Slamming opposition Republicans, US President Barack Obama today said they have no right to criticise his stimulus plan as they were the ones who presided over doubling of the national debt in the last eight years.
Addressing a prime time live press conference to muster support for his $829 economic stimulus package, Obama said that the Republicans have lost credibility when it comes to fiscal responsibility.
"When it comes to how we approach the issue of fiscal responsibility, again, it's a little hard for me to take criticism from folks, about this recovery package, after they presided over a doubling of the national debt. I'm not sure they have a lot of credibility when it comes to fiscal responsibility," Obama said responding to a question during his maiden press conference as the US President.
"I think there are a lot of Republicans who are sincere in recognizing that unless we deal with entitlements in a serious way, the problems we have, with this year's deficit and next year's deficit, pale in comparison to what we're going to be seeing 10 or 15 years or 20 years down the road."
Both Democrats and Republicans are going to have to think differently in order to come together and solve that problem, Obama said, adding he would continue to muster bi-partisan support to his economic package.