Obama Says ‘They Will Not Call it ObamaCare’ After Plan Begins Helping People

Obama Raises Stakes in Debt, Spending Showdown (AFP)

Largo (United States) (AFP) - President Barack Obama Thursday warned he would never allow Republicans to kill or delay his health care law, raising the stakes in a showdown that could shutter the government or trigger a US debt default.

House of Representatives Republicans are refusing to fund a government budget or raise the $16.7 trillion federal borrowing ceiling unless the president agrees to defund or delay so-called "ObamaCare" -- his greatest domestic political achievement.

If no deal is reached, the government could shudder to a halt on October 1 and the United States could default on its debts for the first time ever, some time after the middle of October.