In a speech in the Rose Garden on Tuesday, President Obama said it is one faction of one party that is responsible for the shutdown of the government that took place this week, laying blame at the feet of Tea Party Republicans for the ongoing stalemate in Washington.
These members of Congress are the “engine” behind the current standoff, NBC’s Chuck Todd noted on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams Tuesday evening. These Tea Party members from across the nation represent the most conservative districts in the country, and on average these members won 65% of the vote in their 2012 elections. However, these 80 members only represent 18% of the population.
Chuck Todd spoke with two of them on Capitol Hill to gain their perspective on the shutdown, and find out what it would take for them to compromise with the Democrats. Watch the Nightly News clip above.