Speaking outside of Kansas City Friday, President Barack Obama called out House Republicans for their vote on a plan to avoid a partial government shutdown. Obama was in Ford Motor's new stamping plant in Liberty, which is located near the company's assembly in Claycomo.
The House voted to keep the federal government running beyond the end of the month. The catch? It also defunds the Affordable Care Act.
In Missouri, the vote fell across party lines with all GOP members voting for it.
Speaking in Liberty, Obama said the resolution was not serious legislation.
“They’re not focused on you," he told the crowd. "They’re focused on politics. They’re focused on trying to mess with me."
House Republicans have proudly defended their votes by pointing to polls on the unpopularity of the new health care law.
Obama also looked ahead to the upcoming debt ceiling battle. Obama says he bought a Ford vehicle before getting Secret Service chauffeurs -- and he compared paying the car off to the process of raising the debt ceiling.
“You have to pay the bills," Obama said. "You might have decided at the front end to not buy the truck. But once you buy the truck, you can’t say you’re saving money just by not paying the bills. Does that make sense?" Obama asked, earning applause.
He says the visit is to "continue to highlight the progress we have made since the beginning of the financial crisis five years ago and the work that lies ahead to continue strengthening our economy and deliver a Better Bargain for the Middle Class."
He says the same thing happens when a country doesn't pay its bills - interest rates will rise, and Ford will have fewer buyers for its vehicles.
Many believe the next few months will be full of political posturing over the debt ceiling.
Obama was joined by Missouri's two top Democrats: Governor Jay Nixon and Senator Claire McCaskill, as well as Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. Nixon's invitation follows a week and a half of national notoriety for him -- including appearances in the New York Times and Washington Post.
Republican Senator Roy Blunt joked with reporters earlier this week that his invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.
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