Mitch McConnell: Democrats Engaging In 'Deliberate Deception' In Debt Ceiling Talks

WASHINGTON — Ratcheting up the partisan rhetoric, House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday that the burden for raising the nation's debt limit rests on President Barack Obama's shoulders.

"This debt limit increase is his problem and I think it's time for him to lead by putting his plan on the table – something that the Congress can pass," Boehner said in a news conference hours before heading to the White House for another round of meetings.

Boehner's comments are a sharp shift from the talk in recent days from both sides about the need for the White House and lawmakers to find a bipartisan solution. Raising the debt ceiling ultimately requires congressional authorization.

Earlier Tuesday, the top Republican in the Senate accused Obama and Democrats of "deliberate deception" of the American public during the negotiations to cut government spending and increase the U.S. debt limit.

In a harshly worded speech on the Senate floor Tuesday, Sen. Mitch McConnell said the president presented Republicans with three choices: smoke and mirrors, tax increases, or default. McConnell says Republicans refused to play along.

Despite their strong language, both McConnell and Boehner have said they believe the U.S. will not default on its obligations. The Treasury Department has said the debt ceiling must be raised by Aug. 2 in order to avoid that potentially calamitous situation.

Republicans remain vehemently opposed to a deal that would include any tax increases, while the White House insists increased revenues must be a part of the final package.

Comments

[professor]

01:26 AM on 08/21/2011

The right wing always accuses the opposition of what they do. This is a tried and true rhetorical trick. It subverts criticism. When you say, "No, you are the liirs," they just say, "O, you are copying us," when, in reality, they are copying their opposition. Sneaky and ineffably childish and the fact that the US public swallows it is a bellwether on their intelligence.

[smburwick]

05:55 PM on 07/14/2011

Darlie Brewster: and your point is?

[smburwick]

03:00 PM on 07/14/2011

johnblack: Nancy Pelosi will go down in history as the dumbest most corrupt woman to head the house. When she first took office I was happy for her, and then she opened her botoxed mouth.

[smburwick]

02:14 PM on 07/14/2011

HC: NOW that is a ridiculous statement. Well if you prefer the socialists----go to Cuba or Venezuela.

[smburwick]

01:01 PM on 07/14/2011

GeneP: you can't use that uncivil statement. No republican is holding anyone hostage. We would not have this discussion if the House didn't have republicans in majority. This is called balance of power. Now I just heard that Minnesota is now going to have and agreement to get the state going again. The democrat governer has given in some and so have the majority. That is how the interests of this country get taken care of-----not Obama's political career.

[smburwick]

12:33 PM on 07/14/2011

diveguy: It is their policies that create jobs. Semantics only. I know you like to watch tv.

[Richard Tapper]

09:18 PM on 07/13/2011

I would LOVE to see an expert on reading facial expressions -- and deception -- do a public analysis of these guys. McConnell and Boehner are lying sacks of $h!# who apparently prioritize party and power over country. I'd just like to see b.s. detectors in these stories. Maybe even the 22% of the population that believes even the boldest lies of these Republicans would start to think a little...

[Steve Reaves]

08:26 AM on 07/13/2011

The GOP just can't wait to start another Great Depression.

[Harlem-bred]

07:28 AM on 07/13/2011

Man O Man..... I cannot STAND that turtle necked fraud. He is the poster child for horrible leadership in government.

[preklow]

08:02 AM on 07/13/2011

YOU MUST BE TALKIN ABOUT DIRTY HARRY

[Richardini]

07:26 AM on 07/13/2011

Oh, yes, everything now is Obama's problem. After the Republicans left our country in shambles under the Bush administration, they now shove all their creation onto Obama's shoulders and blame him for everything. They can play the innocent bystanders all they want. The suffering unemployed know just who screwed up our economy and who have brought the government to this impasse regarding the debt ceiling. They have nothing but a field of screwballs representing their party and the screwiest one is that Bachman goofball. Our country has become a laughing stock in the world. When one sees the type of religious fanatics praying with Rick Perry, we get a true picture of what it would be like to live under our own Taliban. The Old Testament would be the constitution and punishment would be dealt out in accordance with Leviticus, selectively, of course.

[biff humble]

09:56 AM on 07/14/2011

Sadly, I'm afraid many of the suffering unemployed don't know who screwed up the economy. I'm still hearing them repeat Fox News talking points on Fannie and Freddie that were debunked a year ago.

[mgrant33301]

07:24 AM on 07/13/2011

and the pot screamed out to the kettle and said "YOU ARE BLACK!"

[Sisa]

07:00 AM on 07/13/2011

Mitch Mconnell, John Boehner and all their GOP ilk are guilty of TREASON! Being engaging in activity to bring about the demise of the United States of America.

[exile]

03:47 AM on 07/13/2011

the government sent jobs overseas.
now they call the unemployed
lazy
mooches
leeches
unamerican
big business refuses to hire americans
thinking obama will look bad
and not get re-elected
if there are many without a job.
that's america
kill the unions and the middle class
they have zero power anyway
it will be easy.

[pphhrogg]

03:20 AM on 07/13/2011

Deliberate deception is what YOU have been doing for all of your years in the Senate, McConnell. What you are doing right now is called psychotic PROJECTION.

[madisonlike60]

02:58 AM on 07/13/2011

Why is this man trying to delude the American public? (Rhetorical $).
I am no economist, but if I remember history correctly, the only other time in the recent past where was unemployment so high, the economy so bad, was during the Reagan years.
Now, the third year Reagan was President, unemployment was 10.2% to 10.8%, and the economy sucked.
Reagan had given largest tax breaks in history, which accounted for much of the problem. He went on to RAISE TAXES to historic levels. Long story short, when he left office unemployment was around 5.5 and the economy was more robust.
So, it would seem that raising taxes was the best thing good old Ronnie could have done. So, Mitch, take a lesson from your hero, RAISE TAXES to get the economy going. Please.
http://capitalgainsandgames.com/blog/bruce-bartlett/1632/reagans-tax-increases