Romney Flip-Flops On Fealty To Reagan, Complains That ‘Some In Washington’ Think ‘Deficits Don’t Matter’
Romney Flip-Flops On Fealty To Reagan, Complains That ‘Some In Washington’ Think ‘Deficits Don’t Matter’
On his radio show last night, right-wing talker Hugh Hewitt asked former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney to react to President Obama’s budget proposal. “Well, the budget is very, very troubling,” replied Romney.
Claiming that it was “something” that conservatives like him had “been saying for years,” Romney then complained that there are “some in Washington” who think “that deficits don’t matter.”
HEWITT: Now let’s take a look at the budget that has been proposed by President Obama. I was just talking with John Campbell of the House Budget Committee, and we listened to Judd Gregg, your colleague, your supporter during the presidential campaign, saying it will bankrupt America in ten years and it can’t be serious. Your reaction to the budget?
ROMNEY: Well, the budget is very, very troubling. There is a perspective on the part of some in Washington that budgets don’t matter, that deficits don’t matter, that debt doesn’t matter, but the reality is that not only at some point does someone have to pay for it, and that’s something we’ve all been saying for years.
Listen here:
Romney’s use of the phrase “deficits don’t matter” recalls former Vice President Dick Cheney’s claim that “Reagan proved deficits don’t matter” when he was arguing for the Bush tax cuts in 2003:
O’Neill, fired in a shakeup of Bush’s economic team in December 2002, raised objections to a new round of tax cuts and said the president balked at his more aggressive plan to combat corporate crime after a string of accounting scandals because of opposition from “the corporate crowd,” a key constituency.
O’Neill said he tried to warn Vice President Dick Cheney that growing budget deficits-expected to top $500 billion this fiscal year alone-posed a threat to the economy. Cheney cut him off. “You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don’t matter,” he said, according to excerpts. Cheney continued: “We won the midterms (congressional elections). This is our due.” A month later, Cheney told the Treasury secretary he was fired.
Back during the presidential campaign, Romney appeared to agree with Cheney. In Dec. 2007, Romney attacked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) by saying, “He voted against the Bush tax cuts — twice.” “That’s failing Reagan 101.”
Though the Obama administration’s budget does increase deficit spending in the near term, the goal is to “cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term.” This is a sharp contrast from Reagan’s near tripling of the deficit over his presidency and George W. Bush’s conversion of a $236 billion surplus when he took office into the $1.2 trillion deficit he passed to his successor.
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Can’t name those “some in Washington” that happen to be Rethuglicans, can you, Mitt?
How’s that dog, by the way?
March 24th, 2009 at 4:24 pmDissing Reagan? Forget about 2012 Mitt – you just called Jesus a faggot.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:24 pmWhat the entire GOP means is “deficits don’t matter when it’s GOP spending, but they are completely unacceptable when the Dems are in charge”.
Where were all these financial tightwads when the house was burning and the national debt more than doubled in 8 years? Oh, that’s right…
PEACE
March 24th, 2009 at 4:25 pmThe repugs/neocons have nothing to offer, so they just spout off on whatever will create a sound-bit.
The real problem here is that the mainstream media will dutifully “catapult the propaganda”.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:28 pmWhy don’t we get the Federal Reserve to open it’s books????
That would tell alot about the state of our economy.
By the way….Huffington post has banned me because I posted the owners of the Federal Reserve. Apparently it is to conspiritorial to relaese the owners of the Feds.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO HIDE HUFFINGTON POST?????
The people at Huffington….who do you work for?????
Why ban information that will help americans understand the system they are trapped within?????
Are you afraid of the man behind the curtain????
