Obama's Debt Outrage--Is it for the Right Reason?

Our president is finally showing outrage over the debt that has accumulated under his watch.  Last night, standing in front of a group of supporters in Iowa, he finally voiced his outrage---but his outrage was not exactly what you would think.

He wasn't outraged or apologetic for the $5 trillion spent in just 3 1/2 years.  He wasn't outraged over the insatiable spending habits of Washington DC politicians.  And he still isn't outraged that members of his own party in the Senate have yet to pass a budget to fiscally control themselves.  No, none of this seems to bother him.

President Obama's outrage is simply that Mitt Romney is holding him accountable for it.  He is taking offense that Romney says that debt is sweeping the nation like a "prairie fire."

(Apparently, the president doesn't like it when people hold him accountable for his own record).

He would much rather blame his predecessor, pivot away from his own record and then distract voters with hot button issues.

Blame. Pivot. Distract.

***

Last night, Obama told his supporters, "He left out some facts.  His speech was more like a cow pie of distortion.  I don't know whose record he twisted the most: mine or his."

I am not exactly sure what the president meant.  Hasn't anyone in his administration ever provided him a copy of the US deficit / financial records for his first term?

Is he possibly unaware how much debt has been accumulated under his watch?  Didn't someone explain to him that he assumed responsibility for every dollar borrowed and spent from the moment he was sworn into office?

Because let's be honest, the president can't exactly cry ignorance.  He undoubtedly knows the gravity of America's financial stability, well, I stand corrected, at least candidate Obama in 2008 certainly did.  Candidate Obama knew those deficit numbers like the back of his hand.  He had scrutinized and analyzed every frivolous Bush expense.  He boldly criticized President Bush for the exorbitant $4 trillion that was accumulated in 8 years.

(FYI, that's $4 trillion in 8 years compared to $5 trillion in 3 1/2 years).

As I mentioned here, Candidate Obama frequently attacked Bush for his 8 year reckless spending spree and even went as far as branding him "irresponsible" and "unpatriotic."

Jim R. Bounds  /  AP

Back in 2008, candidate Obama was a bold and refreshing voice of reason and advocate for fiscal responsibility.

Is he that same person?  Why not?  What has changed?

Could it be that the role he assumed as President of the Free World is a much harder job than he could ever have imagined?  Or worse yet, was all of his "fiscal responsibility" talk just a bunch of campaign rhetoric meant to seduce voters?

Either way, President Obama needs to have the courage to own it.  It happened under his watch.  Like it or not, this $5 trillion mess is tied to his presidency.

***

This morning the Romney camp responded to the president's attacks.  Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said, "A president who broke his promise to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term has no standing when it comes to fiscal responsibility."

But the Obama Administration appears unfazed.  In fact, they are now synchronizing their message and are blaming Mitt Romney and the media for distorting Obama's fiscal record.

Jay Carney, White House Press Secretary warned reporters earlier this week not to "buy into the BS that you hear about spending and fiscal constraint with regard to this Administration.  I think doing so is a sign of sloth and laziness."

Carolyn Kaster/AP

Could Carney be feeling a little bounce in his step after reading a report published by Market Watch?  This article written by Rex Nutting makes the assertion, "The Obama spending binge never happened."

Although the Fact Checker for the Washington Post cited numerous falsities in Nutting's data, the White House is now clinging to the notion that somehow they have been fiscally disciplined.

Please.  This is ridiculous.   And no matter how hard Carney and President Obama try, numbers---$5 trillion of them---don't lie.

***

For now, I am sure we are going to hear congratulatory speeches about Obama's "fiscal sobriety" and see plenty of pats on the back, and see plenty of phony "outrage" over Romney's attacks, but fortunately for Mitt Romney, this time around, people are very engaged in the election.  Voters are paying attention.

Credit: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

I would be willing to be that the only "BS" people will see is the incessant pattern of:  Blame. Pivot. Distract.  Voters will continue to question why the president's fiscal "outrage" only surfaces when Mitt Romney holds him accountable for his $5 trillion fiscal train wreck.

By November, I am confident that the real "outrage" will simply be that this president allowed that $5 trillion wreck to happen and we have nothing to show for it.

America deserves more.

Go Mitt.