Arrogant president scolds Republicans
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"If
you don't like a particular policy, or a particular president, then argue for
your position," Mr. Obama said in an address at the White House. "Go out there
and win an election. Push to change it, but don't break it. Don't break what our
predecessors spent over two centuries building. That's not being faithful to
what this country's about."
Mr.
Obama directed his language at Republican lawmakers just hours after he signed
legislation to reopen the government through Jan. 15 and extend the nation's
borrowing authority until Feb. 7. The agreement ended, for now, a bitter battle
with the GOP that began as a protest over Obamacare.
"Let's
work together to make government work better, instead of treating it like an
enemy or purposely making it work worse," Mr. Obama said. "That's not what the
founders of this nation envisioned when they gave us the gift of of
self-government. We are Americans first. That's why disagreement cannot mean
dysfunction. It can't degenerate into hatred."
The
president said Americans are "completely fed up with Washington," but said the
nation would bounce back.
"These
last few weeks have inflicted completely unnecessary damage on our economy," Mr.
Obama said. "The American people's frustration with what goes on in this town
has never been higher. How business is done in this town has to
change."
Mr.
Obama urged Congress to work on a "balanced" budget as a House-Senate conference
committee began its work Thursday.
"The
issue is not growth vs. fiscal responsibility," he said. "We need both. And
remember, the deficit is getting smaller, not bigger."
Virtually
seething with frustration at times, the president said there were "no winners"
in the stalemate.
"Now
that the government has reopened and this threat to our economy is removed, all
of us need to stop focusing on the lobbyists, and the bloggers, and the talking
heads on radio and the professional activists who profit from conflict, and
focus on what the majority of Americans sent us here to do," he said. "That's
grow this economy, create good jobs, strengthen the middle class, educate our
kids, lay the foundation for broad-based prosperity and get our fiscal house in
order for the long haul. That's why we're here. That should be our
focus."
Turning
to his legislative priorities, Mr. Obama said lawmakers also should work to
"finish the job of fixing our broken immigration system." The Senate has
approved comprehensive immigration reform, but the Republican-led House has
not.
"A
majority of Americans think this is the right thing to do, and it's sitting
there, waiting for the House to pass it," Mr. Obama said. "This can and should
get done by the end of this year."
He
also urged Congress to complete a farm bill by the end of the
year.
Mr.
Obama said these tasks can be completed "if our focus is on the American
people."
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