between Obama and House Republicans maintained a degree of decorum, as the conversation progressed, the frank conversation grew more candid, even becoming a bit heated at times as GOP leaders went back and forth with the president over his policies and the behavior of his Democratic colleagues in Congress.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., speaking directly to Obama, emphasized that Republicans in the House have ideas on issues ranging from health care to job creation, but noted that they receive inadequate recognition for contributing to the general political discussion.
"If those ideas aren't getting to you, maybe it's your Democratic leadership in Congress acting as an impediment, not a conduit," said Blackburn.
Obama countered, acknowledging that he and the Democratic Party are "absolutely committed to working [with Republicans] on these solutions," while also demanding that the debate not be based solely on "political assertions."
The appearance by Obama at the GOP retreat was not unusual. During their respective tenures, past presidents have had similar meetings with the opposing party. But the televised question-and-answer session between President Obama and Republican lawmakers was unprecedented; after a phone call late Thursday night from the White House, House GOP leaders agreed to televise the back-and-forth session, which lasted roughly an hour and 30 minutes.
"House Republican leaders are grateful to the president for being willing to come [and speak] in a freewheeling environment," said Indiana Representative and House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence. "We welcome the dialogue with the president."
While the dialogue between Obama and House Republicans maintained a degree of decorum, as the conversation progressed, the frank conversation grew more candid, even becoming a bit heated at times as GOP leaders went back and forth with the president over his policies and the behavior of his Democratic colleagues in Congress.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., speaking directly to Obama, emphasized that Republicans in the House have ideas on issues ranging from health care to job creation, but noted that they receive inadequate recognition for contributing to the general political discussion.
"If those ideas aren't getting to you, maybe it's your Democratic leadership in Congress acting as an impediment, not a conduit," said Blackburn.
Obama countered, acknowledging that he and the Democratic Party are "absolutely committed to working [with Republicans] on these solutions," while also demanding that the debate not be based solely on "political assertions."
The appearance by Obama at the GOP retreat was not unusual. During their respective tenures, past presidents have had similar meetings with the opposing party. But the televised question-and-answer session between President Obama and Republican lawmakers was unprecedented; after a phone call late Thursday night from the White House, House GOP leaders agreed to televise the back-and-forth session, which lasted roughly an hour and 30 minutes.
"House Republican leaders are grateful to the president for being willing to come [and speak] in a freewheeling environment," said Indiana Representative and House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence. "We welcome the dialogue with the president."
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