Obama: Being nice doesn't lead to deals

President Obama says he's a nice guy — it just doesn't do that much good when it comes to dealing with congressional Republicans.

"Most people who know me know I'm a pretty friendly guy," Obama told reporters at Monday's news conference.

"And I like a good party," he added.

The president said he and first lady Michelle Obama treat Republicans well at the congressional picnic and other White House events, "but it doesn't prevent them from going onto the floor of the House and blasting me for being 'a big-spending socialist.'"

Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, played a celebrated round of golf in 2011, but the president pointed out "that didn't get a deal done" on debt reduction.

There are a variety of reasons for this, Obama said.

For one thing, Republicans who hail from conservative districts and states could get in trouble with their voters if they are seen as "too chummy" with the Democratic president.

Another problem: The issues, and profoundly different views on how much to tax, who to tax, and which programs to cut.

Both Obama and Boehner say they like each other personally, and that their disputes are rooted in politics and philosophy.

Said Obama: "I think that really what's gone on in terms of some of the paralysis here in Washington -- or difficulties in negotiations -- just have to do with some very stark differences in terms of policy, some very sharp differences in terms of where we stand on issues."