White House adviser blames tea party for downgrade

[JUSA]

http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-ad...155220470.html

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House adviser is blaming the downgrade of the U.S. credit rating on tea party Republicans, whom he says were unwilling to compromise on how to reduce the federal debt.

The adviser to President Barack Obama, David Axelrod, tells CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that the decision by the Standard & Poor's credit agency to downgrade the U.S. from AAA to AA+ for the first time was strongly influenced by weeks of standoff between Democrats and Republicans over the debt.

Axelrod calls the action, in his words, "a tea party downgrade" and says it's clearly on the backs of lawmakers who were willing to see the country default to get their way.

Axelrod also criticized GOP presidential candidates for not speaking up in favor of compromise.

[Tekkendo]

Distorting the facts + Twisting the Truth = lefties modus operandi.

That is why you see all the lefties lying and bsing with a straight face.

[r0gue6]

We really needed this same exact thread posted again today.

Learn to search.

[amtharin]

Why would the White House get involve with a*narrative*that is a complete lie??? *Do they think they are a fuking tabloid or something?? *This is just*despicable.

[MyLastSerenade]

Unwilling to compromise= not following the same spending insanity



I am okay with them not willing to compromise..


BTW, how much of this blame game are they going to play?

[209vaughn]

Obama's White House has the worst PR out of any sitting President I can remember. S&P said that the USA needed to eliminate at LEAST $3 trillion in future spending in order to NOT be downgraded. If was up to the Democrats, the debt ceiling would have been raised with $0.00 in spending cuts!!

Obama's got some really dishonest staff working really really hard to spin every story to make him look blameless.

[ToPHeR35]

Even John Kerry is blaming the Tea party. These politicians are unbelievable....

[r0gue6]

S&P specifically states reason for downgrade was Republican unwillingness to increase taxes and revenues.

Obviously it wasn't the Tea Party that did this, as they have very little political influence. The Dems should simply be blaming the Republicans and repeating over and over again exactly what S&P stated in their report.

Although the way to a better economy and increased revenues can be debated ad nauseum, the reasons for the downgrade cannot, as they were specifically spelled out in the report.

[yankeemarko1]

Even John Kerry is blaming the Tea party. These politicians are unbelievable....

Yep. *He was on Meet The Press yesterday and the first thing out of this mouth was that the Tea Party caused the downgrade. *He went on and on about how Obama had offered a $4 trillion cut. *You know, the one that no one has ever seen on paper.

[amtharin]

S&P specifically states reason for downgrade was Republican unwillingness to increase taxes and revenues.

Obviously it wasn't the Tea Party that did this, as they have very little political influence. The Dems should simply be blaming the Republicans and repeating over and over again exactly what S&P stated in their report.

Although the way to a better economy and increased revenues can be debated ad nauseum, the reasons for the downgrade cannot, as they were specifically spelled out in the report.

Um, their reason for the downgrade was the debt/GDP ratio, and they specified that 4 trillion in cuts needed to be made, which the Dems were not willing to do.

[r0gue6]

Um, their reason for the downgrade was the debt/GDP ratio, and they specified that 4 trillion in cuts needed to be made, which the Dems were not willing to do.

Why do you retards argue against facts? It's not like this is some sort of opinion we can actually argue about.

In explaining their decision Standard & Poor’s cites both the decision by Republicans in Congress to turn the debt ceiling into a political football and the Republicans intransigence on tax increases. Some excerpts from the release:

[...]The political brinksmanship of recent months highlights what we see as America’s governance and policymaking becoming less stable, less effective, and less predictable than what we previously believed. The statutory debt ceiling and the threat of default have become political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy.

[...]It appears that for now, new revenues have dropped down on the menu of policy options.

[...]The act contains no measures to raise taxes or otherwise enhance revenues, though the committee could recommend them.

[...]Compared with previous projections, our revised base case scenario now assumes that the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, due to expire by the end of 2012, remain in place. We have changed our assumption on this because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues, a position we believe Congress reinforced by passing the act.

