President Barack Obama today acknowledged his faltering political influence on voters, and on the Republican and Democratic legislators who are charting their own course towards the 2012 election.
“All I can do is make the best arguments and mobilize public opinion,” he said during a 73-minute morning press conference in the White House. “So far, [Republicans] have not been responsive to public opinion.”
Pressed by reporters for answers on ongoing crises and scandals, Obama also said that Attorney General Holder did not know the disastrous details of his “Fast and Furious” program; that the feds must invest in green technology because traditional oil is running out; that China manipulates its currency; and that Pakistan cooperates with extremists.
The reporters’ tough questions and the president’s cautious answers highlighted the mounting economic problems, political obstacles and internal scandals plaguing the administration.
Three reporters suggested his calls on the GOP to pass his $47 billion seem more like a campaign than a serious negotiation with legislators, and Obama responded with a campaign-style rebuke of the GOP.
“We will keep on going [to win passage of the bill] … [and] they will have to explain why they’re opposed to putting teachers back into school or are opposed to rebuilding our schools,” he said, while acknowledging that the economy “is currently weakening.”
“If Congress does do something, I can’t run against a do-nothing Congress. If Congress doesn’t do something, the people will run them out of town,” he said.
Obama also alluded to his political weakness on Capitol Hill as he tried to blame Republicans for cynicism about Washington. “What we’ve seen is the American people respond very enthusiastically to the specific provisions of the jobs bill … [and] I can go out there and make speeches, but until they see action, some of that cynicism is going to be there,” he said.
Via his speeches, he said, he’s taking his ”case to the American people so they understand what’s at stake.”
Obama’s relations with Hill Democrats are also fraying, as some criticize his jobs bill and proposed tax increases. Senate Democrats, for example, have dropped his proposed tax plan and, rather than vote on his proposal to increase taxes on people earning more than $250,000 per year, are now seeking a 5.6 percent surcharge on millionaires.
Obama didn’t object to this change. “The approach that the Senate is taking, I’m comfortable with,” he said.
Senate Democrats are also pushing a populist bill to punish China for currency manipulation. Obama said China does manipulate its currency, but did not say if he supports or opposes the bill.
To help spur public pressure against the GOP, Obama also derided the GOP’s economy-boosting proposals, such as its calls for deregulation. There is “not one persuasive argument that Republicans have made against a [jobs] bill like this,” he said.
“Their answer I’m hearing now is that ‘We’re going to roll back all of these Obama regulations,’” he said. “Their big economic plan … is to roll back financial protections … weaken consumer watchdogs … rollback regulations that make sure we’ve got clear air clean water … Does anybody really think that’s going to create jobs right now?”
“There may be some skepticism … that I personally can persuade the Republicans … that’s exactly why we need public pressure,” he said.