Harrisburg — Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement after it was reported that President Barack Obama put politics first and rejected a bipartisan, bicameral debt ceiling plan that would have raised the debt ceiling and cut spending.
“President Obama’s willingness to put his re-election campaign ahead of the well-being of our nation is at the height of irresponsibility. Rejecting a deal based solely on political expedience is proof yet again that our president is concerned about one thing, his own job,” said Chairman Rob Gleason.
We just may want to add the tax thing in there — It has been widely reported that President Obama desperately wants a large tax increase as well as a debt limit increase that will take him past the next presidential election.
“President Obama was elected to lead our nation, but has shown that he is unwilling to provide leadership when it matters. While our president drags his feet at the risk of our nation’s economy, Republicans will continue to work on a framework aimed at preventing default that includes enacting spending reforms and cuts greater than a debt limit hike,” continued Chairman Gleason.
McConnell: Obama rejected bipartisan deal.
“On the Senate floor moments ago, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said President Obama was presented with a bipartisan proposal to raise the debt ceiling — agreed upon by Democratic leaders Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi — but the president “rejected it out of hand.” (Leist, Libby. McConnell: Obama rejected bipartisan deal. NBC News. July 25, 2011)
The Wall Street Journal: “One Irony Is That Mr. Obama’s Demands For Tax Increases Have Already Been Abandoned By Members Of His Own Party In The Senate.” “One irony is that Mr. Obama’s demands for tax increases have already been abandoned by Members of his own party in the Senate. Majority Leader Harry Reid knows that Democrats running for re-election next year don’t want to vote to raise taxes, so he’s fashioning a bill to raise the debt ceiling that includes only reductions in spending. But Mr. Obama never mentioned that rather large fact about Mr. Reid’s effort.” (Editorial, “A Leadership Default,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/26/11)
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