I like this. President Obama came out during the press briefing by Jay Carney and commented on the House Republicans voting down the Senate's bipartisan compromise:
“This is not poker, this is not a game for the millions of Americans who will take a hit because the economy grows more slowly,” the president said.
TPM
The House Republicans just bought any downturn in the economy. And any slowness in the upturn is theirs also.
Obama said, “The clock is ticking. Time is running out.”
The president said House Republicans are trying to “wring concessions” from Democrats on issues that “have nothing to do with the payroll tax cut.”
Obama says lawmakers owe it to the American people “to come together and do the right thing.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Update I: From Greg Sargent, more of the statement by President Obama:
House Republicans say they don’t dispute the need for a payroll tax cut. What they are holding out for is to ring concessions from Democrats on issues that have nothing to do with the payroll tax cut — issues where the parties fundamentally disagree. A one year deal is not the issue...
The clock is ticking. Time is running out. And if the House Republicans refuse to vote for the Senate bill, or even allow it to come up for a vote, taxes will go up in 11 days.
I saw today that one of the House Republicans referred to what they’re doing as “high stakes poker.” He’s right about the stakes. But this is not poker....This is not a game for the average family who doesn’t have 1,000 bucks to lose. It’s not a game for somebody who’s out there looking for work right now, and might lose his house if unemployment insurance doesn’t come through. It’s not a game when the millions of Americans take a hit when the entire economy grows more slowly because these proposals aren’t extended...
I’m calling on the Speaker and the House Republican leadership to bring up the Senate bill for a vote. Give the American people the assurance they need in this holiday season
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
I love it when President Obama "kicks ass and takes names."
Update II: You can watch the entire statement by President Obama here (first you get a 30 second commercial)
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/...
Update III: Hat tip to zizi who put this You Tube in the comments.
Update IV: Jed has the full transcript of the President's remarks in his front page post.
http://www.dailykos.com/...