http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_8449.shtml
Obama's Open Mic Catches Candid Remarks About GOP
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Apr 15, 2011, 18:48 by Greg Stacy
Obama's open mic remarks are causing some controversy this week, but the president says he feels no regrets about them.
On Thursday evening, President Obama met with Democratic donors in Chicago. While he was speaking informally with them at a restaurant, he didn't realize that his remarks were being picked up by a live microphone and fed back to the White House press room for reporters to hear. The microphone had been set up so the press could hear Obama's prepared remarks earlier.
While the mic was on, Obama candidly discussed negotiations with Republicans on the 2011 budget and accused the conservatives of "nickel-and-diming" him as they tried to chip away at healthcare reform.
"You think we're stupid?" Obama said he told the Republicans.
The president said that Congressional Republicans were pushing for cuts for various regulatory and social programs in the budget process, instead of debating their respective merits. He believed this was a policy that the Republicans were planning to repeat in the future.
"We're going to see this on the debt limit vote," Obama predicted. "This is going to be the strategy going forward - trying to do things they can do legislatively under the guise of cutting spending."
While the president reportedly defended federal workers during the conversation, saying they compare favorably to private sector workers, his snarky remarks about some federal workers are bound to get a lot more attention. The president reportedly said that some government workers are "slugs and not trying to do their job" and he complained that White House phones and information technology are poorly maintained.
White House press secretary Jay Carney says the incident was the result of a "miscommunication," and he made it clear that the president doesn't feel any regret for what he said.
"What he said in that session you're talking about and the things he's said in more public forums have been entirely consistent," Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One. "That was meant to be a closed-press event. He was taking questions from supporters. But there's nothing - nothing he said that contradicts anything he said in public."
<hr>
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sed-caught-microphone-ranting-Republican.html
Obama 'not at all' embarrassed after being caught on microphone ranting about Republican opponent
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:12 PM on 16th April 2011
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President Obama was ‘not at all’ embarrassed after he was overheard berating a top Republican opponent on an open microphone, according to a White House aide.
Just a week after telling legislators to ‘act like grown-ups’, Obama was caught slamming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan while at a Chicago fundraiser.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney insisted that the President was not embarrassed and said that the private remarks were consistent with his public message.
Overheard: Obama's Press Secretary said the open microphone incident was a 'miscommunication, nothing more than that'
Overheard: Obama's Press Secretary said the open microphone incident was a 'miscommunication, nothing more than that'
‘There’s nothing he said that contradicts anything he said in public,’ he said. ‘I think what he said in that session you’re talking about and the things that he’s said in more public forums have been entirely consistent.’
The harsh words, caught on microphone, had been described by commentators as an ‘embarrassing setback’ to Obama’s efforts to position himself as the nation’s great conciliator in budget talks.
More...
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In a seemingly private moment, Obama was critical of Congressman Paul Ryan, whom he had praised in public for offering serious attempts to address the deficit.
Describing the high-stakes budget negotiations last week, was heard saying he told Republicans: ‘You want to repeal health care? Go at it. We’ll have that debate.
‘You’re not going to be able to do that by nickel-and-diming me in the budget. You think we’re stupid?’
Harsh words: Obama was caught on an open microphone slamming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, right, while at a Chicago fundraiser
Harsh words: Obama was caught on an open microphone slamming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, right, while at a Chicago fundraiser
Harsh words: Obama was caught on an open microphone slamming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, right, while at a Chicago fundraiser
The off-the-record remarks were broadcast into a press room and recorded by reporters.
‘Paul Ryan says his priority is to make sure he’s just being America’s accountant,’ Obama continued. ‘This is the same guy that voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription-drug bill that cost as much as my health-care bill – but wasn’t paid for.’
Mr Carney said the open microphone incident was a ‘miscommunication, nothing more than that.’
Embarrassing? The comments came just a week after President Obama told legislators in Washington to 'act like grown-ups'
Embarrassing? The comments came just a week after President Obama told legislators in Washington to 'act like grown-ups'
High-stakes: Obama said he told Republicans during budget negotiations, 'You want to repeal health care? Go at it. We'll have that debate'
High-stakes: Obama said he told Republicans during budget negotiations, 'You want to repeal health care? Go at it. We'll have that debate'
‘It’s not a problem, it’s not an issue,’ he said.
In his weekly radio address on Saturday, Obama tried to promote his new 12-year $4 trillion deficit-reduction plan by drawing sharp contrasts with the House Republican budget that he said offers a vision that ‘is wrong for America.’
Obama contended that Republicans want to dismantle venerable safety net programs and cut taxes for the wealthy at the expense of students paying for college and older adults relying on Medicare.
Fundraiser: Obama was promoting his new 12-year $4 trillion deficit-reduction plan at the DNC fundraiser in Chicago
Fundraiser: Obama was promoting his new 12-year $4 trillion deficit-reduction plan at the DNC fundraiser in Chicago
‘To restore fiscal responsibility, we all need to share in the sacrifice - but we don't have to sacrifice the America we believe in,’ he said.
Obama plans to continue his plan's pitch throughout the upcoming week, holding town halls in Virginia, California, and Nevada.
