Several weeks after the Senate rejected Barack Obama’s plan to create a bipartisan congressional panel charged with decreasing the deficit, the president will use his executive authority to create the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
The less-powerful bipartisan commission, chaired by Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, will be tasked with formulating a plan to decrease the federal budget deficit to 3% of GDP by 2015.
Yawn.
With the signing of this executive order, Obama will add fiscal responsibility to his growing library of political theater. Thus far, his other featured films have starred earmarks, lobbyists, Sonia Sotomayor, bipartisanship, etc. Unsurprisingly, they all share a common theme: disingenuousness. You’re welcome to grab some popcorn and take a seat, but as you watch the production of fiscal responsibility featuring Obama the deficit hawk, keep in mind you’re only being entertained.
In his first year in office, the president spent a record-breaking $3.52 trillion. At the end of the year, he used Christmas Eve to sneakily sign an executive order that provides an unlimited, perpetual bailout to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
At the beginning of this month, he released a $3.8 trillion budget proposal that will increase the deficit to a record-breaking $1.56 trillion, and just last week he signed a bill that increases the federal debt limit from $12.394 trillion to $14.294 trillion.
The president’s track record speaks for itself. He’s not a deficit hawk; he’s a big government ideologue. Unfortunately, big government costs big money, and the formation of Obama’s America will cost unprecedented amounts of money–to use the administration’s favorite word.
So what’s going on here?
As usual, Barack Obama believes he’s the smartest guy in the room, and he can trick the American people because they only pay attention to his words, not his actions.
That’s why he makes a pledge of no lobbyists, but allows waivers to sneak them in the back door. That’s why he makes a pledge of no earmarks, but signs unread legislation filled with thousands of them into law. That’s why he talks about bipartisanship, but behind closed doors proclaims to the GOP, he won, they lost, and they can either go along or get out of the way. And that’s why he creates a commission designed to create the appearance of a president who wants to get the nation’s financial house of cards in order even while he plots to spend it into oblivion.
Films often capture our imaginations, allowing us to believe in the unbelievable. Obama wants us to believe the unbelievable in him, but according to a recent CNN poll, 52% of the participants don’t believe he should be re-elected.
Translation?
The American people don’t believe he’s doing a great job directing, and they’re going to be the ones to say “cut!”