Obama Dines with Senate Democrats After Failed Gun Bill
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Following the Senate’s failure to pass a key gun control measure on Wednesday, President Obama met 12 Democratic senators for dinner a few blocks away from the White House at Washington’s Jefferson Hotel.
According to a White House official, the group “had a productive discussion about a range of issues including ways to grow the economy, create jobs and strengthen the middle class.”
During the dinner, which lasted roughly two hours, the senators and Obama also discussed immigration reform and Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon.
“The president reaffirmed that the full weight of the federal government is behind this investigation, which is being led by the FBI,” the official said.
Obama also vowed to continue to fight to reduce gun violence, the official said, following Wednesday’s failed background check proposal, which was defeated 54 to 46 in the Senate. Sixty votes were needed to pass the measure, which would have expanded background checks for people buying guns online and at gun shows.
The dozen Democratic senators who attended the dinner were: Michael Bennet of Colorado, Chris Coons of Delaware, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Dianne Feinstein of California, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Patty Murray of Washington, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Mark Warner of Virginia, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
Following the meal, Bennet, Whitehouse and Warner were spotted enjoying beverages on an outdoor patio. When asked about the meeting, Whitehouse gave reporters the “thumbs-up,” saying, “Two thumbs up, very well.”
When asked to elaborate, Bennet said, “We talked about not talking about it.”
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