Obama to Democrats: 'Finish the job'

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama urged Senate Democrats to "finish the job" on difficult issues Wednesday even as they head into tough midterm elections.

Obama attended the Senate Democratic Conference at Washington's Newseum, delivering remarks and then fielding several questions. He visited House Republicans last Friday during an issues retreat in Baltimore.

"We've got to finish the job" on healthcare and financial regulatory reform, reducing the deficit and other tough issues, Obama said. "We've got to finish the job even though it's hard."

"Because of the work that you did," legislation was passed and subsequently signed into law that helped prevent the country from sinking into another Great Depression, Obama said.

All last month's election of a Republican to fill the seat of late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy means is the Senate Democratic majority went from being the largest in a generation to the second largest in a generation, Obama said

"We still have to lead," he said.

Obama restated his desire for a bipartisan atmosphere in Washington, saying he was sincere about reaching out to Republicans.

"I told them I want to work with them and I meant it," he said. "But I'll call them out" if, when a hand is extended in a bipartisan manner, "they show a fist in return."

The president repeated many themes from recent remarks, including last week's State of the Union, such as requests for tax breaks and tax credits for small businesses, enhanced employment opportunities, funding for K-12 and post-secondary education, greater transparency and budgetary belt-tightening on the federal level.

"I know these are tough times to hold public office," Obama said. "The need is great. The anger and anguish is intense. The economy is massive -- and so is the consequence" of their actions.

Responding to a question about trade agreements, Obama said he didn't favor revoking agreements with China but wanted to enforce current treaties more strongly.

"I don't want to shy away from the prospects of international competition," Obama said. "If we're able to compete on an even playing field, then no one can beat us."

Asked how the Democrats can convince the American people that they can restore the fiscal health of the country, Obama pointed out the last time the budget was balanced was under President Bill Clinton, a Democrat.

"But we're still haunted by debates that took place (decades) ago" and the label of favoring tax-and-spend policies, he said. "Having said that, we have been complicit in some ways over the last decade," Obama said, listing legislation on prescription drugs, two wars and tax cuts.

Lawmakers must "tell truth that that (the deficit and the financial crisis) is hard to solve," Obama said. "If you do the right thing, explain it clearly and do it openly ... with the same grit and determination as seen in the past, I have every confidence that we'll have a 21st century that is just like the 20th."