E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Pool / Getty Images
Sens. Ron Johnson, Tom Coburn, Richard Burr and Saxby Chambliss leave The Jefferson after a dinner with President Barack Obama on March 6, 2013 in Washington, DC.
Senators emerging from dinner with President Obama at The Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C, Wednesday night described the sit-down as a positive conversation focused largely on building more productive ways to solve the country's fiscal problems.
"I am more optimistic, just from a personal standpoint. It's just, you know, having been in the group of eight, it's tough sledding. It's just very tough sledding," said Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb. "These are very difficult issues but I do think there's a real fatigue in just going from crisis to crisis. But tonight was a good first step. A good step."
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said the senators and the president discussed the upcoming fiscal fights over funding the government, writing a budget and the wrangling over the debt ceiling. Hoeven said there is "an opportunity" to use the debt ceiling fight to solve the county's long term entitlement problems.
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said the conversation was "wide ranging" but when asked, wouldn't say if they discussed immigration or gun control.
"We had a wide ranging discussion about fiscal and other issues. I think it was a constructive discussion," he said.
President Obama hosts several Republicans for dinner to ease sequester tensions. NBC's Tracie Potts reports.
Sen. John McCain stayed largely mum: "All I can say is we had an evening that I really appreciated very much."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, the dinner organizer, left about 20 minutes before the other attendees and the president departed the hotel.
A senior administration official later said, "The president greatly enjoyed the dinner and had a good exchange of ideas with the senators."
As for who paid for dinner, several senators said they had no idea. Initially, Hoeven said several people split the check; later, his office clarified that while Sen. Saxby Chambliss had offered to pay, the president picked up the tab.
Prior to the meeting, the Republicans who were invited gave Obama the benefit of the doubt -- even if they didn't want to elaborate.
"I'm just looking forward to having a constructive conversation," said Bob Corker, R-Tenn., before dashing into the Senate chamber and away from prying reporters.
"I'm happy to go there and listen and provide input," said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., a dinner invitee who won his Senate race with considerable Tea Party backing and isn't usually on lists of moderate senators inclined to deal-making.
As he walked out of The Jefferson, a swanky D.C. hotel that bills its main restaurant as "discreet and elegant," McCain told reporters the meeting was "just fine," and flashed a thumb-up. Moments later, senators Tom Coburn, Chambliss and Kelly Ayotte were seen exiting.
The idea for the sit-down came during a meeting Graham and McCain had with Obama at the White House last week.
"How do you say no to the president of the United States who would like to have dinner with some of your colleagues? You don't," Graham said.
Related: Obama reaches out to GOP senators as Democrats seek more revenue
"When the president asked that I put together a group, I willingly -- I was honored to try to do that. Where this goes, I don't know."
Added Graham: "It is incumbent on us to reach back. When he reaches out, we need to reach back."
At the top of the dinner's agenda was the possibility of a grand bargain combining entitlement reforms with lowering tax rates and closing loopholes that would head off the sequester and tackle some of the country's worst budget woes.
So far, negotiations between the White House and GOP leaders have led only to gridlock. Graham insisted the dinner wasn't a divide-and-conquer strategy, with the president going around Republican leaders in favor of the rank-and-file.
"I would say this is an effort by the president to talk to people who he would like to talk to who he normally doesn't talk to. I think he talks to the leadership guys a lot. This is not about replacing anybody," said Graham.
Said Sen. John Thune, a member of GOP leadership: "There have always been attempts to sort of co-opt a few people up here. But this seems to be a more general outreach.
"Instead, Republicans say it's evidence that Obama's the one taking political heat for the sequester budget cuts that went into effect last week."
I think the president sort of got on the wrong side with the sequester by going out and using the scare tactics. And I think that's kind of bit him," Thune said. "He saw a 7-point drop in his approval rating in one week, and I think a lot of it had to do with the way he handled this."
Democrats familiar with the White House's thinking said the dinner was an attempt to "bring down the temperature" between Obama and the congressional GOP.
This story was originally published on Wed Mar 6, 2013 1:44 PM EST
Leave a Comment:
Sorry kiddos, unless you cough up the $500,000 "Meet Obama Fee", you ain't seeing the inside of the White House anymore. Due to the sequester passing, the White House cannot afford the tours, or so they say. They forget to tell you that the White House Tours are conducted by......volunteers.
volunteers my foot.
