GOP freshmen to Obama: Show us your plan
Protests in front of the White House are nothing new in Washington - but the protesters are not usually members of Congress. But today, twenty-one freshman Republicans lined up on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the Executive Mansion in 90 degree plus heat to express their outrage that President Obama has not presented a formal plan for cutting the deficit.
"We're here to do the work and we're asking the president put it in writing, let's debate it, let's be honest with the American people, let's get through this debt crisis and this debt ceiling crisis and do something for America for generations," said Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y.
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One by one, each of the new members voiced appeals directly into news cameras, orating as though they were in the well of the House - and all making the same accusation: the president has failed to respond to their letter asking him to come forward with a detailed plan that reduces the national debt and addresses entitlement reform.
"We've asked you for a plan Mr. President, you haven't delivered one," said Bill Johnson of Ohio. "America deserves better. Mr. President, give us your plan."
"A default is with respect to credit. Credit obligations of the United States of America are only two hundred and some odd billion dollars a year," he said. "We have income of over two trillion dollars a year. There will not be a default of our credit unless the president decides on his own to breach our obligation to our creditors."
Congressman Brooks didn't respond to a question about the effect that would have on the markets.
Thirty minutes later, point made, the twenty-one members, coats now off in the sweltering heat, headed for the bus which would take them back to Capitol Hill to vote on the "Cut, Cap and Balance" bill.
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