Call it the 'ugliness of sequestration' as controversy over the cuts builds with all the intensity of a soap opera.
Longtime journalist Bob Woodward says a senior member of the Obama Administration threatened him over the way he's been reporting on the story.
Woodward was the first to call out Obama's White House for coming up with the idea of sequestration. Woodward told CNN's Wolf Blitzer the threat came in an email.
"it said very clearly you will regret doing this,” Woodward told CNN.
“Who said that?” Blitzer inquired.
“Well, I am not going to say,” answered the longtime journalist.
“Was it a senior member at the White House?” Blitzer continued.
“A very senior person. And, I mean it makes me uncomfortable to have the White House telling reporters you are going to regret doing something that you believe in,” Woodward continued.
"This is how ludicrous and how bad its gotten, because Bob Woodward is one of the few reporters that goes back, 20, 30, 40 years of exposing government corruption,” explained Taxpayers Protection Alliance David Williams. “So, when Bob Woodward says something, there must be something there, and it's really disturbing the white house is doing this."
After Woodward's appearance on CNN, the White House offered up a statement that said 'no threat' was intended.
As far as the sequester, there has been plenty of rhetoric surrounding the across the board spending cuts and sometimes it’s hard to know what to believe.
To what extent will sequestration really impact the average American?
We sat down with Republican Senator Rand Paul, he’s among the few lawmakers who thinks the sequester doesn’t go far enough.
“All the drama and all the histrionics and all the emotionalism that the president is out there really isn’t quite accurate,” Paul stated. “This is a slowdown in the rate of growth.”
Senator Rand Paul says the scheduled spending cuts will barely scratch the surface. He’s thinks more should be cut from so-called entitlement programs and also from the military.
“We spend more in our military budget than all of our NATO allies combined,” Paul said.
“Republicans who believe in a strong national defense like I do have to say that not every dollar spent on the military is sacred or well-spent.”
Around the country, states with a large military footprint are preparing for the worst.
Economist Peter Morici says the domino effect of cuts and furloughs in several industries will be extreme.
“By cutting food inspectors, air traffic controllers and the like, the president can grab on choke points in the economy and shut it down,” Morici said.
For his part, the president has been pushing Congress to come up with a plan.
“This is not a cliff but it is a tumble downward,” admitted the President.
As he travels around the country to try to sell his message, Republicans and conservative analysts hold him responsible, saying it’s all a ploy to raise taxes.
“He’s going to shut down the economy, punish the American people to gain a political advantage for a tax increase,” Morici believes.
It seems this battle over taxes and social programs and where to make the cuts will continue on Friday.
The president is scheduled to meet with lawmakers on both sides to try to come up with a new plan, though so far there seems to be little they can agree on.
Longtime journalist Bob Woodward says a senior member of the Obama Administration threatened him over the way he's been reporting on the story.
Woodward was the first to call out Obama's White House for coming up with the idea of sequestration. Woodward told CNN's Wolf Blitzer the threat came in an email.
"it said very clearly you will regret doing this,” Woodward told CNN.
“Who said that?” Blitzer inquired.
“Well, I am not going to say,” answered the longtime journalist.
“Was it a senior member at the White House?” Blitzer continued.
“A very senior person. And, I mean it makes me uncomfortable to have the White House telling reporters you are going to regret doing something that you believe in,” Woodward continued.
"This is how ludicrous and how bad its gotten, because Bob Woodward is one of the few reporters that goes back, 20, 30, 40 years of exposing government corruption,” explained Taxpayers Protection Alliance David Williams. “So, when Bob Woodward says something, there must be something there, and it's really disturbing the white house is doing this."
After Woodward's appearance on CNN, the White House offered up a statement that said 'no threat' was intended.
As far as the sequester, there has been plenty of rhetoric surrounding the across the board spending cuts and sometimes it’s hard to know what to believe.
To what extent will sequestration really impact the average American?
We sat down with Republican Senator Rand Paul, he’s among the few lawmakers who thinks the sequester doesn’t go far enough.
“All the drama and all the histrionics and all the emotionalism that the president is out there really isn’t quite accurate,” Paul stated. “This is a slowdown in the rate of growth.”
Senator Rand Paul says the scheduled spending cuts will barely scratch the surface. He’s thinks more should be cut from so-called entitlement programs and also from the military.
“We spend more in our military budget than all of our NATO allies combined,” Paul said.
“Republicans who believe in a strong national defense like I do have to say that not every dollar spent on the military is sacred or well-spent.”
Around the country, states with a large military footprint are preparing for the worst.
Economist Peter Morici says the domino effect of cuts and furloughs in several industries will be extreme.
“By cutting food inspectors, air traffic controllers and the like, the president can grab on choke points in the economy and shut it down,” Morici said.
For his part, the president has been pushing Congress to come up with a plan.
“This is not a cliff but it is a tumble downward,” admitted the President.
As he travels around the country to try to sell his message, Republicans and conservative analysts hold him responsible, saying it’s all a ploy to raise taxes.
“He’s going to shut down the economy, punish the American people to gain a political advantage for a tax increase,” Morici believes.
It seems this battle over taxes and social programs and where to make the cuts will continue on Friday.
The president is scheduled to meet with lawmakers on both sides to try to come up with a new plan, though so far there seems to be little they can agree on.