The White House declined Monday to rebut Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's recent criticism of President Barack Obama as insufficiently forceful in dealing with Republicans.
Asked about the comments, press secretary Robert Gibbs replied: "I don't have anything to say."
Reid made the remarks on a Las Vegas television program, "Face to Face with Jon Ralston," when asked if he had any disagreements with Obama. The interview aired shortly after Obama left Nevada on Friday after campaigning for Reid and raising some $800,000 for his re-election campaign.
"On a few occasions I think he should have been more firm with those on the other side of the aisle," Reid said.
"He is a person who doesn't like confrontation. He is a peacemaker and sometimes I think you have to be a little more forceful, and sometimes I don't think he is enough with the Republicans."
Reid cited the health care debate, where he said the White House stood back and let the scrimmaging play out in the Senate. There were times, he said, "when I wanted the folks in the White House behind me."
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