White House: McConnell's Debt Proposal 'Not The Preferred Option'

WASHINGTON -- The White House on Wednesday closed the door a little more on the debt proposal being floated by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), a measure already under siege by conservatives.

"This is not a preferred option," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said of McConnell's proposal in his daily briefing.

McConnell's proposal for avoiding debt default -- to transfer full power to raise the debt ceiling to the White House for the remainder of Obama's current term, cutting Congress out of the process -- does nothing to address deficit reduction, Carney said. And Obama is set on making sizable cuts.

"The president is firmly committed to significant cuts in spending and to dealing with our deficit and debt problems in a balanced way," he said. "Bigger is better. ... It's an opportunity for a game-changer, to put the United States on much firmer ground as we really get into the 21st century and the economic competition that confronts us."

On Tuesday, the White House made a point to publicly embrace the sentiment of McConnell's proposal, reaffirming that default is not an option. But it stopped short of supporting its particulars. Carney's comments Wednesday clarified that the White House has little desire to actually move on the GOP offer.

Conservative Republicans have assailed McConnell's proposal from the moment it was unveiled. Conservative blog RedState calling McConnell "a weasel" and slammed his proposal as the "Pontius Pilate Pass the Buck Act of 2011." Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) have already signaled they will oppose the plan if it comes to a vote.

Regardless the fate of his proposal, McConnell cast more gloom on the overall debt debate when, during an interview on Laura Ingraham's program earlier Wednesday, he predicted that no Republicans will vote to raise the debt limit in the end. Carney questioned why McConnell would say that when he made clear with his proposal that a debt default is not acceptable.

"It doesn't really make any sense to me because he has made clear that we absolutely cannot default on our obligations," Carney said.

In the same interview, McConnell also flatly conceded he is pushing his proposal in an effort to shift political blame for raising the debt limit purely onto the president, with the goal ultimately being to prevent Obama from getting re-elected in 2012. Carney chided the Republican leader trying to turn votes on the nation's deficit and debt into a referendum on the president.

"It's unfortunate to view this through a purely political lens," he said. "The president recognizes that it is his responsibility to do this. It is his responsibility to compromise. And he certainly believes that the Republicans ought to do the same and that we're in this together."

Comments

[GoldsteinD]

12:20 PM on 07/14/2011

be specific. What are you willing to cut?

will any of the cuts come between now and the 2012 elections? (probably not) just too painful

[Kode]

10:58 AM on 07/14/2011

Growing up there was this kid that always wanted to fight until he actually had to fight. At that point, he wanted no part. The media created the tea party. It was Rick Santelli and his ridiculous rants. It was cool to be anti government. The Republicans jumped on the moment, the midterm elections validated their energy and now that movement has created a point in American history were the full faith and credit of the American government is being compromised. All I kept hearing was the American people are angry. Everyone was so angry that they elected politicians that were ready to fight and show their anger rather than lead even when it was unpopular. While everyone is blaming Washington for this disgraceful display of leadership, I blame the American people for being angry and having a temper tantrum on election day. Irrespective of your political affiliation, we have a responsibility to elect the most responsible people we can to represent us...and even when are choices are limited, WE THE PEOPLE must do our job if we expect them to do theirs.

[Huzie]

10:54 AM on 07/14/2011

I see a glimmer of what I hoped I would see, to stem the Republican tide of screw the masses. Nobody really is doing enough to help the little guy, but it doesn't take a brain surgeon to see who would destroy us all to protect the richest.

[aacme]

10:40 AM on 07/14/2011

Maybe what we need isn't a game changer. Maybe we need a game winner. The Repubs have to be defeated, Obama needs to stop the wars, and taxes need to be raised on the only people left with any money. We need to go back to having a real economy, not just stack wars on top of each other.
The world is rightly terrified at what we will do next.
We need to get a grip.

[devilirius]

10:04 AM on 07/14/2011

We now see just how extreme Republicans have become.

[AZreb]

09:35 AM on 07/14/2011

Another production of "political theater" and BOTH sides have bad actors on stage. We, the taxpayers, have not seen complete reports of what either side wants and proposes. We get bits and pieces - whatever is considered "newsworthy" by the politicians and the media.

Put the plans out there for us to see - we have not all fallen into the "dumbed down" class and can read, add and subtract and make informed judgments - but only if we have all the facts and figures.

[billsaidit]

02:30 AM on 07/14/2011

I hear "Words" just words like Loop-hole = always something that pertains to someone else - NOT this Obama guy He's looking at your morgage interest your deducting from "His" tax money.
Words like "Investment" = A new Tax and spend project on an expired Visa Card.
Words just words "Folks" = the common poor people out their that depend on me and the government FOREVER.

[new beginning]

08:00 AM on 07/14/2011

Oh! First Fan. Welcome to hp!

[workquick]

08:22 AM on 07/14/2011

This Obama guy you refer to is your President and your talking points are gibberish. When you call him this Obama guy could it be your deep rooted racism shining forth? I have a feeling your hatred for this Obama guy took root the very instant President Obama took the oath of office and this hatred has very little to do with his performance.

[billsaidit]

02:58 PM on 07/14/2011

Yes I am a Raciest- I am all for being an American Race. You can call ME "folks" Those people dependant on Libwolves like yourself correcting my spelling,Grammer and adding nothing but insults to our American-American's here just trying to make solutions instead of arguments- I just think it's great that we have a 1st amendment so you can do what you do best. AS for this Obama guy He's just folks too. Someone who's dependant on government for his job and a teleprompter to keep him from doing the wrong thing. Just words Now go read his books and vote in 2012 - If you voted for Obama last time to prove you were not a racist. Vote for someone else in 2012 to prove your not an Idoit.

