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WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama Wednesday took a tough line with Republican rivals accusing them of blocking legislation and hobbling Congress in the hope of making political gain in an election year.
"We cannot wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about their opponent - a belief that if you lose, I win," Obama told US lawmakers.
"Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can. The confirmation of well-qualified public servants should not be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual senators."
He was hitting out at the poisoned climate pervading political corridors ahead of mid-term congressional polls in November when all the House of Representatives and a third of the 100-seat Senate will be up for grabs.
"I know it is an election year... but we still need to govern," said Obama, who took office in January 2009 vowing to usher in a new era of bipartisanship.
Addressing accusations that he has failed to stand up to a bitter Republican onslaught, Obama pledged: "I will not give up on changing the tone of our politics."
Obama's ambitious reform agenda took a huge hit when Republicans seized a Senate seat in liberal Massachusetts last week, robbing the Democrats of their 60-seat supermajority, and complicating the task of passing tough legislation.
Republican lawmakers have revelled in holding up passage of such bills as health care and even delaying the confirmation of Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke.
Obama said some might think mud-slinging was all part of the usual political game. But he warned: "It is sowing further division among our citizens and further distrust in our government."
Republicans had a duty to help run the country, struggling amid its worst economic downturn in decades, and not just oppose every piece of legislation brought before them.
"If the Republican leadership is going to insist that 60 votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well," Obama maintained.
"Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions.
"So let's show the American people that we can do it together."
Obama said he would address House Republicans this week, and also wanted to start monthly meetings with both the Democratic and Republican leadership.
"I know you can't wait," he added wryly.
- AFP/sc
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