Initially scheduled for this week, the much-anticipated “Slurpee Summit” between President Obama and the Republican leadership has been rescheduled for Nov. 30. The administration announced last night that the meeting had been postponed at the request of GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed the new time today and cited the successful rescheduling as evidence of “bipartisanship”:
In today’s White House briefing, [Gibbs] went out of his way to play down any conflict with GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican leader John Boehner over the rescheduling of the meeting, which was originally planned for Thursday. The meeting is intended to address issues that Congress will take up during its lame duck session – including the possible extension of the Bush tax cuts.
“Bipartisanship has happened,” Gibbs said of the meeting.
The fact that GOP leaders and the White House were able to agree on a new date – November 30 — is a sign of cooperation, he said.
“We’re flexible. We’re ready to sit down tomorrow, or on the 30th,” he said.
Setting the bar a tad low aren’t we? Even for this administration.