President Barack Obama blamed congressional Republicans for the government shutdown on Thursday, saying the budget stalemate is caused by their "obsession" with hobbling his healthcare plan and the sway of Tea Party-backed conservatives over party leaders.

"We've heard a lot from congressional Republicans the last several days saying they don't want this shutdown, we'll there's simple way to prove it. Send the bill to the floor, let everybody vote, it will pass, send me the vote, I will sign it, the shutdown will be over and we can get back to the business of governing and helping the American people," he said.

Obama called for a straight up-or-down vote to reopen government, but said House of Representatives Republican leaders are intimidated by the most conservative members of their caucus.