Crossfire Live Blog Sept. 20, 2013

Matt Kibbe, who supports defunding Obamacare, and Neera Tanden, who supports the law, join hosts Newt Gingrich and Stephanie Cutter to discuss the controversial healthcare reform law in the center of the shutdown debate.

by Lindsey MacNabb, CNN

Welcome to the live blog!
The U.S. House of Representatives has launched the latest spending battle with the passage of a spending plan that could lead to a government shutdown and would eliminate all funding for Obamacare, the controversial health care reform law passed in 2010.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), citing the law's unpopularity, said: "The American people don't want the government shut down and they don't want Obamacare. The House has listened to the American people. Now it's time for the United States Senate to listen to them as well."
"I will not negotiate over the full faith and credit of the United States," President Obama shot back at a speech in Liberty, Missouri.
Joining hosts Newt Gingrich and Stephanie Cutter in the Crossfire are Neera Tanden, the President of the Center for American Progress and a key architect of Obamacare, and FreedomWorks President and CEO Matt Kibbe, who supports defunding Obamacare.

by Lindsey MacNabb, CNN 9/20/2013 9:01:59 PM
Don't miss CAP president @neeratanden tonight on @CrossfireCNN at 6:30 ET #Crossfire

by American Progress via twitter 9/20/2013 9:26:42 PM
1 hour until @mkibbe is on @CrossfireCNN debating @stefcutter , @neeratanden and @NewtGingrinch over the battle to #DefundObamaCare

by FreedomWorks via twitter 9/20/2013 9:26:58 PM
Tweet during the show with #CrossfireReturns and your comments could appear in our live blog during the show: on.cnn.com/15bSW95

by Crossfire via twitter 9/20/2013 9:32:15 PM
Host Newt Gingrich discusses GOP party rifts in push to defund Obamacare on CNN's New Day.
by Lindsey MacNabb, CNN on Sep 20, 2013 at 11:27 AM

by Lindsey MacNabb, CNN 9/20/2013 9:35:01 PM
Congress: will it be a government shutdown or budget compromise?
Washington (CNN) -- There hasn't been a government shutdown in more than 17 years, since the 28 days of budget stalemate in the Clinton administration that cost more than $1 billion.
Now we hear dire warnings and sharpening rhetoric that another shutdown is possible and perhaps likely in less than two weeks when the current fiscal year ends.
Read more at CNN.com

by Lindsey MacNabb, CNN 9/20/2013 9:41:26 PM
House GOP leadership hold a rally after voting to defund Obamacare as part of a bill to avert a government shutdown.
by Lindsey MacNabb, CNN on Sep 20, 2013 at 11:26 AM

by Lindsey MacNabb, CNN 9/20/2013 9:52:53 PM
No thanks, Obamacare. I'll pay the penalty

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Can't afford the premiums. Don't need health insurance. Won't support Obamacare.

These are some of the reasons why CNNMoney readers say they'll opt to pay a penalty for not having health insurance in 2014, rather than sign up for a policy in the state-based exchanges or through their companies.

"I would love to have insurance, but we just don't have the money," said Sandra Czop, 58, of Bloomingdale, Ill. "We need that $100 to put food on the table. We have no money to put gas in the car."

Read more at CNNMoney

by Lindsey MacNabb, CNN 9/20/2013 10:03:43 PM
@CrossfireCNN @CNN BOTH! We can't work devided. If the dems and repubs can't compromise it's both their faults. #CrossfireReturns

by DelilahJames via twitter 9/20/2013 10:08:14 PM
Possible gov shutdown on the way? @mkibbe joins @stefcutter @neeratanden and @newtgingrich in 30 minutes on @CrossFireCNN . #crossfirereturns

by FreedomWorks via twitter 9/20/2013 10:08:24 PM
#CrossfireReturns The Republicans want to shut the gov down. They don't care about the consequences

by Carol Benjamin via twitter 9/20/2013 10:10:13 PM
.@mkibbe is on @CrossFireCNN tonight at 6:30pm. He'll debate @stefcutter & @neeratanden on the #defundObamaCare battle. #crosssfirereturns

by FreedomWorks via twitter 9/20/2013 10:15:55 PM
FreedomWorks prez @mkibbe gearing up for Crossfire in the CNN green room... Tune in at 6:30! http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BUo4xc8CAAEz08K.jpg

by JackieBodnar via twitter retweeted by FreedomWorks 9/20/2013 10:16:16 PM
Jump into the conversation by tweeting with #CrossfireReturns and participating in our live blog: on.cnn.com/15bSBTW

by Crossfire via twitter 9/20/2013 10:22:08 PM
Gingrich: Obama's big debt limit deception

(CNN) -- As a historian and a former speaker of the House who negotiated successfully through two government shutdowns, a successful welfare reform bill, the first tax cut in 16 years and four balanced budgets, I am offended and a little frightened by President Barack Obama's deliberate dishonesty about the debt ceiling.

On Wednesday, speaking to the Business Roundtable, Obama said:

"You have never seen in the history of the United States the debt ceiling or the threat of not raising the debt being used to extort a president or a governing party and trying to force issues that have nothing to do with the budget and nothing to do with the debt."

This is just plain false, and he knows it. That he would say something so factually false in a prepared text is very worrisome.

Read more of host Newt Gingrich's op-ed piece for CNN.com

by Lindsey MacNabb, CNN 9/20/2013 10:22:58 PM
Tuning into @crossfirecnn to watch @neeratanden talk budget battle and GOP shutdown. #CrossfireReturns

by LindsayHams via twitter 9/20/2013 10:23:48 PM
“@CrossfireCNN : republicans without a doubt. They are bowing to the Tea Partiers and they can't even stomach them. #CrossfireReturns

by Deb Lawrence via twitter 9/20/2013 10:23:58 PM
Do we always have to pick a side? It's the people's fault for allowing themselves to constantly be devided. #UnitedStates #CrossfireReturns

by Jamie Lyons via twitter 9/20/2013 10:24:00 PM
Why blame a party? I believe #Congress should take the blame. Not all Democrats are following their constituents. #CrossfireReturns

by Topher via twitter 9/20/2013 10:26:22 PM
I believe both the #Republicans # #Democrats are to blame because they need to put american people 1st, not themselves. #CrossfireReturns

by BubbaTy1 via twitter 9/20/2013 10:26:31 PM
@newtgingrich @CrossfireCNN Both parties deserve the blame if they dont reach a consensus #CroosfireReturns GOP's loss will b bigger

by alinabrouwer via twitter 9/20/2013 10:27:27 PM
1 minute until Crossfire! @mkibbe & @Neeratanden are seated and ready to debate Obamacare & a possible gov shutdown. #CrossfireReturns

by Crossfire via twitter 9/20/2013 10:28:15 PM
#crossfirereturns . Have the Democrats passed anything to fund the government ???? don't think so .... Everything but Obamacare.

by sisterwash65 via twitter 9/20/2013 10:28:15 PM
@newtgingrich @CrossfireCNN Dems..it's time they give in, I'm tired of their stonewalling, and listen to the people.

by Elke1983 via twitter 9/20/2013 10:28:35 PM
@newtgingrich @CrossfireCNN the govt has "shut down" many times and it's never more than a few days...Dems to blame, of course.

by jhjulian1956 via twitter 9/20/2013 10:28:46 PM
Crossfire starts now! Tune to CNN and join the debate with #CrossfireReturns .

by Crossfire via twitter 9/20/2013 10:28:51 PM
Happening now! @mkibbe on @CrossFireCNN - Will there be a government shutdown over the battle to #DefundObamaCare ?

by FreedomWorks via twitter 9/20/2013 10:28:55 PM
@newtgingrich @CrossfireCNN #CrossfireReturns 1)Which part of Gov. is responsible for the purse strings? 2)Which party is majority there?

by VibeGuy77 via twitter 9/20/2013 10:29:23 PM
Nobody gets 100% of what you want. You guys know that in your own lives, in your own families. I don't know how many people are married here but you know you better learn not to expect getting 100% of what you want (laughter).

-President Barack Obama
September 20, Missouri

by Lindsey MacNabb, CNN 9/20/2013 10:30:01 PM
#crossfirereturns now on #CNN

by seangraf via twitter 9/20/2013 10:30:15 PM
@newtgingrich @CrossfireCNN the Democrats disastrous policies are to blame. #CrossfireReturns

by NicolaHawatmeh via twitter 9/20/2013 10:30:24 PM
@newtgingrich @CrossfireCNN havent been able 2 watch it yet,bet its lots of fun 2 watch bright minds exchanging ideas #CrossfireReturns

by alinabrouwer via twitter 9/20/2013 10:30:32 PM
Reminder: CAP President @neeratanden is on @CrossfireCNN . Tune in NOW! #Crossfire

by American Progress via twitter 9/20/2013 10:30:33 PM
@stefcutter : @BarackObama has always been open to improvements to Obamacare from Republicans #crossfirereturns

by seangraf via twitter 9/20/2013 10:30:59 PM
@newtgingrich @CrossfireCNN Actually the President and the Democrats failure to move or compromise,on Obama care,government shut down okay.

by Ronald Schwartz via twitter 9/20/2013 10:31:19 PM
"41 of 82 deadlines have been missed" @newtgingrich on @CrossFireCNN Sounds like it's not working.. #DefundObamaCare #Crossfirereturns

by FreedomWorks via twitter 9/20/2013 10:31:33 PM
.@stefcutter : If doing the same thing twice is definition of insanity, what's the definition of doing something 40x & getting same result?

by Crossfire via twitter 9/20/2013 10:31:42 PM
A noticeable split on #Obamacare and the government shutdown. @stefcutter : "This is insanity." @newtgingrich : "It is corageous"

by Crossfire via twitter 9/20/2013 10:31:57 PM
If at first you don't succeed, try and try and try and try and try and try and try and try and try and try again more.. #CrossfireReturns

by Otaku2012 via twitter 9/20/2013 10:32:20 PM
"Everyone agrees that this law is not ready for primetime, but we're going to fund it. That's insane." @Mkibbe #CrossfireReturns

by FreedomWorks via twitter 9/20/2013 10:32:22 PM
American people have said that over and over, the left covers their ears.

by Nancy 9/20/2013 10:32:52 PM
Matt Kibbe (opponent) says that House Vote to defund #Obamacare today was a victory for American people #CrossfireReturns

by Cheshire Khan via twitter 9/20/2013 10:33:02 PM
@stefcutter : people do not want to repeal Obamacare they are already benefiting from it #crossfirereturns

by seangraf via twitter 9/20/2013 10:33:15 PM
@CrossfireCNN Doing the same thing more than 40 times,is socio-pathic OCD, in this circumstance; GOP trying to engineer another collapse.

by ONealDennis via twitter 9/20/2013 10:33:26 PM
The people have opposed Obama's HC debacle since it was birthed, the left covers it's ears #crossfirereturns

by Nancy 9/20/2013 10:34:00 PM

Meet the Hosts

Newt Gingrich

Author, documentary filmmaker, historian, Speaker of the House (1995-1999), and 2012 Republican presidential candidate

Stephanie Cutter

Fmr. Obama Deputy Campaign Mgr. and W.H. Sr. Adviser, founder of Precision Strategies, fmr. Sr. Adviser to Maj. Leader Reid and Sen. Kennedy

S.E. Cupp

Conservative columnist for New York Daily News, contributing editor at Townhall Magazine, commentator and author

Van Jones

Former Special Adviser for Green Jobs under President Obama, co-founder of Rebuild the Dream, author and attorney

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About the Show

Crossfire hosted by Newt Gingrich, Stephanie Cutter, SE Cupp, and Van Jones will debut Monday Sept 9th at 6:30 pm ET.

The classic debate program will resemble the show's original format with passionate conversation and focus on topical events on the day. The daily, 30-minute program will feature two hosts and guests each night, discussing a range of issues from all sides of the political and cultural spectrum. In addition to the weekday show the Crossfire co-hosts will appear across the network's programming.