By JONATHAN ALLEN,Politico
Obama’s aggressive tactics are scaring the moderates
A White House effort to undermine conservative critics is generating a backlash on Capitol Hill — and not just from Republicans.
“It’s a mistake,” said Rep. Jason Altmire,a moderate Democrat from western Pennsylvania. “I think it’s beneath the White House to get into a tit for tat with
news organizations.”
Altmire was talking about the Obama administration’s efforts to undercut Fox News. But he said his remarks applied just the same to White House efforts to
marginalize the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,a powerful business lobby targeted for its opposition to climate change legislation.
“There’s no reason to gratuitously piss off all those companies,” added another Democrat,Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia. “The Chamber isn’t an opponent.”