During a private meeting with newly elected Democrats, Obama told lawmakers to consider the costs of their proposals and be honest about them with voters.
By Rachael Bade Rachael Bade Congressional reporter Email Bio Follow March 26 at 1:06 AM Former president Barack Obama gently warned a group of freshman House Democrats Monday evening about the costs associated with some liberal ideas popular in their ranks, encouraging members to look at price tags, according to people in the room.
While the more liberal freshmen have garnered much of the attention in Washington, many first-year Democrats hail from swing- or even red-districts and have struggled with how to respond to the emboldened far-left. But some moderate Democrats worry a lurch left will upend their chances at ousting President Trump. Notably, Speaker Nancy Pelosi , who helped organize Obama’s meeting with the freshmen, has not put those ideas on the floor for a House vote — nor does she plan to, senior Democrats close to her say.
Obama, these people said, made few if any remarks about Trump or the newly released conclusion of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Impeachment also never came up. When the freshmen asked Obama about his approach to governing, Obama talked about the importance of constituent services and making voters feel seen and heard. He told them to work across the aisle but also warned against becoming trapped by “phony bipartisanship,” as one person described his remarks.
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