President Obama plans truce with Chamber of Commerce - Mike Allen

Moving to repair a deep rift with leading CEOs, President Barack Obama plans to speak at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event next month and the two sides are trying to work out details, White House and Chamber officials said Saturday.

The talks mark a dramatic rapprochement between the Chamber, which spent tens of millions of dollars in the midterm election to defeat Democrats, and the president, who openly criticized the “world’s largest business federation” for accepting contributions from undisclosed donors.

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White House Deputy Communications Director Jen Psaki said: “Economic recovery is the most important goal for the president and working with all of the stakeholders — including the Chamber of Commerce — on export promotion, free and fair trade to grow the economy and create jobs is an important part of achieving that goal."

The overture is the White House’s clearest move to the center since the Nov. 2 elections, when independents sides decisively with Republicans. Democratic officials said the White House is looking for a variety of ways to lower the temperature with CEOs, some of whom have complained about Obama’s agenda and the White House’s treatment of business.

CNN’s Ed Henry originally reported the possibility of a presidential speech to the Chamber, writing in a blog post that Obama was considering speaking to “a December 2 jobs summit hosted by [Chamber President and CEO Thomas J.] Donohue.”

A White House official told POLITICO: “The president was invited to speak at the Chamber on December 2nd. We considered the invitation, but event was then cancelled. The Chamber has also invited the president to speak in January, and we are considering the invitation to see if it will work in the schedule.”
Thomas J. Collamore, the Chamber’s senior vice president, communications and strategy, said in a statement to POLITICO: "The Chamber doesn't have anything currently planned, but we’d always be happy to host the president to talk about jobs and the economy."

A Chamber official added: The Dec. 2 date "didn't work logistically and was never finalized on either end. We are continuing to look for a date in January that is mutually acceptable to the Chamber and the White House.”

Obama attacked the Chamber directly during an Oct. 7 rally in Bowie, Md., calling outside groups buying ads in the election, with donors undisclosed, “a threat to our democracy.”

“Just this week, we learned that one of the largest groups paying for these ads regularly takes in money from foreign corporations,” Obama said.

The Chamber heatedly denied the charge.

Donohue last week signaled his desire to a cease-fire, telling his board of directors in a speech Wednesday: “This is not personal with us. It’s about representing our members and advancing ideas that we think are essential to expand our economy, compete in the world, and create American jobs. We’re prepared to join with President Obama, his administration, and both parties in Congress whenever we can to achieve these goals.”

via politico.com

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