Mitt Romney, who has been noticeably quiet during the debt-ceiling debate, issued a statement today in opposition to the current deal that would hike the debt ceiling.
“While I appreciate the extraordinarily difficult situation President Obama’s lack of leadership has placed Republican Members of Congress in, I personally cannot support this deal,” Romney said in a statement this morning.
He said that if he were president he would have a “cut, capped, and balanced budget” and criticized the current deal for “open[ing] the door to higher taxes and put[ting] defense cuts on the table.”
Michele Bachmann announced her opposition to this latest deal last night, saying that Obama’s deal “spends too much and doesn’t cut enough.”
“Everywhere I travel across the country, Americans want less spending, lower taxes to create jobs, and they don’t want us to raise the debt ceiling. The president continues to press for a ‘balanced approach,’ which everyone knows is code for increased spending and taxes. Throughout this process the president has failed to lead and failed to provide a plan,” Bachmann said.
“Someone has to say no. I will,” she added.
Jon Huntsman announced his support for the current deal, saying it was “a positive step toward cutting our nation’s crippling debt.”
“Because the legislation promises cuts commensurate with the debt-ceiling increase, forces a vote on a much-needed federal balanced-budget amendment, and provides the only avenue to avoid default, I encourage members of Congress to vote for this legislation,” Huntsman said in a statement released last night.
Huntsman also had some pointed criticism for others involved in the debate, noting “Some of my opponents ducked the debate entirely, others would have allowed the nation to slide into default, and President Obama refused to offer any plan.”
Referring to the joint super-committee that would be formed to introduce a new plan before the second debt-ceiling hike went forward, Huntsman said he would push members to propose a plan “that includes real cuts, entitlement reform, and revenue-neutral tax reforms — without any tax hikes.”
UPDATE: Pawlenty spokesman Alex Conant weighs in, calling the debt deal “nothing to celebrate.”
“Only in Washington would the political class think it’s a victory when the government narrowly avoids default, agrees to go further into debt, and does little to reform a spending system that cannot be sustained by our children and grandchildren. While no further evidence was needed, this entire debt-ceiling fiasco demonstrates that President Obama must be replaced,” Conant said in a statement this morning.
UPDATE II: In regard to the new debt deal, Rick Perry spokesman Mark Miner says, “Governor Perry supports the cut, cap, and balance approach.”
"He said that if he were president he would have a “cut, capped, and balanced budget”"
Saying he supports CCB is useless because it got shot down in the Senate. All the Romney supporters keep telling me this guy is Bob the Builder or Mandy Handy of politics but he keeps supporting a plan that got nowhere and opposes the only thing that can get through the system as it currently stands. Romney should be Chapter 1 of Profiles in Cowardice.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWow! If even Romney smells blood in the water, this deal must really suck!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseObama only wants his credit extended past the election. He will give away anything at all to get that. If Boehner and McConnell can't drive a better deal than they have, they need to resign and let someone who can deal with it.
The laugh is that the downgrade is coming, no matter what, and the stock market will tank, no matter what, and once you give Obama what he wants, kiss it all goodbye. Obama's "temporary" stimulus ain't so temporary, after all.
Please tell me how Obama escapes all the blame for this. He is like a spouse who blows all the credit cards on something stupid, and when you try to buy groceries, you can't, because you're past your limit. When you have the temerity to point this out, you get scolded for not "planning ahead", or "earning enough money". Just don't bring up the $2,000 coat or the $700 worth of shoes, that actually created the problem.
And we're all busy listening to the mother-in-law who merely parrots the same "not "planning ahead", or "earning enough money"trope. Noone is pointing out the real problem at all.
Make O give back the coat and the shoes, and tell him to shut up.
Since you asked, it's easy for Obama to "escape all blame" for this fiscal mess. Republicans are co-signers on the papers.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusenot on the Stimulus and ObamaCare and Dodd-Frank ... and those are the current wrenches in the economic engine ...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDorsaiGuy:
All true, but who is going to tell it? The MSM? Not.
(captcha: talk turkey)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMitt Romney: The poster child of political courage…… When it’s over and the smoke is starting to settle on the opening battle, he comes charging to the front on his white horse saying follow me boys. A day late and a dollar short Skippy, put your finger up and see how the wind is blowing tomorrow morning, well done!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBingo, bdawg.
Notice how all these clowns pretty much stayed silent through the debt ceiling debate except for Palin & Bachmann.
Romney is just the type of "finger in the wind", pathetic politician we don't need anymore of in DC.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMaybe, Romney actually takes the time to read the final document and makes a measured, intelligent assessment of any potentially negative aspects of the bill? That approach is both smart, conservative, and realistic. The art of the possible.
That is one of the exceptional qualities that Romney possesses and is a key into why he was successful in creating a multibillion dollar company and investing and funding other successful multibillion dollar ventures. In fact, there are no other Republican candidates, even if you include Huntsman and Perry, who have that type of experience and expertise.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSteve, nice to have a Mitten staffer join the fun here on The Corner!
As much as I despise what Obama's done to this country, if Romney is the R nominee then I will be sitting this one out.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThen you will be actively helping the cause of the world's communists and dictators whose greatest desire is to see the destruction of America.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI am quaking in my boots worrying about Chia Head in North Korea, which has trouble even feeding its own army, the Al Davis of Commies in Cuba and his wannabe friend in Venezuela.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe Romney Kool Aid drinkers sure think I am stupid to believe that slice of Satan Sandwich. The condescending attitude reinforces my decision to boycott 2012 if Romney is the nominee.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOh, how cute. Mitt Romnney is playing the ultra purist to flex his muscles.
Not buying it for a second.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse...and thus did Rick Perry become my first choice for the nomination. I guess this is Romney’s version of “leading form behind.” It takes an epic amount of chutzpah for Romney to maintain radio silence during the Debt Ceiling Debate, and then come out against it after all of the political heavy lifting, and providing no indication how Cut, Cap and Balance could have passed the Senate. What a complete lack of leadership demonstrated by Romney.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePerry is already on record saying he preferred no deal at all compared the original Boehner deal, so it's safe to say he opposes this one too since it is a lot worse than the original Boehner deal.
The only GOP candidate who endorses this horrible "deal" is Jon Huntsman. I guess a Huntsman endorsement is imminent from the NRO establishment bores.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"In regard to the new debt deal, Rick Perry spokesman Mark Miner says “Governor Perry supports the cut, cap and balance approach.”"
Unfortunately Perry just pulled a Romney. I expected Romney to be a weasel but I was hoping more from Perry. If I pulled off these types of pathetic statements in a job interview I would not be offered the job.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat's ironic, seeing as how Perry came out today with a statement that says the same thing as Romney: that he supports "cut, cap, and balance."
I anxiously await your leadership criticisms of Governor Perry for also "providing no indication how Cut, Cap, and Balance could have passed the Senate."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMy thoughts exactly.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou don’t have to wait very long, since it looks like Perry is pandering as much as Mitt on this one.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFor all those who are slamming Romney here - umm, he came out over a week ago saying he supports cut, cap, and balance. It's not his fault the the media, including National Review, refused to talk about his position. Let's not blow the best chance we have of beating Obama. Please!!!
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