Carney: Obama Open To "Petite Bargain" On Budget That Would End Sequester

Real Clear Politics ^ | 3/4/13 | JONATHAN KARL, ABC NEWS

[Nachum]

JONATHAN KARL, ABC NEWS: So on that offer, I mean, you’re absolutely right that some prominent Republicans have come out in recent days and said that they could live with a plan that increased tax revenue -- not to replace the sequester, but as part of kind of a renewed effort at the grand bargain. So are we going to see an effort --

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: But that would eliminate the sequester, which the whole -- the whole idea behind the --

KARL: But it would be bigger than just eliminate. You’re exactly right. But it would be bigger. So will there be an effort to jumpstart a grand bargain-type series of talks with Republicans in the coming weeks or months to achieve just that?

MR. CARNEY: I’d hesitate to place labels on things. I would simply say that the President is interested in moving forward on deficit reduction that pairs the twin objectives of entitlement reform and tax reform in the way that his proposal does, in a way that is consistent with Simpson-Bowles and Domenici-Rivlin and others who have put forward ideas and proposals in a bipartisan way. And it presents an opportunity for both Republicans and Democrats to achieve some important objectives -- objectives that are important to their parties, as well as to the country, and to move forward.

KARL: So that's what the weekend calls were about? The grand bargain, not --

[Nachum]

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[Nachum]

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[BenLurkin]

Why end the sequestor?

Seriously...why?

The only reason I can think of to do so would be if it were to be replaced with genuine cuts in spending...but that isn’t going to happen.

So let it ride!

[OKSooner]

And now the Republicans will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

[livius]

I think Bimbo Bambi realizes he’s blown it. I hope the rest of the world realizes it too.

[Michael.SF.]

I think I might prefer the "Bargain Royale" instead.

[Gator113]

They always friggen do. I have had it.

If the damn rebublican leadership isn’t replaced over this, we are going to be stuck with Obamacare for the rest of our lives and our country isn’t going to survive.

I am sick of this game they are playing with our lives and I am sick of these backstabbing GOP cowards.

[Tammy8]

How would he realize that? Once again he is getting things his way, as usual. He is like a spoiled child that throws temper tantrums when he doesn’t get every single thing he wants...the Republicans are like the mother that gives the spoiled child what he wants so he will quit screaming. We need adults in charge.

No new taxes without drastic and real spending cuts.

No new gun laws.

No Obamacare.

No citizenship for illegals.

[WVKayaker]

No new taxes without drastic and real spending cuts.

No new taxes without drastic and real spending cuts.

There, fixed it for you.

With the tax structure available, simply ceasing the base-line funding system would reap astounding savings, then require ACTUAL CUTS in every facet of the behemoth fedrool trolldom. close (most of) the UNCONSTITUTIONAL Departments of Red Tape, sh*tcan the EPA (each state takes care of themselves.)

Close the Federal Reserve, as there are NO RESERVES, only a printing press linked to more spending by this bunch of socialists intent on the destruction of the USA! Require scrutiny of EVERY DOLLAR SPENT, and allow no spending in the last 60 days of the fiscal year, except emergencies.

DISCLAIMER: I am now sitting on my porch in Barangay Danhug, Ormoc City, Leyte Provence, Philippines, looking out onto the sea. I am renting a beachfront place ($196/mo.), and my coffee was just brought by my house woman ($60/mo. I am paying her above what she earned from the previous guy in this house, as she is making life VERY easy for me)....

I'm gone... and plan no permanent return to Amerika. I don't expect my meager SS check to continue much longer!

[Hoodat]

Good grief, Obama. For once in your life, be a man and honor what you said you would do. The Republicans gave you the $2.5 trillion debt ceiling increase that you used to buy off the 2012 election. It is way past time for you to hold up your part of the bargain and cut 2% out of a budget that has already increased by over twice that.

[sickoflibs]

Lemme guess, raise taxes now, restore spending now, cut entitlements in 10 years. Great plan GOP.