Obama Open-Mic Slip: President Reveals Details On Budget Deal Talks (AUDIO)

President Barack Obama was caught on an open mic making some blunt and intriguing remarks about the actions of Republicans in recent budget negotiations that produced a deal to avert a government shutdown at a fundraiser in Chicago on Thursday, CBS News reports.

In audio relayed by the network, the president can be heard addressing unsuccessful Republican maneuvering to roll back portions of health care reform, as well as restrict Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding, in reaching an agreement.

"I said, 'You want to repeal health care?'" Obama revealed at the private event. "Go at it. We'll have that debate. You're not going to be able to do that by nickel-and-diming me in the budget. You think we're stupid?'"

Ultimately, the resolutions pushed by Republicans targeting what may be the president's most significant legislative accomplishment to date and the women's health service provider failed to advance with the larger budget deal.

"Put it in a separate bill," the president said he told House Speaker John Boehner and members of his staff. "We'll call it up. And if you think you can overturn my veto, try it. But don't try to sneak this through."

CBS Radio News White House correspondent Mark Knoller heard Obama's remarks, which the president perhaps did not realize were being relayed by the microphone he was using to the White House press room on an audio feed.

LISTEN:

Comments

[Ralph Young]

04:33 AM on 04/22/2011

I'm relieved that we're hearing this audio from the president. In all actuality it's wants we want to hear from him, standing up for his policies and calling the GOP out when necessary. Everyone needs to quit acting as though Boehner and the rest of the GOP are 12 year olds and this is going to make them go home and cry.

[oftenon]

05:23 PM on 04/19/2011

Shocking! Off-the-record civility! Caught red-handed being even-handed! Apprehended in the act of competent governing!

[dennisrs]

12:24 PM on 04/20/2011

Wonder when CBS will release the full audio they have?

[sinnerG7]

12:15 PM on 04/19/2011

I wish they "accidentally" leave his mic on all the time.There nothing Bully's fear more than having their bluff called.Call them out Barrack then take to the hoop!

[kenahs77]

01:52 AM on 04/19/2011

I have always thought the president can run intellectual circles around the republicans and most people any day, I think this was a calculated move. Good luck Mr. President, I am on board for 2012! Stand strong! Do not cave to the hypocritical, deceitful, republicans.

[ts400]

11:09 PM on 04/18/2011

Do you all realize that for the first time in our history as a Nation, we are in danger of losing our impeccable AAA financial rating.

Obama's proposed budget-HIS budget- slams America with an additional $7 TRILLION in new unsustainable debt?


Is another $7 TRILLION in debt a good thing?

Or a bad thing?

Have fiscal conservatives been in charge of Congress for the past four years now?

Or have spendthrift liberal Democrats with their "Porker-R-Us" government largesse spending been in charge?

Whose been in charge?

Do you not understand nor appreciate the financial inplications of what a downgrade and loss of our AAA ratings will mean?

[ChasG]

12:04 AM on 04/19/2011

Your suggestion that a liberal congress is responsible for our deficits is a myopic view, either uninformed, mis-informed, or misinforming.  The burst of the housing bubble and the resultant recession and several millions of jobs lost have caused the deficit to jump, as have our military misadventures, and our structural deficits in valuable but under-funded social programs. 
 
S&P downgraded the US dollar today.  Meanwhile, in currency markets, the dollar value rose as the world markets shrugged off the downgrade.
 
S&P is notoriously late to the party with downgrades and upgrades.

[ts400]

02:16 AM on 04/19/2011

Your ignorance is not bliss.

[logicdog]

12:26 AM on 04/19/2011

In case you weren't paying attention, and you clearly weren't, a totally Republican administration spent funds like a drunken sailor for 6 years, and then got us involved in two monumentally expensive (in both blood and treasure) POINTLESS wars, which are still going on ad infinitum. We've spent trillions on both of those wars, FOR NOTHING.

Does that ring a bell? Or do you only hear neocon talking points these days?

And it's "who's", not "whose". By all means, cut education spending too, it obviously hasn't done you much good. . .

[ts400]

12:51 AM on 04/19/2011

Are you always so silly?

Whose focused on spelling- when it comes to substance over form?

Everyone knows it's who's not whose-why state the obvious?

Or did this provide you with a moment (perhaps a nanosecond) of psuedo intellectual superiority? Too silly? Or just plain too small?

The Bush and Republican years of spending money like drunken sailors?

Do you always steal my lines?

Yet isn't it telling that Obama and Democrats have revealed that they can be such utter spendthrifts, that now Bush and Company look sober by comparison?

[bubbalicious87616]

09:13 PM on 04/18/2011

Too bad this had to be a slip up. I've been waiting for this Obama for two years. Embrace it Mr. President. Embrace it often!

