Obama's Struggle with Congress over Debt Ceiling Crisis - Case Study Example

With this law in place, the United States government would work without prejudice or malice within itself through its various dockets. Therefore, the Senate at the time enacted this law preventing inter government wrangles by setting a ceiling or a maximum on the lending ability; this would not increase for any department no matter the situation (Woodward 1). In this regard, the United State Congress in that year needed to raise the debt ceiling, which President Barrack Obama declined. In a quick rejoinder to avert a crisis, President Obama called a crisis meeting on July 23 2011 between him and the top Congressional representatives at the White House where he sought to reach an amicable solution to the looming crisis.

The meeting later proved inconsequential. The Congressmen present included Nancy Pelosi of the House of Minority, House Speaker John A. Boehner, Harry M. Reid of the Senate Majority and Mitch Mc Connell of the Senate Minority. This meeting took place at least 10 days before the U. S went into default that threatened to cripple its function, as it would not have had money for it to run on efficiently. It was also held in the wake of a night that the speaker had called off attempts to raise the $14Trillion debt limit and save the government’s repute. . Allegedly, this infuriated the president but he could not do anything at the time.

Eventually, Obama reiterated that it was his duty to sign the bill into law therefore implying that he would not sign it. Surprisingly, the Senate Majority leader Reid Harry interjected and requested the president to allow the Congress representatives to speak in private. This was a clear indication that the president’s presence, in a meeting that he had called for, had no impact. His decency intact, Obama let them have their private session but did not take those remarks lightly. He did not want to appear as though he were a dictator and hence allowed democracy to prevail even in that particular meeting.

Some would consider it cowardly but for Obama, as the man that he is, it is the greatest act of power. To him it is not about imposing ideas and infringing other people’s rights but it is about equal participation in decision-making. In the events leading to the meeting, the four leaders allegedly plotted to use the debt ceiling increase as a campaign debate tool come the 2012 presidential elections. Obama had adamantly continued to decline to this arrangement insisting on possible consideration after the elections.

Further, the president went to an extent of calling Boehner on the night of the aborted meeting, while he was dinning with friends, to insist that he would not relent and sign the bill into law. The House Speaker pointed out to Obama that his concern was substantial but if they did not increase the debt ceiling limit at that time then the government would have to go into bad debt. Additionally, he highlighted that going back on