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Obama’s Surprise Presser: Debt Limit Has Nothing to Do With New Spending, Won’t Negotiate ‘With a Gun at The Head of The American People’

Jan. 14, 2013 11:51am Becket Adams

Editor’s note: Besides addressing the debt limit, Obama also addressed gun legislation. You can see our separate story on that here.

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President Barack Obama during a surprise press conference Monday explained that raising the debt ceiling “does not authorize Congress to spend more” but merely allows “America to pay its bills.”

“We’re not a deadbeat nation,” the president stressed. “Congress authorizes us to pay our bills.”

The president also said that if Congress wants to give him the power to raise debt ceiling, “I’m happy to take it.”

He said Congress has two choices: Either raise the debt ceiling or give him the authority to do so. Either way, the president seemed to say, the limit will be increased.

“I will not have that conversation with a gun at the head of the American people,” the president said, referring to his commitment to avoid another debt ceiling fight. “We have to break the habit of negotiating through crisis over and over again.”

“[Republican leaders] will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy,” he added. “The full faith and credit of the United States of America is not a bargaining chip.”

However, it’s no secret that during his time as state senator, the president voted against similar increases to the debt limit. And much to the president’s apparent irritation, CBS News’ Major Garret noted this detail during the presser.

“As you well know, sir, finding votes for the debt ceiling can sometimes be complicated. You yourselves as a member of the Senate voted against a debt ceiling increase,” said Garrett. “You yourself four times have done that; three times those were related to deficit reduction or budget maneuvers.”

“I think many people are curious about is this new adamant desire on your part not to negotiate when that seems to conflict with the entire history in the modern era of American presidents in the debt ceiling and your own history on the debt ceiling,” he added.

The president responded:

Well, no, Major. I think if you look at the history, getting votes for the debt ceiling is always difficult and budgets in this town are always difficult. I went through this just last year. But what’s different is we never saw a situation as we saw last year in which certain groups in Congress took such an absolutist position that we came within a few days of defaulting.

And, you know, the fact of the matter is, is that we have never seen the debt ceiling used in this fashion, where the notion was, you know what, we might default unless we get 100 percent of what we want. That hasn’t happened.

[...]

This is the United States of America, Major. Why — what — we can’t manage our affairs in such a way that we pay our bills? And we provide some certainty in terms of how we pay our bills? Look I — I don’t — I don’t think anybody would consider my position unreasonable here. The — I have…

Watch the exchange here:

And Garrett is correct: Obama used to oppose increases to the nation’s debt limit. In fact, in 2006, then-Sen. Obama said this: “America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit.”

However, by 2011, the president’s stance on the debt ceiling had “evolved.”

“You’ve got to extend the debt limit by May. And your job is a lot tougher because of your vote in the Senate against extending the debt limit. When did you realize that vote was a mistake?” ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos asked in an interview.

The president responded [emphasis added]:

I think that it’s important to understand the vantage point of a senator versus the vantage point of a president. When you’re a senator, traditionally what’s happened is, this is always a lousy vote. Nobody likes to be tagged as having increased the debt limit – for the United States by a trillion dollars.

As president, you start realizing, you know what, we, we can’t play around with this stuff. This is the full faith and credit of the United States. And so that was just an example of a new senator making what is a political vote as opposed to doing what was important for the country. And I’m the first one to acknowledge it.

The majority of Monday’s surprise presser focused on the president’s promise to avoid a default.

“It would be a self-inflicted wound on the economy,” said President Obama. “It would slow down our growth and tip us into recession. To even entertain the idea of this happening is irresponsible. It’s absurd.”

He added: “America cannot afford another debate with this Congress about whether or not they should pay the bills they’ve already racked up.”

Along with other bills he signed earlier in his first term, the president said he and Congress have “reduced deficits by about $2.5 trillion over a decade,” as the Associated Press notes, which, of course, is less than the $4 trillion he said is necessary to get them down to “a manageable size.”

The president also promised 2013 would be a good year for the U.S. economy:

Obama: ‘Our economy is growing…we are poised for a good year.’

— Byron York (@ByronYork) January 14, 2013

UPDATE: The Republican response to the final presser of the president’s first term was swift, definitive, and predictable.

From Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise:

President Obama seems to be the only person in Washington who threatens default on America’s debt obligations.

The President has an obligation to preserve the credit rating of the United States, and hitting the debt ceiling does not immediately trigger a default unless his administration fails to do its job and prioritize our debt payments. Default is not an option unless President Obama and his administration choose it to be.

The root of our economic problem is out of control spending. Until Washington stops spending money it doesn’t have, America will continue down the path towards insolvency paved by Greece. President Obama continues to run trillion dollar deficits as far as the eye can see. We can’t continue borrowing money from China as we rack up more debt and send the bill to our children and grandchildren. The federal government has a spending problem and the only remedy is to control spending.

From House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio):

The American people do not support raising the debt ceiling without reducing government spending at the same time. The consequences of failing to increase the debt ceiling are real, but so too are the consequences of allowing our spending problem to go unresolved.

Without meaningful action, the debt will continue to act as an anchor on our economy, costing American jobs and endangering our children’s future.

