Time will tell if Obama can calm critics

Proving there’s nothing really new in politics, the reordered agenda in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech sounded very much like the key elements in Bill Clinton’s familiar and successful 1992 mantra: “The economy, stupid. Don’t forget health care.”

But even this president’s acceptance of the public’s desire to tweak his priorities — while otherwise vowing to stay the course — won’t bring any early end to the gridlock and partisanship that frustrated his first year.

Indeed, Obama’s pointed comments about Republican obstructionism made clear he realizes that, because so much may remain undone, it’s not too soon to start pressing the case with the public as he looks to the November elections and beyond.

That’s tricky, given his declining job approval. But the White House is clearly gambling that some negative grades stem from those who want him to push for more change, rather than cut back, as Republican critics demand.

Besides, he reminded his fellow Democrats, with the largest majorities in decades, “The people expect us to solve problems, not run for the hills.”

Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg reported that a Nevada focus group he conducted among a Republican-leaning group of independent and weak partisan voters showed Obama’s comments resonated with the very voters at whom they were primarily aimed.

He made less progress with his GOP critics in Washington.

As predicted, Obama sought to make clear that, after last year’s draining, ugly health care debate, his top priority is to do more to create jobs. He spent 24 of his 70 minutes on the economy and only a brief but pointed six minutes urging lawmakers not to abandon the quest for health care reform.

Alternatively assertive and apologetic, he humorously acknowledged his shortcomings and political difficulties and pressed for an array of tax credits, infrastructure improvements and measures to increase energy self-sufficiency.

While vowing not to re-fight past battles, Obama reminded — as Ronald Reagan did three decades ago — that he inherited many of his problems, notably the ballooning national debt, which he blamed mainly on “not paying for two wars, two tax cuts and an expensive prescription drug program,” plus the economic recession.

As is often true for such speeches, the partisan divide was evident from the start. Democrats cheered exuberantly; Republicans greeted many proposals, including those to spur job creation, with silence, head-shaking and disdainful smiles.

Sarcastic laughter

Some sarcastic laughter greeted Obama’s announcement of a minimally significant spending freeze and an explanation of budgeting procedures best left for wonkish analysts.

Republicans applauded when he endorsed such GOP-backed ideas as more nuclear power plants and expanded offshore oil drilling. He also offered to consult them more.

But their leaders sat stone-faced when he pointedly urged they end obstructionist tactics, declaring that “neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can.”

The contrast between Obama and the Republicans was strikingly evident in a GOP response calling for a slowdown in Obama’s ambitious agenda.

Speaking for the Republicans was Bob McDonnell, the new governor of Virginia. Though Obama stressed his policies have cut taxes, not raised them, McDonnell reminded everyone that Democratic health-care proposals would raise them. He responded to Obama’s lengthy agenda by stating flatly, “The federal government is simply trying to do too much.”

He almost seemed to be making Obama’s case that Republicans want to repeat the Bush-era game plan of tax cuts, eased regulation and the status quo on health care.

Republicans believe that the poll numbers and their recent Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts election victories show the tide has turned against Obama and promise more success in November. As long as they feel that way, neither Obama’s revamped priorities nor attacks on obstructionism will change the underlying political dynamic.

X Carl P. Leubsdorf is the former Washington bureau chief of the Dallas Morning News. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.