Bush begins to bend in new outreach to Democrats

[Ron Burgundy]

AFP - The White House began reaching out to Democrats, pressing a bipartisan effort on Iraq after Republicans' stunning loss of both houses of Congress.

President George W. Bush reached out to Democratic leaders with whom he is not used to having to compromise. After a cabinet meeting, Bush was to welcome House speaker-in-waiting Nancy Pelosi and current Minority Whip Steny Hoyer for a working luncheon meeting.

Dan Bartlett, counselor to the president, told CNN television that Bush "said he accepts the results of the election and looks forward to working with new Democratic colleagues."

Asked if Vice President Dick Cheney was in sync with the rest of the administration on Iraq, Bartlett said: "Of course he is. ... Even those critical of the conduct of execution of the war with Iraq all understand the consequences. If we are to pull out of Iraq before the job is done, it will make our country less secure."

But Bartlett also allowed that "we have an opportunity with this bipartisan Iraq Study Group, members of both political parties coming together to work together to bring greater consensus to a critical issue to the security of our country."

The study group was created by Congress in March and placed under the joint chairmanship of Republican former secretary of state James Baker and Democratic former congressman Lee Hamilton.

"Vice President Cheney understands that. The commander in chief understands that better than anybody else," Bartlett said.

"The weeks and days going forward are an opportunity for both Republicans and Democrats to discuss the vexing challenges we face in this war and hope to bring greater consensus. That was the message coming from the American people on Tuesday (election) night. They want their two parties in Washington working together to try to solve these issues for the greater good of our country," Bartlett said.

The ruling party suffered dispiriting losses in Tuesday's elections, giving up nearly 30 seats and majority status in the House.

They also lost their hold on the US Senate, US media reported late Wednesday, projecting a final Democratic upset in Virginia that handed Democrats a narrow 51-49 majority in the upper chamber.

The defeat overturns Republican majorities established in the 1994 election.