Why don't Republicans care about the deficit anymore?

[Indy Texas]

Republicans were constantly complaining about the deficit from 2009-2016, despite it being on a downward trend during that period.

Now, in the aftermath of their tax cuts, it is projected to resume increasing but they are curiously silent about that fact.

When did Republicans stop caring about the deficit? And why?

[GeorgiaModerate]

Republicans were constantly complaining about the deficit from 2009-2016, despite it being on a downward trend during that period.

Now, in the aftermath of their tax cuts, it is projected to resume increasing but they are curiously silent about that fact.

When did Republicans stop caring about the deficit? And why?

1. When they gained control of the U.S. government.

2. Because it was no longer something that could be used to attack the other party, but instead became something that could fund what the Republicans wanted to do (tax cuts).

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Both parties only care about the deficit/debt when they don't hold the Presidency. The only exception to this in modern history is Bill Clinton.

[Torie]

It hasn't hurt us in the butt too much yet all things considered (although one may never know what the outcome would have been with an alternative policy, but the current one in current time has not yet proved to be a loser in the short term up close and personal), so what, me worry?  It is particularly attractive for the selfish olds (aka greedy geezers), who are so good at making the case for their own interests, and vote. I mean, in 20 years or less, wherever such folks may be, it is not on this planet, or they soon will be elsewhere. Oh wait, with modern medicine, maybe we will be around for 40 or more years. The Boomers might be running the show for a long, long time. We shall seemingly never die (what a nightmare). Anyway, so maybe it will all backfire on such folks.

Sorry, kind of a trash post. But I am kind of on something of a guilt trip these days. Pray for me.

[IceSpear]

They never cared to begin with. Literally the same exact thing happens over and over.

- Democrat is president (Carter, Clinton, Obama)
- Republicans pretend to care about deficit, accuse Democrat of being a deficit buster despite some of them actually lowering it, media treats this as principled good faith concern
- Republican is president (Reagan, Bush, Trump)
- Republicans explode the deficit with unpaid for tax cuts and/or wars, media is silent

Rinse and repeat.

And it's funny people talk about how Jeff Flake shouldn't "abandon his beliefs on tax cuts just because he's anti-Trump." The guy's claim to fame was being a "deficit hawk", yet he voted for a deficit busting tax scam because he's a partisan hack. He has zero principles.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

They never cared to begin with. Literally the same exact thing happens over and over.

- Democrat is president (Carter, Clinton, Obama)
- Republicans pretend to care about deficit, accuse Democrat of being a deficit buster despite some of them actually lowering it, media treats this as principled good faith concern
- Republican is president (Reagan, Bush, Trump)
- Republicans explode the deficit with unpaid for tax cuts and/or wars, media is silent

Rinse and repeat.

And it's funny people talk about how Jeff Flake shouldn't "abandon his beliefs on tax cuts just because he's anti-Trump." The guy's claim to fame was being a "deficit hawk", yet he voted for a deficit busting tax scam because he's a partisan hack. He has zero principles.

[ProudModerate2]

In my opinion, this is probably one of the most disappointing things that the GOP Congress has done.
One of the most absurd pieces of legislation passed, was the recent tax reduction bill (and to add more gasoline to the fire, the recent spending bill that was also passed).

[dead0man]

I'm sure it varies.  I think many of them just parrot whatever stupid shepherd they're following this week tells them to parrot. (this is true of every political group, don't think you're better) Many others are legitimately disappointed I think.  I'm disappointed that they've been so damn quiet about it.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

They never cared to begin with. Literally the same exact thing happens over and over.

- Democrat is president (Carter, Clinton, Obama)
- Republicans pretend to care about deficit, accuse Democrat of being a deficit buster despite some of them actually lowering it, media treats this as principled good faith concern
- Republican is president (Reagan, Bush, Trump)
- Republicans explode the deficit with unpaid for tax cuts and/or wars, media is silent

Rinse and repeat.

And it's funny people talk about how Jeff Flake shouldn't "abandon his beliefs on tax cuts just because he's anti-Trump." The guy's claim to fame was being a "deficit hawk", yet he voted for a deficit busting tax scam because he's a partisan hack. He has zero principles.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

I'm sure it varies.  I think many of them just parrot whatever stupid shepherd they're following this week tells them to parrot. (this is true of every political group, don't think you're better) Many others are legitimately disappointed I think.  I'm disappointed that they've been so damn quiet about it.

You realize that slipping the "both sides do it" backhanded defense of the current GOP in there, is you just parroting the GOP's core strategy for the mid-terms, right?  I'll admit the irony is pretty good, though.

[Progressive Pessimist]

They never cared to begin with. Literally the same exact thing happens over and over.

- Democrat is president (Carter, Clinton, Obama)
- Republicans pretend to care about deficit, accuse Democrat of being a deficit buster despite some of them actually lowering it, media treats this as principled good faith concern
- Republican is president (Reagan, Bush, Trump)
- Republicans explode the deficit with unpaid for tax cuts and/or wars, media is silent

Rinse and repeat.

