White House in "move beyond it" mode over speech timing row
The White House is in "move beyond it" mode following Wednesday's dust-up with House Speaker John Boehner over the date of President Obama's speech to Congress next week.
"We want to focus on the big issues, not the small ones, not the side shows. I think most Americans are probably not paying attention to this. This in terms of the scheduling issue was a Washington thing," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in an interview with CBS Radio.
"We were happy once it became clear Wednesday was not an option. Our focus is on the speech," Carney said.
The spokesman predictably said the controversy won't hurt the long term Obama-Boehner "working relationship." As for the back story, he says the White House wanted the speech as soon as Congress returned from its recess.
Carney insisted "no objection was raised" when the White House called to say "we were making a request for September 7" until Boehner's subsequent letter citing logistical and parliamentary problems.
As for the general message of the speech itself, Carney said Mr. Obama plans to say he wants "action and compromise and sensible solutions."
CBS' Bob Schieffer calls the speech spat "ridiculous"
Watch Schieffer's analysis below: