Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
July 9, 2011
Washington, DC
Earlier this week, we did something that’s never been done here at the White House – we had a Twitter Town Hall.
Dude, there’s a really good reason that’s never been done before. Ahh, I mean other than the fact that no President has been President when Twitter was around. It’s because Twitter Town Halls are for Lindsey Lohan, Beonce and Advice On #IWouldNeverStandForThatKindaNonsense.
Serious dude, Twitter Town Halls in the White House?
I even sent my first live tweet as President.
This is the thing a 7 year old says. Not a President of the United States of America.
You are not running for American Idol.
The questions at the town hall were sent in from across the country and covered all kinds of topics – from jobs and the economy to education and energy.
Lots of people also submitted different versions of another question. They’d start by saying that our politics has grown so contentious.
I wonder who they’re talking about Mr. #NotSoContentious man?
Then they’d ask, When will both parties in Congress come together on behalf of the people who elected them?
That’s a really important question, and it goes to the heart of a debate we’re having right now in this country – and that’s the debate about how to tackle the problem of our deficits and our debt.
Now, there are obviously real differences in approach. I believe we need a balanced approach. That means taking on spending in our domestic programs and our defense programs. It means addressing the challenges in programs like Medicare so we can strengthen those programs and protect them for future generations. And it means taking on spending in the tax code – spending on tax breaks
Have I told you how much I enjoy that?
and deductions for the wealthiest Americans.
But I also know that Republicans and Democrats don’t see eye to eye on a number of issues. And so, we’re going to continue working over the weekend to bridge those gaps.
The good news is, we agree on some of the big things. We agree that after a decade of racking up deficits and debt,
Dubya. You still can’t let go of that whole “partisan game-playing in Washington” thing, can ya?
we finally need to get our fiscal house in order. We agree that to do that, both sides are going to have to step outside their comfort zones and make some political sacrifices. And we agree that we simply cannot afford to default on our national obligations for the first time in our history; that we need to uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of America
Do you know that even if we don’t extend the debt limit we won’t default?
With a recovery that’s still fragile and isn’t producing all the jobs we need, the last thing we can afford is the usual partisan game-playing in Washington.
See?
Mr. President, with all due respect, I would submit that you are the last person, in Washington, to suggest that we should set aside the “usual partisan game-playing in Washington” bit. I mean, do you remember the whole “we won” thing? Yeah…..I do.
By getting our fiscal house in order, Congress will be in a stronger position to focus on some of the job-creating measures I’ve already proposed
Nice deek. Congress.
Oh, and I really like the whole “job-creating measures I’ve already proposed” bit. Well played.
– like putting people to work rebuilding America’s infrastructure,
Huh? We can do that now. The monies we take in for roads and bridges can cover the repairs to our roads and bridges. We just aren’t spending it on roads and bridges.
or reforming our patent system so that our innovators and entrepreneurs have a greater incentive to generate new products,
Yeah…patents. THAT’S what’s holding us back!
or making college more affordable for families.
College s the next bubble. Watch.
And businesses that may be holding back because of the uncertainty surrounding the possibility of a default by the U.S. government will have greater confidence to invest and create jobs.
No.
No. Business is not holding back due to uncertainty surrounding default. You got the uncertainty right, but you missed the whole “why” part.
I know we can do this. We can meet our fiscal challenge. That’s what the American people sent us here to do. They didn’t send us here to kick our problems down the road. That’s exactly what they don’t like about Washington. They sent us here to work together. They sent us here to get things done.
Right now, we have an extraordinary – and extraordinarily rare – opportunity to move forward in a way that makes sure our government lives within its means,
What ARE you talking about? We have this opportunity virtually every day. Just quit spending so much frackin’ money!
that puts our economy on a sounder footing for the future, and that still invests in the things we need to prosper in the years to come.
And I’m hopeful that we will rise to the moment, and seize this opportunity, on behalf of all Americans, and the future we hold in common. Thanks everyone, and have a great weekend.