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In his Townhall meeting last night, Biden continued to express hope that he can reach across the aisle for close bipartisan cooperation on major projects and get things done.
But after so many times of reaching across the aisle and only pulling back a stub, is this just naïveté and wishful thinking at this point, or evidence of a real leader trying to change how things work in Washington for the better? After all, he is working with Republican congressmen who have openly stated that their primary agenda is “ '18 more months of chaos and the inability to get stuff done”.
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“ Biden acknowledged it was a question he's receiving from foreign leaders, who asked him whether the US will "ever get it together." And he said a proliferation of conspiracy theories was making working together more difficult, citing one that "Biden is hiding people and sucking the blood of children."
Still, the President insisted working together remained his north star, including when he was questioned by a member of the audience about the "utopian need to gain bipartisan support."
"I may be the wrong guy to talk to," Biden warned, an acknowledgment he wasn't planning to give up any time soon on his insistence that Republicans and Democrats can work together.
He said he was haggling with Republicans and Democrats alike, saying the compromises are "real" and noting there have to be compromises within his own party "between the far left and the center and some of the folks who are more conservative." And without prompting, Biden name-checked Ohio's Republican senator, Rob Portman, 25 minutes into the event. Portman is among the senators negotiating the bipartisan infrastructure plan, and Biden's flattering message was laced with his expectations.
"I come from a tradition in the Senate, you shake your hand, and that's it, you keep your word," he said. "And I found Rob Portman does that."“
www.cnn.com
But after so many times of reaching across the aisle and only pulling back a stub, is this just naïveté and wishful thinking at this point, or evidence of a real leader trying to change how things work in Washington for the better? After all, he is working with Republican congressmen who have openly stated that their primary agenda is “ '18 more months of chaos and the inability to get stuff done”.
—————
“ Biden acknowledged it was a question he's receiving from foreign leaders, who asked him whether the US will "ever get it together." And he said a proliferation of conspiracy theories was making working together more difficult, citing one that "Biden is hiding people and sucking the blood of children."
Still, the President insisted working together remained his north star, including when he was questioned by a member of the audience about the "utopian need to gain bipartisan support."
"I may be the wrong guy to talk to," Biden warned, an acknowledgment he wasn't planning to give up any time soon on his insistence that Republicans and Democrats can work together.
He said he was haggling with Republicans and Democrats alike, saying the compromises are "real" and noting there have to be compromises within his own party "between the far left and the center and some of the folks who are more conservative." And without prompting, Biden name-checked Ohio's Republican senator, Rob Portman, 25 minutes into the event. Portman is among the senators negotiating the bipartisan infrastructure plan, and Biden's flattering message was laced with his expectations.
"I come from a tradition in the Senate, you shake your hand, and that's it, you keep your word," he said. "And I found Rob Portman does that."“
5 takeaways from President Joe Biden's CNN town hall
President Joe Biden arrived in Ohio on Wednesday mindful the days for actual bipartisan governing in Washington are quickly waning.
www.cnn.com
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