by Chris McDonald

They’ve clashed over just about every piece of legislation since he’s been in office, traded barbs through the press, and created a divide between both parties that seems beyond repair.  With that being said, how can President Obama and his party truly work with Republican’s in 2010?

Direct Engagement.

On Friday, the President spoke to House Republicans in a very candid and sometimes combustible meeting at their annual policy retreat in Baltimore.  Obama and GOP House leaders clashed over everything from the stimulus bill to the proposed health care overhaul.  Obama claimed the Republican’s were trying to distort his ideas to the public, and Republican’s in turn felt that Obama and the Democrats weren’t sharing their alternative ideas to improve the economy and health care.  Which side is right?

Probably Both.

The past year has been a whirlwind of accusations from both sides of the aisle.  Every bill has been contested, regardless of whether or not there are parts of the legislation that can be agreed upon by both parties.  Republican’s almost overwhelmingly opposed the Stimulus Bill, yet many of them showed up at “Ribbon Cutting” in their own states for ceremonies funded by the bill.  In their defense, they have presented good ideas that have largely been ignored (why aren’t we selling health insurance across state lines?).

Direct engagement between Democrats and Republicans is exactly what voters are sick of.  All of the political posturing between both parties, in my opinion, has been what has divided the public on President Obama.  Much of it is his fault, mainly because he chose to largely stick with his party on legislation issues, without welcoming, at least publicly, Republican input.  These monthly meeting’s that he is starting with Republican’s will not only force both sides to cooperate with each other, but will also help to show the public that our politicians are working for us.  Allowing television cameras into their first meeting showed that both parties were responsible for the negative light shed on the way we view Washington.  Democratic leaders besides the President must also involve themselves in this process to show the public that they aren’t trying to push legislation down our throats.

Transparency?  Change from the norm?  These were trademarks of Obama’s campaign in 2008.  After a year of bumps and bruises, the White House seems to be going back to adopting the mantra that got our President elected.  Direct, consistent engagement between both parties and himself will finally do what we’ve been asking for all along: Put politics aside, and the country first.