The President gave a news conference today where he made a statement and took no questions. He was flanked by those who mattered, first responders as opposed to a flurry of Washington types that so far have accomplished little.
The news conference was about the impending sequester where draconian cuts would be made to several social programs and arbitrary cuts to the military. The President statement to the Republicans was simple, stark, and strong.
President Obama:
The Republicans in Congress face a simple choice. Are they willing to compromise to protect vital investments in education, healthcare, national security, and all the jobs that depend on them. – Or would they rather put hundreds of thousands of jobs and our entire economy at risk just to protect a few special interest tax loopholes that benefit only the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations.
The President’s message was short and succinct:
- If the sequester goes into effect in March, $85 billion will go into effect immediately.
- Cuts will be a self inflicting wound that depresses the economy.
- Cuts will include furloughed FBI agents and reduction in funds for police and fire personnel.
- Cuts will include the lay off of thousands of teachers.
- Head Start will be cut.
- Homeland Security cuts will cause severe delays at airports.
- A carrier group scheduled for the Persian Gulf will not be deployed.
The President said he will not sign any bill that consists solely of cuts that affect poor and middle class Americans while leaving budget busting loopholes that benefit mostly the wealthy untouched. The President suggested that Republicans should compromise and support a proposal by Senate Democrats that follows a balanced approach. The proposal raises revenues by plugging some tax loopholes used by the oil and natural gas industries, businesses that have sent jobs overseas, and by taxing millionaires at a rate of at least 30%. The President did not take any questions from the mainstream media following his statement. He apparently has learned that the mainstream media as opposed to asking real probative questions have simply become hacks for a corporatocracy intent on misinforming the masses.
