(Washington) House Speaker John Boehner walked out on debt talks with President Barack Obama on Friday, raising the stakes in the country’s ongoing effort to stave off national default.
Obama Crying
In a press conference immediately after, a visually shaken President Obama was unable to speak to reporters or take questions about the abrupt and surprising end to the talks.
Instead, he placed a laptop on the podium and played a Phil Collins music video, “Against All Odds,” from the 1984 movie of the same name starring Rachel Ward and Jeff Bridges.
Bursting into tears briefly, Obama sang along with the video,
“How can you just walk away from me when all I can do is watch you leave’
‘cos we shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears.”
Regaining his normal composure, Obama continued.
“Look, I think the offer I made was extremely fair. Republicans and Democrats alike have got to prevent the government going into default and that means compromise. We have to–”
But midway through the song, Obama once again broke down and began singing along to the video, this time more softly, and rocking back and forth slightly.
“Oh take a look at me now — there’s just an empty space And you coming back to me is against the odds. And that’s what I’ve got to face.”
Obama With Head in Hands
Obama had to be lead out of the press conference, but returned briefly to address the camera and yell out: “But you’ll be back, mister. Only there won’t be any taking back. You’ll be sorry!”
