President Obama used the power of the bully pulpit Friday, calling on supporters to pressure congressional Republicans to raise the nation’s debt ceiling.
“Kentucky voters: Tweet @SenRandPaul and ask him to compromise on a balanced deficit solution,” Mr. Obama tweeted from his Twitter account Friday.
Mr. Paul, a vocal critic of President Obama, tweeted back, slamming the administration’s handling of the debt ceiling crisis and questioning the president’s leadership.
“@BarackObama Its hard to take advice frm someone w/o a plan. Compromise is to raise #debt ceiling w/ #BBAmdt. Where is your compromise?” Mr. Paul tweeted in response.
Mr. Obama, who announced earlier this month that he take a more active role in tweeting, called on supporters earlier in the day to tweet their member of Congress as part of an effort to exert pressure on lawmakers as an August 2 deadline for raising the debt limit approaches.
“Now, on Monday night, I asked the American people to make their voice heard in this debate, and the response was overwhelming,” Obama said in a tweet Friday. “If you want to see a bipartisan compromise — a bill that can pass both houses of Congress and that I can sign — let your members of Congress know. Make a phone call. Send an email. Tweet. Keep the pressure on Washington, and we can get past this.”
Mr. Obama, signing the tweet with his initials, added that the time for partisan politics is over and that lawmakers must reach a deal.
“The time for putting party first is over. If you want to see a bipartisan #compromise, let Congress know. Call. Email. Tweet.,” Mr. Obama said.
