Obama: Why Can't Congress Be More Like My Daughters?

If only members of Congress were more like Sasha and Malia.

President Obama, scolding lawmakers Wednesday for failing to reach a budget deal, held up his daughters as an example of how to handle pressure and deadlines. He questioned why it is that Congress routinely dilly-dallies on important legislation while his daughters have figured out how to finish their homework in a prompt and timely manner.

"Malia and Sasha, generally, finish their homework a day ahead of time," Obama said. "They don't wait until the night before. They're not pulling all-nighters -- they're 13 and 10."

He added: "You know, Congress can do the same thing. If you know you've got to do something, just do it."

The president criticized lawmakers for trying to foist the stalled negotiations on him. He vowed to work with lawmakers to strike a deal, but suggested they should stop going on recess until a compromise is reached.

"They need to do their jobs," he said. "You need to be here. I've been here. I've been doing Afghanistan and bin Laden and the Greek crisis."

Since the beginning of the year, Congress has spent six full weeks out of session, in addition to other days off. The president hasn't had a bona fide vacation since he returned from Hawaii with his family in early January. He reportedly plans to go to Martha's Vineyard in August.