Obama Renews Call Out of House GOP

At Friday University of Maryland town hall, president vows to find trade-off route to passage of deal in time to avert debt crisis.

Makes no news or new offers but maintains upbeat tone.

Pool report:

POTUS took the stage at UMD’s Ritchie Coliseum Arena at about 11, wearing a blue shirt with rolled up sleeves, dark pants and a dark tie. Big American flag in the background and, according to UMD, a crowd of 1350. Attending were MD Gov. Martin O’Malley, Sen. Ben Cardin, College Park Mayor Andrew Fellows, former Rep. Frank Kratovil and Dr. Wallace Loh, university president.

POTUS congratulated some in the crowd for wearing shorts in this heat. He said he would but his legs aren’t so good.

“Yes they are,” shouted one woman in the crowd.

POTUS spoke for just over an hour, taking eight questions from the crowd. The last he took from a friend, Thomas McMillen, a former congressman and who’s now on the University Systems of Maryland Board of Regents.

At the end, he shook hands with people in the crowd as Brooks & Dunn’s “Only in America” played and students stood on stairs to take pictures.

Transcript to come, but some highlights:

During opening remarks, POTUS continued to make his case for “shared sacrifice” and “balance” in addressing the deficit. He said the idea of balance isn’t “some wild eyed socialist position,” but one taken by Warren Buffett and Democrats and Republicans in the Senate.

POTUS attributed the debt to a “series of decisions” including cutting taxes, two wars, and a prescription drug benefit that weren’t paid for, a recession and the recovery act.

“Neither party is blameless for the decisions that led to this problem, but both parties have responsibility to solve it,” he said. (applause.)

POTUS said some don’t want to raise the debt ceiling.

“Effectively what that’s saying is, we’re not going to pay our bills,” he said. “The United States of America doesn’t run out without paying the tab. We pay our bills. We meet our obligations.” (applause.)

POTUS said he’s willing to cut “an historic amount of government spending” and he’s agreed to target some programs he thinks are worthwhile.

“We can’t just cut our deficits with spending cuts alone.”

Revenue is necessary to close the gap, he said, and the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations “should do their part as well.”

He said it’s not about punishing the wealthy but asking those who have done well to “share in the sacrifice.”( Applause.)

“I think these patriotic Americans are willing to pitch in if they’re asked,” he said.

He said the only people that need convincing are “some people in the House of Representatives.”

“We’re going to keep working on them,” he said to laughter.

“In 2010 Americans chose a divided government, but they didn’t choose a dysfunctional government.”

One man asked why he’s pushing so hard for a settlement now when people might “get rid of these hooligans in the House” in 2012.

POTUS said, “The challenge I have in these negotiations is whether I like it or not, I’ve got to get the debt ceiling raised. Defaulting is not an option.”

He said he’s talked to his lawyers about using the 14th amendment to ensure the country’s debts are paid. “They’re not persuaded that that is a winning argument.”

“I’m sympathetic to your view that this would be easier if I could do this on my own,” he told man, drawing laughter.

POTUS was also asked if he has regrets. He said he could have told people “more clearly how tough” the recovery was going to be and done a better job at explaining how his policies related to people.

Motorcade arrived back at the White House at about 12:50.