The House will do its job and pass responsible legislation that controls spending, meets our nation’s obligations and keeps the government running, and we will insist that the Democratic majority in Washington do the same.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Featured image courtesy @dorseyshaw.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (411)

TimmyWin
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:15pm
“America cannot afford another debate with this Congress about whether or not they should pay the bills they’ve already racked up.”

Wow!!! HIS spending is their fault? Unbelievable. God help us!

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- barber2
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 5:43pm
  Remember the Blame Game ? He won his first election on Blame Bush. His second on Blame the Rich. And now it’s Blame Congress. These radicals are liars . And they have the MSM in their pocket which is how they evade the scrutiny they so richly deserve.
  
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Garry Sills
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:14pm
A Civil War is brewing in this Country! Get you guns ready! They are coming to take them from you !

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darkeningskies
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:13pm
Yes, we are not a ‘deadbeat’ Nation

We just have a deadbeat president with little deadbeat minions swarming around him

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Frodo RinosBane
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:13pm
Chalk up on more false choice from the Great Usurper.

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rickroland
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:12pm
I quote from the article:

Along with other bills he signed earlier in the term, the president said he and Congress have “reduced deficits by about $2.5 trillion over a decade,” as the Associated Press notes, which, of course, is less than the $4 trillion he said is necessary to get them down to “a manageable size.”
—–
“Reduced deficits”? Huh, when did that happen? We have had four years *in a row* of trillion plus deficits under this clown. Projecting *future* deficit reduction, particularly when the CBO reports that the recent “fiscal cliff” deal will add an additional 4 plus trillion over the next decade, means that this President is (I know, nothing new here) a bald-faced lying sack.

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Topcat
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:12pm
President Barack Obama argued that raising the debt ceiling “does not authorize Congress to spend more” but merely allows “America to pay its bills.” This is a true statement by Obama , and under our Constitution Congress is mandated to pay at least the interest on our debt , without fail . So now lets look at some facts , instead of Obamas doubletalk.
Our debt is now 103% of GDP , meaning what we owe is more than every source of income , we take in in a year. The magic safe number is 80% .
The interest on the debt ( Obama Bills ) is now 25% of GDP , during Bush pre Obama it was 8.7% . This means that after Congress pays the interest on our debt , there is still 75% of the money taken in to cover the rest of our countries expenses .
I have read that SS trust has over $1 Trillion in it and is solvent till 2026 , so I dont want to hear how Obama is going to take that money and spend it . The problem lumped into SS is Medicaid which is totally corrupt and needs to be fixed. Obamacare taking $800Billion from Medicare trust , didnt help that either, but because it has a continual source of revenue it is sustainable.
So if we dont have to worry about the debt , SS , Medicare , that leaves defense 3.6% of GDP and the rest of the 75% of available GDP is Obamas big government , that he has spent $1.4 Trillion more than that 75% , every year in office .
Now who has the spending problem MR President , certainly not Congress ,

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lynnissmart
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:11pm
Vomit! Blaze – don’t show any pictures of the pos….makes me sicka to my stomacha!

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barber2
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:11pm
Obama and the Democrats. The same crew that pushed the Affordable ( wink, wink ) Housing Act. The same crew which then forced banks to give home loans to ” poor minorities.” The same crew that pushed through the Affordable ( wink, wink ) HealthAct which claims that insurance companies can be forced to provide health care for EVERYONE at no additional cost ! The same crew that is now going to collapse our economy by totally blowing up our capitalist economy. Oh, the international , anti-capitalist OWS organization and our domestic terrorist, Bill Ayers, must be so pleased. Move over, Europe. A destroyed American economy will soon be joining you…

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mrunner
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:09pm
Preemptive strike on Rat Bastard Obama’s part. He knows his policies have resulted in a lousy business climate and we are headed into another “official” ressesion. Placing the blame for it before it occurs. His only plan since he took office has been his plan to place blame and divide…

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jackact
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:09pm
What complete idiot would continue to believe the lies that pour from the empty suits mouth?
….47% and climbing.
:(

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girlnurse
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:07pm
Did the “worst president in history” just say something??? I wouldn’t know. Once I have proof someone is an out and out pathological liar, I no longer listen to a word they say. It is a waste of time. Weren’t we just talking about this debt ceiling thing not too long ago? As I recall it was a big fiasco and lamestream media and DC had a big time with a fake circus show on the house floor for all the sheeple who still believe this farse of a banana republik. And Faux news talking heads gabbed and gabbed about it and flashed “SPECIAL REPORT” with the scary musak. Seriously, is this groundhog day? Or is this really happening AGAIN? It seems amerikans are now insane and most of us know what the definition of insanity is, but for those that don’t:

The definition of insanity is: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

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- ChiefGeorge
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 5:17pm
  I would not compare him to some casual acquaintance who let you down….stay involved and keep hearing the lies, you will need to know this to convince others of his falsehoods with his own words. We cannot write Dear Leader off because he lies….we have to ask ourselves what is the purpose of his lies, what is the end game.
  