March 24th, 2009 at 4:30 pmMitt Romney don’t matter.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:32 pmThis was there reply:Hello:
I saw your comments on the Federal Reserve & wanted to try to briefly respond. I realize my response may not be satisfactory, and I certainly don’t speak for Huffington Post management in any specific way. We do have certain mandates what to publish and what not to. Generally speaking, we try to avoid publishing comments which a moderator would consider “conspiratorial”–and your comments are running afoul of that standard. Certainly, some of your points are factual, others are perhaps relevant, but overall, they fall outside the mainstream zeitgeist, and we feel they would be more disruptive than constructive in these conversations. I can’t change the standards, not can I convince other moderators that your points should be posted. All I can suggest is that there would be forums where this information would be welcomed–Huffington Post is probably not fertile ground for these ideas.
We enjoy your posts and hope you will continue to enjoy our forums,
Rob S.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:32 pmModerator
NOLIES, HuffPo is now one of my least favorite sites. Their moderation is ridiculous, they have a huge conservative base with posts that always get through, and the whole site is far more tabloid than news. They’re never out front on any story, unless it deals with the Palins, Octomom or some celeb/rehab rerun.
But do post the names here. I’d be interested in knowing, but I’ll go google and see what I find.
PEACE
March 24th, 2009 at 4:34 pmSAY HELLO TO INTERNET CENCORSHIP !!! NO FAUL LANGUAGE, NO PERSONAL COMMENTS ONLY FACTS THAT ARE TO IMPORTANT TO SEE BY THE AVERAGE AMERICAN.
SAY HELLO TO INTERNET CENCORSHIP.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:34 pm[O'Neill] said the president [BUSH] balked at his more aggressive plan to combat corporate crime after a string of accounting scandals because of opposition from “the corporate crowd,”
huh.
THAT bit of info is even more interesting to me…
more proof.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:37 pmor rather, evidence.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:38 pmSpencers Mom…here you go…and thank you.
The real owners of the Federal Reserve and the Federal Reserve System are:
a) Rothschild Banks of London and Berlin;
b) Lazard Brothers Bank of Paris;
c) Israel Moses Seif Banks of Italy;
d) Warburg Bank of Hamburg and Amsterdam;
e) Lehman Brothers Bank of New York;
f) Kuhn, Loeb Bank of New York;
g) Chase Manhattan Bank of New York;
h) Goldman Sachs Bank of New York; and
i) Approximately three hundred people, known to each other and/or relations of the “owners,” who hold stock in the Federal Reserve System. They comprise an interlocking, International Banking Cartel of wealth beyond comprehension.
Federal Reserve It is not federal, and it does not have any reserves.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:38 pmCharles A. Lindbergh, Sr. 1913 – “When the President signs this bill, the invisible government of the monetary power will be legalized….the worst legislative crime of the ages is perpetrated by this banking and currency bill.”
http://www.apfn.org/apfn/reserve2.htm
Think Progress ….Thank you for FREE SPEECH!!! THANK YOU !!!
March 24th, 2009 at 4:39 pmThey say Romney was so presidential (through his looks), but in the end they pass him over.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:41 pmRomney is like a $1000 hooker….looks great until she opens up her mouth….then you can’t wait to do your business and get the hell out…..LOL.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:46 pmLet’s see – who’s left on the RNC List of Bright and Shining Wannabes?
Palin is being skewered by her own constituency right now and will take a HUGE hit when the investigation of Spenard Building Supply and “how the Palin home was really built” occur.
Jerky Jindal is about to make another unadulterated buffoon of himself tonight with his speech on the same night as Obama. It totally backfired in his face last time and made a fool of him by sheer contrast. I can’t imagine that his affect or presentation will be anything more than that of an 8th grader tonight.
Also Jerky Bobby just shot himself in the foot by criticizing volcanic monitoring….oops….thar’ she blew! Redoubt has “re-created doubts” about the future of Jerko$$ Jindal.
Now you have Mitt, the Slick Eel, sticking his out of his hole to test the air…..by totally contradicting himself and looking like “just another shabby Republican”.
Who’s left??
