(Image Source: Politico)


BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS

You're watching multisource political video news analysis from Newsy. 

You’ve probably noticed a square off between 2 key players in the debt ceiling debate: President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. But now-- a third has emerged. Republican Whip Eric Cantor-- stepping out of Boehner’s shadow.

“The facts seem to be very clear to me. This team, the speaker and leader, on the Republican side can’t seem to get on the same page.”

Just as Boehner planned to meet Democrats in the middle-- compromising his own party’s demands-- Eric Cantor spoke out. Cantor is standing firm on the GOP’s demands- no matter how long it takes to reach a deal. Writers for The Washington Post say-

“The negotiating tactics of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor would probably make him lousy at selling cars. But as Congress and the president try to strike a deal on the national debt, they have made Cantor a hero to ardent anti-spending conservatives.”

So what exactly is Cantor standing up for? An article on CNN’s Political Ticker explains.

“...wealthier Americans being assessed a higher tax rate, is a sticking point in the deficit talks. Republicans want lower rates for all in a reformed tax system, while Democrats want to make sure that wealthier Americans shoulder a larger tax burden than the middle class.”


And according to a panel on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Cantor’s tough stance shouldn’t be shocking.

JOE SCARBOROUGH: “Eric Cantor promised for years, if you elect me, if you put me in leadership, I’m gonna oppose every tax increase. And he’s doing it now, and everyone’s shocked.”
PAT BUCHANAN: “The American People elected the Republican party on the pledge they wouldn’t raise taxes. They sent them to Washington. If they turn around, Joe, and endorse taxes, what is the argument for reelecting the Republican party?”


Some in the media are accusing Obama of driving a wedge between the two top Republican leaders. When confronted about keeping the debt debate details from conservatives, Obama retorted he already shared the plan for his 4-trillion dollar cut with Boehner. Politico reports...

“Obama’s reply sought to exploit an existing point of tension between Cantor and Boehner, who hadn’t kept the House’s No. 2 Republican in the loop. While Obama and Boehner met secretly — and top aides to both men plotted a possible deal — Cantor was in the dark.”

And is there more behind this now tense partnership? Writers for the LA Times seem to think so.

“The proximity of the Virginian's office to the speaker's suite may be less a symbol of a close relationship than of Cantor's aspirations to occupy the No. 1 spot someday... In many ways, it is a one-way rivalry. Yet because power is ever-shifting in Washington, Cantor's ascent has put Boehner on guard.”

For now, Boehner appears to have retreated to the Republican consensus-- backing off of Obama’s “big cuts” plan. According to The Atlantic Wire...

“Senate Democrats swiftly portrayed Boehner as a sympathetic figure, a stalwart negotiator bludgeoned into submission by party extremists.”

Congressional leaders have until August 2nd to come to an agreement or the United States will default on its debt.

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Transcript by Newsy.