Initial Steps by Obama Suggest Bipartisan Flair; avoids arrogance given wide margin of his victory

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Initial Steps by Obama Suggest a Bipartisan Flair
By JEFF ZELENY
Published: November 23, 2008

CHICAGO — In the third week of his transition to power, President-elect Barack Obama is working to build a cordial relationship with Republicans by seeking guidance on policy proposals, asking for advice on appointments and hoping to avoid perceptions of political arrogance given the wide margins of his victory.

Mr. Obama has made calls to Republican leaders, and he dispatched Rahm Emanuel, his new chief of staff, to meet with them on Capitol Hill. He asked Republicans to support his economic recovery plan and on Monday will name Timothy F. Geithner, who has worked with the Bush administration’s team, as his choice for Treasury secretary. And while he has yet to name any Republicans to cabinet-level positions as pledged, he is strongly considering James L. Jones for national security adviser, a retired Marine general who appeared at a campaign event with Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, earlier this year.

“I’d say, so far so good,” said Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, a member of the Republican leadership team. “If he follows through on that, he’ll find plenty of Republicans willing to help him.” Mr. Alexander added, “It’s almost completely up to him.”

Mr. Obama has shied away from inserting himself in the still-to-be resolved Senate contests in Georgia and Minnesota. While he recorded a radio advertisement for the Democratic candidate in Georgia, advisers said he would not visit there, to avoid appearing to be too political as he works to deliver on his campaign pledge to bridge the partisan divide in Washington.

The bipartisan concessions have infuriated many liberal Democrats but offer a window into how Mr. Obama hopes to approach the presidency. The criticism from the left illustrated the challenges he faces as the symbolism of reaching out to Republicans gives way to disagreements over the Iraq war, taxes and a health care overhaul, particularly considering the size of the Democratic majorities in Congress and the pressures that will bring from his own party....

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/us/politics/24bipartisan.html?_r=1&ref=politics