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- girlnurse
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 6:00pm
  We both know full well what the end game is George and so does 90% of the people here on the Blaze. The question I keep coming back to is what the heck are we gonna do about it? Wait until he has all his ducks in a row and keep sitting here watching him run the ball? Or maybe we will wait till he disarms us? At least if that happens we’ll know its over.
  
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Uechi
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:04pm
Business as usual,lying Marxist piece of filth = the Black Messiah

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tothepoint
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:04pm
Blah Blah Blah
Lie Lie Lie
Blah Blah Blah
It’s Bush’s fault
I didn’t do it
Lie Lie Lie…

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dave88
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:04pm
Its a waste of time trying to negotiate with Obama. Just pass the spending cuts and let him deal with it.

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rickroland
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:04pm
*Any* delay in Social Security or other checks is totally and completely at the discretion of the President in this matter, should the debt limit not be raised. We have more than enough Federal tax money coming in every month to pay the interest on the debt *and* pay for other Federal government functions. Instead of cutting Federal government, or closing down portions or aspects of it, selling Federal property or real estate (all of which the President has the power to do), *he* threatens Social Security recipients and others depending on Federal government checks. It is completely *his* decision if this is what happens, and if so, he needs to be politically raked over the coals for such asinine behavior. Obama is now the quintessential example of the absolute worst in politicians.

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- girlnurse
  Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:15pm
  Did’nt he just give federal employees a raise?? Seems you wouldn’t do that if there was a money crisis…
  http://www.teaparty.org/obama-gives-congress-federal-workers-a-raise-17868/
  
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thegreatcarnac
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:03pm
The little bast**d spent money like there was no tomorrow…, has bankrupted us, has caused our credit rating to fall to AA from AAA, and is stealing money from those who work to pay the trash who voted for him,..and he has the nerve to say he wants our debt ceiling raised so we can pay our bills; and,….he is blaming congress for it. Then ….he refuses to make spending cuts. Now he says raising the debt ceiling does not need spending cuts. NO ONE can be that STUPID. He is PURPOSELY ruining us. Get his azz out of the WHite house….he is a traitor. Impeach him.

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huey6367
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:02pm
What a great leader. What a great uniter. Obama – dictator for life. Gotta love this guy. (I hope you are reading this as sarcasm). Flippin’ idiot.

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OKNative
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:00pm
If President Obama does NOT want to negotiate, then the Republicans should NOT raise the debt ceiling. As simple as that!

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yiska8
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:57pm
AGAIN, with the “gun to the head”, the GOP are terrorists BS! I loathe this lying, shuckin’ and jivin’ little Kenyan puppet. 2013 is the year of turnaround? Oh yeah, another “manufactured” one built on inflated money, inflated image, and elitist grandeur. Just more room for the top elitists who bought this Presidency to play with the stock market, rig more sporting events, play around with Big Pharma, start more wars,and make it all look like it’s an American Boom for 2013!!!! Lies are breaking this once great nation and falsehoods will bring it down.
Remember Benghazi.
Remember 40 million American lives taken in abortion clinics by American santioned law.

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getourcountryback
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:57pm
Hey mr civility, you better tone down that inflamatory rhetoric! You are going to be responsible for any violence that crops up because of this you POS president.

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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:57pm
( Obozo ) “Won’t Negotiate ‘With a gun at The Head of The American People”…………………………….

And in other News; Michael Moore has sworn off Pizza…………………………………RIGHT.

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barber2
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:56pm
How can anyone doubt this man’s agenda ?? He does have a ” gun at the head of the American people.” And that gun is marked “property of the Chicago radical, anti-capitalists .” If someone doesn’t stop this phony Blame the Republicans conversation, we are doomed. And with the Soros-funded MSM outlets parroting the Marxist double-talk, it will take a miracle to educate the naive America public to what these Marxist drones are planning for our economy. Collapse . Then they, who are orchestrating all of this over-spending, will Blame Capitalism !

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ForMyKidsVA
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:55pm
I just can’t care any longer. All I can do is shake my head and prepare my family. It will all come down because that is the only way out of this mess. I just hope it does it soon because I’m ready to start rebuilding this great country.

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i have black immunity
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:55pm
Why do Oweblamer and his minions despise young helpless Innocent American children so much? Oweblamer’s $ 1 Trillion dollar budget deficits divided by the number of minutes in a year (525,600) = $ 1,902,587.52 in more national debt for every minute, of every week, of every month for the entire year. And yet this is totally acceptable to the Fleabaggers Party aka Democrats. Oweblamer has no problem with passing on this debt to our American children and grandchildren. Why do Democrats hate children so much? Can you Democrats do division and multiplication? I think not! You’re too focused on hating little children! Why? What have little children done to you Bronco Bama to cause you to disdain them?

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NOBALONEY
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:53pm
CORRECTION: Obama blames Bush, and GOP for “Not paying our bills” 2009 with the 1.75 billion dollar deficit. Nothing about then Speaker Pelosi and her “Paygo”. Obama wont stop until the GOP is RIP! Congress is in control by Dems, and Rinos. The passage of the “Cliff” spending bill after Boehner’s “Plan B” failure was a prelude to Obama’s second term. It’s all over. but the shouting!

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