President Barack Obama may have to reach out more to Democrats on
Capitol Hill if he expects to win their support for his aggressive
second-term agenda, reports Politico.
In an interviews with dozens of Democratic members of Congress and
senior aides, Politico found many are frustrated and angered by what
they perceive as the president’s disregard for cultivating relationships
with his party colleagues.
This comes at a time when the president is preparing to take on
everything from taxes and immigration reform to gun control and climate
change, and needs Democratic backing to get legislation through
Congress.
According to Politico, Democrats complain that they never hear from
Obama personally and have not been to the White House since early on in
his first term.
Montana Sen. Jon Tester, for example, said there was more contact with
the president when Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was White House chief of
staff.
He told Politico the president needs to be more engaged during this Congress.
“I think it could save time and make things work a little better,” he said.
Some Democrats believe Obama’s seeming indifference is due to his
reticent nature, Politico reported. But others believe the president and
his inner circle still hold a grudge about the initial outpouring of
support from Hill Democrats for Hillary Clinton during the 2008
presidential campaign.
The White House, meanwhile, says the president appreciates the support
he received during his first term from congressional Democrats and is
looking forward to a meeting on the Hill later this week with Democratic
caucuses in both chambers.
But even that may not help smooth things over. For example, one Democrat
told Politico that he left a recent meeting with his colleagues in
Congress "astonished at the contempt they have for our president." This
Democrat said it was made clear at the meeting that Obama would not get
their support if he tried to cut spending on entitlements in budget
negotiations with Republicans.
Democrats also appear to be upset by Obama’s new political outreach
effort, Organizing for Action, a tax-exempt nonprofit that grew out of
his presidential campaign and was set up with the express purpose of
promoting his second-term agenda.
Some members are dismayed over the president's decision earlier this
month to appoint a little-known aide to the newly vacated post of
congressional affairs adviser, passing over Ed Pagano, the White House
Senate liaison, who is apparently well-liked in the upper chamber,
Politico reported.
Delaware Sen. Tom Carper suggested to Politico that Obama "would be
well-advised to strengthen" his personal relationships on the Hill.
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