Washington (CNN) – Freshman Republican Rep. Joe Walsh took issue with Senate stalwart John McCain's criticism of tea party efforts regarding the debt ceiling and blamed the old guard for the fiscal failures of Congress.
"Folks like Sen. John McCain have been in this town for too long and they're the ones who have gotten us into this mess year after year after year," the Illinois congressman said Thursday on "CNN Newsroom." "Folks like him … have no clue as to the troubles Americans are going through right now. They don't understand this crisis anymore."
Arizona Sen. McCain on Wednesday said ultimatums issued by many in his conference, like insisting on a balanced budget amendment to the constitution that he said will not become law, are "worse than foolish." But Walsh said he and his fellow fiscally conservative freshmen came to Washington to find a solution to the crisis.
Walsh, who was elected in 2010 with tea party support, said he is more concerned with solving the debt crisis than he is with the August 2 deadline for raising the borrowing limit to avoid a potential default.
Conservative members of Congress, particularly freshmen, are a key voice in the debate over the debt ceiling with their unbending positions that have become obstacles for House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in their attempts to reach a compromise.
"I'm obsessed with making sure that we solve this debt crisis and if it takes us a few more days, let's do it," Walsh said.
When asked about a recent report in the Chicago Sun-Times that he owes $117,437 in child support to his ex-wife and that his home was foreclosed upon, Walsh said his struggles mirror those of many Americans.
"I ran as a guy who lost his home and had had financial struggles, like a lot of Americans," Walsh said. "This is where a lot of Americans come from right now. It's why they sent so many of us to Washington to do something about this because we're living this experience."
– CNN Political Producer Shannon Travis contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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So, thie is the tea party of personal responsibiilty? I guess making good on the obligations and promises you make doesn't matter much to a group that wants a guy who dodges $117K worth of child support payments and walks away from the mortgage he promised to pay represent them. Why should he worry about the USA standing good on its promises since that doesn't matter to him personally?
This half-wit Walsh can't pay his own bills, can't support his own children, got foreclosed on, and yet people vote him in office to handle the federal government's bills? And, he's mouthy about his ideas being the right ones? The irony of politics vs common sense never ends.
This guy is a prime example of what kind of government you get when you decide you don't want intelligent and educated people to run it.The Tea Party folks pride themselves in being anti-intellectual and just electing those who look like them. Would that be the best way to pick a doctor for your kids? Do you favor illiterates to teach in our schools? You get what you vote for in a democracy, for better or worse.
In 22 years on active duty, almost every second lieutenant I ever knew (including myself 40 years ago) thought they could run the Air Force better that those "old farts" in charge.
Perhaps Representative Woods, and his "2LT" Tea Party colleagues should spend enought time in Congress to know where the bathrooms are before they start setting long-term national policy.
Fiscal sanity??? Thy name is definitely NOT Walsh. This yahoo who can't handle his personal budget is an expert on a national budget. Mental mouse!
oh so you owe over 100k in child support huh. hypocrite. looks like you need your debt ceiling raised. you can't even pay to help out your children. how did you get elected? Wow. you're not worth listening to.
lol... $117k in "child support". Those kids must eat a lot.
This whole country's a joke.
If he doesn't consider paying for his children a priority, how can we expect him to care about we pay for ours? This guy has a long history of not paying his bills. And yet, we are to take fiscal advice from him? IDIOT!! Just another TP'er who doesn't have a clue! Time to recall Mr. Walsh and tell him to get a real job.
Why isn't the POS in jial?Teabagger nut case.
Now we are electing dead beat dads to Congress. Just remember folks you elected this moron.He probably got paid off by special interests to pay his obligations to his kids. After listening to him talk it would appear he just completed a bad used car sales seminar.
Really, Joe Walsh? Senior Senator John McCain has "no clue" but your freshman a$$ does? Really? YOU are what's wrong with the Tea Party – you're a bunch of political newbies who have NO IDEA how politics works in America but you think you can come in and stamp your little feetsies and hold your breath until everything goes your way. YOU ARE CHILDREN and, as children everywhere, none of you know enough to even begin to realize how much you don't know.
just another dixiefascist teabagger who's motto is: "do as I say, not as I do" so typical of all repubs!
Walsh believes deficits don't matter, like Cheney, when it comes to his own finances; but is all about fiscal responsibility? Hypocrisy.....check!
So... Why hasn't he paid of his Child Support yet?????????
As a Congressman, Joe Walsh is an idiot. I did like his music.
He owes $117,437 in child support to his ex-wife – and claims to be an "average" American – HA!
Sounds more like a self-centered fool who can't handle his finances – and has the gall to say others don't "understand" the situation.
It's his kind of "thinking" and lack of responsibility that got our country into this mess in the first place!
This moron and others like him is exactly why voters were warned against voting for them. First of all, let us not forget the type of individuals the tea party supports, for example: Sharron Angle, Christine O'Donnell, Joe Wilson, Shara Palin, Bachmann, Scott Walker, Rick Scott, John Kasich, all complete nuts. These folks given the opportunity will totally destroy this country. They don't even get along with members of their own party. Where are the jobs they promise? How has tax cuts, loopholes and subsidies for oil companies help solve our problems? 2012 can't get here quick enough. You want real change, vote for a Democratic Senate, House and President.
Didn't the Republican freshman reps who were backed by the TP sign a contract/oath with the Tea Party? Stating that they would support the group above all else and stick to the party line. Isn't that a conflict of interest when they took the oath of office when they were sworn in as members of Congress. They are being paid by ALL OF US, not the TP and they are supposed to support the betterment of ALL OF US
@jbinvt: Excellent point re: garnishing his wages. I bet there's a lawyer out there willing to file the paperwork pro bono. If I were a lawyer, I'd do it in a heartbeat!
Nothing that comes out of this man's mouth has any validity whatsoever until he squares up on his child support, and no one should pay attention to him until then.
When he is on the floor of Congress, other Representatives should just cover their ears. LA LA LA LA, CAN'T HEAR YOU, WORLD-TRAVELING DEAD BEAT.
So he is admitting that this mess is the fault of republican spending.
McCain is about the only Republican in Washington right now who has his flippin HEAD SCREWED ON CORRECTLY. The Teagaggers are going to destroy this great country to prove their corporate-fascist point.
Since Walsh defaulted on his financial responsibilities without repercussion, he thinks our country can, too.
What an idiot! These teabaggers are BEYOND clueless!
Let this motivate every single Democrat out there get out and vote in 2012!
This guy is living proof that it's also possible not to have been in Washington long enough...
I can see the headlines now, 'Fanatics destroy US government credibility"
This is not patriotism, it is fanaticism, and fanatics don't care about collateral damage.
What kind of person is against regulation of banks after losing his home to foreclosure? A Tea Party person! And what kind of old middle class person votes for a someone who promises to destroy Medicare and Social Security? A Tea Party old middle class person! And who created the Tea Party? Three billionaires: Rupert Murdoch, David Koch and Charles Koch!
These guys are good!