President Obama’s second inaugural address Monday drew a mixed review from one Delaware GOP official.
John Fluharty, Executive director of the Delaware Republican Party, says the President effectively played to his coalition, but suggested the call to seek solutions – even if are imperfect – runs counter to the President’s recent approach to some recent issues.
“He wants everyone to work together as long as they agree with him. The President’s statements over the last couple of weeks have not be conciliatory toward Republicans," said Fulharty. "What we have heard is a lot of mean-spirited talk that it’s my way or the highway. And I think you heard that again today, only it was sugarcoated.”
Fluharty noted the GOP is willing to work with the President on some issues he referenced in his speech, conceding Republicans need to reexamine their approach to issues such as immigration.
“The Republican Party as a whole really needs to begin to look at those issues from a political standpoint. And we need to make some basic decisions about what makes our coalition up versus what makes the Democrats’ coalition up in the last election – and why is it that people will choose to sit at their table but will not choose to sit at ours,” said Fluharty.
But Fluharty adds it’s up to the President to give Republicans a seat at the table as he lays out his agenda for a second term.
