McCain: Obama speech needs bipartisan outreach

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) wants Obama to use the State of the Union address to reach out to Republicans.

It’s something the 2008 Republican candidate defeated by Obama says the president has failed to do since entering office.

“I'm still waiting for him to fulfill his campaign promise of sitting down together and negotiate in good faith with one another and not ram things through,” he said.

Republicans fault Democrats for not trying to work with the GOP on healthcare, climate change and other issues. With their large majorities, Democrats decided they didn’t need to work with the minority party, the GOP argues.

Democrats say Republicans adopted a political strategy of uniting in opposition to Obama’s ideas. They note Obama offered a stimulus bill at the beginning of his administration that included nearly 40 percent tax cuts, but was rebuffed by Republicans.

Some voices on the left argue it was a mistake for Obama and Democrats to reach out to Republicans on healthcare, and that the better political strategy would have been to unite on a bill that Democrats alone could support.

Like Democrats, McCain said that the president needs to reassure Americans that he will deal with pocketbook issues during his State of the Union address.

“Spending, spending, control spending and deficits,” McCain said. "And jobs."