This was all in the report....can you read?

[ONtop888]

Lol, I'm sure that a brief game of chicken with the debt ceiling is the primary factor for the downgrade in our credit rating...it couldn't be decades of irresponsible spending that was exacerbated by Obama,s massive spending spree and failure to adequately address the debt....

[leafs43]

It's strange.

The tea party comes to town, starts acting responsible. *The status quo doesn't like it and starts blaming the tea party for everything.

[amtharin]

Why do you retards argue against facts? It's not like this is some sort of opinion we can actually argue about.



This was all in the report....can you read?

HTF is making the debt ceiling a political issue, and trying to correct the problem a contributor the the problem rather than taking on more debt?? That does not even make sense.

And your exact statement was... "S&P specifically states reason for downgrade was Republican unwillingness to increase taxes and revenues." *That is not a fact, so I will*argue*it. *The downgrade was specifically due to debt/GDP ratio, and our unwillingness to do anything about it.

[PSToolman]

HTF is making the debt ceiling a political issue, and trying to correct the problem a contributor the the problem rather than taking on more debt?? That does not even make sense.

Read the report.*

[r0gue6]

Lol, I'm sure that a brief game of chicken with the debt ceiling is the primary factor for the downgrade in our credit rating...it couldn't be decades of irresponsible spending that was exacerbated by Obama,s massive spending spree and failure to adequately address the debt....

Or you could simply read the report by S&P. Then you wouldn't have to make ignorant statements like the one you just made.

[tts0lid]

The democrat plan that the republicans rejected had the 4 trillion in deficit reduction with both spending cuts and tax increases. The republicans unwillingness to go with it is why we were downgraded. You can read the S&Ps update and they specifically call out the pledge to not increase revenue as one of the primary reasons.

[amtharin]

OMG rogues post was beyond stupid..

In explaining their decision Standard & Poor’s cites both the decision by Republicans in Congress to turn the debt ceiling into a political football and the Republicans intransigence on tax increases. Some excerpts from the release:

[...]The political brinksmanship of recent months highlights what we see as America’s governance and policymaking becoming less stable, less effective, and less predictable than what we previously believed. The statutory debt ceiling and the threat of default have become political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy. that statement does not shine the light specifically on anyone party, but rather both of them. *If the Dems would have followed the Tea Party on their plan, the the cuts would have been enough to avoid the downgrade

[...]It appears that for now, new revenues have dropped down on the menu of policy options. Again, the Dems were*against*sufficient*cuts as well

[...]The act contains no measures to raise taxes or otherwise enhance revenues, though the committee could recommend them. The act also did not contain enough cuts, because the Dems were against it.

[...]Compared with previous projections, our revised base case scenario now assumes that the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, due to expire by the end of 2012, remain in place. We have changed our assumption on this because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues, a position we believe Congress reinforced by passing the act.They also reinforcted that they are not serious about real cuts.. Thanks Dems

By the way, your post is nothing more than a C&P that is some herp derp analysis of the report that is floating around the internet. You're dumb ass needs to learn to think for yourself.

[amtharin]

Read the report.*

The report cited not making enough cuts was a contributor to the downgrade. The Tea Party was using the debt ceiling debate as a means to make more cuts.

[StreetFraud]

Um, their reason for the downgrade was the debt/GDP ratio, and they specified that 4 trillion in cuts needed to be made, which the Dems were not willing to do.

No they didnt. They stated they preferred the $4trillion deal. They did not specify $4trill in cuts had to be made to avert a downgrade.
If I am wrong, please link to the press release or report supporting your statement. I await your reply.

Lol, I'm sure that a brief game of chicken with the debt ceiling is the primary factor for the downgrade in our credit rating......

You normally make reasonable posts...try reading the report. One of the reasons they listed for the credit downgrade was due to political instability over the debt ceiling.

