Heading into a tough new political season, President Obama is striking positive new tones that contrast with the introspective self-doubt that followed his midterm election drubbing. By adding a renewed appeal for bipartisanship to his daily messaging, Obama also is hoping to establish a contrast with the more truculent Republican leadership, potentially creating a good cop-bad cop political dynamic the White House hopes will work to his advantage.
“The test, ultimately, is going to be whether or not you have two sides that are capable of working together to make progress,” said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. “Washington can’t just be what Washington has always been.”
Obama’s return to hope was on display in an ABC News interview with Barbara Walters that aired Friday night. Speaking earnestly, Obama defended his record and expressed confidence that unpopular policies like health care reform will be vindicated by history.
The president and first lady, who carefully guard the privacy of daughters, Sasha and Malia, willingly shared anecdotes about the tooth fairy and ‘tween angst over father being president.
In style and substance, the time spent with Walters was campaigning by other means, reminding voters why they liked Obama and his family and returning to the hopeful themes of 2008.
“I am very, very confident that our best days are still ahead of us,” the president told Walters.
The president also used his annual Thanksgiving radio address to issue a call for the parties to work together, saying “it’s not about left or right.”
“It’s about us,” Obama said. “It’s about what we know this country is capable of. It’s about what we want America to be in this new century.”
For the White House, the call bipartisanship is intended to show that Obama heard the message of the last election and address voters’ frustration with Washington.
It also serves as a counterpoint to Republicans’ combative message, which the administration believes is a general misstep that dwells on the negative.
Incoming House Speaking John Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters last week that his party plans to “move quickly” toward repealing “Obamacare.” They also plan to cut spending and block many of Obama’s priorities. It’s an agenda the White House believes won’t appeal to voters, who are most concerned about jobs and the economy and largely fed up with political bickering.
To underscore the other side’s partisanship, Obama has made frequent mention of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s remarks that denying Obama a second term is the party’s top priority.
“Regardless of the roles that each plays in the lame duck [session of Congress] and the transition of the roles that are played in the regular Congress, the group of players is the same,” Gibbs said.
After the new year, Congress is expected to take up a range of issues that will likely underscore how deeply partisan and entrenched the two sides have become, including fights over spending, social policy and more.
The first test of the new bipartisanship comes this week, when Obama hosts a meeting and intimate dinner with congressional leaders from both parties to discuss areas of cooperation, a meeting rescheduled after Republicans canceled.
