President Obama storms out of debt negotiation meeting, warns GOP not to 'call my bluff'

WASHINGTON - A frustrated President Obama waed Republicans not to "call my bluff" before he stormed out on the latest stalled debt negotiation session, Republicans said.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va) said the President became "agitated" before waing him not to "call my bluff" when Cantor said he would consider a short-term debt-limit hike, something Obama has said doesn't solve the problem.

The meeting "ended with the President abruptly walking out of the meeting," Cantor told reporters after the session. "I know why he lost his temper. He's frustrated. We're all frustrated."

The walkout was just the latest in the feuding over raising the debt ceiling before the Aug. 2 deadline.

"There is not a single debt limit proposal that can pass the House of Representatives," Cantor insisted earlier.

That was a direct shot at Senate GOP boss Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who proposed allowing President Obama to raise govement's debt limit - unless veto-proof majorities move to block him.

Giving Obama such power would prevent the country from defaulting on its loans Aug. 2 - a double-edged political sword because GOPers could then blame the President for raising the nation's debt.

"I refuse to help Barack Obama get reelected by marching Republicans into a position where we have co-ownership of a bad economy," McConnell told talk radio.

McConnell's pitch gained little Republican traction. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-S.I.) part of an emboldened class of Tea Party-backed freshman, said unless a debt plan carried substantial spending cuts and structural change, "I can't raise the debt ceiling."