Changing the Tone in Washington

Robert Kuttner
HuffPost
Posted: 04/ 3/11 10:18 PM ET

My fellow Americans,

I ran for president to do two things -- to change the tone of bitter partisanship in Washington, and to accomplish constructive economic change so that more Americans can share the blessings of prosperity.

I need to speak candidly to you tonight. Despite my best efforts, I find that I cannot do both things. You see, it takes two to compromise.

I understand why many Americans voted against my party -- the Democrats -- last November. Recovery from the worst recession in 75 years was, and is, too slow.

It's understandable that many people who had high hopes in 2008 felt those hopes dashed in 2010. The president's party normally loses some seats in his first off-year election, especially in hard economic times, and these times have been more difficult than most.

(More here.)