President Obama appealed for bipartisanship from the podium of the White House briefing room today, calling on Democrats and Republicans to "put aside matters of party," while condemning the "obstinacy" that he says is rooted in "political expedience."
"Bipartisanship depends on a willingness among both Democrats and Republicans to put aside matters of party for the good of the country," he said. "I won't hesitate to embrace a good idea from my friends in the minority party, but I also won't hesitate to condemn what I consider to be obstinacy that's rooted not in substantive disagreements, but in political expedience."