GOP Falsely Claims Obama Debt Limit Proposal Is Secret Plan To Spend Taxpayer Money

[DonViejo]

Senate Democrats stand ready to pass legislation permanently empowering the President to raise the debt ceiling.

The bill is based on an idea Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) first introduced last year to avoid a debt-ceiling-driven economic disaster, and now the White House wants it incorporated into an end-of-year plan to avoid automatic, across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts this January.

Republicans, who hope to use the debt ceiling once again as leverage to force Democrats to accept deep cuts to domestic social programs, are unsurprisingly opposed to the idea. And they’re using their opposition to mislead the public about what the debt ceiling is, and the implications of vesting the power to raise it within the Executive Branch.

“By demanding the power to raise the debt limit whenever he wants by as much as he wants, [President Obama] showed what he’s really after is assuming unprecedented power to spend taxpayer dollars without any limit,” McConnell argued on the Senate floor.

-snip-

more:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/debt-limit-obama-mcconnell.php?ref=fpa

[DCKit]

1. The Republics in Congress don't comprehend their job description.

If Congress hadn't spent the money, Obama wouldn't have any reason to raise the debt limit. Time to cut up their credit cards and take the check book away.

[Arkana]

2. He also has a secret plan to fight inflation.

(Anyone who gets that joke gets a pat on the back)

[Rwolf]

3. Obama wants the power to raise debt ceiling

No President should be given a blank check to indefinitely raise the national debt ceiling e.g. a socialist president (Obama) could ineptly or intentionally—in debt Americas to the point U.S. taxpayers can’t pay more taxes and their own bills concurrent with U.S. Government defaulting paying National Debt Interests. If U.S. Government doesn’t cut spending, U.S. Government will soon not be able to support a strong military to effectively protect Americans from enemies abroad.

[John2]

4. No Congress

should use this power for politics either, merely because one Party has slight advantages in the House. That is the wrong reason to use it. Many in the other Party does not agree with your view about spending cuts. This power should only be used with Bi Partisanship, or you are not truly representing a unanimous consent of Congress. So the President should be given the power to veto it, if Congress don't have the numbers to override it. That is not taking the power away from Congress at all. It is just a safeguard against extremists in Congress, willing to send the nation in default unless you meet their demands. That is the way I see it.

[dionysus]

5. trollololololo.....

Last edited Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:04 PM - Edit history (1)

"...e.g. a socialist president (Obama) could... "

[democrattotheend]

6. A socialist president?

Um, you do realize this is Democratic Underground, right? Most people here consider Obama a right-wing corporate puppet.

If you think the president is a socialist you probably don't belong here.

[Arneoker]

10. But it is so much fun schooling ignorant right-wingers!

Next up, what is that cabinet thingy all about? Like what branch of government is that a part of? (We can go over what a "branch of government" is if desired.)

[politicaljunkie41910]

7. and no president has a blank check. Spending bills must past both houses of Congress.

Increasing the debt ceiling is simply a formality and a stupid one at that, since Congress can only spend what Congress has already appropriated. Raising the debt ceiling simply allows the Treasury to pay credit card for the money it already spent. To play games with this artificially created barrier which serves no useful purpose in a modern day actively involved Congress is simply an attempt at a second bite at the apple you already lost.

[Drunken Irishman]

9. Begone! BEGONE!

[sakabatou]

8. Republicans lying? GASP!