Powerful Rep Grijalva Statement on Emerging Debt Deal:

[Ruby the Liberal]

Wow! :applause:

Washington, D.C.– Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, today released the following statement on the emerging debt deal:

“This deal trades peoples’ livelihoods for the votes of a few unappeasable right-wing radicals, and I will not support it. Progressives have been organizing for months to oppose any scheme that cuts Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security, and it now seems clear that even these bedrock pillars of the American success story are on the chopping block. Even if this deal were not as bad as it is, this would be enough for me to fight against its passage.

This deal does not even attempt to strike a balance between more cuts for the working people of America and a fairer contribution from millionaires and corporations. The very wealthy will continue to receive taxpayer handouts, and corporations will keep their expensive federal giveaways. Meanwhile, millions of families unfairly lose more in this deal than they have already lost. I will not be a part of it.

Republicans have succeeded in imposing their vision of a country without real economic hope. Their message has no public appeal, and Democrats have had every opportunity to stand firm in the face of their irrational demands. Progressives have been rallying support for the successful government programs that have meant health and economic security to generations of our people. Today we, and everyone we have worked to speak for and fight for, were thrown under the bus. We have made our bottom line clear for months: a final deal must strike a balance between cuts and revenue, and must not put all the burden on the working people of this country. This deal fails those tests and many more.

The Democratic Party, no less than the Republican Party, is at a very serious crossroads at this moment. For decades Democrats have stood for a capable, meaningful government – a government that works for the people, not just the powerful, and that represents everyone fairly and equally. This deal weakens the Democratic Party as badly as it weakens the country. We have given much and received nothing in return. The lesson today is that Republicans can hold their breath long enough to get what they want. While I believe the country will not reward them for this in the long run, the damage has already been done.

A clean debt ceiling vote was the obvious way out of this, and many House Democrats have been saying so. Had that vote failed, the president should have exercised his Fourteenth Amendment responsibilities and ended this manufactured crisis.

This deal is a cure as bad as the disease. I reject it, and the American people reject it. The only thing left to do now is repair the damage as soon as possible.”

http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&parentid=5§iontree=5,13&itemid=1063

[Scuba]

1. "The Democratic Party, no less than the Republican Party, is at a very serious crossroads ..."

"The Democratic Party, no less than the Republican Party, is at a very serious crossroads at this moment. For decades Democrats have stood for a capable, meaningful government – a government that works for the people, not just the powerful, and that represents everyone fairly and equally. This deal weakens the Democratic Party as badly as it weakens the country. We have given much and received nothing in return. "

[whathehell]

2. Right on, Representative Grijalva!

:applause: :applause::applause:


May the rest of the Progressive Caucus stand strong along with you!

[Waiting For Everyman]

3. Wow! is right.

:applause:

[roguevalley]

4. he's a warrior for good.

[liberalla]

5. "This deal is a cure as bad as the disease."

God, I love that man.

"A clean debt ceiling vote was the obvious way out of this, and many House Democrats have been saying so. Had that vote failed, the president should have exercised his Fourteenth Amendment responsibilities and ended this manufactured crisis."

I'm really perplexed as to why Obama wouldn't use the Fourteenth Amendment option. I'm still hoping he will do that on Aug. 2, if a reasonable and acceptable "deal" hasn't been reached.

This should be a no brainer IMO.

[admonish]

6. clean vote is the solution

however, I believe there is much more to this "debt crisis" than is reported (even if it's been given literally 24/7 coverage for much of the last month or so).

I believe the "credit raider agencies" (oops, credit rater agencies) are, in collusion with wall street and koch brothers' types are using the "invisible hand" of the free market to force cuts in spending and not nearly enough media attention is paid to this. The GOP is certainly meeting their end of the bargain forcing Obama's hand while Mr. Obama gets fired upon from both sides (much of that within this forum).

Your president is not only capable but easily the best president you've had since Jimmy Carter (also an underrated but extremely good president IMO). I think you-all ought to not hold your nose and vote for this fine president and vote out those loons in tea party...

edited to add:

Note to voters north of the 49th parallel as well: stop whining and start voting, and then follow your vote with communication with the candidate in an attempt to make things right

[swilton]

7. I hope this is a line in the sand

SS/medicare/medicaid are on the table plus a lot of tax deductions beneficial to the middle class. Finally if the government makes major spending cuts the deficits will just come down and affect state budgets....

I hope he stands by this - enough is enough!!

[Sherman A1]

8. K&R

:kick:

[xchrom]

9. recommend