The Next Republican Hostage

Republican politicians and pundits are preparing their next terrorist attack against America.  This is how I think it will come down.  Republicans will want to cut the funding for such things as the the health care bills funding for children’s health care, Elizabeth Warren’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the unemployment benefits extension they just held hostage.  They will say that, because of all the democrat spending (most of which came from Republicans), we just don’t have the money for such frivolous things.  They have a problem.  To accomplish their goal they will have to get Obama to sign the spending bill. But that will not be easy without the right hostage.  Here’s the one they are setting up.

In a growing threat to the fiscal solvency of the nation, Republican opposition to raising the national debt ceiling is hardening. In the past few weeks, a number of GOPers have begun to toe the Tea Party line and declared that they will vote against any increase in the national debt ceiling, including old stalwarts like Reps. Jack Kingston (R-GA), Ron Paul (R-TX), and Jerry Lewis (R-CA), as well as new members like Reps.-elect Tim Scott [Murdoch delinked] (R-SC) and Jeff Denham (R-CA).

The latest freshman to come out against raising the debt ceiling is Rep.-elect Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), who defeated longtime House Budget Chairman John Spratt (D-SC) in November. Echoing Ron Paul, who declared on Thursday that a government shutdown would not “hurt one bit,” Mulvaney told The Hill that he would vote against “any attempt to raise the nation’s debt ceiling” because he is unaware of any “negative consequences” that would result:

Rep.-elect Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), who defeated current House Budget Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.) in November, said he would vote against any attempt to raise the nation’s debt ceiling.

“I have heard people say that if we don’t do it will be the end of the world,” he said. “I have yet to meet someone who can articulate the negative consequences.”

Mulvaney said that this year, 2011 spending needs to be reduced to 2008 discretionary levels, and argued that the demise of the omnibus offers that opportunity.

While it’s unclear if Mulvaney is being purposefully obtuse or simply sticking his head in the sand, his quandary can be answered by looking at the last time Congress refused to raise the debt ceiling. According to a recent report from the Center for American Progress, here were some of the results:

– The government was shut down for nearly four weeks

– The entire episode cost taxpayers over $800 million

– Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid checks were not sent out

– International confidence in U.S. government bonds was shaken

– All non-essential government employees were sent home without pay

– National parks and other federally-funded services were closed

… [emphasis original]

Inserted from <Think Progress>

Though there intentions are vile, as always, their logic is sound.  Since they made Obama chicken out on tax cuts for the rich over fear of the harm Republicans might do to middle class and poor workers and the unemployed, it is reasonable for them to expect that he will do likewise over fear of the harm done in a government shutdown.

If they do follow through, they will cave in short order, just like they did when Clinton was President, so Obama must call their bluff.  What worries me is that he didn’t call their bluff before, even though Republicans caved in the previous four times they took unemployment benefits hostage.  I fear that Obama will surrender before the fight… again.