On Last Night's Debt Limit Vote: Appeasing Republicans Won't Work

By Steve Benen, Washington Monthly
Posted on June 1, 2011, Printed on June 1, 2011

Shortly after voters gave Republicans control of the House of Representatives, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) struck a refreshingly responsible tone about the debt ceiling. "I've made it pretty clear to [my caucus] that as we get into next year, it's pretty clear that Congress is going to have to deal with [the debt limit]," Boehner said after the midterms. "We're going to have to deal with it as adults. Whether we like it or not, the federal government has obligations and we have obligations on our part."

The House GOP, of course, quickly abandoned this maturity. Following through with American obligations is out; playing chicken with the economy is in. Acting like adults is out; acting like intemperate children is in.