Obama voted against the debt ceiling?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

At the risk of spreading RW lies and/or misinformation, I have noticed many right-wingers circulating a meme in response to concerns about Republicans refusing to raise the debt ceiling that then-Senator Obama actually voted against raising the debt ceiling back in 2006. It sounds like, at least from an ABC news story (link: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/01/gibbs-senator-obama-only-voted-against-raising-debt-ceiling-in-2006-because-he-knew-it-would-pass-an.html), that it was a symbolic vote, made only when he knew that it would be passed but does this really make him a hypocrite for warning the Republicans against it? "Symbolic votes" are taken all the time, aren't they when people want to make a "statement" but know that the legislation in question is likely to be passed/signed? I think that, probably as President Obama does, that the teabaggers in the House really WANT the debt ceiling to NOT be raised.

[ProSense]

1. Wait

this was a straight party line vote. Every Democrat voted against it.

There had to be a reason, and it's likely some BS on the Republican side. In early 2006, there was likely no reason to raise the debt ceiling.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Gibbs apparently had to defend this for some reason

I wonder what this is really all about? :shrug: As a matter of course, it's never a good idea to believe pretty much anything the right wing tries to foist on the rest of us. Whenever I read articles in non-liberal publications about raising/not raising the debt ceiling, the right wingers seem to busy pushing the idea that "hey, Obama voted against raising the debt limit too!" Thanks for the link. That seems strange that every Dem would've voted against it but then again the Senate was being run by the Repubs at that time too, so maybe they weren't needed. Of course, the Republicans weren't upset and outraged about the national debt/deficit at all when they were fully in charge, so...........?

[former9thward]

3. No reason to raise it?

Yes there was a reason and the same reason as it is now, we were up against the limit which at that time was 8.2 trillion. The Senate Democrats voted against it for political reasons as it was an election year. The House Democrats voted for it because they do not have a roll call vote on the measure. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5282521

[Dokkie]

4. I dont care

what the reason was for voting against it but it should not be raised again. What kind of limit is it when you raise it every time the debt approaches the limit. Its time for Obama do actually make some hard decisions and cut some defense budget and warmongering fat.

He was right when he voted against it and wrong now

[Honeycombe8]

5. Yes, I've heard that. And I haven't heard anyone in WH deny it.

It is a flip flop.

The explanation, as I recall, was that O was making a point, and only a point. He knew the votes were there for the debt ceiling to get raised. Otherwise, he'd told the Senate leaders he'd vote for it, if needed. His vote wasn't needed.

Doesn't sound great. But then, it doesn't really matter, does it?