Chuck Schumer: “well, my colleagues know we have heard a lot of talking here. We just heard about giving a child a credit card. And what…”

“well, my colleagues know we have heard a lot of talking here. We just heard about giving a child a credit card. And what they are advocating on that side is once the child spends on the credit card, maybe the child should not have, the parents are saying we will not pay. That is un-American. That is being a deadbeat. That has nothing to do with resolving the child's behavior in the future. That has to do with the past obligation that was incurred by the family that people on this side are saying we will not pay. Mr. Speaker, the average homeowner does not have the opportunity to renege on his or her mortgage. The average credit card purchaser does not have the opportunity to renege on his or her credit card. These people are struggling. They cannot do it, and at the height of irresponsibility, some of the leaders of this Nation are saying, well our country can do it. What lesson is that to the child we are talking about? I would say that to the gentleman from Florida. Mr. Speaker, is it happenstance that we are playing this ridiculous game of chicken? Is it just unbelievable that we could say we would renege on our debt? Let us listen to what Speaker Gingrich said: "The President will veto a number of things and then we will put them all on the debt ceiling. And then he will decide how big a crisis he wants." That is good government? That is responsibility? That is bullying at best, and lunacy, irresponsible lunacy at worst.”