Dem leader: Blame Congress for slow work on Obama agenda

If President Obama doesn’t meet voters’ high expectations for his administration, Congress will be responsible, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Monday.

“Expectations are so great in so many areas” for the president, Clyburn warned during an appearance Monday on “Morning Joe” about any criticism of the Congress’ ability to follow through on the administration’s goals.

In particular, Clyburn was taking aim at the Republican minorities in the House and Senate for resisting the stimulus package, the omnibus spending bill, and other priorities advanced by the White House and Democratic leaders in Congress.

“And it’s not because of him, it’s because of us in the Congress not being able to get on the same page,” Clyburn said. “People are scared, and they would love to see their leaders working together with one message, and that’s what we don’t have.”

Clyburn said that he senses urgency from his own constituents, who would prefer a focus on bread-and-butter issues like mortgage relief, rather than assisting ailing industries.

“The economy to these people are their homes, their jobs, their communities, and they could care less about what’s going on with the Big Three, or what’s going on on Wall Street,” Clyburn said.

Watch a video of Clyburn’s interview below: