SAN FRANCISCO: The White House on Thursday accused its Republican foes of risking a global recession by saying they will not agree to raise the US debt ceiling unless paired with deep spending cuts.
Spokesman Jay Carney said President Barack Obama hoped to reach a compromise reining in galloping US deficits and national debt "in the same timeframe" as a congressional vote lifting the limit on Washington's ability to borrow.
But "you cannot hold one hostage to the other," he told reporters aboard President Barack Obama's official Air Force One airplane.
If talks collapse, "you can't say 'well, then we're just going to let the United States government go into default, tank the economy, send the economy into recession, not just domestically but globally," said Carney.
"I think that would be the height of irresponsibility," he said.
Obama was here for a campaign-style swing that included a a a fundraising breakfast at a swank San Francisco hotel
Carney had been asked about comments from Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who said in a statement that his party would oppose "a blind vote" on raising the debt ceiling absent steep cutbacks in government outlays.
"Democrats want a free pass to keep spending money we don't have," said Cantor.
"Republicans will not agree to raise the debt limit without binding budget reforms and immediate spending cuts."
"Such a move would be highly irresponsible in the face of record debt and deficits, and completely ignores the will of the American people who want Washington to finally start living within its means," said Cantor.
Carney suggested Cantor was out of step with fellow top Republicans, whose statements "have been in accordance with what the president has said, which is that we have to raise the debt ceiling no matter what" even as negotiations on spending cuts continue.
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