The debt-ceiling hostage strategy starts to unravel

[BumRushDaShow]

6. When the hand that feeds them says

"We're saying calibrate your message. Focus on overspending instead of long-term debt," said Tim Phillips, president of AFP. "Focusing on [the debt ceiling] makes the messaging more difficult."

He warned that a prolonged fight over the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling could hasten a "grand bargain" between President Barack Obama and John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the house.

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"Our No. 1 priority is to stop government overspending. The debt limit is a symptom of that but if debt becomes the be all and end all, it becomes easier for liberals to push a combination of future spending cuts that are not enforceable and immediate tax increases," he said.

While Phillips said Republicans ought to push for as many cuts to the budget as possible, conservatives should stop short of being labelled "hostage takers".

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100381792

then they OBEY.