House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said there may be a fissure developing in the united front Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi are presenting in their desire to raise taxes on the highest American earners.
McCarthy noted that Pelosi has indicated recently that she would view caving in on tax increases in order to solve the fiscal cliff a “game stopper,” but Obama hasn’t committed to such a hardline stance yet:
Well, the president isn’t saying that. Remember this. Nancy said last May that it had to be a tax increase on those a million and more. She keeps changing the game plan, that can’t be the case.
When asked whether Obama and Pelosi might differ, McCarthy said, “I see that as a possibility.”
Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami was quick to rebut the suggestion that there was a split, stating, “Leader Pelosi fully supports the president and has stated her strong commitment to avoid the fiscal cliff, because America’s middle class and economy cannot afford the damage. She has stated so publicly many times.”
The chance that Obama and Pelosi would split is slight, but not impossible. Republicans must hold fast to their promise not to raise taxes and force President Obama to make good on his promise on election night of “reaching out and working with leaders of both parties.”