Obama Officials Play Chicken Little With the Debt Ceiling

Fox News ^ | January 06, 2011 | John R. Lott Jr.

[JohnRLott]

Two years into the Obama administration and the overused tactic of claiming crises to push legislation is becoming tiresome.

Remember, immediately after President Obama came into office, we were warned that if the massive Stimulus program wasn't passed immediately, unemployment would go up above 8.1 percent. And the health care takeover had to be passed by August 2009 or public and private health care costs would spiral out of control.

Of course, it is now obvious that neither the stimulus program nor Obamacare had any prospect of accomplishing their stated goals. And then there was the start treaty with Russia which absolutely had to be passed quickly last month or real damage would be done to US-Russian relations. Yet, in what was widely seen as a slap against President Obama, the Russians didn't see any urgency in passing the treaty, and indeed they still haven't passed it.

Now the Obama administration is warning of disaster if Congress doesn't quickly pass an increase in the debt limit. . . .

[scooby321]

His record on the subject is telling voting no once and nonvoting twice and now he cares?

Tells what a joke he was just wooden illegal.

[RushingWater]

I remember Reagan holding up the budget he just signed and warning not to send him another one like or he wouldn’t sign it again. Missed a golden opportunity.

Also, in the 90s there was a budget showdown and just as the polls were shifting and Americans were finally getting it - the checkbook has to balance - the Repubs capitulated.