President Obama today accused Republicans of "extortion" and refused to negotiate over the debt ceiling:
With a possible government shutdown looming, President Obama today accused House Republicans of extortion, saying a “faction” of lawmakers threatens to force the United States into default unless he agrees to delay or defund his signature health care law.
“You have never seen in the history of the United States the debt ceiling or the threat of not raising the debt ceiling being used to extort a president … and trying to force issues that have nothing to do with the budget and have nothing to do with the debt,” Obama said in speech to the Business Roundtable, a nonpartisan association of top American CEOs.
“That a budget is contingent on us eliminating a program that was voted on, passed by both chambers of Congress, ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court, is two weeks from being fully implemented and that helps 30 million people finally get health care coverage; we’ve never seen that become the issue around a budget battle,” he said of the Affordable Care Act.
abcnews: "Obama Accuses GOP of Extortion Over Obamacare"
Meanwhile, Karl Rove warned Republicans not to shut down the government because such actions could cost Republicans the 2014 elections.
Karl Rove is a lot of things, but he did help elect George W. Bush twice (got him close enough for the S.Ct. to steal the first election). He's a bad guy for many reasons, but he has some political acumen. So I hope House Republicans do not listen to him on this:
With an eye toward the 2014 midterm elections, Rove stressed that independent voters largely oppose a move to defund Obamacare that could lead to a government shutdown. This, he warned, would swing independent voters toward the Democrats.
“[Obama] wants a shut down because he understands this is one thing that can rescue him,” Rove said on Fox News Live. “What he wants to do is bring back independents to the Democratic column.”
snip
The shutdown “would be even worse this time than in 1995, because in 1995 when we had a shutdown most of the government was funded,” Rove said.
Politico
Please proceed Mr. Boehner. The never-ending Republican war on the United States of America will not cease (or at least slow down) until they lose control of the House. People cannot ignore a government shutdown and Republicans will be blamed.
Sometimes one must stand up to bullies and to extortion or it goes on forever. If America is the hostage, when the Republicans shoot the hostage, people will see it. This nation is strong enough to survive the coming bad times. It may not, however, survive constant extortion.
This is like High Noon. Time to battle. Better to face the worst now and prevail.