Press secretary Jay Carney tells MSNBC "our intention was merely for the president to address a joint session "as soon as possible," to outline his plan for creating jobs.
Carney says "our interest is in not having a political back and forth here at all." He also says that the White House yielded when Speaker John Boehner insisted the speech be next Thursday, instead of Wednesday, because of a GOP debate.
Carney says "Americans are sick and tired of the partisan bickering" in the capital. He argues that Obama wants to focus on "things we can do" to spur the economy.
