Obama, Republicans Exchange Fire over Jobs Bill at White House Meeting
The two parties, however, just can't see eye to eye.
Republicans have roundly criticized Mr. Obama's plans for stimulating job creation, which include new spending for infrastructure projects like highways, deeper tax breaks for small businesses and tax incentives for energy-efficient home improvements. The president, nevertheless, invited both Democrats and Republicans to the White House today to discuss job creation.
The meeting, as White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs put it today, "was not without politics."
Multiple sources say the president accused Republicans of "trying to scare the heck out of the American people" on health care and the economy, according to CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Chip Reid. Republicans returned the fire -- accusing the White House of playing politics.
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) discussed the exchange during a national radio interview on "The Lars Larson Show." Boehner said that Mr. Obama said Republicans were "scaring" people after the GOP members continued to press the president about his "job-killing policies."
"It was breathtaking," Boehner said of the president's comment.
