exaggerated the effects of those cuts to try to scare people. and so on march 1, a unified republican caucus let the sequester cuts go into effect. were democrats surprised that they actually did? >> i think each side was surprised. the democrats felt the republicans would be so upset about the defense cut, they never let it happen and the republicans thought the democrats would be so concern about cuts to education and things like that that they would never let it happen. >> here it did. the sequester cuts only a small percentage of increases in federal spending. but that was still a huge accomplishment for small government conservatives. then december 10. democrat and republican negotiators agreed to set aside the sequester and increase spending. though they say their deal reduces the deficit. tea party groups howled. >> frankly, i just think that they've lost all credibility.