Paul says GOP shares blame for deficits

AP ^ | 12 Sep 2010 | BRUCE SCHREINER

[Palter]

Kentucky Senate hopeful Rand Paul chided fellow Republicans on Sunday evening for contributing to the massive federal budget deficit, candidly telling tea party supporters in his hometown that GOP lawmakers took "the easy way out" by failing to cut spending in the past.

Paul said Democrats share greater blame for rising red ink, but the tea party favorite said Republicans squandered past congressional majorities by presiding amid times of growing federal deficits.

"We as Republicans have taken the easy way out a lot of times," said Paul, a first-time candidate who portrays himself as a political outsider. "We vote to cut taxes but we don't ever vote to cut any spending. Because as soon as you do, as soon as you bring up a program, it's somebody's program and they love it.

"You can't have it both ways. You can't tell me that you're taxed enough already, and that you want constitutional government and then in the next breath say, `Bring me home some bacon.' The pig has been picked clean."

Paul drew applause from the crowd, and a local tea party organizer said afterward that Republicans would also face retribution from the movement's supporters if they fail to deliver on spending cuts and more limited government.

"There will be nothing worse than the wrath of the tea party upon anyone that we support that goes to Washington and does not uphold those very values that we put them in that office for," said Randy Keller, the local tea party activist.

Paul overcame steep political odds early on in the campaign with his message of smaller government and balanced budgets.

[DB]

I don’t want any government bacon.

I want to government off my back.

[pissant]

He’s right

[jamaksin]

Ditto! Absolutely correct!

[DakotaRed]

"You can't have it both ways. You can't tell me that you're taxed enough already, and that you want constitutional government and then in the next breath say, `Bring me home some bacon.' The pig has been picked clean."

I have to wonder, does he include his Dad's penchant for inserting, voting against then accepting all of the earmarks he does for his district?

[Palter]

Don’t know. Maybe on a Ron Paul thread, we could find out.

[jonrick46]

The Republicans thought they could use the Democrat tactic of securing their place in Congress by bringing home the pork. As long as the economy was booming, the spending was offset with increasing revenue from taxes. In the 2006 elections, Democrats won both the House of Representatives (233 Democrats, 202 Republicans) and the Senate (49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and 2 Independents caucusing with the Democrats). The tactic obviously failed. Since then the DemonRATs have been working to undermine the economy with more regulations and taxes. They would raise revenue whether the economy was booming or not.

It is my theory that the Democrats orchestrated the collapse of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and have been working to use that event to put our nation into a socialist state.

[Palter]

'the Democrats orchestrated the collapse of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae'

Hard to say. The Fed kept interest rates low. Classic Bubble. I would say the blame is at the individual who can't pay their mortgage.

But, the fact that our economy was based so much on credit is a dire reflection. Savers were just suckers. Also, our economy was driven up and done merely by home building is another indication of poor divergent resources, and now is being corrected[I hope] in the market.

[onyx]

Gov. Palin will appear at a Louisville fundraiser for the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate this week:

On Thursday, September 16, Sarah Palin will be in Kentucky on behalf of Dr. Rand Paul’s campaign for U.S. Senate.

The Rand Paul Victory Kentucky lunchtime fundraising event, where Palin will appear as a special guest, will take place in Louisville at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Sarah Palin gave an early endorsement of Paul in the Republican race, where he handily triumphed earlier this year.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Ron Paul is - once again - out in left field. Let's look at the reality, rather than his fantasy:

When Congress - the House AND Senate - are controlled by the GOP the result is falling - or gone - deficits. That's been the pattern for the last 16 years. When either chamber is controlled by the Democrats, spending takes off.

Why didn't I go back further than 1995? Because you'd have to push back to the 83rd Congress in 1954 and 1955, when Ike was President, the GOP ran the Congress, and the deficits dropped like a rock.

Paul's once again making stuff up so that he can act all pious and righteous. Sorry doctor, the facts speak for themselves - you're wrong. When the GOP controls Congress, deficits drop - and if the control is long enough - they go away.

[onona]

Nice Post. That picture says a lot.

[Palter]

Comments were made by Rand Paul.

[fortheDeclaration]

Rand is right.

The GOP thought it could outspend the Democrats and stay in power

[November 2010]

Yup!

[MNJohnnie]

He’s right

[skinkinthegrass]

A Kentucky Ping.

...for those interested. :D

[jazzlite]

Watch him. He is a rising star.

[rbmillerjr]

The charts above show Paul to be fairly inaccurate with this claim.

Do we want the GOP to be better on this...yes, but do they compare to Democrats...hell no.

[SharpRightTurn]

“You can’t have it both ways. You can’t tell me that you’re taxed enough already, and that you want constitutional government and then in the next breath say, `Bring me home some bacon.’ The pig has been picked clean.”

Tell it, Rand.

[Palter]

Did the GOP ever veto a budget? Did Pres. Bush ever cut Gov’t?

Paul said the GOP helped contribute to the deficit. That is correct. The GOP ran a deficit when in control.

He said the Democratic party was worse.

You got a chart where the GOP cut the Govt workforce?