The Republicans seem to be all over the place on a deal for raising the debt ceiling. Everyone in the Republican Party appears to be offering up a plan from “do nothing,” to “grant Obama the ability to raise and cut as he sees fit”. Even the Chairman of the Republican Party is confused by the proposals being tossed out by members of the party. “I really don’t know where some of that’s coming from,” Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus told Fox News on Wednesday.
Speaker of the House John Boehner, in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday said, “There needs to be a backup plan if we are unable to come to an agreement. And, frankly, I think Mitch has done good work.”
The plan the Speaker was referring to was suggested by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Tuesday afternoon after stating that a real deal would not be possible until after Mr. Obama was out of office.
The Wall Street Journal editorial page added, “We’d far prefer a bipartisan deal to cut spending and reform entitlements without a tax increase. But if Mr. Obama won’t go along, there’s no reason Republicans should help him dodge the political consequences by committing debt-limit harakiri.”
There seems to be a bit of House versus Senate gaming partially due to McConnell’s statement that the Senate would not allow the country to fail to meet its debts. Today House Republican Leader Eric Cantor delivered an indifferent assessment to McConnell’s approach, only conceding the plan’s existence.
There appears to be a full retreat in the works by the GOP and despite leaders trying to calm their caucus, Democrat support for the McConnell plan doesn’t bode well for passage of anything without clearly spelled-out dollar-for-dollar cuts and a balanced budget amendment.
McConnell’s woes were highlighted by positive words from Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, a certain sign that Tea Party members will be inflamed by the minority leader’s proposal.
When it looked like it could not get worse for the GOP, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney issued a statement saying McConnell’s plan “reaffirmed” that the U.S. cannot default on its bills. He clarified Wednesday that the McConnell plan is a “fallback,” and not the “preferred” option, squarely putting the Senate Minority Leader on the wrong side of the issue.
Arizona Republican David Schwikert summed up the dilemma to Fox News, “If both sides are getting what they want, it’s probably a bad proposal.”
McConnell, no matter how well intentioned, paints a picture of a Republican Party without backbone and creating a stark divide between congressional GOP leadership, the base and the Tea Party. Rather than drawing a line in the sand, McConnell’s proposal is little better than a dotted line written in disappearing ink. Fearing that being on the right side of an issue creates untenable political issues is a message of cowardice that will devastate GOP turnout in the 2012 election.
The Tea Party and several members of Congress have already spoken out. Democrat representative from Vermont, Peter Welch, demonstrated that McConnell’s wishy-washy plan is just as politically problematic as a hard line when he said Tuesday, “This is a backbone-free proposal.” Tea Party organization FreedomWorks tweeted, “Sen. McConnell thinks cutting spending is too hard. Help him find his spine! Call him at 202-224-2541.”
Whether it’s disorganization, political anxiety or, as FreedomWorks suggested, spinelessness, the GOP has managed to take an issue that could not be more tailored to their base and the Tea Party and completely fumbled the ball. Boehner and McConnell have been playing dodge ball on the debt ceiling, offering only tidbits and sound bites, never laying down the law, something the country has been begging to see coming from Washington. Perhaps both have been on Capitol Hill too long.
Rather than the House putting a plan to a vote and allowing the Senate to either ratify it or vote it down (assuming with Democrat votes alone) would squarely place the onus on the Democrats that have offered up nothing more than tax increases and a hands off entitlements approach. Somewhere between their second and third term, members of Congress must be required to turn in their spines to the Sergeant of Arms. Perhaps it’s time to consider a less stressful retirement.
A week ago Michele Bachmann’s pronouncement that she would oppose any increase in the debt limit was roundly criticized as irresponsible. Now her GOP compatriots seem so lost that her position appears the most focused.
Perhaps McConnell was trying to help out Michele Bachmann, who will likely benefit from the aimlessness of her party.
We need leadership and the sad fact is we’re getting little from either the Executive or ithe Legislative branches of our government. Apparently It’s not only time for a balanced budget amendment, but term limits as well.