Official: Obama will sign short term debt ceiling extension
Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama would sign a short term debt ceiling increase as long as the measure contains no conservative-backed provisions, a White House official said late Wednesday.
The official was speaking after a meeting between House Democrats and the president at the White House. A Democratic lawmaker present for the session said Obama signaled more "give" to the idea of a six-week increase of the nation’s borrowing limit.
The White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, went further, saying Obama would sign a short-term deal.
"Our point has always been that Congress needs to raise the debt ceiling, no strings attached," the official said. "We prefer and support a longer-term solution, because the whole point is to remove the threat of default. But if Congress passes a clean extension, the president will sign it."
Obama and House Republicans have been locked in disagreement over two concurrent fiscal matters: funding the federal government, which is currently in a partial shutdown, and raising the debt ceiling, which the Treasury Department says will be breached on October 17.
A possible deal appeared to emerge midweek, and sources have told CNN that House GOP leaders are preparing a proposal to raise the debt ceiling temporarily while keeping the government shut down. The specifics of that measure could be unveiled as early as Thursday.
The president, during a press conference on Tuesday, said he would be open to signing a short-term debt ceiling increase as long as Republicans don’t include other provisions in the bill.
The White House official reiterated that stance.
"Here's what matters: whether it's short term, medium term or long term, the president's position will remain the same – no ransom in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. Not this time, not next time, not any time while he's in office," the official said.
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Wanna know how different things are today than in the 50's and 60's? Back then there was a baseball team named the Washington Senators.
Think that has any chance of being the new name for the Redskins?
That's right, don't give in to the crooks.
I say hold out Mr. President for a long-term solution, or at least a longer term soluiton.
I understand that the 6-week deal averts a default but that barely gives some of us enough time to re-up on blood pressure medicine for the next contentious go-around on the debt ceiling with the cray-crays in the house.
I say don't get back on the merry-go-round with people you know do not have the country's best interest at heart.
You have them by the short hairs now.
They are feeling the public pressure.
The limb is breaking from under them.
You've got the upper hand.
Hold on Mr. President, and hold out for something longer term.
We're with you.
Kicking the can down the road again is just stupid.
Obama is caving in.
'The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government can not pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that "the buck stops here." Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.'
BHO
President Barack Obama would sign a short term debt ceiling increase as long as the measure contains no conservative-backed provisions, a White House official said late Wednesday.
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Of course, there will always be those on the fringe who will most upset with the President's stance. The hypocrisy of their feigned indignation is thick that they cannot even see it on themselves. They really have nothing to complain about. The only real complaint they should be with themselves, and their arrogance to believe that their outrageous demands would be met without question.
The President could have taken up a Tea Party stance all along. Could you imagine the outrage on the right had the shoe been on the other foot. Let's try on an Einsteing thought experiment for size. Suppose the President had said that he would veto any budget or continuing resolution unless draconian gun control laws were passed. The outrage from the right wing would have been extreme and justifiably so. But, that is precisely what the flip side of the coin looks like. They wouldn't like it.
Yeah, might want to do that Obungles. The AP reports Obama at an all time low approval rating of 37%. After the death benefits bungle I expect it drop even more. Have a nice day libs.
The TEA PARTY TERR0RISTS must have called him late last night and said it's OK for him to "kind of" do his job.. But not for too long.
Boehner is running the house like a dictator that's not what he's suppose to do. This country is run via a democracy like the President said if there's a proposition to be presented the house is obligated to put it to the floor for a vote! One or a few people can't hold up the business of the country!! Boehner should be charged with undermining the US Government for refusing to put the vote out and removed from office immediately!!!
This Ransom is GOP extortion–do they even understand this Debt is an excrete from Bush the worst president in years that USA strongly remembers his?
Ransom? Would the word stipulation be more accurate? I wonder if Democrats would ever use the same tactic they are complaing about?
Not that I'm a big fan of republicans anymore but:
Responding to the people's will, House Republicans first voted to fund all of government - except Obamacare. Obama refused to negotiate and Senate Democrats refused to pass it.
Then the Republicans voted to fully fund the government, but merely delay the implementation of Obamacare for one year. Obama refused to negotiate and Senate Democrats refused to pass it.
Finally, the Republicans voted to fully fund the government, but added a requirement that everyone live under Obamacare. No more special waivers for Congress and their staff, and no waivers for big business without the same waivers for individuals.
Obama refused to negotiate and Senate Democrats refused to pass it. So as you can see, Republicans are the big holdup here.
$
These tea clowns have to go in 2014 midterms. GOP out for good!!!!!!!
If you are in the minority of Americans not already unalterably opposed to Obamacare, keep in mind that the only reason the government is shut down right now is that Democrats refuse to fund the government if they are required to live under Obamacare.
That's how good it is!
$
Other than to almost destroy our fragile economy, what did republicans accomplish?
so, in 6 weeks, we will have another crisis, so they kick the can down the road ?
“Nothing has changed,” Obama told WFLA in an interview. “I voted against a debt ceiling increase at the time because I had some concerns about what President (George W.) Bush was doing.”
"Nothing has changed. The TEA Party voted against a debt ceiling increase at the time because they have some concerns about what President (Barack H.) Obama is doing."
FIFY
This is almost funny... Boehner stuck in a corner due to extremists while Obama works to help him out of it without appearing to do so.
This is profoundly good news. Once the "no ransom ever again" policy has been enforced once, it will expose future Tea Party obstruction. Boehner probably knows that when he passes it the Tea Party will think they can just do it again in six weeks. But President Obama rarely puts his foot down hard on something in a "no negotiation" way. I daresay it is setting a good precedent for Obama taking charge... he says enough is enough and suddenly everyone gets their act together.
The Tea Party had this coming, egregiously so, for a long time. I will personally savor it.
So are the rebels going to wait until 11:59 pm on October 16 to submit the CR? Inflict as much pain as possible to the country?
Rebels: the President said he'll talk with you idiots after the debt ceiling is raised to pay our bills. So raise the debt ceiling! Now!
I wish these news could have come out after the President has met the American Talibans, sorry , republicans of today. I am holding my breath waiting to hear the noise which will come out after the meeting. Oh! God hold us all, if not blessing us all!
The picture reminds me of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Don't you miss the smirks that these 4 had when they shut down the government?
Only without ANY strings.
Well, I would say, tell him to stew in his juice, and ignore the dictator.
Negotiation and representing one's constituents does not equal ransom. Watch your words, Mr. President. They're volatile and damaging. But you know that already.
These GOP/Tea baggers...look at them....trying to drive the clown car sayin; Please Mr. President; Throw us a life line so we can crawl out of this tree...Idiots. They look stupid, but for their supporters think that kind of ok faux newsy fools rhetoric is SO Amurkan and we tak'n baack 'r cuntry..duh.... just disregard the rest of the country....even if the other part of the country is the majority...but they follow the constitution. Get a clue folks ...this is a Democratic Republic...quit using the constituition as a tin foil hat