Washington, February 07: US President Barack Obama has accused Republicans of caring more about scoring political points than resolving the country’s major issues.
Speaking at the Democratic National Committee winter meeting, the president admitted that “people are frustrated.”
“I know we’ve gone through a tough year. But we’ve gone through tougher,” Obama said on Saturday.
American people are under pressure as high unemployment, widespread mortgage foreclosures and a diminishing tax base have plagued the country.
The Democratic leader also called on Republicans to work to find “common ground.”
His remarks came after Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd declared an impasse with Senator Richard Shelby, his Republican counterpart in talks to reach a compromise on tightening financial rules. The situation leaves Democrats with the option of trying to proceed alone.
Meanwhile, Obama pledged to press ahead with financial regulatory and healthcare reforms, saying “I am not going to walk away from health insurance reform.”
His effort to expand health coverage hit a stalemate after Democrats lost their 60-seat supermajority in the Senate. They are now trying to decide on a new course.
Obama has spent the last two weeks trying to bridge deep political divides in the run-up to congressional elections in November. Democrats still retain big majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
——–Agencies