The "out of control spending" myth

[dennis4868]

I was watching the Miami Book Fair this afternoon and Megan McCain kept repeating the myth that Obama is an out of control spender and he blew up the deficit and he must be stopped. I heard this same thing from repubs during the campaign with media keeping quiet.

The truth is that 40% of the stimulus was tax cuts (which according to repubs is not spending), the health care law actually cuts the deficit by a billion dollars and a trillion over 10 years according to the CBO, and obama's first budget cut the deficit by 8% according to the CBO.

So the question is (and one that never gets asked) what out of control spending are these people talking about? It's a great talking point to say Obama is all about out of control spending but where are the facts to back it up?

[eleny]

1. Benefits for the poor, the aged and the disabled

[FBaggins]

2. Is it your position that spending isn't out of control?

Or just that it isn't the President's fault?

[bhikkhu]

5. Obama announced a freeze on government spending in January

...with the exception of military spending. I've heard it criticized as ineffective as a result, since the bulk of federal spend does go to "defense", but since then I have heard that the Pentagon is planning for a 5% reduction in their budget.

So, I know I am butting in here, but spending is not out of control at all, and Obama is largely responsible for that.

[dennis4868]

6. My position is that Obama is clearly not....

An out of control spender....the facts are clear on this issue....but the repubs lie and lie and the people believe it and vote the party back into power in the House that is the source of the out of control spending.

[FBaggins]

8. I agree... he's not.

But we've controlled the Cognress for four years... and Congress spends the money.

If they're saying that Obama is an out-of-control spender, then they don't have much to go on (not that that's ever stopped them)... if they're merely saying that spending is out of control... then they're right (and also just as much to blame).

[dennis4868]

11. Remember alot of the spending now....

Is from the 2 Bush wars that were never paid for and Medicare prescription bil that Bush never paid for....this is what is running up the deficit but America blames Obama (for Bush's fuck ups)....life is not fair!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. it is not out of control

the government can just print more money!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. It's not a myth

It's a LIE!

President Obama called the Republicans out about it at their retreat this past winter (and explained who was mostly responsible for it) but they continued to repeat the lie and to the extent that Americans voted this past election, a majority of them seemed to believe in the LIE instead of the truth. The Republicans are still pushing the LIE and insisting that their winning the House was a "mandate" to "stop" the "out of control" spending.
:mad:

[dennis4868]

7. I remember that....

I only wish he kept on making that argument to the American people during the campaign....I remember when he made that argument Fox News cut away from Obama because it conflicted with their narrative of the president.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

13. The problem is that most people have too short of an attention span

to try to understand anything that doesn't fit within a short soundbyte. President Obama really shines when he becomes "Professor Obama" but most people aren't able and/or willing to sit through a lecture. Thanks to organizations like Fox News and the rest of the "Fox-ified" corporate media, most people seem to find it easier to listen to (and believe) that he and the Democratic Party have been spending tons of THEIR money like drunken sailors to help "other less worthy people" while they scrounge for a living and can't find jobs to pay their rent, buy food, etc. It is a dastardly cycle that we all find ourselves trapped in.

[Cosmocat]

14. It is just friggen surreal ...

THEY created the friggen runaway train, and while BO HAS in fact started to put the brakes to it, they get to pin it ALL on him ...

And, the "liberal media" just smiles and parrots their crape ...

[boppers]

4. Well, he's spending more on the military than on SS or Medicare...

I'm fine with reducing military spending by 90%.

[niceypoo]

10. It isnt a myth

It is a lie. Republicans are fiscally irresponsible and their policies are responsible for almost 100% of the national debt.

Republicans renamed fiscal responsibility, 'Tax and Spend.'

[Moostache]

12. You think these people CARE about facts?

You're talking about people who live their lives in hermetically sealed, fact-free bubbles. Facts - objective, truth based and observable or demonstrable facts - are not required nor are they welcome in their "worldview".

[old mark]

15. The GOP in the W regime started 2 wars without provisons to fund them -

That is THE main cause of the "hugh" spending spree our government has been on, and the origen of the debt. The GOP are masters of the big lie, and evidently the current batch of Democrats in power are too stupid to realize that they most respond to the GOP on issues, whether real or fabricated.

mark

[sweetapogee]

16. truth or myth,

the general perception out here is that the federal government is spending a lot of money we don't have in the treasury. Even the President is talking about reducing the budget deficit so there must be something to the chatter. Where we (dems in congress that is) run a great risk in my opinion is not bringing the facts to the American taxpayer and soon as this is a great issue for the pukes which by the way are going to be in control of government spending in about 8 weeks time.

Not to be a gloom and doomer or stray off subject but I have said this over and over again here, the lack of a budget for FY 11 and going ahead is going to be a problem for us in 2012. It needs to be addressed but I don't know how we can do it at this point. And I don't think with hind sight we can say (adjourning the house early to campaign instead of completing appropriations) was worth it when one reviews the results of the recent election. Food for thought.