And yet, Urban...The Great Messiah Barak Hussein Obama can afford to take these guys out to dinner......so all of the cuts only apply to OTHER people....not him
Tours in the White House are self guided. So, why the cuts due to sequester? Obama has been outed as a fake again!!!!!
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events
White House Tours
Public tours of the White House are available. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Fridays, and 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays (excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted). Tour hours will be extended when possible based on the official White House schedule. Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Requests can be submitted up to six months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. You are encouraged to submit your request as early as possible as a limited number of spaces are available. All White House tours are free of charge.
It was imperative for the President to make this gesture, he is the leader, the CEO if you will, and I am happy to see this movement. I think we are all tired of the posturing, campaigning, finger pointing etc.. now Ladies and Gentlemen get to work for the American people, that is why we elected you and PAY you
Obama the great leader, NOT!
I did not say great- only leader .
Compared to Bush, a deffinate improvement. Your thinking we need another bush, like Jeb, maybe. That'll be a cold day down here before that happens again.
Where did I say Bush? you guys have some freaky attachment to him. No, Reagan was a great leader, FDR was also - Obama is not a great leader, he defers to others to often instead of taking the bull by the horns. He has never really Governed, he has charm granted, that is not what is needed at this point in our history. We need strength, vision, purpose and resolve.
I hope that He is spending his own money on this meal and not the taxpayers. Why? Because if he doesn't then how are we going to save money, when our own President isn't trying to save the country's money. He is spending it like it is water.
Like Generals, he has an entertainment expense that is in his paycheck, it's on him.
Benjoh,
That's just the dumbest @!$%# anyone could say. Why shouldn't he spend taxpayer dollars when conducting the people's business?
Oh if only it could be the second "last supper"!
I have gas. I think I'll fart really loud and leave the room.
Im curious to know how Maobama will have his crow prepared.
These politicians are all in cahoots. They just play off each other to work the people. They are all theives and liars and america would be be better off to be rid of all of them.
I'm just curious. Suppose we did get rid of all of them. Then what? Who would we replace them with?
I could only imagine how much that's gonna cost Tax payers, These CLOWNS are laughing their asses off all the way to the Bank. Must be a Chicken and Watermelon Feast.
When I first read this, I thought to myself... Self. I think this guy is an idiot. But then when I read this line...
I am now certain that you are an idiot.
Yup. He's an idiot.
It is a spagetti and Jameson's Irish Whiskey feast fool. Every one known O'bama is part Irish just as we all are. Everyone likes spagetti, even senators. And sentors like to knock back a few too.
What is interesting is that I thought Neanderthals were extinct then I read you post.
Topic of the dinner meeting, "How do we, the members of both parties, convince the public that we aren't all thieves?" "Oh, that's right. We all are."
obama is going beg all the tough guys to give him a break from being bullied. what a wimp he is just look at his own family his wife will be out blow ing some hollywood guy and heaven knows what the future crack heads are doing.
Insulting the office of the presidency with you steretypes of a black family would be just as bad as stereotyping a white presidential family. (That would be where the Bush girls were being molested by their father). See how that is wrong?
It is stupid for Repubs to dine with Obama. It is just another propaganda ploy and nothing is going to be accomplished. This worthless President is trying to destroy the country so he can try to reshape it into a Socialist country. He has no interest in solving problems, just passing blame for the problems he creates.
At the beginning of the year almost all Amercans saw a 2% decrease in their take home pay.
Now, we are supposed to believe that a 2% reduction in an already growing budget is going to be the end of the world?
The Last Supper, hey redhead? Does that mean that Obama considers himself the black Jesus? I wouldn't put this past him. First Lincoln, then FDR, then Reagan, then Jesus?
hope they are paying for it out of there own pocket i hope that was one of the cuts bama made
And just who the hell is picking up the tab for this little shindig?
Why would anybody want to sit down with Obama and have dinner with this ignorant moron?
gringo-3955109,
Who do you dine with?
Progressive Policy - Increased Business Regulation
Progressive Policy Goal - The government will be able to prevent this or that danger/unfair practice and will promote the general welfare of all
Progressive Policy Result - More regulations and higher taxes to enforce these regulations increases start-up and other entry costs. This prevents small businesses from getting going and limits the abilities of those already started to grow. The large corporations have the means and ability to overcome the increased regulations and taxes, so they grow even larger, while small businesses are slowly killed. The large corporations are less innovative and innovation/growth is slowed.
