THE RESET: Obama: voters would blame both parties

January 14, 2013 @ 11:14 am


President Barack Obama speaks during the last news conference of his first term in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) | Zoom
Associated Press

(AP) - President Barack Obama makes congressional Republicans the villains in the government's drama of lurching from crisis to crisis. But he also suggests Americans would "blame all of Washington" if there's a government shutdown or delays in Social Security benefits and other payments.

In his first news conference of the year and last of his first term, Obama said it's up to Congress, ultimately, to decide how to raise and spend money. "And if the Republicans in Congress have made a decision that they want to shut down the government in order to get their way, then they have the votes, at least in the House of Representatives, probably to do that."

Republicans control the House, Democrats the Senate.

Since Obama took office, gridlock on Capitol Hill has been the norm rather than the exception as one fiscal crisis has given way to another.

The government came close to defaulting on some of its obligations in mid-2011 when Republicans balked at raising the ceiling on the government's borrowing authority.

Congress now must again raise the debt ceiling for the government to keep borrowing money to pay its bills _ or face a first-ever default as early as mid-February.

Both sides have dug in. Republicans insist raising the debt ceiling must be combined with big spending cuts. Obama counters he won't negotiate any deal linking the debt limit to spending cuts. It would be "short-sighted" and "profoundly damaging to our economy," he said Monday.

He was asked if he would let the government grind to a halt if he disagreed with spending-cut proposals put forth by Republicans _ and if that happened, who'd be blamed?

Polls show voters are more inclined to blame Republicans than Democrats.

Even so, "I suspect that the American people would blame all of Washington for not being able to get its act together," Obama said.

___

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(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (37)


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  • Regularjoe44 wrote...
    got news for ya...
    November 16, 2012 5:53 pm
    We're already over the fiscal cliff....just floating through the air as our car drove off. The only question is the cliff small enough to survive when the impact comes.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    Anyone that can handle
    December 3, 2012 10:58 am
    5th grade math knows that whatever number gimick they agree to the end result is still the same. We're screwed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    Thats funny right there.
    December 3, 2012 11:54 am
    GEITHNER talking about paying taxes. He should try it sometime. Him, his boss and Holder should all be in jail for what they have done to this country. Thats the real life Three Stooges. They would give CH, Longway and Forrest a run for the title.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @HCL...
    December 4, 2012 12:40 pm
    You do realize that you sound just like the left wing loons who claimed that Bush, Cheney, etc. Should be in jail for what they did to this country... And I'll bet you were of the group that chimed in with how wrong they were for making those claims....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    The election was a mandate from the voters
    December 3, 2012 12:09 pm
    Now do your job Boehner. It is time to represent the American people instead of American Express.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    @calapete
    December 5, 2012 5:38 am
    Amex? Boehner is trying to reign in spending not spend more. Your comment makes no sense factually or logically. Obama's to blame for the "fiscal crisis" !
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    THC - it was your boss Bush that . . . .
    December 3, 2012 1:18 pm
    should be in jail for what he has done to this country.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    @CH
    December 5, 2012 5:39 am
    What did Bush do to this country? I bet you can't even answer this question.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    CH
    December 3, 2012 6:06 pm
    hlc or thc as you call him (appropriate) really don't have a grasp on how the country is moving. These regular conservative posters are so out of touch with reality that they are not looking forward to the next 8 (eight) years of the Democrats running the show. It's only started, in fact Obama's re-inauguration isn't until Jan. When he's done in 2016 there will be another Democrat for the foreseeable future. republicans are down the drain, maybe some of them can get jobs at the White House as janitors or something. I'm sure Obama is willing to put some of them to work.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    Obama rejected
    December 3, 2012 7:42 pm
    The last offer from boner, which was stupid, of course. These guys are playing political poker with the lives of the American people. This high stakes drama about the economy going over the "cliff" is just so much B.S. At the last minute both sides will give in to the middle so they can both be viewed by the suckers that watch faux news as having WON the battle. None of us are winners, we taxpayers are the losers to the games that both parties play to show us that they are doing their jobs. They aren't. They are (both parties) trying to justify their existence by seeming to be important and in control, when in reality all their jobs are on the line in 2014.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Wow Wrongway
    December 12, 2012 11:26 am
    I totally agree with you! We, the taxpayers are the losers. I am totally impressed with your statement. So, why on earth do you give Obama a pass ????
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    The Dear Leader will not compromise then blame it on the GOP.
    December 4, 2012 11:55 am
    The State run Media will tell all you Left wing Parrots this as so and as usual, all you Parrots will do exactly what you are, Parrot all the lies and hate and the Propaganda from the regime and attempt to blame us Americans for your UN accountable Dear Leaders inaction. Or actions!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    It's me! Ha ha! do you live in China? . . . .
    December 4, 2012 2:44 pm
    The State run Media - Propaganda from the regime - Dear Leaders ???? If not, we will pass the hat around for airfare (one way ticket) there.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    calapete wrote...
    December 4, 2012 5:46 pm
    No it was not. It was votes bought and paid for, from the people, through our pres. to buy their votes. See how easy that was to be bought. (liberal side) What side won ???? Easy buy out, it was. Santa's on his way too. Im sure you still think that does not cost either.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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