By Judson Phillips, The Washington Post Opinions<\/p>\n
The liberal media have gone to warp speed in their defense of President Obama and their attacks on the Tea Party. We are \u201cextreme\u201d and \u201cdangerous.\u201d Republicans are \u201cafraid of\u201d the Tea Party. And more.<\/p>\n
The narrative in the media is that Obama and Republican House Speaker John Boehner were close to a deal last week that would have resolved the debt-ceiling crisis. It would have allowed for continued borrowing and more \u201crevenue,\u201d the euphemism of the day for tax increases. And the Tea Party said no.<\/p>\n
The Tea Party did say no. Unfortunately, Boehner is not listening to those who elected him and is now pushing a plan with almost nonexistent budget cuts.<\/p>\n
Why is the Tea Party intransigent on the debt ceiling? Why is the Tea Party pushing congressional Republicans so hard that we have a crisis?<\/p>\n
As the founder of Tea Party Nation, I feel confident in saying that the Tea Party understands what so many in Washington seem to have forgotten: We do not have a debt crisis. We have a spending crisis. There is only one way you get to a debt crisis \u2014 you spend too much money.<\/p>\n
Average Americans understand that the federal government is bloated. The government funds too many wasteful programs. There are too many programs and spending bills that exist only to help get senators or representatives reelected.<\/p>\n