Obama now in taunting mode

The President says the election will send "a clear message" to Republicans

Published September 26, 2012 12:57PM (EDT)

President Obama used an interview with the Des Moines Register to hit the Republicans for their obstructionism, and to point out that if he's reelected, it would be in their interest to work with him.

“What I think most Iowans certainly believe,” he said, “is that if the majority of the American people have said, ‘This is the direction we need to go,’ and the Republicans in Congress say, ‘No, we’re going to go in the exact opposite direction,’ that’s probably not going to leave them to keep that majority too long.”

Later, Obama was asked why he believes he can really get Republicans in Congress to work with him: “Because the American people, folks from the outside, are going to help me.”

From the Register:

“All the changes that we’ve made, from health care reform to ending ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ to the work we’ve done to expand college affordability for young people, was not only because we put forward good policies here in Washington, but because people were active in promoting and supporting those issues around the country.”

Obama said if he’s re-elected, “the voters will have sent a clear message” on the approaches they want to cut deficits and grow the economy.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

MORE FROM Jillian Rayfield


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2012 Elections Barack Obama Mitt Romney Paul Ryan Republicans