Obama Calls Out GOP, but Nobody's Home

Obama is showing a welcome new taste for political combat. Too bad his opponents aren't serious

Pete Souza / White House

"I am not an ideologue," the President said to the House Republicans, cocooned in their annual policy caucus in Baltimore — and the ideologues among them laughed. The President was explaining, in the midst of an unprecedented, televised "Question Time" session, that he was open to any good ideas they might have. "It doesn't make sense," he continued, that if they told him, " 'You could do this cheaper and get increased results,' that I wouldn't say, 'Great.' " But the logic of this seemed to slip past the assembled legislators — and the "I am not an ideologue" bite became...

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