In a press conference after his meeting with congressional leaders, President Barack Obama told reporters he “never” wants to make himself “100 percent clear” with members of the media.
“Just to make it 100 percent clear, you’d sign a budget that continued to fund the government even at the lower levels of the sequester even if you don’t prefer to do that,” a reporter asked Obama at the White House on Friday.
“Zach, I’m not going to — I never want to make myself 100 percent clear with you guys, but I think it’s fair to say that I made a deal for a certain budget, certain numbers. There’s no reason why that deal needs to be reopened. It was a deal that Speaker Boehner made, as well and all the leadership made, and if the bill that arrives on my desk is reflective of the commitments that we previously made, then obviously I would sign it.”
Obama was also asked why he couldn’t keep the Republican and Democrat leaders in a room and refuse to let them leave until an agreement is reached to replace the sequester.
“I am not a dictator, I’m the president,” Obama responded.