In a closed-door White House conversation that led to a deal that barely avoided a shutdown of the government on Thursday night, President Barack Obama said he challenged Republicans to try to repeal his landmark healthcare reform in private budget talks last week, taunting his opponents with a question: "You think we're stupid?"
He said he warned Republicans he would veto any legislation passed by Congress that sought to defund his 2010 healthcare overhaul. Republicans, who took control of the House of Representatives later that year, had vowed to kill the law.
A two-thirds majority of Congress is required to override a presidential veto.
"If you think you can overturn my veto, try it,'" Obama said in describing an exchange with Republicans.
His remarks in Chicago came after the White House press pool had been escorted from the room. Unbeknownst to Obama, the comments were accidentally piped back to the White House and recorded by CBS News and ABC News.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama was "not at all" embarrassed that the remarks were made public.
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