[pinkladee]

11:57 PM on 04/18/2011

AMEN!!!

[ChasG]

12:08 AM on 04/19/2011

My guess is he has always felt this way, and this was likely a calculated "slip" intended to let doubters know.  If the voters who abandoned the Dems in 2010 come back and just vote D in 2012, we stand a pretty good chance of substantially increasing and improving upon the 173 promises Obama kept (41 with compromise) in his first two years in office.

[logicdog]

12:28 AM on 04/19/2011

173 promises? Is there a list somewhere? I could use some encouragement heading into 2012. . .

[General Public]

08:25 PM on 04/18/2011

OK, so among us progressives, we've been complaining that Barack Obama hasn't been standing up to the Republicans and has been giving them everything they want in negotiations, in the name of "compromise". And then this audio recording comes out. And it has very good audio quality and there isn't anything controversial about what he is saying, supposedly behind closed doors, here. He's actually making what seems like a convincing case that he's actually a very good negotiator, and he also belittles Republicans, which us progressives love to hear. In fact, it's actually a really good sound bite... almost TOO good... almost like it was DELIBERATELY leaked to the press... but no president would ever deliberately leak things to the press to make himself look good... that is too farfetched. I am kidding of course, clearly he leaked this on purpose... I am glad to see him trying to reach out to us progressives, but we are not gullible enough to believe this recording was released by accident or against Obama's will. If this is Obama's way of reaching out to progressives to tell us he's on our side, well hey thanks buddy, but could you be more open in your embrace of us progressives instead of just leaking stuff to try to win us all over? Anyway, whoever planned this little leak was a genius, but I don't think it'll work again if any more audio leaks "accidentally" come out, similarly being on-message.

[ts400]

11:12 PM on 04/18/2011

Given last week's Gallup and Zogby polls, is it true that he is leaking to an ever-diminishing and skeptical audience?

[ChasG]

12:15 AM on 04/19/2011

You are probably correct that this "leak" was intentional, but not just to soothe progressives.  It sends a message to the GOP when the public can clearly see the tangible results of letting GOP back in power, especially the ultra-right libertarians like Ryan.
 
I do not expect Obama to suddenly stop leading this country from the center; he's a true "uniter," not a "divider."  And compromise is, after all, the essence of democracy. 
 
I have also watched Obama play the political "long game" like a seasoned pro, much to my surprise.  I didn't vote for him in the primaries because I thought he lacked the necessary experience, but his 173 accomplishments in two years (41 compromised) has been a pleasant surprise.
 
I do expect to hear more of this blunt talk from Obama, but not till the 2012 races really begin to heat up and take shape.  Obama can accomplish a lot with our support; and nothing without it.

[champions1]

06:08 PM on 04/18/2011

lunasnare ....your kidding right....He beat the MAVERICK....John McCain, you can sling all the garbage you like, The REPUBICANS are throwing you and every other American Worker under the Bus....let us know how that's working out for you...

[Bonzoid]

05:52 PM on 04/18/2011

Gee, how so NOT embarrassing...he's saying things we've been hoping he'd say!!!!! Things he SHOULD be saying to those bozos...

[Joebudgie]

05:26 PM on 04/18/2011

Since I was a child I was told we have "Checks and Balances" in our system to protect "We The People" mentioned in our Constitution. But it seems to mee that both major parties spend more time defending their territory than doing what's right for all Americans. It's almost like the bickering of two inner city gangs over territory. Can you imagine having Congressmen instead of Republican Congressmen / Senators and Democratic Congressmen / Senators all working together for the common good? I know it will never happen. But who in the history of our country would have thought a sitting president would record total income for a current year of over $1,700,000 and then tell the rest of us we will be paying more in taxes in the coming year? Do you think his taxes or those of Congresmen and Senators will go up? Probably not. They built in escape clauses for themselves so the total burden in on us not them.

[Yolanda Scott]

08:29 PM on 04/18/2011

This is why the Bush Tax Cuts should have expired;The Obamas will be recieving a refund;this is a great example as to what tax breaks the other wealthy americans who bring home 250,000+ yearly (private sector) recieve; and there still is no growth in employment. It is not right which americans are being represented???

[ChasG]

12:20 AM on 04/19/2011

Obama tried to expire the tax cuts for the wealthy, but it was killed in the Senate on December 4, 2010, leading to the "tax compromise."  He tried; the Senate failed.
 
The good news is that the economy has added about 1.9 million new jobs since the end of 2009.  Things are getting better, but not everywhere at once.

