Buttigieg on the Ds: ""My party is not known for worrying about the deficit or the debt too much..."

[tenderfoot]

Full quote is worse: “My party’s not known for worrying about the deficit or the debt too much but it’s time for us to start getting into that.”

that’s Pete Buttigieg on the campaign trail blaming the Democrats for the deficit when it’s the Republicans’ $1.5 trillion tax giveaway to corporations and billionaires who are responsible for it.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. I would need to see it in context

But it's pretty bad. Twice in my life (Clinton and Obama) I've seen America pull ahead financially - and now we are right back where we were again - because of the GOP (Trump is the leader and it's MF45's party now).

[PatSeg]

16. Me too

Because that does not sit well with me at all. There are plenty of charts and graphs out there showing the difference between Democratic and republican administrations that blow away that republican generated myth. Buttigieg should know that.

[JustAnotherGen]

23. That's what I'm thinking

He's smarter than that. If he is said it as it 'looks' in the OP, then playing to the GOP disenchanted won't win him the nomination.

[PatSeg]

46. There were be a lot of misstep in the

coming months from all the candidates. A lot depends on how they handle it.

[snowybirdie]

2. Didn't Bill Clinton

balance the budget in 2000? Do your homework Mayor Pete

[Hortensis]

36. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and no coincidence.

The Republicans have deliberately cleaned out the budget and run up huge deficits transferring wealth to their buddies before Democrats are going to be elected since Reagan, and lesser before.

Buttigieg just explained why he shouldn't be president if he's describing himself, or if he's really that ignorant, or if he's just lying about all the candidates faced with the real risk of having to deal with this mess -- and praying to hell we give them a Democratically controlled congress so they can do what they have to. After all, congress is in charge of the budget.

Rescuing the economy after the Republicans is always a job for Super Democrats.

[Renew Deal]

45. The budget was never balanced under Obama

Or anyone else since Clinton

[dawg day]

52. In fact, Clinton's balancing the budget had the undesired effect--

of emboldening Bush II to enact an immediate tax cut for the wealthy, and then start two interminable unfunded wars.

Clinton tried to be "balanced" and rather brutally cut social welfare programs to help achieve the zero-deficit. (He also had a internet-inspired growing economy to help.) So then a GOPer came into office and rather than spreading the benefit of this austerity to the entire population including the poor, he gave most of it to the rich in the form of a targeted tax cut.

This is what Mayor Pete might not get. The GOP talks about cutting the deficit... when there's a Dem president. Then they get into power and ALWAYS squander the nation's wealth on tax cuts to the rich. The lesson is-- don't worry about the deficit. The GOP just wants to use deficit-talk as a way to hurt the poor and then reward the rich.

[LesterT]

3. Blah.

Sounds like a slippery slope and hop, skip, and a jump to "entitlement reform" and "grand bargains".

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Pete is not about "entitlement reform."

That is a Republican talking point.

Enjoy your stay!

[LesterT]

7. I suggest you look up the history of "Grand Bargain".

Far from solely a Republican talking point. There have long been conservative, moderate, and centrist forces within the Democratic Party who were debt hawks willing to sacrifice programs in the name of debt relief. Those are the facts.

[MarcA]

33. Exactly. Cat Food Commission 2.0.

I want All the Democratic Candidates to clearly state their position on
means testing, cuts, privatization of Social Security and Medicare.
Remember only Nixon could go to China and only a few Dems can, etc.

[LesterT]

49. Absolutely.

We've heard very little discussion about the safety net besides Medicare For All in the debates to date. That is usually brought into the debates as "pie in the sky" and "how are we going to pay for that".

[loyalsister]

26. Yes

Here's where he goes for the scarcity narrative in order to try to court conservatives. It's very disappointing to see him start down this road.

[LesterT]

50. That opportunism will backfire.

The winds of change in this country are blowing left.

[dalton99a]

59. +1. It is deliberate.

[cilla4progress]

5. Don't know about the accuracy of this...

but it sounds arrogant to me.

I like Pete for the most part.

[Demsrule86]

6. Link please.

[tenderfoot]

13. Here's one

Link to tweet

[Demsrule86]

15. That was a mistake...The GOP runs up the deficit every time. I fear that we might get

privatized social security, chained CPI...medicare cuts...medicaid cuts...one of the reasons I do not support Buttigeig is the fear that he will make deals and compromise our entitlements...I feel the same way about Bloomberg.

[SWBTATTReg]

8. Your interpretation only. I don't agree w/ your interpretation of what Pete said ...

You said 'that's Pete on the campaign trail blaming democrats for the deficit' when in fact Pete said 'not worrying about the deficit or debt too much' ...

where in the world do you come up w/ it's the democrats fault for the deficits and/or debt? Where?

[PatSeg]

18. But even that's not true

Democrats have been far more fiscally responsible the last three decades than republicans. This is a classic republican talking point. I can't imagine why he said that.

[SWBTATTReg]

19. I absolutely agree w/ you, especially with the recent 2017 tax cuts, not paid for. Ridiculous and..

fiscally irresponsible. And a tax cut that wasn't needed.

[PatSeg]

22. I think he might need to clarify that one

It feels too much like an attack on Democrats and republicans will pick up on it really fast.

[MarcA]

35. "Not worrying about the deficit or debt too much".

A distinction without a difference. Plus a false statement about most Democrats.

[Eric J in MN]

9. Here is a tweet quoting Pete Buttigieg

—-
“My party’s not known for worrying about the deficit or the debt too much but it’s time for us to start getting into that,” Mayor Pete says in NH town hall in response to voter anxious about debt. Says everything his campaign has proposed is paid for.
—-

Link to tweet

?s=21


// Pete Buttigieg is promoting a pro-Republican myth.

[Celerity]

11. lol, so actually showing that you pay for your programmes is now a 'pro-Republican myth'

Bollocks.

More Sanderite spin that anything that differs from Bernie is either a RW talking point or pro-Republican.

This is really becoming tiresome and divisive.

Sanders isn't even a Democrat except when he needs to slap the tag on to take advantage of our Party come election time (whilst continuously ripping it for years.)

[LonePirate]

14. The only people who complain about the deficit & debt are Republicans when Democrats are in power.

Now Pete is doing it in the context of Democrats being in power. Draw your own conclusions from that.

[Celerity]

20. we are not in power, and it is simply ridiculous to say that showing that you pay for your

proposals is somehow buying into a Republican myth. Look at the debates going on with Warren and Sanders and their issues with actually showing how they pay for their proposals. Much of their funding comes from taxes that have little to no chance of passing even if we retake the Senate and hold the House.

Again, you, like the OP, are editorialising and attributing things to Buttigieg that is not borne out by that short tweet.

Based off of that quote, he said nothing about Democrats being in power, nor did he blame us for the deficit. Until you show where he actually said those things, it is pure inference designed to discredit him.

[LonePirate]

25. Did you read my text? I gave context for his statement (when Dems would be in power).

How would he implement anything if he, a Democrat, was not power? He gave a what if and I countered by pointing out what happens during such a what if.

Again, the only people who raise concerns about the debt and deficits are Republicans when Democrats might use their power to enact programs or policies that might benefit people besides the wealthy. Now Pete is doing the same thing. He doesn’t have a very progressive policy platform and now he’s saying things that Republicans say when says we need to talk to about debt and deficit. We can find a better candidate than Pete.

[Celerity]

28. nope, not buying that explanation at all, you are just continuing to build upon a bunch

of suppositions that you said, not Pete.

As for your statement

We can find a better candidate than Pete.

I feel the same about Warren. She is too far left to get elected. She cannot win the states we need to win the POTUS.

[LonePirate]

32. If you think Warren is too far left, then Pete is definitely too far right.

At least Warren supports policies that focus on helping people.

[Eric J in MN]

17. Paying for programs is fine.

Pete Buttigieg implying Republicans do so and Democrats don’t is the problem.

[Celerity]

21. the only implying going on is that which is being done by you, when you say he implied

Republicans do so and Democrats don’t

That is simply manufactured out of whole cloth.

[dansolo]

69. Actually, this aspect of the criticism is valid

I wish Pete had said something that referenced both parties. It would even been all right if he said something like "some members of our party".

[tonedevil]

47. Saying that our party...

doesn't think about the deficit or the debt too much is a pro-Republican myth. Or do you subscribe to the idea that Republicans are the party of fiscal responsibility and the Democrats are just tax and spend?

[MrsCoffee]

70. +1

[kcr]

71. It is when you say things like

“My party’s not known for worrying about the deficit or the debt too much but it’s time for us to start getting into that.” Any reason he couldn't have just kept it at "My programs are paid for"? That would have been a more subtle dig, but still.

[Celerity]

10. your accusing him of blaming us Dems for the deficit is pure editorial fiction, and that quote was

was taken out of context. He was saying that everything in his programmes was paid for.

you left out the rest of the tweet (which itself is not very detailed)

Mayor Pete says in NH town hall in response to voter anxious about debt. Says everything his campaign has proposed is paid for.

[FreeState]

12. + 1000 n/t

[MarcA]

37. Your attempts at damage control and spin are severely lacking. n/t

[Celerity]

40. damage control, lol

Just calling out tosh, that is all.

[BeyondGeography]

24. That is both patently false and mind-numbingly bad politics

Here are the numbers:

Reagan

Started Presidency: $965 billion
Ended Presidency: $2.74 trillion
Increased 184% or 13.9% per year

H.W. Bush

Started Presidency: $2.74 trillion
Ended Presidency: $4.23 trillion
Increased 54% or 11.5% per year (only in office for four years)

Clinton

Started Presidency: $4.23 trillion
Ended Presidency: $5.77 trillion
Increased 36% or 4.0% per year

W. Bush

Started Presidency: $5.77 trillion
Ended Presidency: $11.1 trillion
Increased 93% or 8.5% per year

Obama

Started Presidency: $11.1 trillion
Ended Presidency: $19.85 trillion
Increased 78% or 7.5% per year

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjones/2018/01/15/obamas-federal-debt-grew-at-a-slower-rate-than-reagan-h-w-bush-or-w-bush/#3754a21c1917

Let it never be forgotten that Republican Conservative Saint Ronnie tripled the national debt (and Dick Cheney subsequently said Reagan proved deficits don't matter). Clinton as we know actually left Bush with a surplus; the Bush tax cuts, the Iraq war and the financial crash of 2008 took care of that. Obama had to run up large deficits in order to save the economy but he drastically reduced them in his second term as the economy recovered and as you can see the deficit increased at a lower rate in his two terms than under Bush, which shows you just how fiscally responsible Obama was.

Even with these facts, Democrats still suffer from the tax-and-spend label, mostly because our messaging has sucked almost as bad as the media.

To see one of our bright rising stars perpetuate this falsehood in order to score a cheap political point fucking sucks.

[MarcA]

38. +1,000 n/t

[mcar]

48. It seems to fall into the RW talking points

about debt and deficit.

[BuffaloJackalope]

27. First, deny he said it. Then when its proven he did say it,

spend the time condescendingly pretending we didn't understand what he said.


Where have we seen this before?

[BuffaloJackalope]

30. and you're right on time.

[Celerity]

31. as are you nt

[tenderfoot]

39. here's a good run down

Link to tweet

[BuffaloJackalope]

43. Yes

Some people don't get it

[Cha]

66. Thanks for Fact Check on Deficits and Surpluses..

Link to tweet

[Cha]

34. Why in the World would he say that?!!! Please see post #24

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287369976#post24

I don't like Dems trying to drag on the Democratic Party.. especially when it's the damn repubs.

[Celerity]

41. because he did not say what is inferred, the OP made it up, as documented already on this thread

[TidalWave46]

42. If taken at the meaning of the words he is one hundred percent correct.

It's what we should be known for. It's not what we are known for. Generating that image about us is one of Republicans highest priorities.

[LonePirate]

44. Here are Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman's thoughts on Pete's words:

Link to tweet

Paul Krugman @paulkrugman

This is really bad on two levels. First, Democrats have been far less deficit-prone than Republicans. Second, debt worries are vastly exaggerated.

