RNC Chairman Reince Priebus got into a somewhat testy exchange over the President's lack of a jobs plan with CNN's Christine Romans on today's American Morning. "Sounds like you're the one with the talking points," Priebus replied to Romans's assertion that he was just repeating GOP talking points.
Priebus also noted that only congressional Republicans had offered any solutions to the nation's economic problems. "I don't know if you're paying attention to what is happening in Washington, but it was the Republicans that offered a budget plan that addressed the out of control spending and out of control debt that is looming in regard to Medicare. It was Paul Ryan who presented a plan," said Priebus.
Chairman Priebus also concisely explained the shortcomings of the President's approach. "It's a lot of pushing, it's a lot of talking, it's a lot of press conferences and a lot of speeches, but not a lot of action. So I think it will be yet to be seen but we'll see what the next speech holds for the American people."
A transcript follows:
CNN
AMERICAN MORNING
08/19/2011
8:05 a.m. EDT
CHRISTINE ROMANS: Let's talk about who can sign legislation and get things going and who can write legislation. That is Congress which actually has a lower approval rating right now than the President. Congress also on recess on vacation. Are you saying that the House Speaker then should call back Congress to get some work done because only 14% of America approve of what they've done so far, less than the President's approval rating.
REINCE PRIEBUS: First of all, I think it was President Obama that's been driving around a bus around the country telling all of the people coming out to see him that he thinks that the congressmen shouldn't come back in August. In fact, they should say back and listen to their constituents which is what Congress is doing, but secondly, when the President had the ability to bring people together and actually put a deal together, he never presented a plan. I mean, the President never put a single sentence on a piece of paper and said, this is my plan for fixing the American -
ROMANS: And that's a talking point, and so we've heard that talking point so let's look forward.
PRIEBUS: It's not a talking point. It's a reality.
ROMANS: I've heard you say those exact words several times. Let's just put it forward. If he comes back with a plan and he puts those sentences on paper, will the Republican Party be the party of no or will the Republican Party in good faith try to figure out a way to get people back to work, put all of this acrimony aside? Because we are in very dire straits. You look at the world markets how they are reacting they do not like what they are seeing from anything in Washington right now.
PRIEBUS: I don't know if you're paying attention to what is happening in Washington, but it was the Republicans that offered a budget plan that addressed the out of control spending and out of control debt that is looming in regard to Medicare. It was Paul Ryan who presented a plan. It was the Congress that passed the plan all but four Republicans voted for it. It was the Republicans that passed cut, cap, and balance that addressed the ten-year long-term window of a mountain of debt that this country is facing.
ROMANS: So answer the question, if the president comes up with a plan -
PRIEBUS: I'm answering your question! The president all he is doing is - my answer is all the President is doing is promising one speech after the next, but offering nothing on a piece of paper. I mean, all the President is offering are speeches and words -
ROMANS: So you want the president to write the legislation?
PRIEBUS: Look. He should offer a plan. He should offer a way out. He should offer something. I mean, he is the classic community -
ROMANS: He and his team are in Martha's Vineyard that's what they are coming up with now, they've been consulting with CEOs and economists and small business owners -
PREIBUS: So you know that that's what he is doing today? 8:00 in the morning and the President's been consulting with CEOs.
ROMANS: I don't know if he is doing it this very second. I don't know if he is doing it this very second.
PRIEBUS: Sounds like you're the one with the talking points.
ROMANS: No. I'm saying that is what we are told is happening right now. There will be a plan coming out and I'll tell you, I'll be honest with you. A lot of people are saying we have the broad brush strokes, but what will the plan be? We've heard from Bruce Bartlett earlier today though, this feeling that the President comes out with something, there is too much acrimony in Washington to get it done. He's actually pushing - Bruce Bartlett and others are pushing - the fed is the only game in town right now simply because of the acrimony in Washington.
PRIEBUS: It's a lot of pushing, it's a lot of talking, it's a lot of press conferences and a lot of speeches, but not a lot of action. So I think it will be yet to be seen but we'll see what the next speech holds for the American people.
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