You see the goals don't make the policy good, what makes it good is the results.
President Obama's policies have resulted in an increasing divide between the rich and poor. Mr. Obama may aim to help the poor but his policies have the wrong result.
Is the President going to lecture or listen and discuss?
A little of both. He is the President although you wouldnt know it the way Republicans attack him.
Johnny-
or the way he leads either
Come and rest awhile said the spider to the flies as he sat in his web and prepared for dinner!
So if he tries to get them together its wrong and when he doesnt its wrong?
You Republicans are out and out J.O.s.
Your point might have merit if I were a Republican;however,I'm just a registered Democrat who believes the man behind the curtain in the White House is there unconstitutionally.
Well that pretty much makes you a tard.
A waste of humanity drinking Troll Aid this early in the day.
obama is going to try to get them to drink the koolaid.
Yes he is going to get them to do whats right for America instead of the blatant obstruction theyve been engaged in for four yrs.
If you call that Kool Aid I feel sorry for you.
I just don't see how lowering tax rates is going to to help the 47% of Americans on the bottom half of the totem pole who don't pay any federal income tax anyway. But it will make the top half richer. The real solutions lies in reducing the enormous number of tax breaks, the "gimmies" we've all come to rely on, many which enable the rich to get lots richer.
Why is making them richer bad? Are you simply jealous of them?
How about if I determine how much more YOU can pay? If you are not already paying more in taxes than you are required, you are a hypocrite.
I guess you missed the part where the middle class is the engine of our economy?
Gee....maybe if we give them a little incentive to get the Dead Beats back to work... That might help with the extra spending issue. Lets see ...If the President continues to give me hand outs...why should i go back to work? ...its not to hard to figure out.
I suppose you had no clue that the wealthy are the ones who make the jobs. Well, why would you know? "Job" is a curse word for you.
Why don't you ask Johnny?...he receives a check every week from Obama. He has an Obama Phone as well.
The Obama Phone lie has been debunked. The lie still serves a purpose, but I doubt you're smart enough to figure out what it is.
Tsk, tsk Lee... I know very well about the Obama phone.... Dead Beats like yourself have them.
Lee are you accusing me of saying the Obama phone came from the President? I never said that. It is just another incentive the "Dead Beat " Voting Block has to keep them from becoming productive in Society ...Keep giving out the Hand outs! Gee...Why do you think the Dead Beats voted for this President?
Since you are Debunking lies ...
Did you Debunk the Benghazi Lie?...How about the lie according to Fact check.org that the President lied on Sequestration not only recently but in the debates as well?
mike-Pa,
I may be a slacker (since I'm insulting your dumb ass when I should be working), but I'm no deadbeat. I voted for him, because you dumbasses didn't field a viable candidate.
Now I'm going to go order a surgery to have your head removed from your ass.
Sure Lee... How is McDonalds working out for you?
Ask your momma.
Wow...that was really good ...Gee....did you come up with that all by yourself? Or did you have "The Employee of the Month " Johnny3621820 ..help you with that?
They should pay for the dinner out of their own pockets.
Yes, ALL of them, including the Boy Blunder from the WH.
Yes like who pays for the dinner is ever an issue when its a Republican President?
Get real
We did not have this rotten economy the last time a GOP president had a few of the boys over for dinner.
Should be Chinese carry out like with our money and intellectual property.
"We need to stop the campaign. The election is over," Graham said Wednesday. "If we never talk to each other, I know exactly what's going to happen, this country is going to fail."
It might not be too much of an exaggeration to say that such a statement coming from a U.S. Senator who is one the main players in our current political crisis is alarming, ultimate hperbole, both, or any variation. But in the end it points to a certain drama being inserted in U.S. politics which we could do better without. It's one thing for us citizens to speculate on potential failure. However, it seems inappropriate from a Senator in the midst of political tension, and especially inappropriate when the ongoing and prolonged political crisis atmosphere is more charade than fact.
Does it surprise you?
Ron,
Pffffft!
Obama and Obama alone is responsible for the sequester cuts. He made it and he selected the high profile cuts that will hurt people the most. We finally see the real Obama and his "concern" for people.