Washington (CNN) - The number two House Republican dodged questions Tuesday about whether he agreed with House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa's use of the term "paid liar" to describe White House Press Secretary Jay Carney in a CNN interview Sunday.
Asked about Issa's comments, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor instead deflected the issue back to the White House, saying "there's been an abuse of trust on the part of this administration towards the American people. We're going to remain committed to getting to the bottom of this and let the truth come out."
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor will be a guest on CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper" Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Pressed if the oversight chairman's comments were inappropriate, Cantor again focused on the president, "I think that what we have seen is a president that continues to try and distance himself from his administration. That has led me in past to say that if that is the case, then he is disconnected," Cantor said at a press conference with other House GOP leaders on Tuesday.
White the majority leader wouldn't comment specifically on Issa's comments, Cantor's Democratic counterpart blasted the House oversight chairman, telling reporters Issa's comment about Carney was "outrageous," "reckless," and that he owed Carney an apology.
"He ought to retract that statement unless he has specific evidence which I don't believe he does. I think it was a reckless statement and undermines his presentation as someone as a judicious leader of oversight," House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said at his weekly meeting with reporters Tuesday.
Cantor maintained it was the "the Obama IRS" that was responsible for targeting conservative groups, and stressed "we intend to try and get to truth here as to what exactly happened and get to the facts."
But as Republicans continue to argue the IRS controversy demonstrates the Obama administration unfairly targeted groups based on their political ideology, congressional investigators and an internal audit have not found any evidence at this point that the activity was directed by anyone at the White House or anyone outside the IRS.
Hoyer said it's "difficult" to trust Issa to conduct an investigation when the House oversight chairman makes what the Maryland Democrat describes as a "wild accusation."
"That indicates a real political bias on his part," Hoyer said.
Aw c'mon Cantor. Go for it! All Dems. are evil & have horns on their head & pointed tails. Fox News has made it socially acceptable to demonize Dems. You might get a seat w/Fox if you're good enough; just ask Dennis Miller.
"Asked if the earth revolved around the sun, Cantor replied, "The Preseident is not engaged. We're going to get to the bottom of this and let the truth come out.""
Haha...or, maybe, he might say "why no...of course not...it's McConnells all the way down..."
P.S.-Was it "Obama's" Military & Intelligence Forces that got Bin Laden ?
bottom line... issa needs to come clean about stealing cars, and explain why he was tossed from the army.
Actually, has Eric Cantor had anything relevant to say....ever?????
Answer: No.
Of course Cantor wont say anything bad about Issa. Issa is his Pit Pull. When no ones looking he's patting Darel on the head. Cantor can continue to hide behind Boehner, looking over his shoulder. Tossing banana peels at Boehners feet.
They are a trio of cowards.
@al
Cantor cares about one thing and one thing only and that is Eric Cantor.
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100 %
If I had a chance to say something to Issa it would be...."Pot meet kettle."
-Rick McDaniel
Carney has no choice but to lie........when he has no control over what he is supposed to say. He either has to lie, or quit......that's the bottom line.
***********
Whereas you do have a choice: you just make the wrong choice every day.
"But as Republicans continue to argue the IRS controversy demonstrates the Obama administration unfairly targeted groups based on their political ideology, congressional investigators and an internal audit have not found any evidence at this point that the activity was directed by anyone at the White House or anyone outside the IRS."
We've been at this for how many weeks now?
Cantor, like Issa, cannot even commit to a comment without misdirection and an continued attempt to deflect any negativitism towards the President. A 'DO NOTHING' addition to Congress, from the first day in office to now, Cantor's Obstructionistic, 'TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY' for his lack of action, sickens the American Public. For whatever rock he crawled out from under to get voted into Congress, may he please soon return. Mr. Cantor, America needs serious people in Congress, and if you continue to attack, mis-inform and obstruct this country from moving forward, well your 15 minutes of fame will soon be up' thank god!..and we can then and only when you are voted out of office, move on with the serious business of jobs, gun safety, paying the countries bills on time, and issues that concern the American Family.
If Carney had an ounce of self respect he'd resign and get a real job. Everybody KNOWS he's a paid liar and he has been PROVEN a paid liar. Everything he says now is suspect because he's been caught lying too many times and has lost all credibility. The fact that Obama keeps damaged goods like Carney and Holder in place shows how clueless he is.
He dodged the question about Issa's remarks. That's not leadership, that's tacit endorsement.
Why does the media gives guys like Cantor and Issa a free ride ?? What Wolf Blitzer, Candy Crowley etc. collectively have no integrity to grill these people ?? CNN has turned into Fox lite. More Democrats have to step up and call these people out , every day if necessary. The public needs to know the truth about Issa et al. How about it press people ?? Willing to step and start doing your job ??
Just imagine a Democrat Congressman calling Dana Perino a "paid Liar" during the last decade. Do you think the right wingers would have accepted it? Too funny.