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GOP reacts to president's 'masterful political rhetoric'

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    Rep. Steve King on debt ceiling battle

  • Duration 5:19
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So back in Washington house Republicans are now reacting to some tough words from President Obama -- his last news conference.

The first term which took place yesterday morning it was a long one.

He says Republicans only have two options in the battle over raising the nation's borrowing limit.

-- -- -- They can act responsibly and -- America's bills.

Where they can act irresponsibly and put America through another economic crisis.

But they will not collect -- Ransom in exchange for not pressuring the American economy.

The financial well being of the American people.

Is not leverage to be used.

-- I our Republican congressman Steve King joins me now so those are two options.

You can either crashed the American economy.

Or you can raise the debt limit our you can refuse resentment what do you what do you pick congressman king.

Isn't that some masterful political rhetoric coming from the president.

And if you listen to him talk there's little pause and -- selection of words they're saying you know that it's choreographed and carefully chosen.

But the American people are going to be able to see through this I believe the first problem we need to deal with Martha is.

Then misuse of the term default that he emerged in the last debt ceiling crisis in August 2011.

When that was used on both sides of the aisle that -- -- reached the point that the United States didn't have any more borrowing authority that automatically meant default well it doesn't that was a false definition and it's a false definition now.

We have enough money to operate some essential components of this government that we can go on for a very long time.

So this isn't a crisis that hits a deadline that turns it into a default.

And furthermore the economy of the United States if we continue on this trillion dollar plus a year increase in our international debt.

Does he eventually hit a place of insolvency.

That's what I fear that's what most conservatives fear.

-- and that the president is basically saying to you.

And the rest of the Republicans in the house that he's gonna raise the debt limit that the debt limit is gonna go up and that there won't be any negotiation.

Over spending cuts that might offset that increase sees it there's there's -- no negotiation.

So what will you do.

First of all I don't think the president can stay out of the dialogue because he was in -- yesterday second as he does not have the constitutional authority to raise the debt limit.

And I I understand that the White House has receded from that argument in the last in the last several days but.

If the president should decide to.

It does put the house in a situation where we have to defend it we've all taken an oath to uphold the constitution and we respect people we gave unlike that of the president.

-- seem to think you can cavalierly cast aside the language in the constitution and his oath of office so -- a couple things we can do.

The one as we can start shutting down the appropriations we can begin.

And it in the end however we bring this pressure together.

The decision will be made by the will of the American people and that might be in the next election but as a pressure builds members account.

You're trying to keep hearing again is at at -- -- but you know I guess what I'm what I am asking for is in terms of a plan.

I mean are you gonna put forth something that says.

We the house Republicans believe that this program should be cut this agency should be cut these -- the spending cuts and we would outline.

In order to offset the increase in the debt ceiling.

We believe that there need to be cuts and these are what they would be are you gonna do that.

You know Martha we're gonna get together this weekend and we're gonna -- all that outside don't want to presume that there's a consensus there that I -- -- here too.

And then I wanna get -- I wanna do that with my colleagues.

But we need to lay down no broad bright line that for me it's this.

I wanna see when does this budget balance we must have cuts to go along with any debt ceiling increase they must be substantial.

There must be alliances we have here is win the budget gets to balance.

You -- -- you I mean that that it needed to sell that idea to the American people.

Was specifics and with a plan and say where the house GOP here's what we would deal here's the -- that we would cut in order to reach parity over the next five years you know we may never get this but we want the American people to understand what we stand Ford is -- -- we can expect.

What a Martha I take your point that we need to sell the specifics but you also understand it as soon as -- specific has put out there.

It's attacked by them by the spending -- runners on the other side.

We have to first nail down the concept.

And I had another concept of this a balanced budget amendment passed out of the house and the senate and sent to the states for ratification.

We've got to get this under control most conservatives believe that we have to come to a point where we stand and fight I hope this is the time.

Because it gives us an opportunity to say back to the president what you're spending priorities will you pay our active duty military first with the money you have there is no such thing as default -- the -- definition.

And will you pay Social Security we pay Medicare or we use it as a political tool try to get the house Republicans have -- That's what's really were -- I am having a year you're talking about negotiation the president saying he's not interested in that exact and -- DS and that this in -- -- -- Mary.

Interesting and I think it away a lot of the American people hope that it does because they want to hear that debate they wanna see that.

Discussion out in front of them representative king it's always nice to have you with us thank you thank thank you -- Virginia.