President Obama in the Brady Press Briefing Room (Pete Welsch/Creative Commons)

Voicing determination, the president seemed optimistic that such a compromise could be reached with 10 days left in the year. 

President Obama made it clear there is still work that needs to be done on this issue, insisting, “This is not…a contest between parties.”

The president urged Congress to pass legislation on what both sides already agree on, which is keeping taxes the same for 98 percent of Americans. “Averting…middle class tax hikes…is a shared responsibility.”

Obama encouraged members of Congress to “think” about what preventing a tax increase for 98 percent of Americans would do when they are home with their families over the holiday. He also said, “We’re [going] to have to find common ground.”

The president said he was "still ready and willing to get a comprehensive package done,” near the top of his speech. Meanwhile, Republican leadership seems willing to work on their own deal without support from their party. 

“We just have to do the right thing,” Obama said. Near the end of his speech, the President remarked that he wanted 2013 to be a good year and full of growth.

Before concluding, Obama touched on gun control — a mainstay in public dialogue this week, especially after the National Rifle Association's presser today — saying, “We’ve got work to do on gun safety.”

Read more of Neon Tommy's fiscal cliff coverage here.

Reach Staff Reporter Max Schwartz here. Follow him on Twitter here.