As negotiations between Senate Democrats and Republicans about a deal to avoid a so-called "fiscal cliff" that could kick the country back into a recession are currently stalled, President Obama appeared on a special episode of Meet the Press to discuss the situation and express his thoughts on why nothing has been set in stone yet with only a day to go before the January 1st deadline. The reason, he said, is because the GOP is behaving as if their "only priority is making sure that tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are protected," as opposed to making sure the deficit is dealt with in a serious manner.
Speaking to Meet the Press host David Gregory, the president explained:
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The president also referenced his track record in the past two years, and added that he decreased the amount of spending by over a trillion dollars, in 2011.
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The president also discussed his thoughts on the country's gun control laws, and expressed his intentions to impliment some changes in his coming term.
After the interview was released, House Speaker John Boehner fired back at President Obama, releasing a statement saying that the president shouldn't "cast blame" on the GOP for the stalled negotiations so late in the game. "The president’s comments today are ironic, as a recurring theme of our negotiations was his unwillingness to agree to anything that would require him to stand up to his own party," Boehner wrote. "We’ve been reasonable and responsible. The president is the one who has never been able to get to 'yes.'"
You can check out Obama's interview above, or head over to NBC News to watch the full Meet the Press episode.
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[via NBC News]
