GOP "young gun" Cantor draws controversy, ire

The House majority leader, Republican Eric Cantor, has been a congressman from Virginia since 2001. He's a favorite of Tea Party activists and conservatives. And now that Cantor is at the center of the budget crisis, he's become a lightening rod, CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reports.

In Washington, where the blame game is a blood sport, Democrats have found their fall guy.

"Leader Cantor has yet to make to make a constructive contribution to these negotiations," New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Cantor "childish," adding that Cantor "has shown he shouldn't even be at the table -- and Republicans agree he shouldn't be at the table."

The ambitious six-term congressman has given his opponents plenty of ammunition. He abandoned the original debt negotiations, led by Vice President Joe Biden, when talk turned to tax increases. Then he pulled House Speaker John Boehner back from a grand bargain with the president because taxes were part of the deal.

"I cannot fathom how anybody thinks right now is a good time to raise taxes," he said on the House floor last week.

Cantor's hard line approach has endeared him to Tea Party members, who question Boehner's commitment to their cause: No new taxes.

Asked if he feels he's being scapegoated by the Democrats, Cantor told Cordes, "You know, this is not a game. This is serious stuff. We've got a job to do and that is to ensure that we don't default on our debt."

Cantor, 48, fashions himself a "young gun" of the Republican Party -- and has a book and video making the claim.

And despite persistent rumors that Cantor is gunning for his job, Boehner defended his embattled lieutenant today.

"We have been in this fight together, and any suggestion that the role that Eric has played in this meeting has been anything less than helpful is just wrong," Boehner said.

Asked where he was willing to compromise on the debt, Cantor said that the very fact that he's willing to raise the debt limit is a compromise. But he's voted to raise it four times in the past when President George W. Bush was in office.

[cattiej]

I wish the people of Virginia would impeach Cantor..He is commiting a treasonist act by holding the American people hostage if people don't vote or agree with his wishes that the debt ceiling not be raised. We voted to raise the debt ceiling everytime Bush wanted it raised. This guy is a dangerous man to all he people of Virginia and to the rest of our country. He needs to be impeached immediately.. I don't live in Virginia but if I did I would start a lawsuit to impeach him. His selfishness will affect the whole of America..I cannot write the United States of America...our states are NOT united.
He voted to implement these wars and he along with all the politicans who voted for this have cost the lives of millions of people and thousands of soldiers lives. Many soldiers have lost their arms and legs..they may be hero's now but after a time, they will be forgotten.This happened to the men who fought in World War II, it happened after Korea. How are these people going to get jobs to support their families. Now Obama said if the budget isn't passed our soldiers won't get paid..I say, lay down your arms and come home..if this war was something that would benefit our country, I don't know what it is. We need our soldiers to come home and defend our country at our borders instead of being thousands of miles away, killing people who are using old weapons and winning, while our military are using space age weapons and losing..The war is bankrupting our country. Just the cost of 1 soldier is over a million dollars a year, then you add the equipment, tank, planes, ships, etc..and the high cost of contractors...who
OUT NUMBER of soldiers over there..Time to come home...your needed here...If Cantor likes war so much, he can suit up and go to Iraq or Afghanstan and ride around and get blown to bits like our people are having done to them. Funny, how very few contractors get killed and yet some of the politicans are able to go over there for a photo op and come back without getting injured..So saying the above...time to get Cantor out of office and votes his friends that are selfish stupid politicans with him. If the senior's don't get their social security payments Aug 3rd, Cantor shouldn't get paid either..

[normo01]

I agree. I will do all that is possible to see Senator Canton does not get elected again. I grew up a republican, but now believe all current republicans need to become extinct. I'm fed up with "earmarks" and republican greed.

[cattiej]

Cantor is a traitor to American's everywhere in OUR country. He is being subborn and not working out a solution with the budget. He voted for us to go to war, along with many other's who have cost thousands of American lives, and millions of other lives in Iraq, Afghanastan. The drug war in Mexico and at our southern borders continue to cost lives every day..there are many people who have been killed that probably will never be reported. This is where are Army should be, on our borders, not in Iraq and Afghanastan and also protecting Pakistan...which all, especially Pakistan are evil countries and their government is corrupt, more corrupt than ours at the moment..The only difference with their politicans is that they have to have armed guards protecting them...this may soon be the case for our elected officials if they don't work together to pass a budget and our country goes into default and then into a Depression....this Congress and the other politicans don't care about us, the citizens of America, they only care about themselves, the money the get from the lobbyist that represent BIG business. They get free healthcare for the rest of their life,free office space, and a continuation of money paid to them under the table and above the table..How is it that some of these people don't have all that much money when they first take office but when they leave office They are millionaires?
The people had better start working together, this is America, they are not suppose to be voting for a political party but voting for the American citizens..I want to see these politial parties disolved..they are bankrupting our country. Shame on all of you politicans who are not working together for us...we are the people who elected you and we can also impeach you, fine you and possible have you arrested for endangering our country.

