Boehner, McConnell increase criticism of Obama

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top two Republicans in Congress sought today to put the onus on President Barack Obama for failure to resolve a fight over how to increase the government's borrowing authority.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said a deal with Obama is "probably unattainable" and House Speaker John Boehner said the specter of default is "his problem."

The unusually blunt and combative language came just hours ahead of another White House meeting aimed at finding an accommodation on a package of spending cuts to accompany an increase the debt limit.

It further complicated an already convulsive bargaining environment, with the Aug. 2 debt-limit extension deadline fast approaching.

McConnell maintained that White House offers to cut long-term spending amount to "smoke and mirrors" and directly challenged Obama's leadership. After years of discussions and months of negotiations," the Kentucky Republican said, "I have little question that as long as this president is in the Oval Office, a real solution is probably unattainable."