March 24th, 2009 at 4:54 pmNoLiesPlease: Only one correction: Romney is like a $50.00 hooker!
March 24th, 2009 at 4:56 pmThink Progress, why did you remove the list of owners of the Federal Reserve??????
Is Think Progress censoring information????? What have you done to my post….Spencers Mom wants to know as well?????
What happened to the list of the Owners of the Federal Reserve???
March 24th, 2009 at 4:56 pmI love these flaming hypocrites in the GOP – after granting carte blanche to the Bush Cabal to run up the largest deficit EVER, now they are concerned about money?
Go screw yourselves, you flaming hypocrites!
March 24th, 2009 at 4:58 pmBlister…I stand corrected ….$50 is the vaule…sorry.
Think Progress, why did my post of the owners of the Fed Reserve disappear for a few minutes???? Are you with us or not??? ….lol.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:58 pmGOP Logic:
“Deficits Don’t Matter” – When a Republican is President
“Deficits Do Matter” – When a Democrat is President
The deficit stuff is used by GOP Candidates to get the useful idiots to vote for them – just like the Abortion issue.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:59 pmMitt Romney, once again proving they are all hypocrites, liars and thieves.
March 24th, 2009 at 4:59 pmFlip/Flop, I was doin’ the bop, long about Saturday night…
O/T: Rep. Boner was decrying as a “power grab” the request by the Obama Administration to have the authority to oversee and regulate companies such as AIG. Mr. Boner, would you call the REpublican/Bush fascist coup in the 2000 theft of the Presidential Election and destruction of our democracy as a “power grab?” Just wondering…
March 24th, 2009 at 5:01 pmNo Lies, I got it and still have it, Thanks.
March 24th, 2009 at 5:01 pmLet’s get this straight — NOBODY is a fan of the national debt. The interest we pay on our debt has been wreaking havoc with our budget for years now, and it’s true that the debt we rack up now will create a burden for our children and grandchildren (hey, it’s HARD to balance the budget when a quarter of it goes to debt interest!).
We’ve been saying this about the debt now for the past eight years, and the Republicans have merely labeled us alarmists (or ignored us completely). Now that the shoe is on the other foot, they’ve finally decided to become fiscal conservatives. Of course, they STILL advocate tax cuts and more tax cuts, so they still aren’t as serious about the debt as they are about making things as difficult for the current administration as they can.
That said — I have not changed my general feelings about the mounting national debt. However, I realize that it’s the government that has to put money into our economy to resurrect it, because nobody else the kind of money that’s needed. Therefore, I support the stimulus efforts, but I’m really, really p!ssed off that the mismanagement of our last administration has made this necessary.
I console myself with the thought that the stimulus is an investment in ourselves and will bring forth a return, instead of the black hole of spending that has been Iraq, which has yielded nothing of value to us.
March 24th, 2009 at 5:03 pmRemember: Reagan doesn’t fail conservatives. Conservatives fail Reagan.
http://www.pufferfishblog.com/
March 24th, 2009 at 5:04 pmCheers! to you Makete.
Lets put this information to good use. Spread the word about the Federal Reserve and what it has done to the US AND THE WORLD!!
March 24th, 2009 at 5:05 pmLOL! This is the same guy who traveled across the country with his dog in a crate on the cars roof. And don’t forget when he practically threatened that reporter when he dared to ask a legitimate question. Romney creeps me out.
March 24th, 2009 at 5:06 pmNOLIES, I found this complete org chart of the Fed.
http://newsfromthewest.blogspot.com/2008/05/who-owns-federal-reserve.html
Don’t know how accurate it remains, but down in the comments section someone is recommending a book that is apparently outlawed in the U.S.
Just thought you might be interested. I remember an old boyfriend, who had a conspiratorial streak, talking about the Fed and the shadow banking system years ago, but I think I was only listening with one ear. Anyway, thanks!
