House Democrat: If Republicans Hold Debt Ceiling Hostage, Invoke 14th Amendment To Raise It

[Jim Lane]

12. It hasn't "passed unremarked year after year."

During the George W. Bush administration, when passage of an increase in the debt ceiling was certain, some Democrats voted against it. They used the vote as a vehicle to express their disapproval of Bush's fiscal policies. In addition, they wanted to force the Republicans to "own" the increased debt that their policies had created.

One of the Democrats voting against an increase in the debt ceiling was... Senator Barack Obama.

Of course, now that Obama sits at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, he has a different perspective on the matter. IIRC, he has said that his vote against raising the debt ceiling was a mistake.

I agree with you that, if Romney had won, most of the Republicans would have cheerfully gone along with the debt-ceiling increase that they now denounce as a threat to the nation's survival. To be fair, though, we need to acknowledge that this approach is found on both sides of the aisle. If Romney had won, some of the Democrats who now support raising or even abolishing the debt ceiling would be voting against any increase.