Last night, nine Republicans and five Democrats broke with their parties on the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act, which would require a balanced budget amendment if the debt ceiling were to be raised. Two of the Republicans who voted against it were presidential hopefuls: Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and Rep. Ron Paul (Texas), both of whom believe the act doesn't goes far enough.
Bachmann instead offered her own version of the act which would include a repeal of ObamaCare, while Paul argued for even greater cuts to entitlement and military spending. Check out what they had to say after the break, and let us know if you think this will bode well for their 2012 campaigns in the comments.
Bachmann explained to her South Carolina audience, "In signing the pledge, I am adding a line. I also pledge that along with cutting spending, putting in place enforceable spending caps, and passing a balanced budget amendment, we must repeal and defund ObamaCare." She has also refused to raise the debt ceiling under any circumstance, reminding her audience, "I continue to stand for voting against increasing the debt ceiling."
Paul released a statement to House Speaker John Boehner also emphasizing that he would never vote for raising the debt ceiling.
[...] this bill authorizes a $2.4 trillion rise in the debt limit. I have never voted for a debt ceiling increase and I never will. Increasing the debt ceiling is an endorsement of business as usual in Washington. It delays the inevitable, the day that one day will come when we cannot continue to run up enormous deficits and will be forced to pay our bills.
Do you think it is a smart move for Bachmann and Paul to bring other spending problems, like ObamaCare and Social Security, back to the forefront of the debt debates in this manner? Or do you think voting against the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act will turn more potential primary voters away from them?
