It's so clear what the POTUS is trying to do. He's pandering to the "Party of No" in hopes they'll vote for his environmental legislation. You know, the people who continually disregard the president's efforts toward bipartisanship and play straight-up seize-the-votes-for-the-next-election politics versus doing what's right for our country.
Rachel Maddow hit the nail on the head last night:
Further reading: