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The Wall Street Journal Washington Bureau Chief Jerry Seib on the president’s second term in office.
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Percent -- the president made it clear today that he intends to fight on for more government spending ridiculous.
We.
The people.
Still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity.
We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit.
But we -- -- the belief that America must choose between caring.
For the generation that built this country.
And and best -- in the generation will build that future.
So -- America have to learn to live with the European size deficit let's ask Jerry side that he is the Wall Street Journal political editor -- his personal -- you here in New York.
When the this inauguration is that these -- too much to -- our -- -- he did he made a reference to the deficit but he immediately follow that reference with a big but he said we've got to cut the deficit but.
We need to continue to spend more money.
For bigger govern well I think you have to think of this inaugural as having messages for both Republican opposition has also his own base you know I think the message to Republicans was look.
I've got an agenda for a second term it's gonna include some things we didn't get around to like climate control in the first term as -- economic crisis.
And -- to his base he is saying look I'm not gonna give -- I'm not gonna -- Because he's actually under some pressure from the left from people who say.
You know you've been you've been given up too much you haven't fought for civil rights you haven't we have talked about the -- -- there're other Democrats who were saying the opposite frank they're worried about his own saying that he should be more conciliatory at least -- work.
With the opposition let's just play another part of -- speech when he seems to stick it to the Republicans again play that segment.
We cannot mistake absolutism for principal.
The substitute spectacle for politics.
Retreat name calling as reasoned debate.
Name calling now this comes one week after the present -- president characterize Republicans.
As quote holding a gun to the head of the American people I mean that's -- call.
Well look I mean this is the going to be a fighting second term not a conciliatory second term I think that's the sense you get that was essentially got the the speech today as you're suggesting.
And I think it it reflects in part I believe that a view of the president and people in the White House.
That they kind of are winning the battle of the fiscal balls with the it with the Republicans.
And they're gonna try to collect -- at least in the short term but in the long term Joseph Califano who worked for the Clinton administration.
Was on CBS yesterday he got a lot when he was working -- he also worked with -- And what he was working with LBJ of course they passed the Civil Rights Act of course today is -- university of Martin Luther King.
And were all thinking about that he said that could not have been done without tremendous effort to reach out to the other side.
And here's what he's -- about.
Our current President Obama this is again the democratic official Joseph -- house say he can't keep sticking his finger in the eyes of his -- well look I think that -- reflects reality in -- things cannot get done without some Republican votes that it's just matter of math right -- see you have to -- -- Republican votes.
You know that I think the concerns some Democrats is that the rhetorical.
Push right now from the White House is in making that easier.
You know they got a a fiscal cliff -- it makes -- -- be -- we're looking at live pictures right now the president I believe it's on Pennsylvania Avenue is -- right it would -- down right after -- -- -- -- already done this have to do this in your sleep frankly this is a Pennsylvania walk after the luncheon right getting close to the White House -- -- -- -- No ice that you don't they got those pictures up if you can director Roger started they got a fiscal cliff deal done at the end of the year by getting.
Some Democrats and Republicans in the house voted together that's gonna have to be the model you don't have the Republican votes in the in the house obviously to pass a democratic agenda.
So I think -- gonna have to be some step back from this kind of rhetoric.
In a move toward something that allows Democrats Republicans in the house to put together on some things doesn't the president have to lead the way those so far we've seen the Republicans to leave the because -- they did the power of the the last election the power of the presidency etc.
At some point doesn't the president have to reach out to -- -- -- guys let's talk yeah I think so and and in I don't know I think maybe there's a testing going on here how much Republicans have to retreat.
Where can they draw the line I think they figured -- you can't govern Washington when the -- White House is in the democrats' hands the Senate's in the democrats' hands and all we controls the House of Representatives but where that line of powers drawn.
Very unclear right now.
From the president's speech in which.
He sort of characterized.
His his means feeling about.
That may it may in fact pinpoint the difference that he has -- his philosophy with the Republicans let's play that last sound bite.
The patriots 1776.
Did not fight to replace the turning of -- -- With the privileges of a few.
Or the role of a mob.
The rule of a mob the privileges of a few again you get the sense that that's what he thinks Republicans are standing well on the show that that that's what that means because there's a certain amount of populist sentiment Republican Party that would say the same thing about the power of the of the many.
But I think that the obviously the power of the few.
I think -- that the reality here is that there were some in this is unusual thing for inaugural address some political lines drawn I mean normally that happens in a State of the Union Address and a couple of weeks which is very specific and programmatic.
I think it's and usually you saw a fair amount of that today Jerry side where insurers anxious to get back to -- -- receive those live pictures thank you -- -- -- good to see you thanks.
