Republicans back Cantor, say Obama must step up role in deficit talks

Top Republican leaders backed House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s departure from bipartisan deficit negotiations, and in an orchestrated way insisted that President Obama must take over the negotiations.

“I would expect to hear from him,” said House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

“That’s the president’s job,” said Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader in the Senate. “He needs to lead.”

Boehner said the talks could resume if tax hikes are off the table.

While all sides had expected Obama and Boehner would eventually negotiate the final agreement, Cantor’s abrupt departure cuts short the talks at a critical moment, interjecting an air of uncertainty.

This had been a pivotal week in the talks led by Vice President Joe Biden, and all sides had been hoping for the outlines of an agreement by early July.

The White House did not immediately respond to Cantor’s abrupt withdrawal.

The president and Biden, who had been leading the talks, had a previously scheduled meeting Thursday morning with the House Democratic leadership to talk about the progress being made. The meeting was called at House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s behest.

Christi Parsons and Michael A. Memoli contributed.