Lawmaker Speaks To Obama About 'Audacity'

Republican officials say President Barack Obama and Sen. Bob Corker clashed during a private meeting over whether anyone in either party was really trying to be bipartisan this election year.

Obama and Senate Republicans had called a high-noon cease-fire in their long-running political feud Tuesday, holding a rare, private meeting on Capitol Hill to discuss what legislation can be achieved during this volatile election year.
"We want to see if we can get some more work done," Obama told reporters on the way into the session.


Obama gave opening remarks before a question-and-answer session; one official said senators fussed at the president a bit.

Four officials present at the session said that when Obama appealed for bipartisanship, Corker accused him of "audacity" given the administration's handling of the financial reform package and other legislation. Corker was a lead GOP negotiator on the bill to regulate Wall Street.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the private session, said Obama bristled and defended his negotiations over the bill.

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