Obama Accuses Congress of Offering a "Lump of Coal" for Christmas

Coal which the president would then tax at a rather high rate

HATFIELD, Pa. — President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) finished another week without a fiscal cliff deal not even agreeing on how the negotiations are going.

Obama expressed optimism as he took his case on the road here Friday, saying Democrats and Republicans "can and will work together."

Boehner, meanwhile, responded with a dour, "Right now, we're almost nowhere."

Obama struck a playful tone throughout his speech at a toy factory to warn Americans that they could be in for a "lump of coal" for Christmas if Congress fails to extend current middle class tax rates.