And it's funny people talk about how Jeff Flake shouldn't "abandon his beliefs on tax cuts just because he's anti-Trump." The guy's claim to fame was being a "deficit hawk", yet he voted for a deficit busting tax scam because he's a partisan hack. He has zero principles.

[IceSpear]

I'm sure it varies.  I think many of them just parrot whatever stupid shepherd they're following this week tells them to parrot. (this is true of every political group, don't think you're better) Many others are legitimately disappointed I think.  I'm disappointed that they've been so damn quiet about it.

Only a single Republican (Walter Jones) voted against the deficit busting tax bill due to concerns about the deficit. All the others either voted for it or voted against it due to concerns about the cap on the SALT deduction hurting their district.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Republicans haven't cared about the deficit since the 1970's.

[here2view]

They never cared to begin with. Literally the same exact thing happens over and over.

- Democrat is president (Carter, Clinton, Obama)
- Republicans pretend to care about deficit, accuse Democrat of being a deficit buster despite some of them actually lowering it, media treats this as principled good faith concern
- Republican is president (Reagan, Bush, Trump)
- Republicans explode the deficit with unpaid for tax cuts and/or wars, media is silent

Rinse and repeat.

And it's funny people talk about how Jeff Flake shouldn't "abandon his beliefs on tax cuts just because he's anti-Trump." The guy's claim to fame was being a "deficit hawk", yet he voted for a deficit busting tax scam because he's a partisan hack. He has zero principles.

[darklordoftech]

Because of what HW rightly called "voodoo economics".

[junior chįmp]

They never cared about the deficit...its a scandal the Democrats have allowed the garbage GOP to get away for so long on being the moral authority for fiscal responsibility. Just another area the GOP is trash in

[IceSpear]

They never cared about the deficit...its a scandal the Democrats media have allowed the garbage GOP to get away for so long on being the moral authority for fiscal responsibility. Just another area the GOP is trash in

[💥💥 brandon bro (he/him/his)]

Reminder: GOP voters/rank and file members were fine with the tax bill earlier this year because they thought the cuts would stimulate growth that would (in the long run) create enough revenue to stave off the surplus.

I think pretty much everybody else knew this was not going to happen, but if you suspend disbelief and assume the growth will lead to expansion/revenue, it's ideologically consistent with being a deficit hawk to support this bill.

[IceSpear]

Reminder: GOP voters/rank and file members were fine with the tax bill earlier this year because they thought the cuts would stimulate growth that would (in the long run) create enough revenue to stave off the surplus.

I think pretty much everybody else knew this was not going to happen, but if you suspend disbelief and assume the growth will lead to expansion/revenue, it's ideologically consistent with being a deficit hawk to support this bill.

And if I assume seagulls will start sh**tting one hundred dollar bills once Saddam Hussein is toppled, the Iraq War was paid for as well.

[junior chįmp]

They never cared about the deficit...its a scandal the Democrats media have allowed the garbage GOP to get away for so long on being the moral authority for fiscal responsibility. Just another area the GOP is trash in

The blame squarely rests on the Democrats. They are always trying to prove themselves to the Republicans. The Democrats are like the little child that looks to the parents on how to behave...they are always looking to the GOP on how they should structure their policies before acting. ''Look Republican guys, we arent liberals like we were during the New Deal days...were just as pro-free market as you are'' Pathetic!

[136or142]

Because it doesnt actually matter. The USA is not in trouble of going bankrupt. What it does sound like is something that we should worry about. Many other Conservative parties use this same attack on more Socialist parties(UK is a great example). The only difference is, however, that these parties usually do austerity when they come in. The Rs dont, cause its incredibly unpopular. In the USA, the deficit is something we all worry about when we are in the opposition, and something we dont care about when we are in power.

It actually does matter, but you can keep telling yourself that until the U.S hits the 'debt wall' and interest rates increase significantly.

[ProudModerate2]

Because it doesnt actually matter. The USA is not in trouble of going bankrupt. What it does sound like is something that we should worry about. Many other Conservative parties use this same attack on more Socialist parties(UK is a great example). The only difference is, however, that these parties usually do austerity when they come in. The Rs dont, cause its incredibly unpopular. In the USA, the deficit is something we all worry about when we are in the opposition, and something we dont care about when we are in power.

It actually does matter, but you can keep telling yourself that until the U.S hits the 'debt wall' and interest rates increase significantly.

Agree.
The amount of money the gov spends to just pay interest on the national debt is about $310 billion each year (and climbing). We could use that money, each year, on other more important projects.

The problem is expected to explode, due to trump and the GOP ...



http://www.crfb.org/blogs/telling-whole-story-interest-and-long-term-debt

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

They went for tax reform instead of SSA reform. They care about tax cuts for the wealthy

[IceSpear]

Here's a good article about Walter Jones, the last remaining Republican deficit hawk in Congress.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/28/is-this-the-last-deficit-hawk-in-the-republican-party/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.4730ed2f1049

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Anyone else notice the distinct lack of RINOs in this thread?

[Famous Mortimer]

Deficit was always just a proxy for immigration. If we weren't taking in so many economic migrants, the deficit wouldn't be as high. If we didn't spend as much money on welfare, economic migrants would come here less.