“It is important, though, for all of you, as you’re writing up these stories, to recognize that $17 billion taken out of our discretionary, non-defense budget, as well as portions of our defense budget, are significant.  They mean something.”

President Obama told journalists directly that they should stress the fact that the cuts are “significant”. 

As one article notes, $17 billion is, indeed, a large number.  When seen in a vacuum.  But as anyone with even the most rudimentary grasp of mathematics is seeing, when compared to his $3.55 trillion 2010 budget and the 10-year projections now over $12 trillion, it’s just a drop in the bucket.

They mean something, alright. 

Change.

Chump change.