Editorial: Obama's focus should be cooperation | obama, president, republicans - Opinion - The Orange County Register

Editorial: Obama's focus should be cooperation | obama, president, republicans - Opinion - The Orange County Register

Evidence will emerge during the first 100 days of the Democrat's second term, when he lays out an agenda, when he figures to enjoy maximum influence on Capitol Hill, before lawmakers start looking toward the 2014 midterm elections.

Mr. Obama offered a preview Monday of that agenda. And we expect that he will find much GOP support for his stated intention to "remake our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and empower our citizens."

And he won't get much quarrel from Republicans that the White House and Congress "must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit."

The challenge facing the president is how to actually achieve each of those goals with the necessary buy in from his loyal opposition. The suggestion here is that the president try a charm offensive during these first 100 days.

Rather than use that political window to force feed Republicans policy proposals they are certain to oppose – like the climate change initiative Mr. Obama hinted at – we think he would find it far more fruitful to focus on initiatives for which he can win bipartisan support.

President Obama has an opportunity in his second term to prove that it is possible for Democrats and Republicans to work together for the good of the republic. To the degree he pursues that opportunity, we wish him success.