The president's publicity stunts don't help the country

In his weekly radio address Saturday, President Obama promised more "pain" for the American people unless Congress approved his budget.

This is the same president who was offered the option by Congress to make budget cuts in the wake of the sequester that would have minimal negative impact. But he declined that offer outright.

As is his fashion, the president said the draconian budget cuts were harming children, the elderly and those in greatest need of government services.

When given other options to minimize the impact, this president has toed the consistent line that only higher taxes will solve the problem.

I suspect a weary American public is growing tired of his higher tax rhetoric. And I can only hope that frustration surfaces in the 2014 election -- if not earlier.

Only a fool would not see our problem is grounded in runaway spending. And only a fool would see but one solution -- higher taxes and continued spending.

But this president is no fool. So why is he so consumed and obsessed with taxing the producers even more while paying little more than lip service to the spending side of the equation?

Keeping in mind that the sequestration was the president's proposal, the FAA decided to garner the greatest public outrage by closing down traffic towers and furloughing air traffic controllers to delay flights.

But Congress last week -- in a bipartisan vote -- approved a measure that would force the FAA to take grant funds and restore the cuts that were slowing air traffic.

Democrats remained outspoken that more revenue was needed. But public pressure rapidly changed that narrative.

Air shows have been canceled despite billions of dollars in unspent research funds that are available. White House tours have been canceled though hundreds have volunteered to provide private funding to restore them.

In short, the list of foolhardy cuts and publicity stunts continues.

Even staunch liberals must privately recognize that the ploy of inflicting harm to illustrate their budget point is growing old on the American public.

Meals on Wheels could be fully restored with no negative financial impact. But this administration believes squeezing the American public will force Republicans to accept his higher tax dream.

One final note.

An independent study out this week shows this president spends less than 4 percent of his workweek devoted to economic policies. The massive study charted every meeting, every luncheon and every gathering of this administration and found 3.6 percent of the president's time is devoted to the economy.

And we wonder why we face this economic crisis?