No Liberals in the Debt Ceiling Debate?
Tuesday's lead story on the debt ceiling showdown by Carl Hulse and Jackie Calmes, 'Congress Heads For Showdown On Debt Plans – Neither Side Budging – Obama Calls for Action – No Blank Check, Boehner Insists,' is most objectionable for its labeling bias, five conservatives vs. zero liberals.
The labels come hot and heavy in the second half of the story.
In addition, members of the Senate and House would also be required to vote on a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution after Oct. 1 but before the end of the year - a key demand from many House conservatives.
With House Democrats likely to line up solidly against Mr. Boehner's plan, the Republican leadership was pleading for support among the conservative rank and file, portraying it as the best alternative to end the impasse, even though it might fall short of the deep cuts many of the Republican newcomers want.
Some of the most conservative Republican House members, including Representative Allen West of Florida, endorsed it after the leadership made its case in an afternoon meeting. But others were balking, putting the plan's success at risk should the Republican leadership be forced to rely solely on Republican votes. By day's end, several Republicans - including Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, the head of the conservative Republican Study Committee - said Mr. Boehner did not have their vote.
'I can't support it in its current form,' said Representative Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, citing insufficient cuts and 'the dearth of confidence I have in a 12-member commission being able to do what Congress hasn't been able to do.'
At least two Senate conservatives also came out against the House plan, showing that it would face some resistance there from both parties.
In contrast, neither Obama or congressional Democrats were portrayed as liberal a single time.
