Obama Scolds GOP On Deficit Talks, Defends Libya Campaign

By Eric Rice

President Obama struck a defensive tone during his response to repeated questions of his handling of a debt limit battle with Republicans that threatens to put the federal government on the precipice of default.

During a news conference this afternoon, Obama put the onus squarely on the GOP for failing to agree to a deal on deficit reduction which would pave the way for lawmakers to vote to increase the federal borrowing limit.

Obama criticized Republicans for not being willing to consider ending tax cuts “for millionaires, billionaires, oil companies and corporate jet owners.” The White House and Democrats have at this point agreed to anywhere between $500 billion and $1 trillion worth of long-term spending cuts, but finding more savings has proven elusive as leaders have squabbled over taxes, defense cuts and entitlements.

“The Republicans say they want to reduce the deficit,” Obama said. “Every single observer who’s not an elected official, who’s not a politician, says we can’t reduce our deficit in the scale and scope that we need to without having a balanced approach that looks at everything.”

According to the President, Democrats are willing to put everything on the table, but Republicans? Not so much. Obama pointed to ending tax breaks for corporate jet owners as an idea that Republicans have stubbornly rejected. Without added tax revenues, said Obama, Congress will likely have to target popular programs that help college students receive scholarships and ensure that the public’s food is thoroughly inspected.

“I’ve said to some of the Republican leaders, you go talk to your constituents…and ask them, ‘are they willing to compromise their kids’ safety so that some corporate jet owner continues to get a tax break?” “I’m pretty sure what the answer would be.”

Obama blamed House GOP leaders for scheduling recesses once every three weeks and suggested that with the August 2 deadline for raising the debt limit fast approaching, Congress should remain in Washington to hammer out a deal. Lawmakers, the President said, could learn something from First Daughters Sasha, 10, and Malia, 13, who according to their father, complete all their schoolwork assignments early.

“If you know what you have to do it, you just do it,” he said, channeling the popular Nike slogan.

Obama laughed at claims that he has not led on the deficit issue, reminding reporters that he has held several meetings with leaders on Capitol Hill this year aimed at arriving at a bipartisan solution. The President argued that lawmakers rejected his invitation to meet at the White House back in April, just days after the government avoided a shutdown. Obama later said that the debt limit issue is really a jobs issue, and argued that U.S. and world financial markets won’t react positively should the nation appear headed for default.

On Libya, Obama ducked when asked whether he believes that the War Powers Resolution is constitutional. The President argued that he did not have to directly answer the question due to the fact that the law does not apply to the ongoing NATO-led mission in Libya, where the U.S. does not currently have any “boots on the ground.” Pressed on the issue, Obama replied that he is “not a Supreme Court justice” and would not put on his “constitutional law professor hat,” at the moment.

He echoed State Department Legal Advisor Harold Koh’s reasoning that the limited nature of the engagement and the fact that American military forces are operating in a support role means that the hostilities clause of the law is not met. 

“This suddenly becomes the cause célèbre for some folks in Congress? Come on,” Obama bemoaned. “I’ve had all the members of Congress over to talk about it, so a lot of this fuss is politics.”