Robert Pittenger: “In honor of Throwback Thursday, I would like to read to my colleagues the words of then-Senator Barack Obama during the…”

“In honor of Throwback Thursday, I would like to read to my colleagues the words of then-Senator Barack Obama during the debate on March 16, 2006, about raising the debt limit: 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. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that the buck stops here. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America's debt limit. That was spoken by Senator Barack Obama on March 16, 2006. Mr. Speaker, we have a $17 trillion debt today under the leadership of President Obama. I would say today is the day to come together as reasonable people to resolve this crisis. ____________________”