An Obama Spending Spree? Hardly (CHART)

[SunsetDreams]

A dominant theme of the national political discourse has been the crushing spending spree the U.S. has ostensibly embarked on during the Obama presidency. That argument, ignited by Republicans and picked up by many elite opinion makers, has infused the national dialogue and shaped the public debate in nearly every major budget battle of the last thee years.

But the numbers tell a different story.

...

Obama’s policies, including the much-criticized stimulus package, have caused the slowest increase in federal spending of any president in almost 60 nears, according to data compiled by the financial news service MarketWatch.





Last week, Obama’s likely Republican opponent Mitt Romney accused Obama of lighting a “prairie fire” of spending and said he “added almost as much debt as all the prior presidents combined.”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/federal-deficit-barack-obama-spending-stimulus-budget-historic-trends.php?ref=fpb

Romney running for Liar In Chief.

[BlueCaliDem]

1. I was looking for this chart! Thank you! eom

[SunsetDreams]

2. You're welcome :) nt

[MsLeopard]

12. Great Info!

I play on a trivia team at a local country club and last week there was a qusetion - T or F, Obama has increased the debt more than all other presidents combined. I swore up and down the answer was no, if they had the facts, but the others on my team - all nice Republicans - said it was True. And the answer, according to the game, was true.

I just sent everyone on the team the TPM link, so thank you for the ammo!

[SunsetDreams]

14. Awesome

I'm thrilled that this will give you some ammo to use with them

[SunsetDreams]

3. .

[supraTruth]

4. As I tried to point out here back in April w/my own research:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002509864

Now, IF we can only get others here interested ENOUGH to TWEET & email EVERY1 they can think of in the media, maybe we can KEEP 1 of the best Presidents in YEARS!

WAKE AMERICA UP TO THE FACTS!

[Drunken Irishman]

5. It's funny that the two least spenders were Democrats.

I always thought Democrats were those crazy TAX & SPEND LIBERALS!

[Jamaal510]

6. Everything is the opposite of reality

in Republicanland.

[SunsetDreams]

8. I know it's like an alternate reality

[supraTruth]

11. It should be called: The CONNING of America.

[tallahasseedem]

7. K&R

Thank you!

[SunsetDreams]

9. You're Welcome :)

[Son of Gob]

10. K&R!

[Motown_Johnny]

13. W. Bush '06-'09... 8.1%* Stimulus Included Re-Assigned to Obama (?)

I don't see a good explanation for this footnote. Does anyone know the real numbers here?

[The Magistrate]

16. Spending In F.Y. 2009 Under The Stimulus Bill, Sir, Is Assigned To President Obama, Not Bush

The stimulus proposal was not part of the F.Y. 2009 budget. About one hundred forty billions was spent under that bill in that fiscal year.

[SunsetDreams]

15. It seems this needs a kick

[SunsetDreams]

17. .

[Bonobo]

18. Funny. Another case where we are tricked into applauding

when we are shown that Obama is not (shock, gasp) as liberal as some say he is!

"No, he did not increase the government. He is actually for smaller government!"

"No, he did not spend during a financial recession (except of Defense)!"

"No,he did not demand a public option!"

"No, he is not soft on bombing the shit out of terrorists!"

"No, he isn't against the idea of torture, indefinite detention or illegal wiretapping if it is for national security!"

Has someone (us) been played?