Posted on 06/29/2011 6:44:09 PM PDT by ejdrapes
Bachmann won't commit to 'Cut, Cap and Balance' pledge Rock Hill, South Carolina (CNN) - Nearly every Republican presidential candidate has pledged to sign the "Cut, Cap and Balance" pledge to slash government spending, but U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann is not ready to commit. Her reason? It doesn't go far enough. The pledge, backed by more than 150 conservative groups and a dozen GOP Republican senators, demands that Congress not raise the debt ceiling unless it passes "substantial" budget cuts and spending caps along with a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney became the sixth GOP candidate to support the pledge on Wednesday. Bachmann, though, said she wants it "to go a little further." She told a town hall audience in South Carolina that she wants to add "the full defunding of Obamacare" to the pledge first. She revealed that U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, a leading conservative backer of the pledge, had asked her to get on board. She and DeMint had "a wonderful conversation" about the pledge during a phone call last week, Bachmann said. She only told him, though, that she "would take a look at it."
By: CNN Political Reporter Peter Hamby
(Excerpt) Read more at politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com ...
OK, my point has been that if you say “Then the debt limit stays right where it is” with a position that just wont go through the Senate, you end up giving a live hand grenade on Aug 2 to Obama administration. they will aborgate the power to do whatever necessary to make it most politically painful for the Republicans. Be careful where it lands.
The line in the sand for most on the Hill is “cut, cap and balance”. That’s a doable line in sand IMHO, and if Bachmann has a stronger view wrt Obamacare, then she should show her leadership chops by getting more folks on board that position. In other words, if I were there, I’d sign a “zero funds for obamacare” pledge.
Thanks for weighing in, Barack!
I just read on Red State that her reservation is she wants defunding of obamacare included as a precondition as well. I really like this candidate! She stays on target even with all the cheap shots from "conservative" commentators.
The "unless" basically makes the pledge a useless symbol.
I agree. I hate it when a "pledge" has loopholes.
How do you figure?
I remember her taking all kinds of heat when the Rats were running the House and she didn't back down. She has always been sharp on the facts and has a solid understanding of the budget. She is probably the toughest candidate we have.
She is refocusing the debate back to obamacare by not signing. A great tactical move. Let the "one" fight on that playing field.
They have already done that with Libya - - and a whole bunch of other things like the "deemed to have passed" the House vote on Obamacare...
Some of the Republicans are like Charlie Brown with Lucy holding the football.
I don't think the debt limit should be raised at all... Let the NYSE eat German chocolate cake since the Germans own it now...
>> “She is probably the toughest candidate we have.” <<
.
That one will never fly!
The only tough candidate we have is Palin.
Bachman talked a lot when the Dem majority assured that nothing she talked about had a chance of going anywhere.
Now that there is a GOP majority, she has crumpled up like a wilted daisy on the budget. She was one of the first to jump in on Boehner’s cave-in, and echoed his bragadosio about all the concessions we got, when the truth turned out that it was all fake but 34 million.
Bachmann is a paper tiger.
Cut, Cap, and Balance is nonsense, and I find no reason to chide her on that one; a balanced budget ammendment would be an enabler for Obamacare, and a guaranteed annual tax hike forever.
Okay, first she has not declared yet. If she does then she is in the field. Second, she has a huge weight around her neck. She quit as Gov. what's to say she won't do the same as POTUS?
Bachmann is a paper tiger.
I disagree. She has not quit while in office.
Sorry, I thought that you had some sense.
Bachmann has never held a Governor’s office and she doesn’t have executive experience. She is one of 435 Representatives and has never held an executive office. She talks big but backs off with excuses such as “it doesn’t go far enough” to avoid taking a strong stand.
Bachmann was largely a backbencher in the Congress until Sarah Palin surfaced as a national figure, and then she suddenly decided to elevate her status. She is a follower, not a leader.
I agree with your post!!
When push comes to shove and it’s time to take a tough stand, Congresswoman Bachmann is in the ladies room, taking a powder. That’s leadership?
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