BALTIMORE, Maryland (CNN) - President Barack Obama and House GOP leaderspromised greater efforts to step back from the partisan brink Friday, acknowledging that Washington's toxic political climate has made it increasingly tough to tackle major problems.

The pledge was immediately called into question, however, as the two parties repeatedly expressed sharply differing viewpoints on a range of issues during a rare meeting at a House Republican retreat.

Obama had accepted an invitation from House GOP leaders to address their caucus. His speech was followed by a frequently testy question-and-answer session.

"House Republican leaders are grateful for (Obama's) willingness to come ... and have a frank and honest conversation," Indiana GOP Rep. Mike Pence said. "We welcome the dialogue with the president."

Obama accused Republicans of frequently mischaracterizing his policy proposals, particularly in the health care debate. Republicans, in turn, complained that the White House and congressional Democrats had ignored their ideas, locked them out of the policy-making process, and unfairly labeled them as obstructionists.

"Both sides can take some blame for a sour climate on Capitol Hill," Obama said. Democrats and Republicans "need to be careful" in choosing their rhetoric. "A tone of civility instead of slash and burn would be helpful."

The president highlighted what he said was problematic GOP rhetoric on his health care proposals. Republicans, he said, had characterized the proposed program as some "kind of Bolshevik plot." In fact, he claimed, much of his plan was similar to what Republicans had proposed during the failed Clinton-era health care reform push.

Read the rest of this entry »

We are following President Obama's speech to the GOP. Will this face-off change politics as usual in Washington? Will this airing of grievances actually accomplish anything? Are we actually going to see a new tone in Washington? Jeff Toobin joins the live blog tonight to answer some of your questions.

What are your thoughts?

1) Keep your comment short.

2) Use your real name (first name only is fine)

3) No links

4) No comments in uppercase. We don’t shout in the office.

Become a fan of Campbell on Facebook right now and follow Campbell on twitter.

Become a fan of Campbell on Facebook right now and follow Campbell on twitter.

Become a fan of Campbell on Facebook right now and follow Campbell on twitter.

Become a fan of Campbell on Facebook right now and follow Campbell on twitter.

Become a fan of Campbell on Facebook right now and follow Campbell on twitter.

Become a fan of Campbell on Facebook right now and follow Campbell on twitter.

What are your thoughts?

1) Keep your comment short.

2) Use your real name (first name only is fine)

3) No links

4) No comments in uppercase. We don’t shout in the office.

Become a fan of Campbell on Facebook right now and follow Campbell on twitter.