WASHINGTON — On his first big test, Barack Obama made some rookie mistakes and strategic missteps. But he still appears headed for a win on the centerpiece of his agenda, a huge economic recovery program, with the fresh striking of a bipartisan deal in the Senate.
Legislative leaders, including some fellow Democrats who support him, chalked up his problems to inexperience and some initial miscalculations over the lack of Republican support, and they suggest he’ll learn from the rocky start.
Americans have learned, too, a little about how their new president works. He has swung from being conciliatory to badgering Congress to act, from courting the opposition to taking partisan swipes. He has had to fight to keep from losing control of the message. And all this is playing out against a background of Cabinet problems, economic distress and global distractions.
Some veteran Democrats say Obama could have made it easier for himself.
“I think it is important that he reached out. But lesson learned: It would have been better for him to send up his idea of a bill” instead of having House Democratic leaders initiate the process, said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who has actively championed the stimulus bill, said Obama stumbled at first by ceding the debate to Capitol Hill and not stepping out more forcefully to explain the bill to the public.
Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., said Republican critics were able to define the legislation as a bloated spending measure being rushed through Congress.
“We can’t just sit back and let them define us,” he said. He said he was pleased that Obama had shifted gears and was “going on the offensive.”
Still, Obama aides claimed they were satisfied with the results, given the enormity of the challenge.
“In a matter of weeks, we moved through both houses of Congress a very complex piece of legislation,” Obama senior adviser David Axelrod said Saturday in an interview. “I don’t know if there is a parallel in history.”
