Obama seeks break from political wrangling
By DPA, IANSTuesday, January 4, 2011
WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama Tuesday appealed to his Republican opponents to take a break from politicking and focus on the economic recovery as he and lawmakers return to the US capital this week from a holiday break.
His plea comes as Republicans have vowed to try to undo many of Obama’s policy priorities approved in the past two years, beginning with a vote next week to repeal last year’s controversial health care overhaul.
Obama returned to Washington Tuesday from a nearly two-week vacation in Hawaii, in time to watch conservative Republicans take control of the House of Representatives when the chamber reconvenes Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters on the flight back to Washington, Obama appealed to congressional leaders of the Republican Party to help find ways to stimulate the economy rather than make an early start to the 2012 presidential elections.
“There will be plenty of time to campaign for 2012 in 2012,” Obama said. “Our job this year is to make sure that we build on recovery.”
This year will mark the first time in Obama’s presidency that Republicans will have a hand in governing. Democrats retain control of the upper Senate, though with a slim majority, after suffering a heavy defeat in November’s congressional elections.
