President Obama kicked off his re-election campaign last night in Chicago with two events. The AP says much of the conversation was his standard stump speech ("This is your campaign!"). CBSadds the president revealed a lot more about the recently concluded budget talks with Republican leaders.
The kicker: Mr. Obama apparently wasn't aware his microphone was still turned on, sending his remarks to the press room, whereCBS correspondent Mark Knoller was still taking notes. The President spoke candidly about the recent budget negotiations, saying he warned Speaker of the House John Boehner he'd spent too long getting his health care law passed to see the GOP overturn it in the short term budget:
"I said, 'You want to repeal health care? 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?' ... Put it in a separate bill. We'll call it up. And if you think you can overturn my veto, try it. But don't try to sneak this through."
He saved scorn for Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) whose proposed budget legislation comes up today for a vote, featuring significant domestic spending cuts:
"When Paul Ryan says his priority is to make sure, he's just being America's accountant ... This is the same guy that voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription drug bill that cost as much as my health care bill — but wasn't paid for. So it's not on the level."
