How Obama Works Congress

President Obama is the first former senator to sit in the White House since Nixon, and his style so far is a reflection of that fact. According to The Wall Street Journal, “Mr. Obama has shown himself to be senator-in-chief, consulting closely with congressional leaders and committee chairmen at every turn.” As the stimulus warped and changed through Congress, “senior White House aides said administration officials were present when most of those key decisions were made.” Vice President Joe Biden was dispatched to specifically woo six Republican senators over the stimulus, ultimately succeeding in winning over half of them. Republicans allege, however, that Obama is too cozy with the Democratic congressional leadership, while some congressional Democrats complain he hasn’t been forceful enough in taking charge.