Obama To WSB-TV: America Is Stressed Out

Posted: 4:51 pm EDT July 14, 2011Updated: 8:44 pm EDT July 14, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Barack Obama said America is a “stressed out” nation in an exclusive interview with Channel 2 Action News at the White House on Thursday.

 

The Obama administration invited Channel 2’s Scott MacFarlane to a short interview with the president, who is addressing negotiations over raising the federal debt limit.

 

There are just 20 days until the Aug. 2 deadline that requires a budget deal or the nation risks defaulting on loans and getting into serious financial trouble.

 

MacFarlane asked the president about the status of the negotiations, and if the president walked out of the last negotiating session.

 

"No. At the end of the meeting, what I said to the group was what the American people feel. 'We have a responsibility to do the right thing. We shouldn't be partisan, we should solve problems,'" Obama replied.  RAW VIDEO: Scott MacFarlane Interviews President Obama

Obama told MacFarlane that he’s pushing for federal cuts, but when MacFarlane asked about 12,600 education jobs cut last month across the country and more potential cuts, like in Cobb County, he pulled back on cuts for schools.

"I'm wondering if these spending cuts aren't going to throw schools into a deeper hole?" MacFarlane asked.

"Look, we can make some cuts to programs that don't work anymore. But we've got to make sure we're still funding education," Obama answered.

The President did not rule out making changes to eligibility for Social Security, and he again pitched tax hikes on the wealthiest Americans. President Obama told MacFarlane, “You can’t ask for sacrifices from working people who haven’t seen a raise in a decade and not ask anything from folks who can afford to do a little bit more.”

"People can't sell their houses, can't refinance. They're in a constant state of panic about losing their jobs," MacFarlane asked the president. "Even the fun stuff, the sports leagues are locked out. Is America stressed out and in a state of malaise?" MacFarlane asked.

"There's no doubt America is stressed out. We just went through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. That's why it's so important for us to get this thing settled now," Obama replied.