WASHINGTON — President Obama is still governing, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters Tuesday.
Asked two questions about how three big stories — Benghazi, the IRS, and the AP phone records — were affecting the president's ability to get things done, Carney said the push for a budget deal and comprehensive immigration reform are still on track.
"The president is focused on what he believes the American people expect from him and from their leaders in Washington and you have seen that and you will continue to see that in the days and weeks and months ahead," Carney said when asked if the scandals were affecting Obama's legislative ability.
The three stories have gripped Washington, leading to the promise of investigations from Congressional committees and public criticism of the White House from both Republicans and Democrats. Carney said there's no "siege mentality," however.
Obama will continue "working with Congress as you've seen over the last weeks and months, to see if we can find common ground on reducing our deficit in a balanced way that will help the economy grow," Carney said. He added that the White House is still working to "achieve what will hopefully be a bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill that this president can sign into law."
"We are focused on these fundamental issues that the American people sent this president to this office twice now to focus on," he said.