White House downplays GOP snub over meeting

[Geee]

Washington Examiner:

The White House on Wednesday was downplaying what appeared to be a snub by Republican leaders invited by President Obama for dinner and bipartisanship.

Obama the day after the election announced he would host congressional leaders from both parties for a meeting Thursday at the White House, followed by dinner in the residence.

But House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said they are too busy with prior obligations and rescheduled the meeting for Nov. 30.

As an early test of both parties' campaign rhetoric promising greater bipartisan cooperation, it was not a spectacular success.

"You know, they came to us and said they have some organizational issues that they have to work through prior to that meeting," said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. "We'll wait a little bit."