Caught On Tape: Republicans Touting Support For Government Shutdown

It's looking more likely that this latest impasse cannot end without a government shutdown. Yesterday, House Majority leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) threw down the gauntlet, declaring that the American people would hold Democrats accountable for such a result.



In fact, Republican intransigence is the driving force behind the likelihood of a shutdown. Previous resolutions cut $10 billion from the budget, and the Democratic leadership has offered a total of $30 billion in cuts through the end of the year. This is roughly what Republican budget chairman Paul Ryan suggested at the start of the debate, before a Tea Party upheaval forced the House Republicans to pass a bill with both $61 billion in spending reductions and a series of controversial budget riders gutting funding for Planned Parenthood, health care reform, and the EPA.



Republicans now insist this budget must be the bare minimum for negotiations moving forward. They have also pointedly refused to consider savings in other parts of the budget, including defense spending or wasteful corporate tax subsidies.



Republicans have, of course, claimed again and again that they have no desire for a shutdown, and that it will be the fault of the Democrats if one occurs. The record, however, says otherwise.



Whatever Eric Cantor may think, recent polls say it's the Republicans that the public would hold accountable for a shutdown. As the video evidence demonstrates, there's good reason for Americans to believe that.

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/29/gop-wants-shutdown/

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• ThinkProgress
• government shutdown
• shutdown
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• Republican party

[detoth67]

republicans are hypocritical, anti-American scumbags!

[sseklof]

Oh I agree - let's DO shut 'er down! Start by slashing the pay and benefits of these Reps and Senators - the Legislative Branch. That would be shock therapy. And the Executive and Judicial Branches too! And reduce not only spending BY govt but also spending ON govt. Limit amounts that corporations can contribute to campaigns and make them disclose so we can see who is doing the buying of our politicians ... I mean the buying of our government ... I mean ... oh you know what I mean.

[cjrodrigs]

Even if Obama is not a good choice Republicans are just puppets

[SugaPea5]

@detoth67

And current Republicans are horrible EXTREMISTS to boot!

KEYWORD FOR 2012: *GOP EXTREMISTS*

They've turned-off many Independents voters...

more than enough to swing back to the Dems.

[soundslave]

Can I just shut down the Republicans and Tea Party?

[SupportWeThePeopleKB]

Republican plan?:

1) Say, "We don't WANT to shut down government!", but make sure it is shut down.

2) Signal the far right wing and the social conservatives that their agenda is on the table (Planned Parenthood, vouchers, privatizing medicare...)

3) Force a drop in GDP, a return to recession, then claim the administration failed.

4) Financially hurt Democrats' supporters..

5) Destroy any organization of middle class workers.

6) Destroy regulatory agencies that could protect health and safety.

[HostileNegotiator]

The top 1% don't need a puppet government anymore. The irony is the other 99% don't need the top 1% either. Goodbye. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[traceurjason]

Don't these clowns still get paid if the Government shuts down,but troops ,who may be in harms way, will get delayed pay. WTF?! These guys have no shame in their pleasure in f*ucking over the little guy.

[1BadGN]

@sseklof

Oh, I was being serious. :) And yes. GE and BoA would be prime examples.

[sseklof]

@1BadGN I was being facetious and sarcastic with the "slashing pay" of legislators remark - simply because it seems completely hypocritical (to me) that people who are MEMBERS of govt, who get govt paychecks, (and corporate donations as governing officials) can claim to hate govt. As to corps and taxes, would GE do as an example :-)? Rachel Maddow's entire program tonight (4/6/11) was a perfect commentary on the underlying corp v human struggle that is driving the current political battles.

[1BadGN]

@sseklof

Actually, i agree. Salary caps for all Legislative, Executive and Judicial employees. Also, if we could get corporations to actually pay taxes that would be a huge amount of income.

[1BadGN]

Hey, its OK! We don't need a budget... the fed will print out as much money as both sides want.

Man, I cannot WAIT to pay $7 for a loaf of bread... sweet!