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AirTalk

Can Obama succeed without the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce?

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on February 7, 2011 in Washington, DC.
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on February 7, 2011 in Washington, DC.
(
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
)
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Can Obama succeed without the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce?
For most of his Presidency, Obama’s relationship with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been strained at best. But today his tone is one of compromise and conciliation. The Chamber has orchestrated a very strategic plan to get more Republicans elected to Congress and to push the Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats closer to reflecting the goals of the business interest it represents. The Chamber’s power and influence is so great that President Obama has, as a political necessity, moved closer to business to get support for his job creation efforts and health care reform—two issues that will play big with voters in 2013. Will this strategy work?

For most of his Presidency, Obama’s relationship with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been strained at best. But today his tone is one of compromise and conciliation. The Chamber has orchestrated a very strategic plan to get more Republicans elected to Congress and to push the Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats closer to reflecting the goals of the business interest it represents. The Chamber’s power and influence is so great that President Obama has, as a political necessity, moved closer to business to get support for his job creation efforts and health care reform—two issues that will play big with voters in 2013. Will this strategy work?

Guests:

Lisa Graves, executive director of the Center for Media & Democracy

Dan Mitchell, senior fellow, Cato Institute