[Anotheryahoo]

I agree, dissolve both partys its the only solution short of another revolution.

[jnedky]

But he's voted to raise it four times in the past when President George W. Bush was in office. So that the draft-dodger could play war games in Iraq.

[naksuthin]

He also voted for
1. $700 billon Tarp
2. $1000 billion Iraq war
3. $40 billion a year Medicare D
And now he doesn't want to pay for any of it. sounds like another "responsible republican"

[tryhonesty]

RightwingNUT RepubliCON Cantor is in the wrong job. He needs to be FIRED now and then sent to stand in the corner of the House in "time out"...

[butteite]

Boehner had better watch his back while he is in that foxhole with cantor. Cantor would stab him in a heart beat. Come to think of it he better watch his back at all times.

[Lindag10]

Cantor is singing the TEA party tune. He needs to GO AWAY.

[Stalagtite314]

Why do you think that? The Tea Party sings a wonderful tune! They are actually FOR the greatness of this country, its people, and want the best for it, including relieving Americans of the onerous tax burdens that Obama and his kooks are foisting upon our backs.
Your comment sounds like it was merely an unthinking parroted comment.

[steeepe]

Stalagtite: "Onerous tax burdens" What are you talking about? Tax rates are the lowest they've been in over 50 years! What do you want? No taxes, no infrastructure, no judicial system, no NIH, etc. etc.? Would that make a greta country? Hardly. China is spending huge amounts on improving their country and the Tea Party wants to cut everything here. The tea Party wants to return to the 19th century. You need to get a bigger perspective.

[Lindag10]

Stalag: If you want to live in a country with little or no government, might I suggest Somalia? Tea party people enjoy the benefits of government, which we need for an orderly society, they just don't want to help pay for it. As for myself, I'm retired and need my Social Security (which I've paid taxes on my entire working life) in order to keep a roof over my head and to buy food. Cantor and the rest of the TEA party is threatening that with their desire to drive the country over a cliff for some reason I can't understand.

[tsigili]

You can't turn these extremist types loose in Washington. Washington doesn't work that way, and total gridlock will ensue.

Cantor needs to step down from House leadership, and be replaced with someone who has some reasoning ability.

[LadyGoodmann]

Not raising taxes and closing tax loopholes on the country's wealthiest individuals and corporations while strippng the lower and middle class of the social security and medicare benefits - for which they've paid taxes over their entire working lives - is unf*ingconscionable. These dirtbags - all of them - are public servants and the most guilty of the attitude of entitlement. The greatest among you would be the servant of ALL, not just those who can afford to contribute to your political campaign. Grow up, do your jobs, and do the right thing for its own sake.

[Stalagtite314]

You, are apparently sucking the media Kool-Aide by actually believing the Democratic lies that the Republicans are going to take away the social security and medicare. And who do you suppose provides most of the private sector employment? It's the wealthy folks. Why do you want to hurt them? Successful business owners drive our economy.
Your 'thinking' appears to be merely parroted generalizations you've picked up from the media.

[naksuthin]

the myth is that if you give rich people more tax money they'll rush out and spend it on jobs for the rest of us.
We'll, the Bush tax cuts are ten years old, he left the country mired in debt and the worst recession in history.
The Bush tax cuts on the rich were continued under Obama...and even Republicans will admit that our economy stinks.
What more proof do you need that giving tax breaks to the rich only results in RICHER RICH

[Smokey75]

I hear all the whining liberals whining that the republicans are hypocrits for not voting for the increase since they have in the past.

I just wonder what your feelings are of Obama since in 2006 he voted no to increasing the debt cieling. Was Obama a moron in 2006 or is he just a hypocritical moron today?

[naksuthin]

You are right.
Obama voted against raising the debt ceiling in 2006 and Cantor voted for it.
Now the two are on exact opposite courses.
Which proves....politicians are never consistent.

[tudognight]

Republican logic is pure illogical. Don't raise taxes when the economy is in distress....instead cut government employment, vital services, and the livelihood for millions of retirees, the handicapped and the unemployed and close their kids schools just for good measure. In other words the only employment they are considering is their own as paid employees of large corporations and America's super wealthy. Yea, we don't need teachers, police, fire, and the millions who toil providing necessary government services.....we need to make the wealthy even wealthier so they can take a real dump on the middle class now that they are done trickling on them.

[Progress4U]

What? You mean the mega-rich haven't flown by your house in their hot air ballon throwing gold coins down on you and your neighbors...like they promised they would??? They haven't been by my house either...

I talked to my repub congress"man" and he said to open up my window and keep throwing money out...that should get them to fly by!!! He all but assured me!

[HolyVoice]

"I talked to my repub congress"man" and he said to open up my window and keep throwing money out...that should get them to fly by!!! He all but assured me!"

Sounds like you live in a special neighborhood. The conservatives haven't sent jobs raining down in other neighborhoods with all the tax cuts given since 2001. The trickle down appears to be yellow, and would be aptly called tinkle down economics.