John Boehner has been rallying his caucus to support his debt plan by saying that Obama hates it:
Boehner said he couldn't understand why any Republicans would position themselves with Democrats opposing his plan.That kinda sums it up.
"Barack Obama hates it, [Sen.] Harry Reid hates it, [Rep.] Nancy Pelosi hates it," he said, naming off the Democratic leadership.
Some House Democratic leaders are saying enough already with the legislative games. It's time to invoke the 14th amendment:
A trio of House Democratic leaders is calling on President Obama to move unilaterally to raise the country’s debt ceiling next week if Congress passes anything less than a long-term extension of the federal borrowing limit.The White House has repeatedly ruled out that option. But, for two years, the White House also repeatedly said the President absolutely had to defend DOMA -- until he didn't have to defend DOMA.
House Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (S.C.), Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (Conn.) and Caucus Vice-Chairman Xavier Becerra (Calif.) said after a closed-door caucus meeting Wednesday that they are calling on Obama both to veto a short-term deal and sign an executive order invoking the Constitution’s 14th Amendment to avert default on Aug. 2.
Here's how Section 4 of the 14th amendment reads:
Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.
