Is President Obama Truly Being Bipartisan?

President Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, has pledged both before and after his inauguration to engage both the Democrats and the GOP in shaping policy in order to repair our fragile economy, our overpriced heath care system, and our status with foreign nations around the globe. This was one among the most important reasons he prevailed over Senator Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primaries, as many found Mrs. Clinton to be a far too partisan figure to bring our nation together in such a crucial moment in our history. SenatorJohn McCain, whose reputation as a maverick helped him to garner support even after the unprecedented unpopularity of Former President George W. Bush, became a partisan and polarizing figure during the campaign as GOP members pressured him to conform to their party platform and cater to their base.

So, is Mr. Obama making good on his promise to reach across the aisle?

Now, as much as I hate to make such judgments so early in his term, his actions seem to speak for themselves. From meetings with Republican lawmakers and leaders, the nation's governors, Q&A sessions with various committee officials and government officials from all ideological perspectives, he appears to welcome the suggestions, comments, criticisms, and opinions of his political foes. He and others in the DFL leadership cut a number of pieces from the stimulus package that they felt was essential in order to garner more Republican support. Although they knew they would never gain the support of lawmakers who were entirely apposed to the entire stimulus, they tried to reach out to moderates and make compromises in order to make this bill work.

In addition to President Obama's work with the legislature, he has done something few presidents since Abraham Lincoln have done: invited into his cabinet those who share very different views from his own. Inviting Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who also served under President Bush, to remain at his post despite their differences, was an incredible way of showing conservatives that he truly wanted to give them a say in his government. Inviting Ray LaHood, a former Republican member of the House, to become the next Secretary of Transportation, was again proof that he wanted to engage those from both parties in his government. Although his nomination of Republican Senator Judd Gregg for Secretary of Commerce did not go as planned (Senator Gregg withdrew, citing irresolvable conflicts with the administrations policies), it again was a show of bipartisanship that has never been matched by a modern president.

Will President Obama bend over backwards to cater to the Republican party? Of course not. He was elected on a Democratic platform and he must make good on his campaign promises. He can, and has, reached out to those who disagree with him in order to make our government stronger, more inclusive, and more effective.

It appears to me that the reason many are viewing his actions in the past month as partisan has been partisanship on the side of the Republicans. After numerous meetings with House Republicans, they still voted in solidarity against the stimulus package. They still continue to argue against his policies without putting up alternatives of their own. How can the president be completely bipartisan when faced with a largely partisan opposition, whose goals are to discredit a president who does not share their views? Despite his best efforts, he has found that it is extremely difficult to reach a hand across the aisle when those on the other side push him away.

I would still like to say to Obama's critics and supporters alike that it is far too early to judge our new president. He has been in office for little over a month and that is not nearly enough time to judge his policies and his leadership. Give him a little time before you claim he is partisan, and urge Republican lawmakers to show some bipartisanship themselves. Only time will tell if our government can truly come together to work on behalf of the American people.