The White House said Tuesday that President Obama is blameless for the first government shutdown in 17 years. Asked by a reporter whether Mr. Obama bears any responsibility for the shutdown that began at midnight Monday, White House press secretary Jay Carney replied, “I’m not sure what you mean.” “It is his responsibility to try to work with Congress in the spirit of compromise,” Mr. Carney said. “He certainly did not vote to shut the government down.” The president on Tuesday began referring to the crisis as a “Republican shutdown.”Mr. Carney noted that the president called Speaker John A. Boehner,...
