July 2009:

“My administration has a job to do as well and that job is to get this economy back on its feet, that’s my job and it’s a job I gladly accept. I love these folks who helped get us into this mess and suddenly say ‘this is Obama’s economy,’ that’ fine, give it to me, my job is to solve problems, not to stand on the sidelines and carp and gripe. So, I welcome the job. I want the responsibility.”

Monday night:

(Reuters) — President Barack Obama said on Monday he inherited many of the country’s problems with high debt and deficits when he entered the White House, sounding a theme likely to dominate his 2012 re-election campaign.

Speaking at a Democratic fundraiser, where families paid $15,000 to get a picture with him, Obama defended his economic record and noted that problems in Europe were affecting the United States.

“We do have a serious problem in terms of debt and deficit, and much of it I inherited,” Obama said. The financial crisis, he said, made the problem worse.

HT: Jim Geraghty