Reid Wants Cantor Out Of Debt Talks

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wants House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) out of the ongoing negotiations over the debt limit.

“Cantor has shown that he’s shouldn’t even be at the table,” Reid said in a statement, adding that, according to quotes in a Politico article attributed to Congressional Republicans, some GOP lawmakers agree.

Reid noted that he believes House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) are operating in good faith. He declined to extend the same compliment to Cantor.

Alluding to rumors that Cantor may have his eye on the Speakership, Reid noted “the time for personal gain and political posturing is over.”

The Senate Majority Leader’s statement comes one day after a contentious meeting at the White House wherein Cantor and President Obama butted heads. Frustrated, Obama reportedly left the room, bringing the meeting to an early close.

The President and Congressional leaders are scheduled to meet again at the White House late Thursday afternoon. With the August 2nd deadline looming, wherein the U.S. will go into default without Congressional action, the President has pledged to hold a meeting each day until a compromise is reached.