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The Spectacle Blog
In an interview with Martha Raddatz on ABC’s This Week, House Speaker John Boehner told her that he “absolutely” trusts President Obama.
His response surprised Raddatz. And it surprises me too. But only a bit.
It surprises me in this respect. It was President Obama who had been blaming the sequester on Congress and, in effect, on Boehner despite the fact the sequester originated in the White House. If someone had repeatedly blamed me for their own bad idea then I could not possibly trust that person and have a good faith relationship with them.
On the other hand, one could make the case that Raddatz was trying to trap Boehner. Let’s assume for argument’s sake that Boehner doesn’t actually trust Obama as far as he can throw him. But if Boehner were to tell Raddatz that he didn’t trust Obama then she, the rest of the mainstream media and the White House could run with that for a week. Some people would relish that kind of heat. Ted Cruz immediately comes to mind. But Boehner is no Ted Cruz. So instead of Boehner telling Raddatz he doesn’t trust Obama, he opts to keep up appearances.
But keeping up appearances can be a dangerous game. Raddatz asked Boehner if he agreed with Obama telling George Stephanopoulos that we were not in an immediate debt crisis. Boehner said he agreed with Obama that we were not in an immediate debt crisis. He qualified his agreement by say a debt crisis was “looming” within the next two to four years whereas Obama said our debt would be sustainable for the next decade.
That statement is troubling for several reasons. First, he gives Obama political cover. If Obama gets questioned again about the climbing debt then all he has to do is refer to Boehner’s statment. Second, if a near $17 trillion debt doesn’t constitute a crisis then what does? $20 trillion? $25 trillion $30 trillion? More? Third, if Boehner believes that there will be a debt crisis in the next two to four years then it would be in his best interests to address it now rather have a crisis too big to be averted by a short term deal. Of course, one could make the argument that so long as Obama is in office there will never be any meaningful fiscal reform. So even if Boehner wanted to put a meaningful dent into the debt he probably couldn’t.
Nevertheless, for Boehner to even partially agree with Obama that the debt isn’t an immediate crisis is disconcerting and will not inspire the confidence of fiscal hawks in the House GOP Caucus, much less Tea Party conservatives at large.
View all comments (12) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2013/03/17/boehner-absolutely-trusts-obam
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Maxwell| 3.17.13 @ 7:22PM
When I head this on the left radio (WCBS out of New York) this morning I just about tossed my breakfast. While I would have said I don't trust his arse as far as I could toss it down a set of stairs I would have thought Cry Baby could have done better since he is a slimy weak kneed pol.
Glen H| 3.17.13 @ 11:51PM
Our current debt structure is not a crisis, in any meaningful sense of that word. It is unsustainable and eventually will lead to a crisis if not dealt with, but it is not currently a crisis and there is no reason for Boehner to pretend otherwise.
Obama's poll numbers have gone down as he has gone all Chicken Little on the sequester, which is also not a crisis. Why would we want to follow the same path?
RJ| 3.18.13 @ 12:09AM
Absolutely I have no confidence in Boehner.
We do have a debt and spending crisis. I have learned not to trust Obama.
Bandido| 3.18.13 @ 6:17AM
He should've simply said the question was inappropriate and irrelevant. Should've said we're judged here in Washington by what we do for the nation's betterment, not by our personal feelings about other politicians. Now let's move on, Martha.
fmm| 3.18.13 @ 9:24AM
The key might be to understand what Boehner trusts Obama to do, but this statement still reads wrong. Another two step in the dance of the irresponsible.
Crassus| 3.18.13 @ 10:10AM
What Johnny Carson once said about Walter Mondale applies to John Boehner as well, "He wakes up to a new world every day."
RAM| 3.18.13 @ 10:27AM
Is the Speaker a double agent?
AllAmericanAmerican| 3.18.13 @ 11:15AM
I'm shocked I tells ya!
Next thing you know you'll have prominent Republican Senators changing their minds and supporting "gay marriage."
Oh wait........
LarryK| 3.18.13 @ 4:05PM
Boehner gotta go! ASAP!
JohnInFlorida| 3.18.13 @ 10:44PM
Can we please send this guy to the showers?
Martin kzovich| 3.19.13 @ 7:26AM
The correct answer for Boehner would have been: The question of trust comes after negotiations and results. I trust that we will come to a satisfactory result in our negotiations and thus build trust.
I do not trust Boehner or Ryans comments. the question also arises: Do the Republican Establishment want a split in their own party ?
That is the question I want an answer to and so far i would say yes is the answer.
Teflon93 | 3.19.13 @ 9:46AM
It's funny how Goldstein worries about the seduction of power when it comes to an Argentinian bishop who rides the bus, but not with regard to a loathesome RINO quisling who has evinced no principle save power. Nice blind spot, Aaron.