Obama, Boehner address deficit-reduction talks in televised speeches

US President Barack Obama speaks in a rare prime-time address to the nation on July 25, 2011 from the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, as polarized lawmakers failed to rally behind a plan to avert a disastrous debt default perhaps just one week away. AFP PHOTO / Pool /Jim WATSON

President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner delivered dueling speeches on primetime television Monday night to address ongoing deficit-reduction talks and attempt to place blame on the other side of the political spectrum.

“We can’t allow the American people to become collateral damage to Washington’s political warfare,” Obama said from the East Room of the White House. “The American people may have voted for divided government, but they didn’t vote for a dysfunctional government.”

Obama channeled Republican President Ronald Reagan by appealing directly to the American people, asking them to support the side of a “balanced approach” that includes entitlement reform and increased revenue.

“I’m asking you all to make your voice heard,” he told Americans. “If you want a balanced approach to reducing the deficit, let your member of Congress know.”

Boehner, who scheduled a subsequent national address following Obama’s speech, used his air time to blame the Obama administration for refusing to back the GOP’s “Cut, Cap, and Balance” plan.

“I want you to know I made a sincere effort to work with the president. I gave it my all,” he said. “The sad truth is that the president wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today. That is just not going to happen.”

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