And after making the pledge to appoint a Lincolnesque "team of rivals, " Obama nominated Sen.

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"I think it is all too easy not to remember those that can be so easily forgotten, " he said after making the pledge.

BBC: Michael Mortiz

By making the pledge before the terms of the Senate deal were even set, Zelizer said, Boehner sent a signal to House Republicans that they were going to lose the battle over the fiscal cliff even if they didn't like the Senate deal.

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