Barney Frank says Tea Party endangers compromise on deficit reduction

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By NBC's Lauren Stephenson
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/06/15/6868508-frank-says-tea-party-endangers-compromise-on-deficit-reduction

Though congressional members taking part in today's ongoing deficit-reduction talks with Vice President Joe Biden said they are increasingly optimistic that compromise can be reached, the ranking Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee says the influence of the Tea Party is endangering the chance for a deal.

(snip)
Frank continued, "I think half of the Republicans in the House agree with her. The other half are afraid of losing the primary to somebody who agrees with her."

(snip)
"A deep unrealism has set in... People (like Bachmann) do not understand the damage this could do to the economy."

The Massachusetts congressman said other members of Congress share the "view that you can cut Social Security and Medicare and domestic programs, do nothing about taxing the very wealthy and most importantly do nothing about the military. These are people who want to stay in Iraq."

[Skidmore]

1. I do believe that is their stated purpose--to obstruct and prevent any change.

[Dawson Leery]

2. The tea party's purpose is to topple Obama.

They cannot accept his election.