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The day has come: as health care exchanges open up, the government has shut down. Federal services across the country have shuttered, from the Statue of Liberty to the National Zoo’s animal webcams. In DC, a group of World War II veterans disregarded the barricades blocking off the memorial built in their honor, while some local DC eateries are offering free libations to furloughed workers.

President Obama in the Rose Garden today offered strong criticism of congressional Republicans, laying the blame for the shutdown at their feet: “This Republican shutdown did not have to happen, but I want every American to understand why it did happen. Republicans in the House of Representatives refused to fund the government unless we defunded or dismantled the Affordable Care Act.”

Meanwhile, Republican House Speaker John Boehner on the House floor Monday night, “This is not about me, and it’s not about Republicans here in Congress. It’s about fairness for the American people.”

Tonight in the Crossfire: two U.S. Senators, Democrat Debbie Stabenow, who supports Obamacare, and Republican Tom Coburn, who opposes the law, face off with hosts Van Jones and S.E. Cupp.

We want you to weigh in. Do you think members of Congress should be paid during the government shutdown? Reply below, by responding to our tweet or commenting on our Facebook post.