Groan…

Via Politico:

One of the least back-slapping presidents in recent memory may have finally found a way to bond with lawmakers — by treating them to the most exclusive upgrade in air travel.

Since his party took brutal losses in the November elections, President Barack Obama has invited nearly 20 members of Congress to fly with him on Air Force One to state visits in India and Saudi Arabia, to Tennessee for the announcement of his free community college initiative, and to Nevada to promote his latest sweeping moves on immigration.

Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander used last month’s flight to his home state of Tennessee to bend the president’s ear on changes to No Child Left Behind. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was flying on Air Force One to Saudi Arabia when she cajoled Obama into killing his plan to tax college savings plans. And this kind of airborne presidential face time is happening more and more, part of a White House schmooze offensive aimed at both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.