PEACE
March 24th, 2009 at 5:12 pmEverytime the Repugs say “Reagan”, the younger generation says, “Who?”. No offense, but can’t Republicans find a role model who is alive? Oh yeah, They have Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal. LOL! Good Luck.
March 24th, 2009 at 5:21 pmSpencers Mom….thank you…I check out the site and the information backs up the list I put forward by my source. Great site by the way.
I will get that book since I live in Canada and post whatever information that is helpfull to all.
ENOUGH OF THE LIES!!!!
To everyone else reading this…check out the link on post #29. This is information we all should know. This is information we will need in the near future.
Trust me on this….the Government has not told us the truth becuase they know the truth will put an end to this misery we call the banking system!!!
March 24th, 2009 at 5:23 pmOne issue that rarely, if ever, is discussed that the new deficit projections include the costs which were EXCLUDED for almost 8 years during the Bush regime. This includes the costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, payments to Medicare and two other areas (which I’ve forgotten). We got smoke and mirrors for 8 years, we now have something more closely resembling reality. Unfortunately, the disaster of the Bush years also have forced a major stimulas investment adding to the deficit. Let’s not forget that that administration never even acknowledged anything was “wrong” until Sept. of 2008, when of course, it became an “emergency” to deal with and Paulson was allowed to run amok with the TARP stuff, and Congress rushed into approving an absymally constructed bill.
March 24th, 2009 at 5:40 pmFrom PBS….
The Fed’s Board of Governors announced they would pump more than $1 trillion additional dollars into the economy, including $750 billion to purchase mortgage-backed securities and as much as $300 billion in long-term government bonds.
So where does the Federal Reserve Get the $1 TRILLION??
Thin Air! That’s what federal funds are. The Fed creates money. That’s its job. That’s a central bank’s job.
The don’t even have to print Money..a few keystrokes will suffice.
Anybody Notice how Gas has gone up lately?
And they don’t need Congress or anyone else’s permission.
March 24th, 2009 at 6:39 pmI can’t even look at a picture of Romney without thinking how slimey he is. Yuck, I need to wash me hands.
March 24th, 2009 at 6:42 pmRomney is a nobody. Not even the RepubliCons support him.
March 24th, 2009 at 7:25 pmSomebody should tell Mitt, the right wingnut Christians, the Baptists, hate Mormons.
March 24th, 2009 at 7:29 pmPlease TP put a article on George Galloway recent ban in Canada
March 24th, 2009 at 9:08 pmI distinctly remember Alan Greenspan in February of 2001 having to respond to a Republican Congressman that repeated Cheney’s comment “Didn’t Reagan prove deficits don’t matter?”
To which Greenspan replied, “Oh, no! On the contrary! Deficits very much [do] matter.”
March 24th, 2009 at 9:41 pmPlease go to the PBS website and watch “Ten Trillion and Counting”. It ran last night after Pres. Obama’s speech.
March 25th, 2009 at 9:43 amThis is a comprehensive explanation of how this massive debt was created.
Pass this along to everyone who is struggling with relating the truth and severity of this problem to family, friends, co-workers, etc.
Every American needs a recent history lesson. The R-W media circus has diverted concerned thought and debate into shameful character assasination and misrepresentation.
Dear Mit
March 25th, 2009 at 11:47 amYou are correct about deficits, some people do not care if they exist or not. NOW, go ask your former president WHY he left such a big one and WHY he never included the war in any of his budget numbers.
I always laugh when I hear Clinton take ALL the credit for the budget surplus when he left office. As I recall, Newt and the republican congress had just a tiny something to do with that, too. But, we wouldn’t want to mention that. Would we?
March 26th, 2009 at 10:52 pmJust want the people of Michigan, to remember just what Mr. M. Romney’s dad did for Michigan. First governor to put us in the toilet, first Governor to to bring down the middle class to nothingness, first Governor to be laughed out of OFFICE!
March 30th, 2009 at 4:50 pm