Obama on payroll tax cut: "Enough is enough"

President Obama on Thursday continued his campaign on behalf of a short-term extension of the payroll tax cut, blasting House Republicans for holding up a Senate-passed bill and wondering, "Has this place become so dysfunctional that even when people agree to things we can't do it?"

"It doesn't make any sense," he told reporters in a press conference. "Enough is enough."

House Republicans argue that the Senate bill - which was negotiated in a bipartisan effort by leaders Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Harry Reid, D-Nev., and which sailed through the chamber last weekend with broad bipartisan support - is a short-term fix for a long-term problem.

On Thursday, Boehner was sticking to his guns even while fellow Republican McConnell urged House lawmakers to pass the Senate bill.

"Everybody has already agreed that the best policy is a one-year extension," Boehner told reporters on Capitol Hill. The speaker has instead called on Democrats to appoint lawmakers to work with the Republicans to hammer out differences between a House bill and the Senate bill.

Mr. Obama pointed to House Republicans' refusal to yield as an exemplification of Washington's problems.

"What's happening right now is exactly why people just get so frustrated with Washington. This is it. This is exactly why people get so frustrated with Washington," he said. "This isn't a typical Democrat versus Republican issue. This is an issue where an overwhelming number of people in both parties agree. How can we not get that done?"

"This is not just my view," said Mr. Obama. "Just a few hours ago this is exactly what the Republican leader of the Senate said we should do. Democrats agree with the Republican leader of the Senate, we should go ahead and get this done."

McConnell is not the only prominent Republican to call on Boehner to change tacks. Karl Rove, an outspoken conservative and former adviser to President George W. Bush, said Wednesday that House Republicans "have lost the optics on" the issue and that "the question now is how do the Republicans get out of it."

Mr. Obama, in his remarks, called on Republicans to get this done "sooner rather than later."

"This should not be hard," he said. "We all agree it should happen. I believe it's going to happen sooner or later. Why not make it sooner rather than later? Let's give the American people, the people who sent us here, the kind of leadership they deserve."

[RobAla]

I don't want to hear more lectures from President Obama about tax money. He and his family are burning through $4,000,000 tax dollars as they live it up in Hawaii. Extravagance on the public's dime has been a continual practice by this man.

The left leaning media has already begun beating up on Republicans, and ignoring President Obama. The media concentrates on Romney not releasing tax returns (which he does not have to do legally), and ignores the fact that the Obama family is burning through $4 million of American tax dollars to live it up in Hawaii.

I remember President Carter turning down the heat and wearing sweaters in the WH during times of economic tough times. The press complained about President Bush vacationing in his own ranch in Texas. Yet, the Obamas burn thorough $millions of tax payer money going on extravagant vacations and throwing expensive parties. The media makes them out to be "of the people". The media concentrates on a stupid 2 month bill and ignores the wild waste of the Obamas.

In 2008, the media ignored President Obamas relationship with Bill Ayers (a member of the domestic terrorist group the Weathermen in the 1960s, who bombed police stations) and President Obamas 20 year membership in a wacky and racist church run by Rev. Wright. The media continues to ignore the failed policies of President Obama.

Whoever wins the nomination of the Republican party will be fighting an up hill battle with the left leaning press. It will not be an even playing field. I have heard enough lectures from President Obama to last me a lifetime. I am ready for a new President.

[DebbieCorona]

Rove makes a statement because he's behind Romney and this fiasco hurts the campaign for the new Bush regime puppet.

[Lou239]

Dear President in answer to your question of "Has this place become so dysfunctional that even when people agree to things we can't do it?" Your attempts as so called leadership is what is DYSFUNCTIONAL!

If only some Germans stepped up to the dysfunctional planning of Hitler millions might have been saved. So when you and Reid plan to defer $121 Billion in needed revenue from today's Social Security funding - it is clear who has dysfunctional thinking!

So please tell the public how and when you will recover the missing $121 Billion funding of social security?

Reid and Obama certainly have the dumb and dumber rolls down quite well!

Lou239

[djseavy]

The entire government is dysfunctional and has been for many years. They refuse to do anything that doesn't include their ear marks and pet projects. It isn't just Obama that's messed up - it's the entire system.

[noloyalisti]

No enough is the minds of the Top 1% and the Republiclowns who they own and run is when they have absolute power. When everyone has to go by all the communist good from Mall Wart and the entire population are poor worker slaves for the billionaire corporates.

That's when enough will be enough.

[occupy_cbs]

Too funny......speaker boner caves!

[slatep]

Yes; Washington has become so dysfunctional; they can accomplish nothing.

In fact; they have become dysfunctional they haven't been able to accomplish anything major for the last three years with the exception of passing the abominable Obamacare bill.

Boehner is largely responsible for this do-nothing Congress.

Every time a major bill has come up for passage; Boehner has tied things up by insisting that some unpopular program be included.

This is BLACKMAIL; pure and simple.

The only way Congress is ever going to accomplish ANYTHING is if Boehner goes.

The Republican National Committee ousted Gingrich as head of the committee.

They need to get their act together and get rid of Boehner.

[Stopinstigating]

If you'd put down your talking points and do the math, you'd realize that Speaker Boehner was trying to get you, me, and anyone else paying that payroll tax the FULL YEAR'S WORTH of tax cuts the President had asked for to begin with. That works out to $1,040 ($40 per the President's example for each of 26 bi-weekly paychecks) we should've received had the Senate done as the President requested.

But what did we get instead?

We got a tax cut good for only TWO MONTHS or $160 and a "thank you" from the Obama 2012 campaign!

But while you gloat, some of us were wondering what you and other Obama supporters intend to do about the $880 we WON'T be getting! Or should we just consider it a "donation" to his campaign? An expensive "talking point", perhaps?

Once again, the Progressive left trots us out for "Show 'N Tell" to score their political points while leaving us thinking we're better off for it!

What you call "blackmail" I call Boehner doing what he can to help some of us keep more of what we've EARNED.

[noloyalisti]

So does Obama realize the only purpose of the Top 1% (aka the Republiclowns) is to get rid of him for 2012? Does everyone realize the Clowns would do ANYTHING, including destroying America, to get what they want?

[occupy_cbs]

Founders1792: "Bigoted Marxist Democrats at it again."




Flounders is flopping again, only here to make personal attacks on others, while singing the praises of caribou barbi, another in the long line of republican wannabes but without the intelligence!

[eric_rial]

We have a huge spending deficit. No wonder. Both parties agree that the most important thing to do is lower taxes!

[occupy_cbs]

Hey eric, too bad you're economically-challenged, since we have huge budget deficits from years of poor federal revenue due to the lowest taxes in 60 years, coupled with increased spending since 2000.

To balance the federal budget, we will need to work both sides of the equation, or it will NEVER be balanced!