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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obama denies 2013 was his 'worst year' | Obama denies 2013 was his 'worst year' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has brushed aside a suggestion that 2013 was the worst year of his presidency in a year-end press conference. | US President Barack Obama has brushed aside a suggestion that 2013 was the worst year of his presidency in a year-end press conference. |
| He voiced frustration with political gridlock on immigration and gun control, but was upbeat on the economy. | He voiced frustration with political gridlock on immigration and gun control, but was upbeat on the economy. |
| Asked to name his biggest mistake of the year, he spoke about his troubled healthcare law's rollout, conceding: "Since I'm in charge, we screwed up." | Asked to name his biggest mistake of the year, he spoke about his troubled healthcare law's rollout, conceding: "Since I'm in charge, we screwed up." |
| Mr Obama and his family depart later in the day for their holiday in Hawaii. | Mr Obama and his family depart later in the day for their holiday in Hawaii. |
| The Democratic president is ending his fifth year in office with the worst approval ratings of his tenure. | The Democratic president is ending his fifth year in office with the worst approval ratings of his tenure. |
| 'Obviously frustrating' | 'Obviously frustrating' |
| Mr Obama's presidency in 2013 saw a government shutdown, the botched rollout of the healthcare website and embarrassing leaks about mass surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA). | Mr Obama's presidency in 2013 saw a government shutdown, the botched rollout of the healthcare website and embarrassing leaks about mass surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA). |
| But he preferred to emphasise the positives during Friday's news conference from the White House briefing room lectern. | But he preferred to emphasise the positives during Friday's news conference from the White House briefing room lectern. |
| "If I look at this past year, there are areas where there have obviously been some frustrations, where I wish Congress had moved more aggressively," Mr Obama said. | "If I look at this past year, there are areas where there have obviously been some frustrations, where I wish Congress had moved more aggressively," Mr Obama said. |
| "Not passing background checks in the wake of Newtown [last December's school massacre], I continue to believe was a mistake." | "Not passing background checks in the wake of Newtown [last December's school massacre], I continue to believe was a mistake." |
| He added: "A lot of our legislative initiatives in Congress have not moved forward as rapidly as I'd like. I completely understand that. Which means I'm going to keep at it." | He added: "A lot of our legislative initiatives in Congress have not moved forward as rapidly as I'd like. I completely understand that. Which means I'm going to keep at it." |
| On immigration, he said: "The fact that it didn't hit the timeline I'd prefer is obviously frustrating, but it's not something that I end up brooding a lot about." | On immigration, he said: "The fact that it didn't hit the timeline I'd prefer is obviously frustrating, but it's not something that I end up brooding a lot about." |
| He said there were indications that the Republican-controlled House of Representatives might consider immigration-reform legislation next year. | He said there were indications that the Republican-controlled House of Representatives might consider immigration-reform legislation next year. |
| The US president also said he would make a "definitive statement" in January about recommendations by a White House panel to rein in the National Security Agency. | |
| He said in "light of the disclosures that have taken place" and public concerns about the programmes "there may be another way of skinning the cat". | |
| Mr Obama said former NSA contractor-turned-leaker Edward Snowden had caused "unnecessary damage", but the president refused to say if the fugitive could be offered an amnesty deal. | Mr Obama said former NSA contractor-turned-leaker Edward Snowden had caused "unnecessary damage", but the president refused to say if the fugitive could be offered an amnesty deal. |
| No 'endless gridlock' | No 'endless gridlock' |
| The US president argued healthcare.gov had largely recovered from its disastrous 1 October rollout, even as the medical insurance-selling website crashed for several hours on Friday. | The US president argued healthcare.gov had largely recovered from its disastrous 1 October rollout, even as the medical insurance-selling website crashed for several hours on Friday. |
| "For all the challenges... these past couple of months, more than half a million Americans have enrolled through healthcare.gov in the first three weeks of December alone," Mr Obama said. | "For all the challenges... these past couple of months, more than half a million Americans have enrolled through healthcare.gov in the first three weeks of December alone," Mr Obama said. |
| "In California, for example, a state operating its own marketplace, more than 15,000 Americans are enrolling every single day. And in the federal website, tens of thousands are enrolling every single day." | "In California, for example, a state operating its own marketplace, more than 15,000 Americans are enrolling every single day. And in the federal website, tens of thousands are enrolling every single day." |
| While reiterating that he would not negotiate over raising the debt ceiling, the federal government's borrowing cap, he praised Congress for a recent budget compromise that averted a fresh government shutdown. | While reiterating that he would not negotiate over raising the debt ceiling, the federal government's borrowing cap, he praised Congress for a recent budget compromise that averted a fresh government shutdown. |
| "It's probably too early to declare an outbreak of bipartisanship," Mr Obama said. "But it's also fair to say we're not condemned to endless gridlock." | "It's probably too early to declare an outbreak of bipartisanship," Mr Obama said. "But it's also fair to say we're not condemned to endless gridlock." |
| The US president highlighted improving economic data, saying 2014 would be a "breakthrough year" for the nation's economy. | The US president highlighted improving economic data, saying 2014 would be a "breakthrough year" for the nation's economy. |
| But he also argued Congress should extend unemployment benefits for those who have been out of work for extended period of time. | But he also argued Congress should extend unemployment benefits for those who have been out of work for extended period of time. |
| The current long-term unemployment scheme is due to end days after Christmas. | The current long-term unemployment scheme is due to end days after Christmas. |
| "We head into next year with an economy that's stronger than it was when we started the year [and] more Americans are finding work and experiencing the pride of a paycheck," he said. |