Dems Blame Bush for Failed Auto Bailout Vote

Amanda Carpenter | December 12, 2008 3:16 PM

Democrats are saying President Bush didn't execute enough leadership because he failed to convince enough Senate Republicans to vote for an auto bailout.

Banking Committee Chairman Sen. Chris Dodd (D.-Conn.) said he has spent "hours" working with the Bush White House on a plan to offer bridge loans to Detroit automakers during the week, only to see it stymied by the GOP in a procedural vote Thursday night.

"Had there been more leadership on this issue, they would have joined us in a solution," Dodd said of the Bush White House and the unsupportive Senate Republicans.

The Connecticut senator said he was now "hoping that the White House will announce a course of action that will avoid the catastrophe we are all worried about."