Chuck Schumer approves plan for Obama to bypass Congress to raise debt ceiling

[politicaljunkie41910]

but won't commit to approving President Obama's nominee of Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense.

"WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and other members of Senate Democratic leadership issued a letter to President Barack Obama Friday, urging the White House to bypass Congress on raising the debt ceiling.

The letter, signed by Reid and Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), is the strongest show of support from Senate Democrats that they would back the president if he were to use his executive authority to unilaterally raise the nation's borrowing limit in the face of opposition from House Republicans.

"In the event that Republicans make good on their threat by failing to act, or by moving unilaterally to pass a debt limit extension only as part of an unbalanced or unreasonable legislation, we believe you must be willing to take any lawful steps to ensure that America does not break its promises and trigger a global economic crisis -- without congressional approval, if necessary,” the letter states. ...

In the letter, the senators also call on Obama to ignore claims that increasing the debt ceiling is representative of a concession by Republicans to Democrats. The president, for his part, has insisted that he will not negotiate with Republicans over the country's ability to continue to pay off its debts. ... "

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/11/obama-debt-ceiling_n_2458535.html

Why is Chuck Schumer giving President Obama his blessing to protect Wall Street's interest by ignoring Congress related to raising the Debt Ceiling, but has not stated whether or not he will vote to confirm Chuck Hagel as President Obama's nominee for Sec of Defense. Because Chuck Schumer is practicing the fine art of serving two masters by keeping his Wall Street donor base appeased by ensuring that the Debt ceiling debate does not interrupt Wall Street markets; as well as keeping his New York Jewish base appeased by opposing Chuck Hagel.

"...With the retirement of Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, Schumer has emerged as perhaps the most hawkish Jewish member of the Senate Democratic Caucus with regard to Israel, a subject that has caused rifts between President Barack Obama and pro-Israeli activists throughout his first term. The Hagel nomination has only raised the temperature on their relationship, and if Hagel fails to placate concerns from the pro-Israeli groups, Schumer will be in a tough spot between his Jewish base and the administration pushing hard for his confirmation. ..."

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/as-chuck-schumer-goes-so-goes-chuck-hagel-86043.html

[Cha]

1. Wow.. thanks for this politicaljunkie.. Will be interesting to

see if Schumer ends up voting for Hagel.

If Schumer does not know.. he needs to learn that his allegiance is to our Country.

[Cha]

2. Actually, according to The National Memo.. Defaming Chuck Hagel as "anti-semite" has been

comprehensively debunked, in detail.."

The sickening effort to defame Chuck Hagel as anti-Semitic and anti-Israel has been comprehensively debunked, in detail, while its neoconservative authors – notably the convicted liar Eliot Abrams – have once more disgraced themselves in an attempt to deceive the public (much like their false, ruinous campaign promoting the invasion of Iraq). While these characters always seem beyond embarrassment, it may be hoped that they at last inflicted permanent damage on their own credibility.

And "Hagel’s Top Qualifications? His Infantry Service — And Strong Veteran Support"

http://www.nationalmemo.com/hagels-top-qualifications-his-infantry-service-and-strong-veteran-support/

[politicaljunkie41910]

3. I think that Schumer is more concerned with not biting the hand that feeds his

campaigns to assure his re-election, more so than whether or not the claims against Hagel are legitimate or not. I've always known that he had no problem doing the bidding of Wall Street at the expense of Democrats when we were trying to reform Wall Street and reinstitute some regulations and he was reluctant to get on board. He now seems willing to become the 'Joe Lieberman' thorn in the Democratic Party's side.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. Someone (else) has got to play the part

It actually seems that there are more than one Dem willing to play that part: Heitkamp, Manchin, et. al.

[Cha]

5. right.. just thought I'd throw

in some reality here. We'll see what Schumer does..he's definitely not under the radar here.

LIEberman is not someone to emulate.

[TwilightGardener]

6. This is kind of disturbing:

"By holding out his support, Schumer can extract from Hagel certain concessions over Israel."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/as-chuck-schumer-goes-so-goes-chuck-hagel-86043_Page2.html#ixzz2Hjm0MURK