Lesson not learned.
Despite Republicans dropping their bid to link demands to defund or delay Obamacare to the debt limit or government spending bill, several GOPers do not seem be changing their rhetoric. If anything, they seem to be gearing up for round two.
The deal that passed on Wednesday night extends the nation’s borrowing authority until February and funds government agencies (and ends the government shutdown) until mid-January. It’s left the GOP with little to show after weeks of brinkmanship. But the deal is largely a temporary placeholder, and it’s possible the country could see a similar showdown during negotiations in the weeks to come.
Even with the Republican’s epic defeat, polls showing support for Obamacare on the rise, and Standard & Poor’s estimating that the 16-day shutdown cost the economy $24 billion, here’s what some GOP lawmakers are saying following last night’s deal:
Rep. Tim Huelskamp: “We’re going to win the war”
The Kansas Republican argued that the House’s fight, at the end of the day, was a good thing. The GOP “lost the battle, but we’re going to win the war” over Obamacare, he said.
Rep. Michele Bachmann: Our side acted like adults
In a Facebook post, the Minnesota Tea Partier insisted that during the debt deal negotiations, “Republicans were the adults in the room” while President Obama snubbed his nose at compromise. After the deal passed, Bachmann insisted the fight was “absolutely worth it.”
Rep. Mick Mulvaney: It was all worth it!
The South Carolina Republican on CNN said his party’s message wasn’t effective but that he’d do it over again. “Anytime you fight for something you really believe in, and something you think is important, then the fight is going to be worth it,” Mulvaney said.
Sen. Ted Cruz: It was a “remarkable victory”
The Tea Party Texan, who spearheaded the initiative to defund Obamacare, said on Wednesday that he wouldn’t stand in the way of a vote coming to the floor. However, he characterized the Republicans’ recent hostage taking as a “remarkable victory” to see the House engage in a “profile of courage.”
Rep. Phil Gingrey: We’ll continue to target Obamacare
The Georgia GOPer, after the deal passed, said: “We indeed will continue to fight. We’re not going anywhere!”
Sen. Marco Rubio: There’s going to be “an all-out revolt” over Obamacare
The Florida senator told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that there would definitely be a renewed fight over Obamacare in 2014. “The reality of the law are going to begin to impact people,” said Rubio. “There is going to be an all-out revolt in this country over that. And that is, I think, the moment to absolutely act and say we are going to get rid of this law.”
Rep. Steve King: We’re stronger and more unified than ever!
The Iowa congressman, after voting against the deal, told Fox News that the showdown resulted in the GOP being able to identify a number of core conservatives in the House and Senate who can band together in future battles. On the GOP senators, King said, “This may not be their best night tonight, but they have a national presence, and I think we’ll be able to gel together and move a more conservative, fiscally responsible agenda. That’s the bright side of this.”
