BBC
Obama confronts political woes at White House
Rain fell on the White House as Mr Obama and Mr Erdogan spoke to reporters
US President Barack Obama has taken time out of an appearance with Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan to address the White House's political woes.
Mr Obama pledged to "fix" problems at the US tax agency that led to undue scrutiny of conservative groups.
And he offered "no apologies" for his concern over leaks to the news media he said could harm national security.
The US justice department seized telephone records from the Associated Press news agency in a leak inquiry.
Also, Mr Obama urged Congress to approve a request for more diplomatic security funding, as Republicans clamour over the administration's response to the deadly 11 September attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
'Unacceptable'
In a joint news conference in the White House Rose Garden with the Turkish leader, Mr Obama was asked about a trio of domestic issues that some analysts say have derailed his agenda at the start of his second term in office.
Mr Obama addressed findings that the US tax authority, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), had subjected conservative political groups to extra screening ahead of the 2012 election.
The Democratic president said that from the moment he learned of the matter, "my main focus has been that we get the thing fixed".
He said he had been unaware of an inspector general's report into the affair until it was revealed in the press.
But he said the actions described in the report were "absolutely unacceptable".
He added that it was important the IRS was "doing its job scrupulously and without even a hint of bias", and expressed optimism that the matter could be resolved.
On Wednesday, the acting IRS commissioner said he was stepping aside in response to the issue, and Attorney General Eric Holder said a criminal investigation was under way.
Asked about a national security investigation that led the justice department to subpoena telephone records from the Associated Press news agency, Mr Obama offered "no apologies" for his concern that leaks to news media could put the lives of military and intelligence personnel at risk.
Defends Holder
"Leaks related to national security can put people at risk," he said.
"And so I make no apologies, and I don't think the American people would expect me, as commander in chief, not to be concerned about information that might compromise their missions or might get them killed."
Mr Obama expressed confidence in Mr Holder, who has come under fire for the seizure.
It was revealed on Monday that the justice department seized phone records from the Associated Press as part of an internal investigation into the leak of classified information to the news agency. The AP last year ran an article detailing a CIA operation in Yemen that foiled a bomb plot.
Mr Obama said he supported a media shield law to help balance the protection of press freedom against national security needs.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22558067
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