Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio and Republican leaders are fuming after a late night phone call with President Barack Obama was leaked to the press, despite an agreement that it would not be, according to several GOP aides.
Republicans believe the administration leaked details of the 30-minute Wednesday night phone call to Politico, which is causing them to question whether they can trust the White House to keep details private, a sentiment that has caused progress in the negotiations over the “fiscal cliff” to stall.
White House aides, however, denied that the leak came from the administration.
Nevertheless, the leak adds to Republicans’ already simmering tensions with Obama over his decision to travel to Pennsylvania to take his case for a tax hike on high-income earners to the public. Republicans believe the president is more interested in raking them over the coals publicly than striking a deal privately.
Personally, I don't think the President is as interested in getting a deal done, as much as he is posturing to set the Republicans up for blame after we go off the cliff.
If nothing happens, and we go over that cliff, the White House will say it is because the Republicans didn't want to craft a deal. If we hit a second recession, Obama will then point the finger at Congressional Republicans (ignoring of course the lack of a Democrat budget for 3+ years). The cliff will also trigger in mandatory cuts to Defense (which Democrats love), which will further harm the economy, giving the President yet another opportunity to blame Conservatives.
If Republicans cave, taxes will rise, and the Base will eat those Republicans that supported a tax hike.
Win-win for the Democrats. Brilliant move by the Left, devastating for the Country.
