Calls Republicans “Profoundly Irresponsible” For Potentially Voting The Same Way She Did In 2007

Less than four years after voting against raising the federal debt limit and accusing Republicans of turning the budget “an unacceptable color of bright red,” liberal U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) has followed President Obama’s lead and came out in support of increasing the federal debt limit.

According to the St Louis Beacon, McCaskill claimed this week that “failing to raise the debt ceiling would cause a financial panic that would be devastating to the economy” and chided opponents by calling it “profoundly irresponsible to play chicken with the debt limit vote.” McCaskill’s flip-flop comes despite the dismal fiscal reality that the federal debt has grown by an additional $3.5 trillion just since President Obama took office.

“The only thing ‘profoundly irresponsible’ with this situation is the reckless manner in which Claire McCaskill has helped to drive the debt past $14 trillion by rubber-stamping the Obama spending agenda,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond said today. “But we look forward to hearing Senator McCaskill’s latest explanation for once again standing with President Obama and flip-flopping on another critical issue. And when this vote comes up next month, we hope every Missouri voter remembers that when it comes to cutting spending and preserving the debt limit, Claire McCaskill was for it, before she was against it.”

BACKGROUND….

THEN: When President Obama Took Office In January 2009, The National Debt Was $10.6 Trillion. (Treasury Direct Website, http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/NPGateway, Accessed 4/12/11)

NOW: The National Debt Is Currently $14.2 Trillion. (Treasury Direct Website, http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/NPGateway, Accessed 4/12/11)

THEN: McCaskill Voted Against Raising Debt Limit in 2007

· “‘I couldn’t bring myself to vote for this,’ said Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill,. ‘President Bush and the previous Republican Congress have taken the surpluses from the Clinton administration and turned our budget to an unacceptable color of bright red. I am comforted by new pay-as-you-go rules that we put in place in January which will result in a surplus by 2012.’” (Rob Hotakainen, “U.S. debt rising $1.36 billion daily,” Kansas City Star, 9/29/07)

NOW: McCaskill Says It’s “Irresponsible” To Vote Against Raising Limit

· “Failing to raise the debt ceiling would cause a financial panic that would be devastating to the economy,” said McCaskill’s spokeswoman, Laura Myron. “She thinks it is profoundly irresponsible to play chicken with the debt limit vote, especially to pursue divisive social issues.” (Robert Koenig, Debt ceiling debate may turn into a ‘game of chicken,’ St. Louis Beacon, 4/11/2011)

THEN: Obama 2006 Remarks Against Raising Debt Limit

· SENATOR OBAMA: “Mr. President, I rise today to talk about America’s debt problem. 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. … 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 and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Congressional Record, 3/16/06, p. 2237- 2238)

NOW: WH: Obama regrets vote against raising debt limit

· “The White House says President Barack Obama regrets his vote as a senator in 2006 against raising the debt limit. A fight over raising the debt limit is looming, and the White House is trying to explain away the apparent contradiction between Obama’s previous opposition, and his position now that it must be increased.” (“WH: Obama regrets vote against raising debt limit,” The Associated Press, 4/11/11)