President Obama has criticized the “do-nothing Congress” in Washington, D.C., but he might have complained more precisely about a “do-nothing-I-want” Congress.
White House senior adviser David Plouffe, during an interview this morning with CBS’s Erica Hill, might have positioned Obama as the “do-nothing-to-negotiate” President. “Give us an idea, as we learn more about this bill and its support or lack thereof,” Hill asked, “where will the president be willing to compromise?”
“Well first of all, the American Jobs Act, which will be voted on today in the Senate, is what the economy needs right now,” Plouffe responded, and “if we can’t get enough people to vote for it tonight, we’re going to keep at it.” Plouffe added that the White House would put “as much pressure as we can today” on Senate Democrats and Republicans to pass the jobs proposal.
When Hill pressed Plouffe for “a specific of one area, perhaps,” on which Obama might have “a little wiggle room,” Plouffe gave no indication that such an area exists. “Well listen, I think all of these are mainstream proposals that in a normal political environment would be supported, he said, repeating that “a lot of these are mainstream proposals, they ought to enjoy support.”
Plouffe also assured Hill that “We’re eager to work with Congress.”
You can see the full interview below.
