Budget Debate Devolves Into Verbal Slugfest

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 26, 2009 4:24 PM CDT

(Newser) – The White House today ridiculed a budget proposal laid out by House Republicans, but the GOP gave as good as it got, the Hill reports. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the GOP document included a “picture of a windmill” but no substantive numbers. “It took me several minutes to read it,” he quipped. “I think the ‘party of no’ has become the party of no new ideas.”

Minority Leader John Boehner was quick to defend the proposal, saying Gibbs “didn’t get the memo that we had a two-part strategy in terms of releasing our budget—our vision today, with the details next week.” A Boehner spokeswoman was glad “Gibbs mentioned windmills. The administration must be tilting at windmills thinking their bloated budget puts our nation on a path to fiscal sanity.”

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. (AP Photo)

House Minority Leader John Boehner. (AP Photo)

President Barack Obama takes part in an Internet town hall meeting. (AP Photo)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 9 comments

Forderon

Mar 29, 2009 1:17 AM CDT

WHAT PORK!!?? Pork is a subjective term that could be anything to anyone. Just because you listen to Fox News and they tell you it's pork, doesn't mean it's pork, it means THEY think it's pork. Pork is in the eye of the beholder. Many economists have said that the stimulus wasn't big ENOUGH, that it should've been 3 times bigger.

Forderon

Mar 29, 2009 1:14 AM CDT

That's not THE Corona_King. It's a different person

lindamae

Mar 28, 2009 8:53 AM CDT

Loved the frat boy comment - I was going to say "smart a**** kid" who is in love with himself. He thinks he is witty. Duh. He's a perfect foil for Obama since Gibbs misdirects which allows Obama to do his dirty work. I cry to think my grandbabies are being doomed to pay for this mess. There was no reason to let the pork remain in the Omnibus Bill - no reason at all. It destroyed Obama's word for me since he campaigned on no earmarks. He lied. Why should I be surprised? Chicago politics as usual.

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Budget Debate Devolves Into Verbal Slugfest

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Congress • John Boehner • federal budget • House Republicans • Obama administration • Robert Gibbs • President Obama

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House GOP Caves, Backs Payroll Tax

Boehner and Co. say they'll accept tax cut without paying for it elsewhere

Obama's Budget Sets Up Fight With GOP

He wants to beef up domestic spending, raise taxes on rich

US Drones Return to Hit Rescuers, Funerals

Strikes occurring every 4 days under Obama: report

Congress Dodging Earmark Ban: Watchdogs

Lawmakers attach special funds to budgets to direct cash homeward

House Votes to Freeze Congress, Federal Pay

Bill expected to die in Senate

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