By Jack Kneafsey

In the midst of this heightened season for discussing and arguing about raising the nation’s debt ceiling, I felt it would be helpful to remind everyone of Obama’s own words about the need for raising the debt ceiling from March 16, 2006, when he actually voted against raising the debt limit. I wonder what could possibly have changed over the past seven years!

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. The Senate continues to reject a return to the common sense Pay-go rules that used to apply. Previously, Pay-go rules applied both to increases in mandatory spending and to tax cuts.

The Senate had to abide by the common sense budgeting principle of balancing expenses and revenues. But we must remember that the more we depend on foreign nations to lend us money, the more our economic security is tied to the whims of foreign leaders whose interests might not be aligned with ours. Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ‘‘the buck stops here.’’ Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit.” – Senator Barack Obama – March 16, 2006     (my emphasis) 

Where is the mainstream media in reminding us of his earlier statement and his previous vote, as Senator, against raising the nation’s debt limit?

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