Posted by Frank James at 3:56 pm CST
A bipartisan group of senators visited the White House today to get a progress report on Iraq from President Bush and senior adminstration officials. Among them was Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) who recently visited the insurgency-wracked nation as part of an official congressional delegation.
Following the meeting, Obama stopped to speak with the reporters and television cameras waiting outside on a gusty day to get a read out on the meeting.
I asked him if he was satisfied with what he heard from the president and other officials in the meeting. "There have been adjustments in the strategy of stabilizing Iraq that are an improvement over what was taking place last year," Obama said.
"I think we're all glad the elections went as well as it did. But ultimately the Iraqi people, Shia majority, Sunni minority, they have to be committed to making sure that they are building the kind of country that's going to serve their people. There are going to be some tough, hardball negotiations taking place."
Obama said he shared concerns with the president he heard from Sunis during his Iraq trip that they were being targeted by Shias in the interior and defense ministries and that the Shias were reneging on a pledge to amend the constitution for allow Sunnis more power.
But Obama also told the president of the concerns of another minority group-congressional Democrats who feel targeted by Republicans for questioning the president's Iraq strategy.
"I shared with the president my hope that the neither party will use national security issues to make political clubs," to attack the opposition, he said.
We didn't enough time to ask him a follow up question about how the president responded.
But a wire story reported that Sen. Tim Johnson (D.-S.D.) said Obama told the president something along the lines that it was hard for centrist Democrats to support the president Iraq when he Republican National Committee was attacking all Democrats for being weak on national security.
" 'Point well taken,' " Bush responded, according to Johnson.
Obama likely was thinking of the recent attack on Democrats by Karl Rove, the White House's deputy chief of staff and Bush's chief political strategist. At last week's RNC winter meeting, Rove urged Republicans to wage the 2006 congressional campaigns on national security. He accused Democrats of having a "pre-9/11" world-view that made them "wrong" on how to fight the war on terror.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans who came over to talk with reporters after Obama praised him and some other Democrats for appearing willing to address Iraq in a bipartisan way.
"The most encouraging part for me was the bipartisanship," said Sen. John Ensign (R.-Nev.) "The fact that Barack Obama and Evan Bayh (In.) and Blance Lincoln (Ark.) were committed to having a more bipartisan effort coming from the U.S. Senate going forward...
"The one thing that we should take away from today is top lay down our partisan differences," he said.
How did that square with Rove's speech last week? I asked. "Put it this way," said Ensign. "I think if more Democrats would speak the way Joe Lieberman (Conn.) Evan Bayh and Barack Obama speak, I think you would have much more cooperation between the administration and Congress..."
Whether that's enough to induce other Democrats to grab the olive branch of bipartisanship remains to be seen.
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Comments
And what's the bottom line?
Pres. Bush gets to look like he is open to criticism from "reasonable" Democrats.
Sen. Obama gets to look like "a different kind of Democrat".
And Senate Republicans get to look like they are reaching out to Democrats.
And not a damn thing changes for the soldiers and civilians in Iraq.
Posted by: Mr. Fake Name | January 25, 2006 4:38 PM
"How did that square with Rove's speech last week? I asked. "Put it this way," said Ensign. 'I think if more Democrats would speak the way Joe Lieberman (Conn.) Evan Bayh and Barack Obama speak, I think you would have much more cooperation between the administration and Congress...'"
What kind of fool would believe that--besides your typical gullible journalist that is? We're talking about Rove (Gingrich, McClellan, et al.) here.
Posted by: stuart tarr | January 26, 2006 6:29 AM
Why should anyone listen to Karl Rove, he should be in jail for leaking the name of a covert agent. (I think during a time of war is considered treason)
Posted by: Rory M. | January 26, 2006 8:48 AM
The Tribune. All Obama, all the time.
And all this uproar without once having introduced a significant piece of legislation.
Obama-Fest 2006 continues at the Tribune tower.
Posted by: Bruce | January 26, 2006 9:25 AM
I donated to Sen. Obama's campaign in the general election. I voted for Sen. Obama in the general election. Senator Obama, we do not need another Joe Lieberman in the Senate. George W. Bush will smile and shake your hand, confident that his "boys" (i.e. Karl Rove, Ken Mehlman et. al.) are already revving up the smear machine against you. It's happened time and time again, it should be obvious by now. Remember, fool me once... can't get fooled again.
By the way, I volunteered for Nancy Skinner in the primary. Not because I though she would win the primary, but because I knew she could never be Joe Lieberman.
Posted by: Patrick Elliot | January 26, 2006 9:31 AM
What "olive branch of bipartisanship"??? Rove attacks Democrats (business as usual). Democrats speak reasonably with Bush. And you ask if more Democrats will "grab the olive branch"? Liberal media, my Aunt Fanny.
Posted by: Dienne | January 26, 2006 9:43 AM
Frankly, I commend Senator Obama for his integrity. Senator Lieberman has been piloried over his views on Iraq by people within the democratic party who have a political scorched earth policy. I respect elected officials from any party who have the courage to stand on their convictions. Lets celebrate the leaders with backbone and reflect the spirits of Dirkson, Proxmire, Moynahan and Simpson.
Posted by: Carl | January 26, 2006 4:23 PM
Have you noticed how much the Democrat leaders look like Girlie Guys. Cliff
Posted by: cliff Zeider | January 28, 2006 6:04 AM
It is time that we as DEMOCRATS stop falling for the lies ,the incompetence and outright criminality of the right wing republicans.Stop appearing for photo-ops with the president only to be insulted by Karl Rove,Ken Melmann, and Dick (I had other prioties)Cheney.They lied and cheated thier way to power got us in a war that have cost over 2300 lives and counting.Pat Bucannen was right we are in a Culture War ,but the fight is not liberalism it's against the right,the ones who want a theocracy it is a fight for our Constitution and is one we dare not lose.
Posted by: ronald alexander | January 28, 2006 11:36 PM
The media's hero...Obama...is now an instant expert on Iraq, point man on reform...big Hollywood darling...super Democrat money maker and daily recipient of loving reports by the Tribune of his non-accomplishments.
He hasn't changed! He has done nothing and is a rubber-stamp for Durbin and all radical Leftists. If not for the P.R. campaign waged in his behalf, he would still be Mr. Nobody peddling his book on how great his father was, how sorry he is for having been a coke user, but confessing it somehow makes him as pure as Oprah's Frey!
Dem's love a phony and they have one in Obama!
Posted by: maw | January 29, 2006 8:27 AM
"I shared with the president my hope that the neither party will use national security issues to make political clubs," to attack the opposition, (Barack Obama) said.
We didn't (have) enough time to ask him a follow up question about how the president responded.
-- Frank James
Let me guess how the president responded. "Ha...ha...ha.... That's a good one, Osama."
"It's 'Obama.'"
"Right. Osama. Well, let me tell you, we're going to milk national security like a cow."
Posted by: Jorge from Bloomington | January 30, 2006 6:21 AM