Democrats Can Run, But Can’t Hide From Their Call for More Unchecked Spending

Democrats Are Counting on Americans Forgetting Their Support for No-Strings-Attached Spending

After rallying 113 other House Democrats around a “clean” vote to increase the debt ceiling without any responsible spending cuts, Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Democrat Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) abruptly changed their tune Tuesday, insisting that the evening vote was a “political charade”:

DEMOCRAT WHIP HOYER (D-MD): “The House Democrats’ top vote-counter is advising rank-and-file members to vote against an unconditional increase in the federal debt limit to avoid political attacks from Republicans. … ‘My advice to them would be not to play this political charade,’ Hoyer said at his weekly press briefing.” (Russell Berman, “Hoyer Urges House Dems To Vote No on Debt-Ceiling Hike,” The Hill, 5/31/11)

REP. PETER WELCH (D-VT): “Welch, who has called for a ‘clean’ vote on raising the nation’s $14.3 trillion deficit, accused Republicans of playing politics with the measure, which the GOP plans to vote down.

“ ‘This is a bogus political maneuver,’ he said in an interview with The Hill. ‘It’s intended for political consumption.’” (Peter Kasperwicz, “House Democrat Vote Expected to Split on ‘Clean’ Debt Ceiling Hike,” The Hill, 5/31/2011)

Just weeks ago, however, Hoyer, Welch and those 113 other House Democrats were singing a very different tune—essentially calling for a new credit card to continue their spending spree without any responsible spending reductions:

REP. HOYER: VOTING AGAINST A CLEAN MEASURE IS “HOLDING HOSTAGE” AMERICA’S CREDIT: “House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Monday that voting against a clean measure would be ‘holding hostage the credit of the United States.’ … ‘Well, when Mr. Cantor says it doesn’t have enough support, Mr. Welch has 114, of which I’m not one – I would vote for that,’ Hoyer said, referring to Rep. Peter Welch’s (D-Vt.) coalition of Democrats who are calling for a clean vote.” (Jake Sherman, “GOP floats test vote on debt ceiling,”Politico, 5/3/2011)

REP. WELCH, LEADER OF 114 DEMOCRATS DEMANDING NO-STRINGS-ATTACHED DEBT LIMIT INCREASE: “Speaker Boehner called the debt ceiling vote an adult moment. That’s good advice; he should take it. There is nothing adult about holding America’s full faith and credit hostage.” (“Welch Reacts to Speaker Boehner’s Debt Ceiling Comments,” Office of Rep. Peter Welch, 4/26/2011)

What explains the sudden run for political cover? Perhaps Democrats just saw the abysmal poll numbers for their absurd insistence on a new credit card, which is opposed by overwhelming majorities of Democrats, Independents and Republicans:

ONLY 11 PERCENT SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATS’ PLAN TO INCREASE THE DEBT LIMIT WITHOUT SPENDING CUTS. (“Voters Want Spending Cuts and Budget Reforms Tied to Debt Limit Increase,” Resurgent Republic, 4/26/2011)

72 PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS, 82 PERCENT OF INDIES, 93 PERCENT OF GOP OPPOSE “CLEAN” DEBT INCREASE. (“National Survey of Registered Voters,” Resurgent Republic/American Action Forum, 4/17-20/2011)

WSJ/NBC POLL: JUST 16 PERCENT AGREE WITH DEM PLAN TO LIFT DEBT LIMIT. (Peter Wallsten, “Debt Ceiling: More Democrats Threaten To Vote Against Raising Borrowing Limit,” The Washington Post, 4/28/2011)

AND 68 PERCENT BELIEVE REDUCING NATIONAL DEBT WILL DIRECTLY HELP ECONOMY RECOVER. (Suffolk University Poll, 5/18/2011)

At least the White House is being consistent in its demands for a blank check for new spending. Will House Democrats follow the White House and own up to their real views on the debt limit, or will they keep running for political cover?:

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JAY CARNEY: “We believe they should not be linked because there is no alternative that’s acceptable to raising the debt ceiling.” (David Epso, “House To Reject Debt Limit Increase Without Cuts,” The Associated Press, 5/31/2011)