President Barack Obama on Tuesday decried Republican obstruction over funding the government and raising the debt ceiling this month as nothing more than hostage taking, arguing that Democrats were right in resisting negotiations over Obamacare because it would set a dangerous precedent for the nation going forward.

“If reasonable Republicans want to talk about these things again, I am ready to head to the Hill,” Obama said at a White House press conference. “I’ll even spring for dinner again. But I’m not going to do it until the more extreme parts of the Republican party stop forcing John Boehner to issue threats about our economy.

“We can’t make extortion routine as part of our democracy,” he added. “And this is not just for me. They shouldn’t have to pay ransom for me. We have to put a stop to it.”