WASHINGTON — In political terms, President Barack Obama's tax-cut compromise with Republicans amounted to a step toward luring back independent voters whose support he needs to win re-election in 2012.
Never mind that his deal with the GOP alienated his liberal base; there's no clear alternative Democrat to run against him.
Enter Obama's dealmaking with Republicans and criticism of Democrats, moves intended to try to reclaim that swing-voting territory as he casts himself as a president who puts people above politics.
"We will never get anything done" if Democrats are unwilling to bend and liberals insist on ideal positions, Obama said.
"People will have the satisfaction of having a purist position and no victories for the American people," Obama said. "And we will be able to feel good about ourselves and sanctimonious about how pure our intentions are and how tough we are." In the meantime, he said, Americans will suffer.
"That can't be the measure of what it means to be a Democrat," he added.
And with that, Obama started positioning himself as the president first, and the country's top Democrat second.
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