WASHINGTON — At the end of a difficult year, President Barack Obama said Friday that he’s bullish about 2014.
The last year for Obama has been marked by controversies over the National Security Agency’s surveillance program, a disastrous rollout of the website for his signature health care law and nosediving poll numbers.
His hopes to pass a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s gun laws after last year’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School failed to gain traction, as did his call for a retooling of the nation’s immigration laws.
Yet Obama, even as he was pressed to reflect on a tough year, repeatedly said he is looking forward to 2014.
“We’re poised to do really good things,” said Obama at a year-end news conference before heading to Hawaii with his family for their annual winter vacation.
The president offered his rosy outlook just hours after the Commerce Department announced Friday that the U.S. economy grew in the third quarter by a surprising 4.1%.
“We head into next year with an economy that is stronger than it was when we started the year,” Obama said. “I firmly believe that 2014 can be a breakthrough year for America.”
When asked whether this has been the worst year of his presidency, Obama said, “That’s not how I think about it.”
He brushed off questions about his poll numbers, which are near an all-time low for his nearly five years in office.
“If I was interested in polling, I wouldn’t have run for president,” Obama insisted.
Obama said the economy is improving and that more people are benefiting from his health care law.
He also said there is room for some agreement with Republicans in Congress on issues like immigration.
At the same time, he made clear that he was unwilling to negotiate with Republicans over raising the debt ceiling, which has a February deadline. Obama has repeatedly said the debt ceiling should be raised with no strings attached.
The president described the health care rollout as his biggest mistake: “Since I’m in charge, obviously we screwed it up.”
In looking forward to 2014, Obama said: “You know, the end of the year is always a good time to reflect and see, what can you do better next year — that’s how I intend to approach it.”
Obama also addressed a bipartisan effort in Congress to impose new sanctions on Iran, even as he attempts to get Iran to curb its nuclear program through negotiations.
“It is my goal to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” He added, “I’ll work with Congress to put more pressure on Iran, but there is no reason to do it now.”
Obama also addressed the makeup of the presidential delegation he’s sending to Russia to represent the U.S. at the Winter Olympics.
Citing the inclusion of tennis legend Billie Jean King and champion skater Brian Boitano, Obama said they are world-class athletes of great character “who also happen to be members of the LGBT community.”
The last year for Obama has been marked by controversies over the National Security Agency’s surveillance program, a disastrous rollout of the website for his signature health care law and nosediving poll numbers.
His hopes to pass a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s gun laws after last year’s mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School failed to gain traction, as did his call for a retooling of the nation’s immigration laws.
Yet Obama, even as he was pressed to reflect on a tough year, repeatedly said he is looking forward to 2014.
“We’re poised to do really good things,” said Obama at a year-end news conference before heading to Hawaii with his family for their annual winter vacation.
The president offered his rosy outlook just hours after the Commerce Department announced Friday that the U.S. economy grew in the third quarter by a surprising 4.1%.
“We head into next year with an economy that is stronger than it was when we started the year,” Obama said. “I firmly believe that 2014 can be a breakthrough year for America.”
When asked whether this has been the worst year of his presidency, Obama said, “That’s not how I think about it.”
He brushed off questions about his poll numbers, which are near an all-time low for his nearly five years in office.
“If I was interested in polling, I wouldn’t have run for president,” Obama insisted.
Obama said the economy is improving and that more people are benefiting from his health care law.
He also said there is room for some agreement with Republicans in Congress on issues like immigration.
At the same time, he made clear that he was unwilling to negotiate with Republicans over raising the debt ceiling, which has a February deadline. Obama has repeatedly said the debt ceiling should be raised with no strings attached.
The president described the health care rollout as his biggest mistake: “Since I’m in charge, obviously we screwed it up.”
In looking forward to 2014, Obama said: “You know, the end of the year is always a good time to reflect and see, what can you do better next year — that’s how I intend to approach it.”
Obama also addressed a bipartisan effort in Congress to impose new sanctions on Iran, even as he attempts to get Iran to curb its nuclear program through negotiations.
“It is my goal to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” He added, “I’ll work with Congress to put more pressure on Iran, but there is no reason to do it now.”
Obama also addressed the makeup of the presidential delegation he’s sending to Russia to represent the U.S. at the Winter Olympics.
Citing the inclusion of tennis legend Billie Jean King and champion skater Brian Boitano, Obama said they are world-class athletes of great character “who also happen to be members of the LGBT community.”