Perry says shutdown is Obama's fault for failing to lead

AP/Houston Chronicle:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Friday that President Barack Obama and congressionalDemocrats are to blame for the standoff in Washington that has led to a partial government shutdown, but he also urged lawmakers to recognize that a long-term stalemate could damage the nation's financial health.

"Both sides have to realize that it's not in their best interest to allow for a degrading of the American credit," Perry said in an interview.

The Texas Republican, who is considering a 2016 White House run, depicted the president and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as obstructionists as Washington lawmakers appeared headed for a weekend of squabbling.

"This is on him," Perry said of Obama. "He refuses to lead."

In Washington, where a midmonth deadline loomed for averting a first-ever default, Democrats held to their position of agreeing to negotiate on the budget only after the government is reopened and the $16.7 trillion debt limit is raised. Meanwhile, Republicans ramped up calls for cuts in federal benefit programs and future deficits after earlier insisting on defunding the health care overhaul in exchange for re-opening government.

The Democratic president "is the leader of this county," Perry said. It "sends a very bad message."

He credited Republican House Speaker John Boehner with proposing legislative remedies but faulted Obama and Reid for "saying no, no, no."
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Obama is an inept negotiator and that is probably one reason why he is refusing to even try.  His refusal will eventually hurt the country even if he somehow gets the Republicans to cave.  That would only make our fiscal situation worse.   Harry Reid is just as bad if not worse.  He should be removed from office for his refusal to consider appropriation bills will out holding all of them hostage to his weird leftist ideology.