ANNAPOLIS — In a speech at the United States Naval Academy on Tuesday, President Obama pledged to the assembled naval and Marine cadets that despite serious drawdowns, no service member would be forced to leave his or her job if they like it.

After acknowledging the Naval Academy’s hallowed history of producing the finest Naval and Marine officers in the world, the President first addressed assertions leveled by critics that the budget cuts will have a negative impact on readiness and morale. Some are claiming that the cuts are political, intended to fund the President's pet projects.

“Programs such as Head Start, the EPA, the Veterans’ Administration, and Solyndra are vital elements of America. They service our citizens and veterans every day, and they need funding," Obama said. "Let me be clear: we must get that money from somewhere, and some rich folks, rather than have some skin in the game, have sneakily gone bankrupt rather than work harder to pay more taxes."