Americans cut personal spending, why can’t Congress cut federal spending, asks AMAC

Oct. 11, 2013 - PRLog -- WASHINGTON, DC – The average American household has drastically cut personal spending, according to a new Gallup research report.  “So, why can’t the Democrats in Congress get together with their Republican colleagues in Congress and make federal spending cuts in exchange for the Obama administration’s demands for a hike in the nation’s debt ceiling,” Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens asked.

The Gallup study issued earlier this week showed that Americans reduced their daily spending in September by 11.5% from their August levels.  “It reflects a continuing lack of confidence in President Obama’s ability to lead as evidenced by his confrontational inability to hash out differences with anyone who opposes him,” Weber said.

Ben McCall, a freelance writer, published an opinion article a few weeks ago in the Desert Sun, a Gannet newspaper serving communities around Palm Springs, CA.  “I am a Democrat. A liberal Democrat even. Yet I have never felt as disappointed by the lack of presidential leadership as I have with President Barack Obama.”

Even the ultra-liberal news commentator, Chris Matthews, best known for his blind loyalty to the president, turned on Mr. Obama when he said on air that he lacks leadership skills, Weber noted.  "The key political asset is the ability to sit in a room with four or five other people, and have them accept your leadership," Matthews said, inferring that the president never developed that quality.

Weber said that may explain the president’s “persistent, obstructionist refusal to sit down and negotiate in good faith with Congressional republicans on ways to reduce Washington’s out-of-control spending.  The debt ceiling is already dangerously close to the $17 trillion mark, nearly 70% higher than it was when he took office.  Now he wants to increase his credit limit by yet another trillion dollars.  What will he spend the money on, more smart phones for the needy?”

When he took office nearly five years ago, the national debt hovered around $10 trillion and the new president called it the fault of George W. Bush.  “President Obama, since then, upped the ante to unimaginable high levels and now he owns the debt.”  Weber cited “pundits” who say that if we default on our debts, the nation will feel the pain going forward.  “What will happen if the U.S. continues on this path and spends itself into oblivion?”

The AMAC chief concluded with what he called a prophetic quotation: “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.”

Weber attributed the quote to President Obama, himself.  He said it in 2006 when the freshman Senator stood up to vote against increasing the debt ceiling.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Dan Weber is available for telephone interviews on this issue.  Editors/reporters may contact John Grimaldi at 917-846-8485 or jpgrimaldi@verizon.net to set up a call.

ABOUT AMAC
The Association of Mature American Citizens [http://www.amac.us] is a vibrant, vital and conservative alternative to those organizations, such as AARP, that dominate the choices for mature Americans who want a say in the future of the nation.  Where those other organizations may boast of their power to set the agendas for their memberships, AMAC takes its marching orders from its members.  We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests, and offering a conservative insight on how to best solve the problems they face today.  Live long and make a difference by joining us today at http://amac.us/join-amac.