Obama urges compromise in debt talks

Story from The Takeaway. Listen to audio above for full report.

President Obama stood before the nation and pleaded with Congress to come to an agreement as soon as possible, in a prime-time speech to the American public last night. “We can’t allow the American people to become collateral damage to Washington’s political warfare,” he said.

House Speaker John Boehner immediately followed Obama’s speech with his response, agreeing that the debate needs to be resolved, but urging Obama to sign on to the Republican proposal to raise the debt limit.

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, professor of communications and director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania says it was “clarifying” to have the two speeches.

But the Boehner speech, “potentially alienated independents with its attack on President Obama for trying to take action that would affect his political chances of being re-elected,” she told The Takeaway.

Watch President Obama’s address:

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“The Takeaway” is a national morning news program, delivering the news and analysis you need to catch up, start your day, and prepare for what’s ahead. The show is a co-production of WNYC and PRI, in editorial collaboration with the BBC, The New York Times Radio, and WGBH.