Democrats are growing impatient with President-elect Barack Obama’s refusal to inject himself in the major economic crises confronting the country.
Obama has sidestepped some policy questions by saying there is only one president at a time. But the dodge is wearing thin.
“He’s going to have to be more assertive than he’s been,” House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., told consumer advocates Thursday.
Frank, who has been dealing with both the bailout of the financial industry and a proposed rescue of Detroit automakers, said Obama needs to play a more significant role on economic issues.
He also declined to take a stand in a debate over the source of money for an auto loan package. The dispute has divided Democrats and hindered progress on assistance for the industry. At issue is whether to take money from the $700 billion designated for the financial sector or to take it from a previously approved loan aimed at manufacturing more energy efficient cars.
“I think it’s premature to get into that issue,” Obama said at the conference.
Two Democratic senators involved in trying to salvage the auto companies have said Obama could help move the process along and should become more engaged.
“The Obama team has to step up,” Sen. Christopher Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and one of the lead negotiators, said Nov. 21 in Hartford, Conn. “In the minds of the people, this is the Obama administration. I don’t think we can wait until January 20.”
Two days later, Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, a point man in helping his state’s main industry, called on Obama to help resolve the dispute over money for the auto loan package.
“It would be very helpful if the president-elect would become more involved in resolving the issue over the source of the funds,” he said. “I want him to offer his assistance. He is a person who can really bring people together.”
SOURCE: Fox News
Is Barack playing the old stay away from the issues like when he voted “present” instead of voting for or against!
Maybe he is already thinking about the next 4 years and knows that his record on the issues will be used for or against him in the next election. What I think is his inexperience is showing and he is waiting for the Old Washington politics to take care of the problems..where is the change Barack?
LINKS:
(1) So now who will be the change they were waiting for?”
(2) Liberals Voice Concern Over Obama.