[Tekkendo]

.... One of the reasons they listed for the credit downgrade was due to political instability over the debt ceiling.

May be the Democrats should act responsibly then.

[amtharin]

No they didnt. They stated they preferred the $4trillion deal. They did not specify $4trill in cuts had to be made to avert a downgrade.
If I am wrong, please link to the press release or report supporting your statement. I await your reply.

I never said that they claimed that 4 tril in cuts would completely avoid a downgrade. I said that is what they specified.

If I am wrong, please link to the where I said something other than what I said. I await your reply

[StreetFraud]

I never said that they claimed that 4 tril in cuts would completely avoid a downgrade. I said that is what they specified.

If I am wrong, please link to the where I said something other than what I said. I await your reply

Link to where they specified $4trillion in cuts had to be made? You said they specified it...link to their statement?

[PSToolman]

OMG rogues post was beyond stupid..




By the way, your post is nothing more than a C&P that is some herp derp analysis of the report that is floating around the internet. You're dumb ass needs to learn to think for yourself.

The quotes are directly from the report. What you and many people fail to realize is that cuts in spending alone will not get our deficit low enough to prevent the debt/gdp ratio from climbing, and we can increase revenue without raising taxes.*

The S&P report is clear that the two parties inability to bridge the divide between them was a major influence on their decision to downgrade. IMO the biggest hurdle to bridging this gap is a handful of freshmen legislators who have taken a bogus oath to not increase the debt.*

[ONtop888]

No they didnt. They stated they preferred the $4trillion deal. They did not specify $4trill in cuts had to be made to avert a downgrade.
If I am wrong, please link to the press release or report supporting your statement. I await your reply.



You normally make reasonable posts...try reading the report. One of the treasons they listed for the credit downgrade was due to political instability over the debt ceiling.

The political instability was a due to a difference in perspectives: whether to cut more or tax more. I would not blame that chaotic atmosphere on a particular party. One thing is for sure, the stat quo from Reagan-Obama is no longer sustainable.

[PSToolman]

May be the Democrats should act responsibly then.

See, this is the problem. We have too many authoritarians, in office and at the polls. That my-way-or-the-highway crap might work at home, or at church, but it doesn't work when governing. We need consensus seekers.*

[StreetFraud]

If any of you guys actually read the report...one of the many reasons S&P issued a downgrade: Failure to raises new revenues in the debt deal.

[amtharin]

Link to where they specified $4trillion in cuts had to be made? You said they specified it...link to their statement?

First you link to where I claimed they said $4trillion in cuts would advert a downgrade like you assumed in this post...

They did not specify $4trill in cuts had to be made to avert a downgrade

Either that, or stop claiming I said things I didn't say... mkay??

[209vaughn]

S&P specifically states reason for downgrade was Republican unwillingness to increase taxes and revenues.

Obviously it wasn't the Tea Party that did this, as they have very little political influence. The Dems should simply be blaming the Republicans and repeating over and over again exactly what S&P stated in their report.

Although the way to a better economy and increased revenues can be debated ad nauseum, the reasons for the downgrade cannot, as they were specifically spelled out in the report.

Pls go, you are completely wrong. This downgrade has been decades in the making, with overspending on social security, medicare, redundent Government programs and entitlments. The Tea Party wanted TRUE cuts to Government spending - not these fake "future spening cut", nor did they want to take MORE MONEY from it's citizens. The US Government debt is so far out of control, even 40%-50%-60% tax rates (which would absoltuely destroy our economy) wont solve our problems, only spending reform will!

Low taxes, freedom, minimal government and the American dream is what made our small country into a super power in 200 years - Not more taxes, more medicare, more social security, more wastful goverment programs and handouts. - These things didn't turn us into a super power, they've erroded the core of what made our country great.

[amtharin]

If any of you guys actually read the report...one of the many reasons S&P issued a downgrade: Failure to raises new revenues in the debt deal.

So based on it being "one of the many reasons", do you believe the statement from the White House is fair and accurate??