Dem Rep. Barrow slams debt-ceiling deal — from the right

Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.) is slamming House Republicans' decision to raise the debt ceiling until May because it doesn't cut any government spending, positioning himself to the right of not only his own caucus but of many in the GOP as well.

In the statement, the potentially vulnerable centrist and longtime member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democratic coalition sounds more like a Tea Party Republican than a member of his party.

"Washington has a spending problem. I will not vote to raise the debt ceiling without any deficit reduction, much less vote to completely repeal the debt ceiling for the next 4 months without any spending cuts," he said in the statement. "As for the 'No Budget, No Pay' provision, only in Washington does 'No Budget, No Pay' actually mean 'still no budget and still get paid.' "

Barrow is the only white Democratic congressman left from the Deep South, and his district is heavily Republican. He's survived by positioning himself as a centrist critic of both parties, most notably running an ad last cycle touting his commitment to fighting Second Amendment infringements that gained national attention.

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