Less than a month ago, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were bitter foes during a close and difficult campaign for the presidency. However, today the two will share lunch in the White House. The idea is for the two to eye the mutual interests they have rather than the differences that defined the presidential race.
The two have not met since the November 6 election and will have lunch in the private dining room of the White House Thursday. The meeting fulfills an Obama promise he made during his November 6 victory speech.
Jay Carney spokesman for the White House said that Obama did not have a specific agenda for the lunch, but did say Obama wanted to speak to Romney about the former governor of Massachusetts’ ideas making the federal government more efficient.
The president proposed the merging of some of the government functions related to business. He asked Congress for the authority to reorganize the executive branch.
Carney said that the President had noted that Romney did a great job taking care of the Olympics and his knowledge lends itself to things that could make our federal government work more efficient, which the President is very passionate about.
Aides at the White House said they approached Romney about the lunch just prior to Thanksgiving. The two will meet alone, with no press expected to be present. While in the capitol, Romney plans to meet with Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin Rep. and his former vice presidential running mate. Ryan has returned to Capitol Hill where he is trying to negotiate a deal to ward off the fiscal cliff.
