Obama calls spending cuts dumb, arbitrary
By The Associated Press
This article was published March 1, 2013 at 11:19 a.m.
PHOTO BY CHARLES DHARAPAK / AP
President Barack Obama speaks to reporters in the White House briefing room in Washington, Friday, March 1, 2013, following after meeting with congressional leaders regarding the automatic spending cuts.
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WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama blamed Republican lawmakers Friday for failing to stop automatic spending cuts that were to begin kicking in later in the day, calling the cuts “dumb, arbitrary.”
Republicans said the fault was his, for insisting that increased taxes be part of the resolution.
The president said the impact of the cuts won’t immediately be felt, but middle class families will begin to “have their lives disrupted in significant ways.” He said that as long as the cuts stay in effect, Americans will know that the economy could have been better had they been averted.
“The pain, though, will be real,” Obama said.
“This is not a win for anybody. This is a loss for the American people,” he said.
Obama, pressed on whether he bears some of the responsibility for the stalemate, expressed frustration. “Give me an example of what I might do,” he challenged reporters.
“I am not a dictator. I’m the president,” he said. He added that he can’t do a “Jedi mind-meld” or use any “special sauce” to get Republicans to negotiate.
“I can’t force Congress to do the right thing,” Obama said.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
Comments on: Obama calls spending cuts dumb, arbitrary
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BarichMilhusseinObamaNixonPOTUS says... March 1, 2013 at 11:39 a.m.
That makes sense, ask the reporters what he should do. He is weak
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WhoGotYurBack says... March 1, 2013 at 12:03 p.m.
And, if they question him, they will get told they will "regret" it.
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LB_in_Searcy says... March 1, 2013 at 12:31 p.m.
He should have stayed in DC and worked for a compromise - instead of running around the country expounding on how bad it's gonna be! But he did the same thing back in November/December, when he should have been working then with both sides to get an agreement.
He doesn't want any agreement or compromise. He actually wants these cuts, since they echo the proposed military cuts that he couldn't get thru Congress a year or two ago.
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NONSHEEPLE says... March 1, 2013 at 12:34 p.m.
A 1.2% reduction is NOTHING compared to what is truly needed. "You better let us raise more taxes so we can keep our over bloated government...."
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Dangarn says... March 1, 2013 at 12:55 p.m.
What a jerk!!! Never his fault. What happened to the buck stops here? Truman kept that on his desk. Great leaders lead not push. It was his idea in the first place to put the language in the last deal now it comes back to bite him and he blames someone else. I am glad that they stood up to him. There needs to be some real cuts in spending, this is just an ice cube to a glacial problem. I hope the next 10348 days (32358 hours or 1941494 minutes or 116489631 seconds at the time of this post) go by quickly, that is to the inaugural not the election.
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drs01 says... March 1, 2013 at 1:33 p.m.
"These spending cuts are dumb. Who was the stupid SOB who thought this was a good idea? He ought to have his ass kicked from Washington back to Chicago. Oh crap! It was me!!"
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PatWaverly says... March 1, 2013 at 1:37 p.m.
He was for it 'til he was against it
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jetjohn says... March 1, 2013 at 2 p.m.
What a lying man he is!!! After the spending cuts, we save 2 cents out of every dollar! He tries to scare the American people with all his rhetoric!! I have had enough of this freakin' idiot!
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Packman says... March 1, 2013 at 4:32 p.m.
What, a liberal calling cuts in government spending "dumb".... Wow, who would have ever guessed...... And besides, it's not a cut in spending but a REDUCTION in the rate of GROWTH. BH is absolutely facilitating a big, fat lie. The House approved a negotiated bill that he refused to support. Sadly, he's playing a game with the American people for no better reason than he believes it will somehow earn demorats votes in the 2014 election cycle. This guy has the leadership skills of a carnival barker. Are you people who elected him ashamed yet?
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arta says... March 1, 2013 at 10:54 p.m.
I'm amazed all these comments are so dead on with no bs. Funny how the truth can't be disputed by idiots.
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DontDrinkDatKoolAid says... March 2, 2013 at 1:51 a.m.
An other D.C. drama. We could call it "The Waste Wing", staring BHO.
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Jackabbott says... March 2, 2013 at 8:12 a.m.
This is nothing more than a game to these hypocrites. However voters elected the status quo in November and that is what we are seeing and getting. A dysfunctional Congress and a slothful President. The cuts should have been made selectively not across the board.
Giving the potential terrorist in Syria $60 million that they have already belittled in the midst of this debacle is just awful and is an example of a lack of common sense and decency.
Continuing a worthless war in a country whose people hate us is even worse. Yes, it is true that this is the legacy of the Bush years but Obama has to rank just ahead of him in sheer stupidity.
Unless job creation, reforming/adjusting unfair trade deals, applying the anti-trust laws and the immigration laws are applied and enforced we are faced with another 3 plus years of more garbage. If you throw in the 8 years of Bush and the last 2 from Clinton, that is almost 18 years of BS.
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