RNC, DNC deploy 'nuh-uh' defense

So a Republican congressman, speaking for the Republican National Committee, accuses a Democratic president of shading the truth. The Democrats accuse the Republican of lying. The congressman accuses back.

This is the kind of back-and-forth that goes on daily inside the Beltway, Barb Barrett reports. And so it happened again Wednesday, this time with remarks from N.C. Republican Patrick McHenry, in the context of President Barack Obama’s visit to Raleigh.

So without comment, Dome presents:

* McHenry’s words in an official RNC conference call with reporters: "He is talking about a few principles on health care that do not address the meat of his plan. In fact, the principles that he mentions today run counter to his bill in the House of Representatives.

* The Democratic National Committee’s response: "On an RNC conference call today, Congressman Patrick McHenry accused the President of lying about the details of his health insurance reform plan. The only person lying on that call, however, was Rep. McHenry."

* McHenry’s response to the DNC’s response: "It’s notable what the DNC did not attempt to refute: That the plan taxes small businesses and that centrist Democrats are the President’s stumbling block."