The Hill News

President Obama isn’t embarrassed about comments caught on an open microphone during a private fundraising dinner in Chicago, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said.

At one of three fundraising events Obama held on Thursday, he was caught on a still-active mic strongly criticizing House Republicans for trying to quietly insert their agenda to kill his healthcare reform law into recent federal budget negotiations.

“I said, ‘You want to repeal healthcare? Go at it,’” Obama said Thursday night. “We'll have that debate. You're not going to be able to do that by nickel-and-diming me in the budget. You think we're stupid?”

In a press gaggle on Air Force One headed back from Chicago on Friday, Carney said that Obama wasn't embarrassed with what he said and that the comments are ones Obama would make in public.

On Friday, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) jabbed at Obama, saying his comments were all part of his reelecti! on campaign.

“I didn't see his remarks,” Boehner said. “But I think you mentioned it was a campaign speech.”