President Obama used a lengthy White House non-press conference
Tuesday to once again accuse "extreme" Republican lawmakers of holding
the nation for "ransom," while offering a somewhat nuanced framework for
fiscal talks in which he's "willing to compromise" -- but not
negotiate.
The president tried to stake out his position during a lengthy
exchange with reporters in the White House briefing room. Even the
nature of the event was unclear. Though it was not considered a formal
press conference, the president answered questions from 11 reporters and
spoke for over an hour.
The takeaway was that the president, while willing to talk with
Republicans about "almost anything," will not do so until they pass a
spending bill and raise the debt ceiling.
"I've been willing to compromise my entire political career," Obama
said. "But I'm not going to breach a basic principle that would weaken
the presidency, change our democracy and do great damage to ordinary
people."
It's unclear how Republicans will navigate that stance, with the
country in week two of the partial government shutdown. Their demand is
that they get some concessions -- like spending cuts -- in exchange for
approving both pieces of legislation. House Speaker John Boehner's
appeal on Tuesday was for Democrats to simply come to the negotiating
table.
"It's time for us to just sit down and resolve our differences,"
Boehner said. "There's no boundaries here. There's nothing on the table,
there's nothing off the table."
Obama, though, suggested he viewed that request as a trap -- a forum
where Republicans will seek concessions from Democrats without putting
anything on the table.
Obama said Tuesday he's willing to talk with Republicans about "almost anything" -- once the impasse is over.
"I'm not going to do it until the more extreme parts of the
Republican Party stop forcing John Boehner to issues threats about our
economy," Obama said.
The remarks showed Obama digging in on his position that he will not
negotiate until the current pair of fiscal stand-offs is over. The
president put increasing pressure on Boehner, suggesting he alone is
responsible for the "cloud over U.S. economic credibility" as
Republicans seek spending cuts in exchange for an increase in the debt
ceiling.
The president likened the GOP's stance to demanding "a ransom for
doing their jobs," and said he wants to ultimately put a stop to these
semi-regular stand-offs over the budget -- without mentioning that he
and Senate Democrats have not struck a deal with Republicans on a
bona-fide full-year budget in years.
"The greatest nation on Earth shouldn't have to get permission from a
few irresponsible members of Congress every couple of months just to
keep our government open or to prevent an economic catastrophe," he
said.
Obama, who took questions from several White House reporters, also
said he apologizes to the American people for having "to go through this
stuff every three months."
The president cited "Tea Party Republicans" in his complaints, and
urged Boehner to hold a vote in the House on a spending bill, claiming
such a vote would immediately end the partial government shutdown. Obama
said Democrats would join with some Republicans to pass it.
"Let's stop the excuses. Let's take a vote in the House. Let's end this shutdown right now," Obama said.
Earlier in the day, Obama called Boehner merely to "reiterate" that
he will not negotiate. "The president called the speaker again today to
reiterate that he won't negotiate on a government funding bill or debt
limit increase," Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said Tuesday.
A statement from the White House clarified that Obama "is willing to
negotiate" -- once Republicans approve the budget and debt-ceiling
increase.
The phone call underscores how little progress has been made in
reaching a deal ever since Congress missed a deadline to pass a spending
bill, triggering a partial government shutdown.
House Republican leaders appear to have eased off their demand that ObamaCare be pared back as part of any spending package.
House Republicans are introducing a bill that would actually create
the negotiations Boehner is calling for. The bill would set up a team of
House and Senate lawmakers from both parties to immediately start talks
on the debt ceiling and other fiscal issues. The bill would also ensure
pay for so-called "essential" government employees who are working
through the partial shutdown.
"In a divided government, the American people expect us to work together," House Republican Leader Eric Cantor said.
But Democrats immediately cast doubt on the idea, with one likening
it to the "super committee" that failed to reach an agreement to avert
steep spending cuts known as the "sequester."
Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., questioned whether a new committee on the debt ceiling would produce similar results.
Though the partial shutdown was initially triggered by disagreements
over a budget bill -- and Republicans' demand that it include changes to
ObamaCare -- lawmakers are shifting their focus to an Oct. 17 deadline
to raise the debt ceiling.
Boehner and other GOP leaders are demanding spending cuts in exchange
for raising that limit. But on this, as well as the budget, Obama and
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid say they will not negotiate.
Reid, though, said he would negotiate down the road.
"If Republicans want to propose a legislative way to make the (health
care law) better or more efficient, Democrats are willing to talk about
that. But shutting down the government and hoping that will make
ObamaCare disappear is truly magical thinking," he said. "Democrats are
willing to negotiate -- on the budget, on ObamaCare, you name it. And
we're willing to compromise. But first, Republicans must reopen the
government and stop threatening a catastrophic default on the nation's
bills. They must respect the Democratic process."
Democrats controlling the Senate, meanwhile, plan to move quickly
toward a vote to allow the government to borrow more money, challenging
Republicans to a filibuster showdown as the time remaining to stop a
first-ever default on U.S. obligations ticks by.
A spokesman said Reid could unveil the measure as early as Tuesday,
setting the table for a test vote later in the week. The measure is
expected to provide enough borrowing room to last beyond next year's
election, which means it likely will permit $1 trillion or more in new
borrowing above the current $16.7 trillion debt ceiling that the
administration says will be hit on Oct. 17. It's not expected to include
new spending cuts sought by Republicans.
Join The Patriot Guard