In the wake of bad approval ratings and tough news about a slow economic recovery, President Obama’s team has started to fight back against accusations that the President is anti-business.  President Obama focused on the stimulus to highlight his pro-growth agenda during a recent speech in Nevada.  Back in Washington, the President’s advisors responded to press inquiries by citing Obama’s frequent visits with corporate leaders as evidence of the President’s positive relationship with the business community.

Some are skeptical of the President’s pro-business credentials.  And, I cannot blame them for their skepticism since two of the President’s biggest legislative victories were achieved in part by demonizing business.

The President excoriated health insurance companies in order to push for major healthcare legislation.  When one brave insurer notified its customers how changes in the law would impact healthcare, the President had a government agency threaten legal action.

When it came to financial regulatory reform, President Obama rode the populist wave of anger directed against Wall Street towards the successful passage of a 2,300 page re-write of how our nation’s financial system is structured. 

The back and forth between the President and the business community has mostly been seen through a political lens focused on political speeches and campaign ads.  Things changed when the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched its free enterprise campaign.  The reports, advocacy campaigns, and multi-tiered effort by the Chamber have put the White House on the defensive.  Last month, the Business Roundtable, a business group that had good things to say about Obama’s healthcare bill, released a 54-page report critical of the President’s agenda.  This week the Chamber of Commerce hosts a “jobs summit” to launch a new barrage against policies emanating from a Democratic Congress and White House.

President Obama may choose to fight back, resorting to his habit of calling all businesses, “special interests” and portraying corporate lobbyists as evil.  Or, Obama can take key suggestions from the business community and push his administration forward to gain the trust of the business community.

Now that healthcare reform and (almost) financial reform are in the bag, this is a perfect time for President Obama to move away from his demonizing business shtick. 

Tom Sullivan is an attorney with the law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough where he runs the Small Business Coalition for Regulatory Relief.