Barack Obama Aides Call His Recent GOP “Charm offensive is a joke” … More to do With Tanking Poll Numbers

The ‘Smoozer” in Chief: Please tell me that you did not think that Barack Obama was being sincere with all this outreach and charm offensive?

According to Obama aides, President Barack Obama’s recent charm offensive with Congressional Republicans is nothing more than a joke. Wow, with former and current aids like this, Obama must be asking who needs the GOP?  The thought of Obama ‘s ”Charm Offensive” is being mocked by his own advisers makes one really want to be a fly on the wall in the White House at the next staff meeting. However, does it really come as a surprise to many, that the dinners, the lunches, all the recent “reaching out” were all for show? Really? Did Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Pat Toomey, Bob Corker, Kelly Ayotte and Ron Johnson actually think Obama was sincere? No wonder the GOP lost the last election to the worst president in modern time.

Ok, who let the truth out to my nefarious plans?

He is dining with Republicans after advisers openly mocked suggestions that he do so. He is visiting Capitol Hill after telling aides that such a gesture was beneath him and the dignity of his office. And, as an ultimate indignity, he is talking to reporters. What’s gotten into President Obama?

A better question might be what has left the president – and the answer would be: Much of his political capital.

Obama’s sudden burst of public outreach coincides with a drop in his approval ratings, noted first by Democratic pollsters advising the White House last week and now surfacing in a spate of public polls. This raises the uncomfortable question: Is this schmooze-a-thon a legitimate act of humility and leadership or a cynical public display?

I can’t answer that question because I don’t pretend to know Obama’s state of mind. I can tell you that some of his advisers are no more convinced that this strategy will work than they were a few days ago.

“This is a joke. We’re wasting the president’s time and ours,” complained a senior White House official who was promised anonymity so he could speak frankly. “I hope you all (in the media) are happy because we’re doing it for you.”

Another said the president was sincerely trying to find common ground with stubborn Republicans. “But if we do it,” the aide hastened, “it won’t be because we had steaks and Merlot with a few senators.”

Read more