Obama's Open Mic Catches Candid Remarks About GOP
* Email this article
* Print this article
16 Comments and 7 Reactions
Apr 15, 2011, 18:48 by Greg Stacy
Obama's open mic remarks are causing some controversy this week, but the president says he feels no regrets about them.
On Thursday evening, President Obama met with Democratic donors in Chicago. While he was speaking informally with them at a restaurant, he didn't realize that his remarks were being picked up by a live microphone and fed back to the White House press room for reporters to hear. The microphone had been set up so the press could hear Obama's prepared remarks earlier.
While the mic was on, Obama candidly discussed negotiations with Republicans on the 2011 budget and accused the conservatives of "nickel-and-diming" him as they tried to chip away at healthcare reform.
"You think we're stupid?" Obama said he told the Republicans.
The president said that Congressional Republicans were pushing for cuts for various regulatory and social programs in the budget process, instead of debating their respective merits. He believed this was a policy that the Republicans were planning to repeat in the future.
"We're going to see this on the debt limit vote," Obama predicted. "This is going to be the strategy going forward - trying to do things they can do legislatively under the guise of cutting spending."
While the president reportedly defended federal workers during the conversation, saying they compare favorably to private sector workers, his snarky remarks about some federal workers are bound to get a lot more attention. The president reportedly said that some government workers are "slugs and not trying to do their job" and he complained that White House phones and information technology are poorly maintained.
White House press secretary Jay Carney says the incident was the result of a "miscommunication," and he made it clear that the president doesn't feel any regret for what he said.
"What he said in that session you're talking about and the things he's said in more public forums have been entirely consistent," Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One. "That was meant to be a closed-press event. He was taking questions from supporters. But there's nothing - nothing he said that contradicts anything he said in public."
<hr>
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sed-caught-microphone-ranting-Republican.html
Obama 'not at all' embarrassed after being caught on microphone ranting about Republican opponent
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:12 PM on 16th April 2011
* Comments (0)
* Add to My Stories
President Obama was ‘not at all’ embarrassed after he was overheard berating a top Republican opponent on an open microphone, according to a White House aide.
Just a week after telling legislators to ‘act like grown-ups’, Obama was caught slamming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan while at a Chicago fundraiser.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney insisted that the President was not embarrassed and said that the private remarks were consistent with his public message.
Overheard: Obama's Press Secretary said the open microphone incident was a 'miscommunication, nothing more than that'
Overheard: Obama's Press Secretary said the open microphone incident was a 'miscommunication, nothing more than that'
‘There’s nothing he said that contradicts anything he said in public,’ he said. ‘I think what he said in that session you’re talking about and the things that he’s said in more public forums have been entirely consistent.’
The harsh words, caught on microphone, had been described by commentators as an ‘embarrassing setback’ to Obama’s efforts to position himself as the nation’s great conciliator in budget talks.
More...
* Trump puts The Apprentice on hold as he weighs presidential bid after becoming Republican frontrunner
* 'I WAS born in Hawaii...I don't have horns': Obama finally addresses 'birther' issue
In a seemingly private moment, Obama was critical of Congressman Paul Ryan, whom he had praised in public for offering serious attempts to address the deficit.
Describing the high-stakes budget negotiations last week, was heard saying he told Republicans: ‘You want to repeal health care? Go at it. We’ll have that debate.
‘You’re not going to be able to do that by nickel-and-diming me in the budget. You think we’re stupid?’
Harsh words: Obama was caught on an open microphone slamming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, right, while at a Chicago fundraiser
Harsh words: Obama was caught on an open microphone slamming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, right, while at a Chicago fundraiser
Harsh words: Obama was caught on an open microphone slamming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, right, while at a Chicago fundraiser
The off-the-record remarks were broadcast into a press room and recorded by reporters.
‘Paul Ryan says his priority is to make sure he’s just being America’s accountant,’ Obama continued. ‘This is the same guy that voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription-drug bill that cost as much as my health-care bill – but wasn’t paid for.’
Mr Carney said the open microphone incident was a ‘miscommunication, nothing more than that.’
Embarrassing? The comments came just a week after President Obama told legislators in Washington to 'act like grown-ups'
Embarrassing? The comments came just a week after President Obama told legislators in Washington to 'act like grown-ups'
High-stakes: Obama said he told Republicans during budget negotiations, 'You want to repeal health care? Go at it. We'll have that debate'
High-stakes: Obama said he told Republicans during budget negotiations, 'You want to repeal health care? Go at it. We'll have that debate'
‘It’s not a problem, it’s not an issue,’ he said.
In his weekly radio address on Saturday, Obama tried to promote his new 12-year $4 trillion deficit-reduction plan by drawing sharp contrasts with the House Republican budget that he said offers a vision that ‘is wrong for America.’
Obama contended that Republicans want to dismantle venerable safety net programs and cut taxes for the wealthy at the expense of students paying for college and older adults relying on Medicare.
Fundraiser: Obama was promoting his new 12-year $4 trillion deficit-reduction plan at the DNC fundraiser in Chicago
Fundraiser: Obama was promoting his new 12-year $4 trillion deficit-reduction plan at the DNC fundraiser in Chicago
‘To restore fiscal responsibility, we all need to share in the sacrifice - but we don't have to sacrifice the America we believe in,’ he said.
Obama plans to continue his plan's pitch throughout the upcoming week, holding town halls in Virginia, California, and Nevada.
