Congressman Jim Jordan is stalling debt reduction talks with his bargaining persuasion.
/ File photo
WASHINGTON -- Who's the most difficult congressman in the House? When President Barack Obama talks about the "uncompromising Republicans" in the deficit reduction package, he's really talking about Ohio's own Jim Jordan.
Jordan boldly opposed Speaker John Boehner's latest debt bill on Tuesday by telling the press the speaker didn't have enough support to pass it. As predicted, GOP leaders postponed a vote planned for Wednesday as they work on a new deal.
The 47-year-old former wrestling champion has created an army of freshmen Republicans to fight for the "cut, cap and balance" reduction plan, which would allow an increase in the debt ceiling after Congress passes a budget amendment to the Constitution and places cuts and caps on future spending.
To Jordan, any other compromise would falter the party's bargaining power.
“If the American people can continue to engage,
and we can build support, then we have a chance,” Jordan said in an interview with National Review Online. “I’ve always felt that. You are seeing the conservative movement coalescing around it. We just have to build this. The American people understand. It’s just common sense. Ideally, you want to avoid any potential hiccups or problems in August, but we also want to stop the debt crisis that’s coming.”
Jordan also told National Review Online that politics is merely a sport: "Wins and losses matter, and you pin down your opponent whenever possible."
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
What do you think about Jordan's uncompromising approach? Will his army cave liberal and the speaker's plans or merely push the U.S. closer to default on Aug. 2? Weigh in by commenting below or on our Facebook page.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWNWO