Liar, Liar, Pant's on Fire! TPP Co-founder challenges Obama's Fear-Mongering Fibs on the Debt Ceiling

Great job Mark.... Spot on in the argument!  Why is it the left just doesn't get it?

From MSLSD --

Here's a don't-miss interview with NBC's Savannah Guthrie and Tea Party Patriots leader Mark Meckler on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports.

Meckler was firmly against raising the debt ceiling, and dismissed consequences of it not passing. On President Obama's contention that Social Security checks might not go out, Meckler contended: "That's just simply a lie. There is plenty of revenue to pay our Social Security obligations. There's plenty of revenue to pay our debt, our interest on the debt obligations. If the president and Secretary Geithner choose not to pay Social Security, they'll be held responsible. They'll be held responsible by recipients, and they'll be held responsible by the American public."

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

He provided no citations for his contention, but instead claimed that "there's enough money to pay for Social Security, to pay the basic entitlement programs, and to pay for critical services in the United States of America."

"This is fear-mongering," he said. "This is just fear mongering."

ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress No Debt Increase!

Action Alert

Tell Congress No Debt Increase!

Patriots,

As we sit on the edge of financial doom of our country,  please be aware -- the GOP freshmen from Ohio that campaigned on fiscal responsibility and limited government -- are showing they are only fiscally responsible to Speaker John Boehner and are limiting their actions to supporting the D.C. status quo.

Make no mistake, the tough talking headlines from both sides regarding the debt ceiling are nothing more than political posturing. It is nothing more than which party will hold the collective power over "We the People"!  We know for fact, the GOP does not expect the Cut, Cap & Balance Amendment to pass the House.  In fact, they are so convinced of this, they are not even bothering to whip the vote.  

Besides showing a complete lack of leadership on Speaker Boehner's part, this shows they really have no intentions of trying to pass CC&B.  Furthermore, CC&B does NOT stop the debt ceiling from being raised!  It only sets conditions to AGAIN raise the debt ceiling.  Raising the debt ceiling on promises of what a future congress will or will not do is not only reckless & irresponsible -- it only kicks the can down the road -- AGAIN.  But this time -- it may be kicking the can off a cliff of financial disaster.

CC&B, if passed in the House, then the Senate, then must be signed into law by President Obama, and being a Constitutional Amendment, STILL has to be ratified by 2/3rds of the states.  (Think about how long it took to ratify the U.S. Constitution!)

With Ohio sending 5 GOP freshmen to Congress and Speaker Boehner being from here, it is the responsibility of patriots from OH to not only speak out, but to speak out the loudest on the feelings of disgust and betrayal being expressed from fellow groups across the country!

Please find below action alert items being done as a concerted effort by Tea Party, 9/12 and liberty minded groups across the country. (Please forward these action items to your email lists, family and friends) .

Tuesday (Today)

·        Sign the “No Debt Increase” petition (http://www.nodebtincrease.com/), if you have not done so.

·        Use your Facebook and Twitter accounts to make arguments for cutting spending so that job creators can actually create jobs and not cave on any "deal."

·        Inform friends about this crucial fight and invite them to take action as well. These negotiations are putting the fate of our nation on the line. We must engage as many people as possible.

• Call targeted members (see list below) of Congress and your own member. We will send you the target lists with phone numbers as well as facts to share with these members. Let's melt those phone lines! 

Wednesday

• Social media blitz day. Let the targeted members of Congress know what you think by posting on their Facebook pages and tweeting to them. We'll send you the links to their pages and their Twitter ID's.

• Use the TPP No Debt Ceiling logo on your Facebook profile pic

Ohio Target List

House Speaker John Boehner

7969 Cincinnati-Dayton Road 

Suite B

West Chester, OH 45069

(513) 779-5400 tel

(513) 779-5315 fax

12 South Plum Street

Troy, OH 45373

(937) 339-1524

(937) 339-1878 fax

1011 Longworth H.O.B.

Washington, DC 20515

(202) 225-6205

(202) 225-0704 fax

----------------------------

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.)

Richmond Office

4201 Dominion Blvd. Suite 110

Glen Allen, VA 23060

p: (804) 747-4073

Toll Free: (800) 438-3793

f: (804) 747-5308

Culpeper Office

763 Madison Road #207

Culpeper, VA 22701

p: (540) 825-8960

f: (540) 825-8964

DC Office

303 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

p: 202-225-2815

f: 202-225-0011

Ohio Freshmen

Rep. Steve Chabot, OH-1
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-2216
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-3012

Rep. Bill Johnson, OH-6
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-5705
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-5907

Rep. Steve Stivers, OH-15
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-2015D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-3529

Rep. Jim Renacci, OH-16

D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-3876

D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-3059
Rep. Bob Gibbs, OH-18
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-6265D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-3394

OH Congressional Members

Rep. Jean Schmidt, OH-2
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-3164
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-1992

Rep. Mike Turner, OH-3
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-6465
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-6754

Rep. Bob Latta, OH-5
D.C. Office Phone: 1-800-541-6446 (OHIO)
D.C. Office Fax: 1-800-278-8203

Rep. Steve Austria, OH-7
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-4324
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-1984

Rep. John Boehner, OH-8
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-0600
D.C. Office Fax: (202)225-5117

Rep. Patrick Tiberi, OH-12
D.C. Office Phone: (202)225-5355
D.C. Office Fax: (202)226-4523

Rep. Steven LaTourette, OH-14
D.C. Office Phone: (202) 225-5731
D.C. Office Fax: (202) 225-330

If the lines are busy or voice mails are full, please continue calling until you are able to speak to a live person or are able to leave a voicemail message.

Rep Broun introduces "Debt Ceiling Reduction Act"; Tells GOP "Ante up or Find a New Job"

The Debt Ceiling fight is heating up and Speaker John Boehner, is again ready to perform one of his famous "Boehner Buckle's" or even worse make one of his oh so great deals.  To put it bluntly... Speaker Boehner is a failure, cannot be trusted and is part of the problem we are trying to fix in this country.

The widely publicized plan of Cut, Cap and Balance, while a good step, falls short of what most Americans desire and will ultimately still allow for the debt ceiling to be raised.  At this point in time any step we take must be backwards from the spending cliff and not a side-step with more promises of what future legislators can and cannot do.

Telling his fellow GOP Congressmen to, "ante up or go find a new profession," Congressman Paul Broun has recently introduced HR 2409, the Debt Ceiling Reduction Act, which will CUT spending and LOWER the debt ceiling back down to $13 trillion from the current $14.3 trillion. There are no promises to break, pledges to weasel back on or tit for tat deals of raising the debt ceiling...

From Congressman Paul Broun --

Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) today introduced unique legislation, H.R. 2409 the Debt Ceiling Reduction Act, that would lower the debt ceiling from $14.3 trillion back down to $13 trillion.  The legislation would be enacted at the beginning of FY 2012 and would force Congress to begin to pay off a portion of the national debt while drastically reducing spending.

“Should my legislation be signed into law, Washington would have to actually make the cuts that until now they’ve only talked about, and our national debt would be one step closer to being manageable,” said Congressman Broun. “My legislation would not just slow down, or stop the reckless spending train; it would completely turn it around.

“Americans are tired of lawmakers who talk out of both sides of their mouths and make promises that they can’t keep.  This bill offers a real and true solution for our fiscal dilemma, and I whole heartedly hope that my colleagues will either ante up – or try their luck at another profession.”

###

The Left’s Desperate, Devious and Dangerous 14th Amendment Ploy to Raise the Debt Ceiling

The below piece by former Oklahoma Congressman Ernest Istook, illustrates how the left will employ, at the expense of future generations and the well-being of our country, deceitful and devious tactics to meet their desired agenda of spending our country into oblivion.

Being duplicitous, as when they ignored the U.S. Constitution when it came to ramming Obamacare down our throats,  they will cloak themselves with the U.S. Constitution through creative interpretations supporting their views when it comes to raising the debt ceiling.

From Ernest Istook --

Seeking to make virtue out of vice, the political Left has launched a desperate, devious and dangerous ploy to prevent the spending cuts that the public demands.

They are laying the groundwork for President Obama to bypass negotiations and to ignore the $14.3-trillion statutory ceiling on federal debt.  They want him to instruct the Treasury to borrow whatever it needs to satisfy grandiose spending designs, by claiming that the borrowing limit is unconstitutional.

If this happened, it would add a constitutional crisis to our economic crisis.  And it would worsen our economic problems.

The Left bases their plan on a dangerous misreading of the 14^th Amendment.  They employ deceptive rhetoric to depict the big spenders as the saviors of the Constitution.  They claim it’s the Constitutional remedy to protect our economy from the supposed alternative Armageddon’s of defaulting on debt or devastating reductions in spending.

The Left adds that this also would save us from the evil Republicans who won’t go along with job-killing tax hikes.

Declaring the debt ceiling unconstitutional and void would be a course reversal for Obama and Treasury Secretary Geithner, who have been claiming that doom is around the corner because of the debt limit.  But a reversal would not be the first time Obama has declared his position is “evolving” to match his political interests.  Nor would it be the first time Obama claimed a Presidential prerogative to ignore laws that he finds inconvenient.

Twice offered a public opportunity to repudiate this horrid idea, Obama has twice refused to do so.

The 14^th Amendment idea began quietly percolating on the Left a few months ago.  As it became clear that they were losing the fight over deficit spending, the Left last week began to unveil articles by cooperative law professors, economists, columnists and pundits, covered by CBS News, MSNBC, USA Today, The Washington Post, and numerous other outlets.  The Huffington Post has been the biggest cheerleader for the plan.

The proponents base their false claim on a selective reading of the 14^th Amendment’s statement that, “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law . . . shall not be questioned.”  The language was adopted after the Civil War.  Because the adjacent passage of the Amendment expressly disavows any debts of the former Confederacy, the drafters needed to distinguish this from the valid debt issued by the Union.

Nobody is questioning the validity of our legally-issued debt, nor should they, but the President has no authority to create additional debt that Congress has not approved.

As noted by The Heritage Foundation’s Andrew Grossman, “it does not follow that the debt ceiling is unconstitutional. . . . Indeed, unilateral action by the President to borrow money would be an unconstitutional usurpation of the legislative power.  The Constitution [in Article 1, Section 8] vests the power to ‘to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States’ and the power ‘to borrow money on the credit of the United States’ in the Congress, not the President.  The President lacks the authority to, on his own accord, make expenditures which have not been authorized by Congress (because Congress has imposed a debt ceiling that supersedes any such authorizations) or to undertake borrowing that has not been authorized by Congress.”

Constitutional expert and former federal appellate judge Dr. Michael McConnell sums up quite simply the notion that the 14^th Amendment invalidates the debt ceiling.  McConnell eloquently says, “Bunk.”

Since 1917, Congress has exercised its control over debt by placing a statutory cap on the total amount that can be borrowed.  This is an exercise of Congress’ explicit and exclusive Constitutional authority—as opposed to a drummed-up misinterpretation of the 14^th Amendment to create some new Presidential power to issue unlimited debt.  As noted by the Congressional Research Service, “The debt limit also provides Congress with the strings to control the federal purse, allowing Congress to assert its constitutional prerogatives to control spending.”

To sum it all up:  As the 14^th Amendment states, debt must be “authorized by law.”  As Article 1 states, only Congress can do that authorizing.

The Left’s effort to reverse this is desperate, devious and dangerous.  They have seen polls showing 60 to 70 percent of the public oppose an increase in borrowing, so they are desperately trying to preserve big government.  Their twisting of the Constitution is devious.  And ignoring the debt ceiling would be dangerous to future generations and to today’s economy.

Imagine the chaos in financial markets if they could not distinguish Congressionally-approved and valid Treasury notes from Presidentially-authorized and questionable debt.  The Left has a bad answer for this:  Get the Federal Reserve to buy the new debt.  That would mean printing more currency, inflating our money and further devaluing the dollar.

The entire 14^th Amendment ploy needs to be shot down and denounced for what it is—another liberal maneuver to bypass both the Constitution and public opinion and to protect big government at all costs.

Adding a constitutional crisis on top of our economic crisis would only make things worse.

To send Speaker John Boehner and members of Congress a message, please sign the Tea Party Patriots NO Debt Increase petition by clicking here.

Sign the No Debt Increase Petition

It is time to cut up Washington’s credit card and get federal spending under control.

In 1917, Congress created the debt limit to control spending. Instead every time they “hit” the limit they’ve raised it. Like irresponsible teenagers they’re at it again for the 11th time in as many years.

Since 2000, the National debt has increased three fold to $14.3 trillion or $130,000 per household. A recent CBO report indicates at the current rate of spending the budget deficit is projected to eclipse our total gross GDP in 2021.

Federal government spending has skyrocketed to nearly one quarter of the economy. The U.S. Department of Labor alone will spend approximately $1,250 per household this year!

Washington must stop overspending. If we can’t stop them now when will we?

Congress needs to quit making promises for how they will deal with problems in the future and deal with the crisis we have today.

Say NO to another debt ceiling increase. Say NO to more government spending. 

To sign the Tea Party Patriots No Debt Ceiling Increase petition click here.



Budget Deficit Projected to Eclipse U.S. Total Gross GDP in 2021

Referring to a new report issued by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), CBO's 2011 Long-term Budget Outlook (click here to read report), which indicates that unless the out of control spending is stopped our budget deficit will outpace our GDP by 2021, and calling our current fiscal path "reckless & irresponsible," House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA),  issued the following statement...

"Today’s report serves as the latest in a long list of reminders that the nation’s current fiscal path is both reckless and irresponsible,” said Chairman Price.  “One has to wonder how much more evidence the White House and Democrats in Congress need in order to take our debt crisis seriously.  A future saddled with skyrocketing debt will result in America having a weaker hand to play globally as our economy here at home will continue its current anemic state.  The job creators of tomorrow will live under the same cloud of uncertainty that plagues current entrepreneurs.

“House Republicans believe we owe a better future to our children and grandchildren which is why we have a plan that addresses the cost drivers of our debt and puts us on a positive path forward.  Our Democrat colleagues have a choice whether or not to be a part of solving this crisis.  To date their decision has been to demagogue the good faith efforts of others.  Under their vision of the future, the American people are left with more debt, more doubt, and more despair.  House Republicans refuse to condemn our great nation to such a fate, and we will continue to fight for an honest accounting of our nation’s fiscal and economic challenges while offering positive solutions to ensure the American Dream for future generations.”

And hopefully Congressman Price will convince the rest of the GOP in Congress, Speaker Boehner too, that raising the debt ceiling is not an option.  Anymore, and after the GOP's broken promise of cutting $100 Billion in spending this year, and in reality the CBO now says they actually increased spending by $2.5 Billion, however well intentioned, Congressman Prices comments are empty words.

We do not have faith that Congress will actually make significant cuts or be able to keep this promise.  Congress can and should make cuts to the budget and still NOT increase the debt ceiling.

Congress has been making promises to constituents for years about what future Congresses will or will not spend money on (Social Security and Medicare are prime examples) and they cannot live up to these promises.  Decreasing government spending from 24% of GDP to 18% or lower is a good goal. The reality is that this Congress cannot bind another Congress to those caps unless it is done through an Amendment.

Congress needs to quit making promises for how they will deal with problems in the future and deal with the crisis we have today. It is time has come to cut America's credit card and cut the out of control spending now.

The Tea Party Patriots, along with some upcoming tele-town halls on the subject, will be rolling out another Engagement Center with emails, tweets, phone calls, letters, etc. for supporters to make over the next several weeks.

Americans Deserve Better

Fellow Patriots,

We've already told you the Four Big Lies you will hear in connection with raising the debt limit and over the coming days we will show you the reasons why we don't have to increase the debt limit.

At what point do we say enough is enough? At what point of government borrowing will our liberty be encroached upon enough that Americans will demand REAL change in Washington? The time may very well be upon us.

Five Reasons

Why Not To Increase the Debt Ceiling 

1. We won't default if we prioritize our spending.

The federal government takes in enough revenue to cover our debt obligations. The real problem is the spending. We must act now to control our spending for the sake of America's future.

"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."  - Senator Barack Obama, March 16, 2006*

2. If they raise it they will spend it.

Since the debt ceiling was first put into place, Congress has not failed to raise it when the debt was critically close to reaching and exceeding the limit. The debt ceiling has been raised 10 times in the last 11 years and we are on the verge of raising it yet again. What makes this time any different? What is to stop them from raising it the next time we reach the limit? Isn't that the point of the debt ceiling, to prevent the borrowing of more money?   

"If Washington were serious about honest tax relief in this country, we would see an effort to reduce our national debt by returning to responsible fiscal policies. But we are not doing that..."   - Senator Barack Obama, March 16, 2006* 

3. We have been warned to stop the reckless spending.

Moody's, Standard & Poor's, economists, and even China have warned us to stop our reckless spending. Increasing the debt ceiling is an enabler to our spending problem. If the government is not able to borrow anymore money, they will be forced to start prioritizing spending. 

"[T]he more we depend on foreign nations to lend us money, the more our economic security is tied to the whims of foreign leaders whose interests might not be aligned with ours. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. 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 problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America's debt limit." - Senator Barack Obama, March 16, 2006*

   

4. We don't have to reinvent the wheel on spending.

If we go back to 2003 spending levels we can begin to pull ourselves out of this fiscal crisis that we are in. If we went a step further back to the spending levels at the end of the Clinton administration, we could balance our budget. It is true that sacrifices will have to be made but if we don't make those sacrifices now, just imagine how much harder it will be in the future.

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure."  - Senator Barack Obama, March 16, 2006*    

5. A rising national debt hinders jobs and the economy. 

As the government continues to borrow money, confidence in the economy dwindles, business owners worry about how the government will pay its debts, and the talks of increasing government revenues by raising taxes causes businesses to save capital and plan for survival rather than planning for growth.  

"[T]he cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the Federal budget. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy... interest payments are a significant tax on all Americans-a debt tax that Washington doesn't want to talk about." - Senator Barack Obama, March 16, 2006*

Enough is enough.

America deserves better.

Mr. Speaker, Who's Team Are You On?

Republicans promised in their Pledge To America:  "With common-sense exceptions for seniors, veterans, and our troops, we will roll back government spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels, saving us at least $100 billion in the first year alone and putting us on a path to begin paying down the debt, balancing the budget, and ending the spending spree in Washington that threatens our children's future." 

Americans returned Republicans to power in the House for two main purposes:

1.  Repeal and/or defund ObamaCare

2.  Drastically reduce spending

Boehner and the GOP didn't cut $100 billion as promised. In fact, they ended up increasing spending in some areas. And they certainly didn't push very hard to defund Obamacare. 

The American people expect results, not excuses. The tea party movement fought tooth and nail to defeat ObamaCare, even though we knew it was an uphill battle. We expect the Republican leaders in Washington to fight just as hard and to keep their promises!

And we expect it NOW.

Soon, the House will decide whether or not to increase the debt limit.  Americans have spoken soundly, and a large majority oppose any increase in a limit that has been increased 10 times in 11 years!

When all of the real debt is added together, America's debt is closer to $130 trillion. So... should we raise the debt ceiling further?

Speaker Boehner has already indicated that he's willing to raise the debt limit for a certain price... Is he not listening to the American people?

Speaker Boehner, who's team are you on?

If you believe the Republicans have not lived up to their promises and oppose any increase in the debt limit, please let Speaker Boehner and your Republican representative hear from you today.  Common sense Americans must let their elected officials know in very clear terms that we expect results and not excuses. 

We expect the Republicans to live up to their Pledge To America and we oppose an increase to America's debt limit. 

You may reach Speaker Boehner's office at (202) 225-0600.

"Deal in the District" Letter to Congressman Steve LaTourette

Below is a copy of the letter submitted to the local district office of Congressman Steve LaTourette as part of the Tea Party Patriots "Deal in the District" initiative....

Congressman Steve LaTourette

10075 Ravenna Rd

Twinsburg, OH  44087

April 28, 2011

Dear Congressman LaTourette,

The undersigned Tea Party groups, on behalf of our members in your district, respectfully submit this letter for your review and timely response.

We are at a critical crossroads in American history. With the lengthy time you have served this district, we are confident you are aware that when elected to serve in a representative republic, you are duty bound to reflect the will of your constituents. 

As you know, a deal was made on April 8th between Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Harry Reid, and President Obama to continue appropriations for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. You should be aware that this deal fell way short of the expectations of the American people and the constituents in your district. 

It is to our extreme disappointment that your recent votes on the Continuing Resolutions, defunding the NPR, the defunding of the EPA, and continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2011 are not reflective of the will of your constituents.  Collectively, we also find that the talking points from you and the GOP leadership on why you were not able to do the job you pledged to do  - that being $100 Billion in cuts - are completely unacceptable.  That a “Deal” on the continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2011 was deceivingly portrayed to be $38.5 billion in cuts and was proven to only be $352 million in cuts is beyond comprehension and a total affront to the constituents you were sworn to represent in your district.

In all due respect, you were elected to speak for, and on behalf of the constituents in your district. You were not elected to make phantom deals with the establishment in D.C. that will negatively affect the future of our country on our behalf, against our wishes and at the expense of future generations.  With this, we respectfully request that you stand for and with the people you were elected to represent by agreeing to support the following Deal in your District;

• Vote against any tax increases.
• Meet the GOP Pledged $100 Billion in spending cuts – NOT budget cuts.
• Stand against raising the Debt Ceiling in any way, shape or form.
• Support the Full Faith and Credit Act to assure our obligations are paid.
• Support all votes to de-fund in its’ entirety or portion thereof Obamcare
• Vote NO on any budget bill proposed after May 1, 2011 that does not make at least $1 trillion in spending cuts.

Congressman LaTourette, we are asking, will you listen to the people you represent and support this deal in your district?

As your response will be made public, and in the interest of brevity, clarity and accuracy, please respond by May 6, 2011 to each individual item with an affirmative or negative answer followed by an explanation of your position if you wish. 

In closing, we want to thank you for your time and giving our letter your prompt and undivided attention. We look forward to your timely and written response.

Thank You,

Arzella Melnyk                                              Tom Zawistowski

Coordinator                                                   Executive Director

Geauga/Lake Tea Party Patriots                     Portage County Tea Party

Mike Petruziello                                             Jean C. Coe

President                                                        Organizer

Geauga County Tea Party                               Geauga 9.12 Patriots

Ralph King                                                     Diana Price

State Co-Coordinator (OH)                             Coordinator

Tea Party Patriots                                         Cleveland 9.12 Group