Even though the Democrats held the presidency and had a majority in both houses of Congress, there was a lack of unity between the two branches of government. This was largely because Carter was unwilling to play politics. For example, 1977 he announced that he would veto appropriation billsfor a series of costly dams, canals, and other water projects. Passing such pork-barrel legislation, or bills that benefit only a small part of the country, was a common problem. Carter's move saved the nation millions of dollars, but it cost him valuable support.
Carters's inability to sell his political position on important issues puzzled many people. He followed a cautious middle course, promising to reduce government spending while endoring expensive social programs. The president would not "choose up sides," as newspaper columnist James Reston observed. "Confronted with a series of ambiguous questions, he simply refused to give simple answers." As a result, the public became confused about Carter's goals