[jeffbwillis]

02:58 PM on 04/18/2011

When the Democrats passed Healthcare reform through reconciliation, it set up a fight for the ages. My prediction: Article five of the constitution will be used to kill it. If the Supreme Court doesn't do it first! It is understandable that Obama would do everything in his power to keep it intact. But is it truly the best that we can do? With forty million Americans exempted, I would think, "not hardly!" With most healthcare costs going up, I would conclude, "doubtfully!" In short, is it worth creating an America that has not been so divided since 1860? I don't think so! Obama must swallow his pride and admit that the entire bill is flawed and begin efforts to find real bi-partisan compromise. This will be difficult for him. But it may be the thing that saves his presidency. There are simply too many other issues facing his administration, ranging from three wars to unemployment to the budget deficit.If he doesn't, he will likely join Jimmy Carter as a one term president.

[mauibucky]

09:45 PM on 04/18/2011

jeffbwillis,

Don't you realize there IS no healthcare bill the Republcians will accept? This is a partisan effort to defeat Obama and they are using the healthcare bill as a tool to that end. They could care less about what the American people need. They have healthcare already and aren't in danger of bankruptcy or having to sell their house because they get sick and their insurer drops them.
And the entire bill is NOT flawed. That's just more Republican propaganda. Just ask anyone who has been able to add their college age children or now has coverage because they can no longer use pre-extisting conditions as an excuse to drop coverage. Don't blindly accept everything Republicans say. Use your critical thinking.

[ChasG]

12:39 AM on 04/19/2011

Fanned.
There are flaws in ACA, but none that a democratic congress could not nor would not fix.

[ChasG]

12:38 AM on 04/19/2011

Where did you get the figure that ACA exempts 40 million Americans from healthcare?  I'd like to see that link for myself.
 
Do you really think health care reform caused America to become so divided?  The divided America was launched by trickle-down economics about 30 years ago.
 
Yes, ACA has flaws; don't expect this congress to address any of them. 
 
The GOP/TP are showing America their true colors, and they aren't pretty.  Contrary to the widely held belief by those who stayed home and did not vote in 2010, there is a very big difference between Rs and Ds.  If they show up and vote D again in 2012, and Ds regain the house, increase their majority in the Senate, and re-elect Obama, we'll see some of those improvements, and some more of the progressive accomplishments of Obama's first two years.

[BeaveJones]

01:42 PM on 04/18/2011

Yea real tough guy. Such a strong leader.

Under the Obama/democrats , the national debt doubled in 2 years.

Thats all the debt from before, over a hundred years worth, and those clowns doubled it in 2 years accelerating our nation further into a socialist mechanism.

Only 1 in 6 Americans pay any real income tax. Yea thats how you get your nation in order. Relying soley on such a very small segment of the society is no different than putting all your eggs in one basket. Of course there is going to be varying yearly revenues with such an unbalanced scheme. Yet somehow there seems to be a never ending increases in spending.

The laws of nature dictate that if parasites kill its host by over burdening it then the parasites die as well. If this welfare nation doesn't quit looking to the top earners for its next bloodmeal then we really will be facing a catastrophe. As the top earners will be no more. Who's going to pay then? The "middle class" ? yea right, all we do is whine now and the middle class barely pays 5% of the income tax revenues.

Just to balance last years budget, as is-every single tax payer would have to pay over $10,000 beyond what was paid. Every single tax liable payer would have to pay another $10000+. Half the nation didn't even pay $10000 in taxes.

America: 10lbs dog with 50lbs of ticks.

[Hopeforu]

02:08 PM on 04/18/2011

All was doubled because of the prior clown!

[rickshapiro]

02:32 PM on 04/18/2011

Here's a little something the Bush party did for this country.

National Debt Increased by 75% under Bush:

2001 - $5.871 trillion
2008 - $10.640 trillion

National Debt Increased 25% Under Obama:

Jan 31st 2009 = $10.569-Tr­illion
Jan 31st 2011 = $14.131-Tr­illion

But of the $3.56-tril­lion increase, 98% was carry over from Bush programs:

Bush: $910-billi­on = Interest on Debt 2009/2011
Bush: $360-billi­on = Iraq War Spending 2009/2011
Bush: $319-billi­on = TARP/Bailo­ut Balance from 2008 (as of May 2010)
Bush: $419-billi­on = Bush Recession Caused Drop in taxes
Bush: $190-billi­on = Bush Medicare Drug Program 2009/2011
Bush: $211-billi­on = Bush Medicare Part-D 2009/2011
Bush: $771-billi­on = Bush Tax Cuts 2009/2011

Bush's contributi­ons:
2001 to 2008: $4.769-tri­llion
2009 to 2010: $3.181-tri­llion
Total: $7.950-tri­llion

Increase Since 2001 = $14.131 - $5.871 = $8.26-Tril­lion
Bush's contributi­on: $7.950-tri­llion / $8.26-Tril­lion = 96%

Obama only contributi­on: $580-billi­on = Stimulus Spending (as of Dec 2010).

