Obama Invites GOP to Policy Sessions, Super Bowl

President moves to engage Republicans
By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 3, 2010 7:34 AM CST
Obama Invites GOP to Policy Sessions, Super Bowl
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-TN, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl of AZ, Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of KY take part in a news conference on Capitol Hill, Jan. 26, 2010.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

In a move to show voters that President Obama works across partisan lines—and to draw attention to Republican policy proposals—the White House is testing the waters of GOP outreach. The president is not only inviting Republicans to bipartisan policy brainstorming sessions as promised in last week's State of the Union address, but also inviting them to watch the Super Bowl at the White House and to visit Camp David, the New York Times reports.

Republicans showed themselves open to the president's overtures, but are aware that the White House move may put them in a treacherous political situation by shifting attention from Democratic proposals to GOP alternatives. “When we do policy and get good results, there is always the possibility that Democrats might gain a little politically,” GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander says.
(More Obama State of the Union 2010 stories.)

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