President Obama is pushing back against critics who say he has failed to spend enough time courting and meeting with lawmakers and others in Washington.
In an interview with CNN to air on Monday Obama says that his role as a father takes precedence in the evenings.
“Sometimes Michelle and I not doing the circuit, going out to dinners with folks is perceived as us being cool -- it actually has to do with us being parents,” said Obama to CNN. “When we’re in town here in Washington, in the evenings, 6:30 we want to be at the dinner table with our kids and I want to be helping with the homework and I think that’s sometimes interpreted as me not wanting to be out there slapping backs and wheeling and dealing.”
“It really just has more to do with the stage we are in our lives,” the president said.
Obama though acknowledged that as his two daughters Malia and Sasha grew older, he would have more opportunities to reach out to Washington lawmakers. He said if reelected he would engage in more efforts to communicate across the aisle.
“My hope is that getting passed this election, people will have an opportunity to step back and say… “the differences that divide us aren’t as important as the common bonds we have as Americans and some of that I’m sure will require additional effort on my part,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll see more on the other side as well.”