Increase caused By Bush's Programs: 96%
Increase caused by Obama's Programs: 4%

Big question: Why do people believe that Republican­'s can 'fix' that which they are responsibl­e for breaking, especially when they deny the role that their policies played, and now advocate doing more of the same? Doesn't even make common sense.

[BeaveJones]

03:48 PM on 04/18/2011

My mistake I stated debt, I meant to say deficit. But while on debt , yes , The debt has gone up at record rates under Obama as well. But of course it has, record deficits and all.

And no some one would have to be a dogmatic in sight to not blame both parties for the debt we have to now pay back.

Dont forget the years of Bush that the Democrats ran the House. Theres 2 parties and 2 parties to blame.

"Obama only contribution: $580-billion = Stimulus Spending (as of Dec 2010)."

Thats a falsehood, any extension of any policy that adds to the debt goes directly on his watch.

All the top sided taxing was wrong under Bush and their just as wrong under Obama.

The failure of most to see that the masses being parasites on few is unsustainable regardless of ideology. The only sustainable "Communist" society is FAR away more capitalistic than America , that being China.

ZERO capital gains tax. Why? Because they need to grow their economy and obviously they seem to be doing quite well with it.

[Bonzoid]

05:59 PM on 04/18/2011

I don't understand why people, whether of Congress or not, could believe that continuing on the road Bush put us on, i.e. tax cuts for the rich, could improve the economy when it has flagged ever since they were put into effect. It hasn't worked in 8 years, it has not created jobs and spending is only, as you illustrated, a problem because of what Bush has done. Why would it work now? It doesn't take a rocket scientist or an economist to see this. Nice post, btw rickshapiro....

[Alablanca]

12:29 PM on 04/18/2011

I think the President should talk more openly like this. He has got to show to the public that he can be tough. What we was overheard saying, he should be saying to the American Public. The Republican Party is destroying this Nation and sacrificing it for their political ambitions and are probably collecting lots of money from the corporations due to the Supreme Court's decison to allow corporations to contribute as much as they can to the party that favors them more - The Republican Party. How unethical and destructive can they get?

[Hopeforu]

02:14 PM on 04/18/2011

Yes, this is exactly the kind of talk everyone SHOULD hear. The repubs ARE getting very blatant about being unethical and destructive, I think by what's happening in WI. and other states that elected repubs are felling the waves of buyer's remorse and should learn first about the agendas of such people instead of knee-jerk reactions they instituted.

[DianneU]

04:52 PM on 04/18/2011

I agree....bring back the "fireside chats" or something similar. When Obama explains policies to the public, they are nearly always behind him. (Normal people, not the GOP). He needs to keep talking and talking. People want to hear him being tougher (not necessarily louder) on issues that the GOP keep lying about. I'm sick of them getting away with saying whatever pops into their heads without any facts to back it up. They say it over and over until people start to think it's actually true when in fact, it's all lies. (and the sad thing is that this type of propoganda seems to work!) Obama cuts to the quick of those lies like a pro and he needs to keep doing that more often. THAT'S what America wants, not what the GOP tries to sell. We want jobs, fairness, and honesty. Period!

[Annette Maule]

11:47 AM on 04/18/2011

I want to hear him say these things out loud and proud!

[KayrenD]

12:26 PM on 04/18/2011

AMEN!!!! And I hope this so-called "slip" helps dispell the myth that our President has no spine, and somehow doesn't understand the kind of burdens the majority of Americans are experiencing. He has tried compromising and negotiating with the GOP, which is being torn apart by the obnoxiously loud, illogical, and angry Tea Party--the members of which are apparently too stupid to realize that the wealthy 1-2% is comandeering them to work to their own disadvantage. Reasonable compromises (and some unreasonable ones) have been made, but that hasnt been good enough for the Tea Party. It is far easier to make the case for the lower 98% of us than it is to support the continuation and (even) broadening of the Bush tax cuts. Obama's strength--fueled by the outrage generated from growing inequality--will rally the same people who voted him into office in 2008. MR. OBAMA--ONCE AGAIN--SIGN ME UP!!!

[ChasG]

01:01 AM on 04/19/2011

Fanned.
 
Yes.  The GOP, especially the TP and their close cousins the libertarians (Ryan, Rand Paul, Ron Paul) are over-playing their hands, and independent voters are shocked by the radical arrogance.  Let's hope some of the disillusioned left can swallow a dose of realism and come back to vote D in 2012. 

[carolo]

11:31 AM on 04/18/2011

I keep wondering what is newsworthly about Obama's remarks. He didn't cuss anyone out, call them idiots and be disrespectful. He is simply stating he is not going to back down to them. He's much kinder than what I call them in private.