Right-Wing Media Ignore Context, Accuse Obama Of Blaming Congress “But Not Himself”

Kilmeade: Obama “Is Blaming The Both Sides, But Not Himself.” During the April 6 broadcast of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade stated: “The president blames politics. I think it's kind of ironic that he's blaming politics and he's blaming the both sides, but not himself for - or his administration.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/6/11]

Carlson Decides: Obama “Actually Told Congress To Act More Like Grownups, But A Lot Of People Said 'What About Your Leadership?'” During the April 6 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Gretchen Carlson stated: “The president finally did get involved yesterday, and he actually told Congress to act more like grownups, but a lot people said, 'what about your leadership?' ” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/6/11]

Fox Nation: “Obama Tells GOP To 'Act Like Grownups' After His Party Never Passed A Budget.” An April 5 post to Fox Nation was titled, “Obama Tells GOP to 'Act Like Grownups' After His Party Never Passed A Budget.” The article they cited reported that Obama stated that “President Barack Obama called on Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders on Tuesday to 'act like grown-ups' and put aside their differences on a six-month spending bill.” [Fox Nation, 4/5/11]

The Blaze: “Obama Tells Congressional Leaders To 'Act Like Grownups' On Budget.” An April 5 post to Glenn Beck's website The Blaze stated that “Obama implored Congressional leaders to 'act like grown ups,' [sic]” “but one Congressional leader - John Boehner - was undeterred. He said that the Democrats' 'smoke and mirrors' tactics will not stop the GOP from making the largest cuts possible.” [The Blaze, 4/5/11]

Drudge: “Obama rejects Proposal To Cut Spending... Tells Congress To Act Like Grownups.'” In headlines posted to his website, internet gossip Matt Drudge wrote:

[Drudge Report, 4/6/11]

In Fact, Obama Said The American People Expect Congress And Himself To “Act Like Grownups” And Pass A Budget

Obama Said “The American People Expect” Congress And The White House To “Act Like Grownups” And Pass A Budget. From Obama's April 5 press conference:

Q Thank you, Mr. President. If it came down to it, would you approve of a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown? And more broadly, as the American people are watching this, do you think that this is a test of your leadership? Do you think the American people are expecting you to make sure that this deal happens?

THE PRESIDENT: Let me take each question separately.

On the issue of a short-term extension, we've already done that twice. We did it once for two weeks, then we did another one for three weeks. That is not a way to run a government. I can't have our agencies making plans based on two-week budgets. I can't have the Defense Department, I can't have the State Department, I can't have our various agencies on food safety and making sure our water is clean and making sure that our airports are functioning, I can't have them making decisions based on two-week-at-a-time budgets.

So I have been very clear that the last time we had an extension, it was to give the parties time to go ahead and get something done. We are now at the point where there is no excuse to extend this further.

If over the next 24 to 48 hours a deal is done and we just can't get the paperwork through Congress quick enough and they want to do a clean extension for two or three days in order to go ahead and complete a deal, then that's something that we could support. But what we're not going to do is to once again put off something that should have gotten done several months ago.

Now, with respect to the second question, I think what the American people expect from me is the same thing that they expect from every member of Congress, and that is that we're looking out for the interests of the American people and not trying to score political points.

I think what they're looking from me is the same thing that they're looking from Speaker Boehner and Harry Reid and everybody else, and that is, is that we act like grownups, and when we are in negotiations like this, that everybody gives a little bit, compromises a little bit in order to do the people's business.

And I just want to set the context for this now. Again, I'm going to repeat. Speaker Boehner, Chairman Rogers, the Republican appropriations chairman -- their original budget proposed $73 billion in cuts. We have now agreed to $73 billion worth of cuts. What they are now saying is, well, we're not sure that every single one of the cuts that you've made are ones that we agree to; we'd rather have these cuts rather than that cut. That's not the basis for shutting down the government. We should be able to come up with a compromise in which nobody gets 100 percent of what they want, but the American people get the peace of mind in knowing that folks here in Washington are actually thinking about them -- because they're going through a whole lot of struggles right now.

They're worrying about gas prices and that's what they want us worrying about. They're worrying about jobs and that's what we should be focused on. They're worrying about what -- everything happening in the Middle East, what does that mean for them. And that's certainly what I'm spending my time worrying about. And I shouldn't have to oversee a process in which Congress deals with last year's budget where we only have six months left -- especially when both parties have agreed that we need to make substantial cuts and we're more or less at the same number.

All right? [The White House, 4/5/11 emphasis added]