April 6, 2011
At a closed-door meeting of the House GOP Caucus, Speaker John Boehner warned his clleagues that the Democrats would "win" a government shutdown. According to Politico, Bohener said , "The Democrats think they benefit from a government shutdown. I agree."
Boehner is wrong. No one wins a government shutdown. But, it tells you all you need to know about the motives of the negotiators that the discussions aimed at avoiding a shutdown are not concerned primarily about how such a shutdown would affect workers, retirees, and others. This is politics, pure and simple, and politics at its worst. Boehner now holds a constitutional office. His concern should be, and indeed his oath requires, that he get his party to be grown-up and do their duty.
