WASHINGTON - Former presidential adviser David Gergen told attendees at CUNA's Governmental Action Conference today that many of the nation's chronic problems aren't being solved because both parties aren't showing enough mettle, leadership and courage.
"The troubles are deep, chronic and Washington is having a hard time," he said. "Presidents and Congress respond well when there is a crisis. The key is responding to chronic problems and we keep delaying the hard choices."
Gergen, who was an adviser to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton, urged President Obama to take a more centrist approach to problem solving and focus on jumpstarting the economy and creating jobs.
He praised the work of credit unions for their role in promoting the values of thrift and discipline and endorsed legislation for raising the cap on member business lending.
"It sounds on the face of it like a common sense things to do," he said. "Though I haven't had the chance to talk to the community bankers about it."
Gergen also said he wished Obama had some former CEOs as top advisers when devising policies to jumpstart the economy and create more jobs.
