an interesting moment occurred toward the start, when Associated Press reporter Ben Feller asked whether it would be more “productive” for Obama to negotiate with the congressional Republicans than to mount a public campaign demanding passage of his American Jobs Act.

Obama, keeping his anger and frustration in check, replied that he has “gone out of my way”—often at his own political peril—to work with Republicans. He cited the most recent debt ceiling dance. The GOP, though, has responded with “games-playing” and has “preferred to score political points as opposed to getting something done.”