Is Buttigieg just Howard Schultz in disguise?

[dalton99a]

57. +1

[dawg day]

51. The last two presidents to balance the budget (no deficit for the year) were Clinton and Carter

Obama took the enormous deficit inherited because of the finance crisis and nearly halved it (while saving the economy).

I think while Democrats don't make a big show about it, they have generally created much less additional debt that the GOPers who loudly proclaim to be deficit-hawks.

I suspect Mayor Pete is just too young to have that wider perspective, but someone should be sure to point this out for him.

[Cha]

67. +1

[helpisontheway]

53. Well, he managed to tick Lawrence O'Donnell off..

Link to tweet

?s=20

Link to tweet

?s=20

I trust Lawrence O’Donnell over Mayor Pete.. 💯

[squirecam]

55. Oh please....

Yes in 1993 we reduced the deficit. Got a surplus which Bush wasted.

And since then the debt has only grown. Obama limited the growth. But didn’t eliminate the deficit or debt. This, my friends, is not being serious about the debt.

All those focused on climate change are saying that half measures aren’t enough. That drastic steps need to be taken.

Well, it’s the same with the deficit and debt. Where is the plan to actually reduce the debt, to pay that money back....

Lawrence needs to stop with the Pete was lying stuff and focus on the truth. That the debt is growing and there is no plan or interest by Dems in actually reducing the debt. That was Pete’s point.

[squirecam]

54. So

Are there any plans by other Dems running to eliminate the deficit and then the debt?

Because if there isn’t.....Pete is correct.

I’ve heard a lot of spending. I haven’t heard of any plan to pay down the debt.

[BootinUp]

56. Agreed. Now what about my pony, lol. nt

[squirecam]

60. Well

It’s a magic pony, paid for by your grandkids. Arrives *soon*

[flamingdem]

58. Whoa, Pete is green

and it's showing.

[dalton99a]

61. Small-town mayor with zero state or federal experience.

[flamingdem]

62. And he didn't know how to walk it back

He had his chance.

[lettucebe]

63. Major mistake for Buttigieg

I liked him before but this is so wrong on so many levels. Democrats not being concerned about the deficits? Seriously? Has he been taking a very long nap? Incredibly disappointing.

He's got a promising career in politics but this may have ended his presidential run (at least in my mind). I wonder if he's going a bit too far in trying to appeal to ... whomever he's trying for. This makes no sense and I am more confused the more I write these words.

[ooky]

64. Pretty big gaff by Mayor Pete.

I've had this argument a million times with people who try to promote the myth that Dems are responsible for running up the debt and Repubs are "fiscally responsible". Best to keep discussion of debt and budget deficits separate, and focus on discretionary spending. Then it becomes crystal clear which party is trying to address spending, and its not Republicans.

[BlueMTexpat]

65. This is simply not true!

Why on earth would he say something like this?

[dsc]

68. I like Pete but this is not right

Now if he had said My party's not know for worrying about the deficit or debt too much but it's time for the press to catch up with reality I would be all for that. The fact is we shouldn't be running massive debts with an UE rate of 3.5%. And the GOP needs to called on the carpet for that fact. I also don't mind seeing programs paid for. But in point of fact we cared too much about the deficit and debt in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

[mitchpowell]

72. I believe the quote is taken out of context. Pete wasn't blaming Democrats for the deficit

"There’s a lot of gleeful hand wringing going on here based on the premise that Pete Buttigieg is blaming Democrats for running up Deficits. That’s B.S. Most folks making this assertion are taking Buttigieg’s comments out of context. Here’s what he actually said:"

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/12/6/1903943/-We-Are-Better-Than-This-Correcting-Smears-v-1-Buttigieg-Does-Not-Blame-Democrats-For-Deficits

[fleabiscuit]

73. That's a good catch. Welcome to the DU.

I hate manufactured smears.

Krugman doesn't get to uptight about deficits where we borrow from ourselves. I'll take the word of a Nobel Prize winner.

[gopiscrap]

74. welcome to DU