WHAT LANDSLIDE? Obama threatens vetoes and executive orders – including immigration reform THIS YEAR – after Americans reject him by giving Republicans historic gains in Congress
– after Americans reject him by giving Republicans historic gains in Congress
'Congress will pass some bills I cannot sign,' the president warned
He has only vetoed two minor bills since his inauguration in 2009
And 'I'll take some actions that some in Congress will not like,' Obama added, referring to threatened executive orders
Those include a bold move on immigration 'before the end of the year'
President sounded more like a winner than a loser despite his policies being repudiated on a national scale
Never articulated a single policy where he would shift his position to align with GOP majorities in both houses of Congress
By David Martosko, Us Political Editor for MailOnline
President Barack Obama came out swinging on Wednesday just 14 hours after a Republican wave swept over the U.S. Congress in an election that largely repudiated his policies.
'Congress will pass some bills I cannot sign,' he said, threatening to dust off a veto pen that he has used only twice in nearly six years.
And he hinted at executive orders that will enrage conservatives.
'I'm pretty sure I'll take some actions that some in Congress will not like,' he said. 'That's natural. That's how Democracy works.'
Much of reporters' tussling with the president focused on executive orders related to immigration reform – what some tea party Republicans call an 'amnesty' – which he plans to implement this year.
He acknowledged that the GOP won Tuesday's elections, but framed the results as a mandate for Republicans to work with him, instead of the other way around.
'Obviously the Republicans had a good night,' he said.
But he said he would principally work with them 'if there are ideas that the Republicans have that I am confident will make things better for ordinary Americans.'
'I want to just see what works,' he said.
'The American people sent a message,' he claimed, 'one that they've sent for several elections now.'
'They expect the people they elect to work as hard as they do. They expect us to focus on their ambitions, and not ours.'
He then rattled off a list of economic indicators that he said buttressed his case that Republicans should accept his point of view.
'More Americans are working. Unemployment has come down,' he claimed, glossing over the part-time employment shift that the Obamacare law's employer mandate has ushered in.
'Our economy is outpacing most of the world. But we've just gotta keep at it. Much of that will take action from Congress. And I'm eager to work with the next Congress.'
He cited infrastructure building projects and international trade as areas where he thought his agenda overlaps with the GOP's.
Responding to hot-button questions about the fate of Obamacare in the age of a Republican Congress, the president didn't budge.
He said he would only work with Republicans if they seek to 'make responsible changes' to the law. 'I'm going to be very receptive to hearing those ideas.'
'Despite all the contention,' Obama claimed, 'we now know that the law works.'
And he pledged to avoid last year's chronic website snafus the next time around.
'We're really making sure the website works super well before the next open enrollment period,' he said. 'We're double- and triple'checking it.'
Addressing his relationship with the new Senate majority leader, Obama chuckled at a question about whether he might sit down with him for a drink.
'I would enjoy having some Kentucky bourbon with Mitch McConnell,' the president said.
'He has always been very straightforward with me. To his credit, he has never made a promise that he couldn't deliver. And he knows the legislative process well. He obviously know his caucus well.'
More
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2822484/WHAT-LANDSLIDE-Obama-threatens-vetoes-executive-orders-Americans-reject-giving-Republicans-historic-gains-Congress.html#ixzz3IFRqNV1d Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
