Tom Harkin, Demagogue

Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat, Iowa, uses demagoguery, falsehoods, smears, defamation of character, false alternative fallacy, and all manner of other foul attacks for political gain. Real Clear Politics has the video. (HT Hot Air headlines)

Tom Harkin’s deceitful false alternative fallacy: Refusal to raise the debt ceiling means willingness to let the US default on its debts.

The truth: If the US debt ceiling is not raised, a couple hundred billion dollars a month will continue to roll in to the Federal coffers; more than enough to pay the interest on the debt, Social Security checks, military payroll and more. If the country defaults, the Obama Administration would be directly responsible as it would be the Obama Administration which refused to properly prioritize expenditures. The Republicans who refused to raise the debt ceiling would be blameless for a US default.

Tom Harkin’s flat-out lie: The Republican President, Republican House, Republican Senate of the previous 8 years is responsible for most of the debt.

Truth 1: The Democrats held the House of Representatives for the final 2 of George W Bush’s 8 years while the Democrats held the Senate for the first and last 2 of George W Bush’s 8 years, thus the Republicans only held all three for 4 of George W Bush’s 8 years while the Democrats held both Houses of Congress for the final two and one House of Congress for the first two.

Truth 2: During George W Bush’s 8 years in office, the total debt climbed less than 6 trillion dollars. Since the current debt is over 14 trillion dollars, George W Bush did not preside over “most of the debt”. During the four years the Republicans held both Houses of Congress and the Presidency, the total debt climbed 2.2 trillion dollars. That means the debt climbed faster the four years Democrats held a portion or all of Congress than the four years Republicans held all of Congress.

Truth 3: The deficit has never been as great as it was under the Democrat Obama-Reid-Pelosi Administration. The new Republican House of Representatives passed a Budget that would cut the deficit but the Democrat Reid Senate has refused to pass a Budget for over 800 days, despite federal Law mandating one. And Democrat President Obama sent a “Budget” which was so unserious, so deficit-rich that the Democrat-controlled Senate voted it down 97-0.

(Click to enlarge)

Chart source: Stephen Bloch

The deficit spending more than doubled when the Democrats took over Congress and nearly doubled again as Obama took over the Presidency, so for Tom Harkin (Democrat, Iowa) to make his claims, he had to lie through his teeth. And the only people who will believe his spewage are those who are ignorant of the facts or those who are fanatically invested in his agenda.

Budgets are generally finalized in the calendar year prior to the fiscal year for which they are written, but not always. For example, the Democrat Congress refused to write a Budget for FY2009 until Democrat Obama took his seat as President, and then pumped up the (deficit) volume.

Hey, Tom Harkin. Who is the more “cult fringe,” to use your term? Those who believe your lies or those who have the facts? I’d suggest to you that you learn to speak the Truth before you Dishonor yourself further, but you won’t listen anyway. After all, you have the game of politics to win. To heck with the little people.