Clyburn, Hoyer Want More Help From Bush

House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) called on President Bush to marshall support for massive bailout package to prop up the flagging economy.

"If it's a crisis—as Secretary Paulson and Chairman Bernanke argue—and we all need to come together, then as leader of this nation, the President needs to take the lead and bring the country together behind his plan," Clyburn said. "He must make a case to Congressional Republicans and to the American people that his $700 billion rescue package is the right solution.”

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) made a similar appeal at a press brieing Tuesday morning. And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters later in the day that, "This is a Republican plan, we need Republican votes."

Republicans turned on Vice President Dick Cheney Tuesday during a morning briefing to build support for the proposal to grant Treasury authority to start buying up to $700 billion in distressed mortgage-related assets.