Obama: Make Middle-Class Tax Cuts Permanent

President Obama hit the Sunday talk show circuit today, vowing to push Congress for a permanent middle-class tax cut for as long as it takes. “I strongly believe that we should continue those tax cuts,” Obama told CBS’ Face the Nation. “It’s still the right thing to do.” The president also said he’s advised banking executives to “show some restraint” and “help me help you.”

Turning to the war in Afghanistan, Obama said, “What I will not do is assume that more troops always results in an improved situation,” adding that civil efforts must be “robustly encouraged.” The president also got personal, saying his new job has “strained some friendships” but that he feels “incredibly fortunate” that he doesn't have a “caretaker presidency right now.” (More Barack Obama stories.)