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Inside Pres. Obama's not-so-secret dinner with Republicans

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    With sequester in effect and public tired of political theater, is president trying to make progress in working with opponents?

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And you should guest list at a Washington dinner party tonight and the host.

President Obama and the guests twelve GOP senators.

Now what the president invite Republicans to dinner and what did they talk about senator Ron Johnson the great state of Wisconsin was there -- -- is -- is his senate.

Or robredo and throw us so I'm the speaker Boehner and senate and minority leader -- That Mitch McConnell we're not just in -- right.

Correct so tell me how close to -- to the president this -- the book.

Thus far away from news you know -- time for new sort of it was pretty -- Gathering there are twelve senators present couple staff members and is very open and honest sincere.

The general discussion when he got no issues there are primarily.

Concentrate on the budget issues entitlement reform tax -- -- All the issues are gonna have to.

Discuss and then gain agreement I'm for gonna put this country -- single path so.

But who wasn't negotiation it was just really a very.

Open discussion of all the issues we have to be a really really work on.

Not really because -- really what we all know the elements of the problem ticker with with entitlements -- things we've we talked about his.

It's not rocket science we know we have to.

Deal with -- matter of of coming to terms whoever we talk about tax reforms being too great -- -- a wider variety of variables there in terms of trying to -- that issue.

-- this is a great town of talk.

How -- has -- the heart of -- getting -- Abreu.

Did you talk tonight about how you actually going to accomplish the principles upon which to have a common ground that we we talked about having to establish a process to move forward.

And I got the sense that to pres Obama's -- planning on doing something with a similar.

Gathering with some democratic senators.

And -- and he seemed very sincere in trying to get engaged in the process -- certainly offering technical expertise of the members of the administration.

Did to help us -- really work -- on the -- the different elements of of us the solution problem what do you think the leader and leaders of the two house weren't there the Republican Party.

Probably he met with -- on Friday and he told us that they are pretty good discussions on Friday but you know.

This could be more than just the leadership and they're from my standpoint described in open process.

It's -- to to to give.

-- -- men have dinner and in private but eventually all of these issues yet to be -- on it within committees on the floor of the senate.

And you -- very open process here these are very serious issues in the American people deserve to be part of that debate.

And -- -- me cynical but we know we actually deserve this along time ago.

You know it's just so I went on we got -- -- -- there for dinner I -- -- it's like.

He -- if this works terrific that's great and we -- take a deep breath and thank you lie and that's wonderful but.

It's a little hard in light of what has transpired in the past not -- -- of a sour and now we -- much senators and the president went out to dinner and doing what you know is is a nice photo -- as we try to get video -- believing them you know I don't know about this -- August of 2011 this will be -- this spill critical -- that we're facing right now.

Thought I understand there obviously I would like to have this have been two years ago but it -- to start somewhere that -- fact Disney decides going away.

If we're gonna solve these problems and had to be done bipartisan basis in the -- we start solving problems have to.

Bill to trust delta relationships.

So what I -- might end up points was in the negotiation.

-- spent a lot of time ferreting out.

Deciding what we agree on let's let's spend a fair amount of time when we agree on for you -- -- getting the disagreements.

It's amazing how much easier it is then to get over the hurdles the disagreement so.

Don't know that ballot that was what -- puts up another -- was if we're talking -- tax reform.

I was saying -- let's throw the test put -- let's talk about something dramatic we just nibble around the edges but that's -- -- have all the special interest you're trying to.

A preserved preserve their special treatment so you what let's think outside the box lets -- -- about a new paradigm here didn't -- he -- elected to a text -- Well I think well again we talked about the enormous challenge of doing that and we also talked about.

Do the big timeframe we have to really work on this I mean we all recognize that unit -- second term you only have so much time.

And so there there is a certain amount of we have -- doing this and.

-- -- -- -- -- -- I can't but think he's innocent and we should start a lot earlier on -- -- and we all -- What I but but better late than never met a better late than never voted for starters job could be just the at a recess coming up and he could send a -- American people to -- your recess and stayed really started working on some of these issues and I know that I know how do you have this -- -- -- some of the reasons is doing a lot of stuff for constituents but that.

You know I I I think that -- would know a good message the American people.

Well I'm I'm I'm I'm mostly -- and were disheartened to solve these problems Basra and -- -- senate thank you very much says senator around.

Just from -- as allies at from the great state of assassin absolutely billiard game.