Gobbledegook.

Had to read this headline twice.

Obama seeks fiscal responsibility mantle

He’s seeking it now? I mean, it’s nice, if it’s true, but I can’ t believe that this is about anything except Obama trying to cover his ass after his MASSIVE outlay of irresponsible spending contained in the “stimulus” package. Let’s see what you think.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama sought on Tuesday to show he was serious about improving the U.S. budget picture as he called on Congress to pass new limits on tax cuts and spending programs to avoid adding to deficits.

Obama urged passage of “pay-as-you-go” legislation that would require any new tax cut or automatic spending program to be paid for within the budget.

“The ‘pay as you go’ principle is very simple. Congress can only spend a dollar if it saves a dollar elsewhere,” Obama said in a speech at the White House attended by several Democratic members of Congress.

I guess that first sentence gives it away, doesn’t it? Reuters couldn’t help itself. Instead of saying that Obama’s plan is meant to actually IMPROVE an overtaxed economy that he himself created, they say that the move was designed to “show he was serious” about improving the economy. Is that the same thing as what I said? Not even close. I can either do something, or so something that “shows I’m serious” about doing something. If you actually had a vested interest in that thing I was supposed to be doing, would you rather I actually DID that thing or instead show merely that I was serious about doing it?

Second, he’s going to cut the deficit by removing tax cuts? Doesn’t he read the papers? Tax cuts increase revenue. By raising taxes he’s going to DECREASE the amount of money in the treasury and INCREASE deficits.

Finally, the kicker. He says that this “pay as you go” program will work by requiring that a dollar be “saved” before any new dollar can be spent. He did NOT say that a dollar of spending had to be CUT before another can be spent. He said that a dollar had to be SAVED….which is Obama-speak for….what, exactly?

Imagine the following scenario. Democrat pork-wranglers get together to propose a bill to increase spending by $100billion. According to Obama, he won’t sign it until the porkies can show that $100billion will be “saved” by the passage of that bill. What sort of proof does he need? Doesn’t say. I’d bet it’s a pretty low threshhold, what about you? The porkies would likely say that spending $100billion now will save $100billion in future costs.

And that will be that.

There’s one more piece to this ridiculous Reuters article that deserves mentioning:

Republicans have warned that programs such as the proposed health care plan would add to the budget deficit for years to come and have also criticized Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan, which was passed by Congress in February.

Obama contends that much of the budget deficit was inherited from the Bush administration, which presided over a shift from record surpluses to huge increases in the deficit fueled by the financial crisis and spending for the Iraq war.

“The reckless fiscal policies of the past have left us in a very deep hole,” Obama said. “Digging our way out will take time and patience and tough choices.”

First, Republicans have warned that a complete government takeover of our health care system would “add to the deficit for years to come”??? Are the Republicans the only ones? How about a quote from a Democrat that says it won’t add to the deficit? Does any reasonable person believe this massive spending won’t add to the deficit? Unbelievable. Obama’s position is indefensible…except by the MSM.

Second, Bush left office with the deficit at a tick over $400billion. Obama’s projected deficit for 2009 is $1.85trillion….thanks to the massive pork burger he and his Liberal buddies in Congress just stuffed down our throats. It was sort of like being waterboarded, only half as polite. Here’s a handy chart to post on your night table so that you never forget how deeply and thoroughly we’re all being f***ed by the Lord High Obama:

Obama projected deficit compared to prior administrations