Lawmakers on Cantor Leaving Debt Talks

June 24, 2011 01:00 PM
Jared Bernstein: Cantor's Behavior "Profoundly Irresponsible And Reckless." Isn't That What Republicans Do?
By Susie Madrak

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/jared-bernstein-cantors-behavior-prof

Former White House adviser Jared Bernstein is, of course, an economist and thinks in terms of what makes sense, and good policy. But that's not exactly the game we're playing here, is it?

A journalist just asked me what I thought of Eric Cantor abandoning the budget talks because the Democrats are insisting that the deal include both spending cuts and revenue increases.

I’ve been around this town awhile. I could easily slip into the cynical Washington insider mode and write off this kind of political theater as strategy or posturing. But not this time.

***

Anyone walking away from that table needs to take a hard look at the extent of economic hardship facing American families right now and ask yourself why prolonging that pain is worth the political leverage you gain from it.The time for such game playing is long past. Stop screwing around, cut the deal, and raise the debt ceiling.