WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- President Obama praised the bipartisanship in Congress' lame-duck session, saying he hoped Washington would "heed the message of the American people."
"A lot of folks predicted after midterm election, Washington would be heading for more partisanship and more gridlock," Obama said during a news conference Wednesday. "If there's any lessen we can draw from the past two weeks, it's that we're not doomed to endless gridlock."
While saying he wasn't naive, Obama said he hopes political leaders "heed the message of the American people and hold to the spirit of common purpose in 2011 and beyond."
He called the lame-duck session the most productive post-election session in decades, ticking off bipartisan agreement to extend tax cuts and unemployment benefits, pass a sweeping food safety bill, repeal of the military's ban on gays and lesbians openly serving in the military and Senate ratification of the U.S.-Russia nuclear arms reduction treaty.
He said he was disappointed that the so-called DREAM Act providing a path to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants under certain circumstances and that the budget wasn't handled in the long term.
Repeating that Democrats "took a shellacking" Nov. 2 when Republicans swept into power in the House and ate away at the Democratic majority in the Senate, Obama said, "I take responsibility for that."
What happened during the last several weeks wasn't a victory for him, the president said, "but a victory for the American people."
The results showed that "it's possible to have principled disagreements (and) lengthy arguments but ultimately find common ground to help the American people," Obama said. "What we've shown is that we don't have to agree 100 percent to get things done that enhance the lives of families across America."
Obama vowed to be persistent next year to pass immigration reform.
"It is heartbreaking. That can't be who we are," Obama said about the failure to pass the DREAM Act. "I am determined to get immigration reform done. It's the right thing to do."
Reform also includes securing borders and cracking down on employers using undocumented workers, he said.
Obama said he would engage with Republicans "who in their heart of hearts know it's the right thing to do," Obama said. "That's the better angel of our nature."
Obama also repeated his frustration to include extending current lower tax rates for all taxpayers, including the wealthiest, but that is the nature of compromise.
"Compromise by definition means taking some things you don't like," he said. "but the overall package was the right one to ensure the economy would grow."
The economy has passed the crisis point, so now "we have to pivot and focus on jobs and growth," Obama said, vowing to focus on jump-starting the economy to dent the unemployment rate and compete globally in the 21st century.
"I think Democrats, Republicans, the House and Senate and the White House have to be in conversations with the private sector" to improve the economy and get profits sitting on the sidelines since the recovery began back into the economy.
"The American people are driving the car," said Obama, referring to his one-time comparison of the economy as a car in a ditch. "They're the ones making the assessments on whether (our) policies are working for them.
He said he also was disappointed that the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, didn't closed as he promised soon after he took office.
"We've made progress ... while holding on to our values, ideals and principles," Obama said.
The key reason to close the prison is because it is a recruiting symbol for terrorists, Obama said, adding that he believes the country can battle terrorists "within a legal structure consistent with our rule of law."
How the Guantanamo Bay situation is resolve will demonstrate that "we stand for something beyond our economic power and military might," Obama said, "and have core ideals that we observe even when it's hard."