[billsaidit]

02:15 AM on 07/14/2011

" he (Obama) said. "Bigger is better. ... It's an opportunity for a game-changer, to put the United States on much firmer ground as we really get into the 21st century and the economic competition that confronts us."
Do we really want to be in competition with Greece? If this government doesn't LEAN DOWN to its budget It will be competing for a hand out.

[KeynesWasRight]

05:37 AM on 07/14/2011

If you really believe that the U.S. government is comparable to Greece, you have a thing or two to learn about international finance my friend. I think Alabama's GDP is larger than Greece's...

[billsaidit]

03:19 PM on 07/14/2011

what about the other states nearing bankruptsy - Ca. and Who's running that state ?
Greece?

[new beginning]

08:01 AM on 07/14/2011

If he was serious, he would put boondoggles like Obamacare on the table. Instead it - and his other pet projects are off the table.

[KeynesWasRight]

06:59 PM on 07/16/2011

I guess you're not familiar with the CBO's report that "Obamacare" as you so derisively call it, will reduce government spending by tens of billions of dollars over the next decade. Part of the reason Obama focused so much on health care reform was out of concern for the deficit, seeing as how the astronomical cost of health care in this country is maybe the single biggest factor in our expanding debt.

[MilesToGo]

10:28 PM on 07/13/2011

There will be no debt ceiling default...never was going to be! This has always been a fabricated political calamity fraught with illusion. The real power brokers, the New York financial lords, were never, ever going to let their DC political vassals exercise superficial power. Now the Tea Party Republicans have, in effect, check-mated themselves. This game is over.

Now can we move on to actual governance?

[AZreb]

09:27 AM on 07/14/2011

Agree - "Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing".

[Yitzahk Deguelo]

10:04 AM on 07/14/2011

Provided that they can yank the leash of the right wing hard enough to regain alpha control. I train Rottweiler dogs that have much more of a clue than the bunch in DC. The GOP has been shooting holes in the bottom of the lifeboat for over 10 years now and they have no one to blame but themselves. Those aren't my words but those of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in the NYTimes today. Sen. Mitch McConnel has spent so much time insuring that President Obama is a one term president that he has managed not to even do the bidding of the GOP"s paymasters (Wall Street and the ultra-wealthy). Now they've yanked his leash so hard that he has become the voice of reason. I get a kick out of his statement last night that he doesn't want the GOP to have to take "co-ownership" of this bad economy. (You know the one which they were responsible for creating in the first place ??) Hell, they don't have ownership of this economy, they hold the patent on the financial practices that almost sunk us !!!

[MilesToGo]

10:15 AM on 07/14/2011

Excellent commentary and right on! Pleased to be your first fan. GOP ownership of this economy is undisputed to anyone that's been observing events. Mindless servants of the GOP status quo may imagine otherwise, but their emotional blinders are fixed in place such that they cannot be persuaded otherwise.

[Sharkcellar]

10:25 PM on 07/13/2011

Financial reform was a chance for a "game changer". The health care fight was a chance for a "game changer". The Bush tax credits was a chance for a "game changer".

[Bruce vain]

07:29 PM on 07/13/2011

I was laughing my head of..Mitch looked like he wanted to cry...he looked so out of his element..like he just got a bad phone call..loved it.

[Poboy]

07:25 PM on 07/13/2011

Republicans: We give in, take the debt limit without preconditions.

Obama: No, no. Make me take deep cuts in spending.

Obamabots: Brilliant chess move.

[LiteSleeper]

12:17 AM on 07/14/2011

LOL, Exactly. Thank You!

[havana62]

02:34 AM on 07/14/2011

That's pretty funny for being a TEABAGGER.

[bealebkk]

07:12 PM on 07/13/2011

The spin doctor Gríma Wormtongue aka Jay Carney has spoken

[hellinahandcart]

07:20 PM on 07/13/2011

He's a universe far and above that last smarmy wea.sel they called a press secretary. Gawd he was aw.ful.

[bealebkk]

07:56 PM on 07/13/2011

everything is relative

[socal dj]

07:11 PM on 07/13/2011

The republicans ought to close the tax loopholes for it is not worth the risk to the economy. I do not care for stereotypes but I'm beginning to believe the GOP is willing to risk all for some 3.5% of the least vulnerable citizens. For all I know, the Dems have agreed to a 4 trillion spending cut while revamping medicare while I haven't seen any compromising acts from the GOP. The best way to cure deficits is economic growth. So how are you going to create jobs and growth when you gut government spending in the middle of a recession and jobs crisis and lay off hundreds of thousands of government employees? They extended the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy that added $800 billion to the debt, so...WHERE ARE THE JOBS????????

[njdanie]

07:08 PM on 07/13/2011

I'm not sure what's wrong with McConnell's proposal other than his party won't support it. It allows the debt ceiling to increase, and the GWB tax cuts are gonna expire in a little over a year...
Isn't this something like what the Dems want?

[Bados]

07:16 PM on 07/13/2011

It says Obama has to ask them to raise it in 3 different increments before 2012. No Bueno!!!!!

[Reader2323]

07:30 PM on 07/13/2011

Oh, please don't throw me into that briar patch!