Ed Markey: “The Republican Party's deficit plan is very simple: one, prolong the default crisis; two, push the Nation to the very…”

“The Republican Party's deficit plan is very simple: one, prolong the default crisis; two, push the Nation to the very brink of economic collapse; three, repeat it all again and again until election day 2012. The Republican Party cares only about political victory. They don't want compromise. They want capitulation. And if America goes into default, it will be your fault. We now have the pluperfect form of the Republican Party's political paradox: Republicans hate government, but they have to run for office in order to make sure it doesn't work. In 1995 and '96, the Republican Party shut down the Federal Government. In 1997 and '98, the Republicans shut down the Congress over impeachment. Earlier this year, they threatened to shut down the Federal Government again unless they got an extension of tax cuts for the very rich. And now Republicans are trying to shut down the entire economy. Republicans are turning Americans into the laughingstock of the world. If our Nation defaults, it will devastate Americans all across the country. If you have an adjustable rate mortgage, you will pay more. If you have a credit card, you will pay more. If you have a small business, you will pay more. This Republican default will impose a Tea Party tax on the entire country. It will force Americans to pay billions more of their hard- earned money when they can least afford it.…”