No mistletoe: Obama laments no cliff deal, punts until end of year
(CNN) - President Barack Obama chastised lawmakers for failing so far to reach a solution to the fiscal cliff, urging them to return to Washington next week after reflecting over the Christmas holiday.
"This is not simply a contest between parties as to who looks good and who doesn't," he said. "As we leave town for a few days, I hope it gives everyone perspective."
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Obama said he had just spoken with House Speaker John Boehner and met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The president said he had compromised with Republicans' demands, meeting them at halfway or more, but that lawmakers appeared relatively unwilling to compromise.
But in response to Obama's remarks, Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said the president's offers have not passed the test of balance, though Republicans "remain hopeful he is finally ready to get serious about averting the fiscal cliff."
"The House has already acted to stop all of the looming tax hikes and replace the automatic defense cuts. It is time for the Democratic-run Senate to act, and that is what the Speaker told the President tonight. Speaker Boehner will return to Washington following the holiday, ready to find a solution that can pass both houses of Congress," Buck said.
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They don't want to compromise Mr. President. That would take away too much time being spoiled brat bullies on the tax payers' dime. That mockery of govenrment I witnessed on tv firsthand last night on display as the House sucrried like rats from a sinking ship while Cantor flashed his well known demonic smile for the news cameras ike he didn't have a care in the world as he was off to be e with his family in luxury and comfort for the holidays was beyond sickening.
Definition of insanity = Keep spending money you don't have with no intentions of ever paying it back.
He is getting exactly what he wants.........tax increases on the middle class.........which he will blame on the GOP.
Oh noes: looming defense cuts. Because we really need to spend more tax dollars on murderous drones and security for far-flung consulates. We are in clear and present danger of fat-cat defense contractors not having Rolexes ad stocking-stuffers this Christmas.
So instead of working together the GOP is trying to eliminate the threat of the fiscal cliff by changing the conditions to meet their desired outcome. What a bunch of manipulating lying cheats.
You failed us Mr. Obama with all of your out of control spending and that's a fact.
Looking at 20 Trillion debt by the end of 2016 thanks for nothing.
Congress was elected to stop you and your buddies spending so you need to do just that STOP SPENDING and BLAMING others.
In the real world, if their is a deadline. You work through to get something done. In Congress and Washington DC they go on holiday break.
Thousands of people each year have no choice but to work xmas. And these bozos feel they need to go home for it. What a joke.
Our self proclaimed "uniter" I do not understand this mans popularity at all.