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Quick Fact: Kilmeade cites Rove to falsely claim that Obama's budget "tripled the deficit"

February 25, 2010 9:07 am ET — 10 Comments

On the February 25 edition of Fox News' Fox and Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade cited Fox News contributor Karl Rove to claim that Obama "in the past has said things that have proven blatantly untrue" like, "for example," that "his budget wouldn't triple the deficit, and it has." In fact, only a small portion of the fiscal year 2009 deficit is due to Obama's policies.

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Kilmeade cited Rove to falsely claim the President's assertion that "his budget wouldn't triple the deficit" is "blatantly untrue"

From the February 25 broadcast of Fox News' Fox & Friends:

KILMEADE: Karl Rove said, in particular, that the president in the past has said things that have proven blatantly untrue. Like for example, he didn't triple -- he never -- his budget wouldn't triple the deficit, and it has. Do you believe the Republicans have to call the President out on these measures in which they talk separately that he's not telling the truth? Do they need to say it right then and now?

FACT: In January, prior to Obama's inauguration, CBO projected $1.2 trillion deficit

$1.2 trillion projection based on legislation passed under Bush before Obama's inauguration. CBO projected on January 7 that, including spending authorized under the Bush administration for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and government takeovers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the deficit would total $1.2 trillion. From CBO's January 2009 budget report, released on January 7:

The ongoing turmoil in the housing and financial markets has taken a major toll on the federal budget. CBO currently projects that the deficit this year will total $1.2 trillion, or 8.3 percent of GDP. That total, however, does not include the effects of any future legislation. Enactment of an economic stimulus package, for example, would add to the 2009 deficit. In any event, as a percentage of GDP, the deficit will most likely shatter the previous post-World War II record high of 6.0 percent posted in 1983.

A drop in tax revenues and increased federal spending (much of it related to the government's actions to address the crisis in the housing and financial markets) both contribute to the robust growth in this year's deficit. Compared with receipts last year, collections from corporate income taxes are anticipated to decline by 27 percent and individual income taxes by 8 percent; in normal economic conditions, they would both grow by several percentage points. In addition, the estimated deficit includes outlays of more than $180 billion to reflect the cost of transactions of the TARP.

The projected deficit for 2009 also incorporates CBO's estimate of the cost to the federal government of the recent takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Because those entities were created and chartered by the government, are responsible for implementing certain government policies, and are currently under the direct control of the federal government, CBO has concluded that their operations should be reflected in the federal budget. Recognizing the cost of the takeover adds about $200 billion (in discounted present-value terms) to the deficit this year, reflecting the long-term net cost of the more than $5 trillion in credit guarantees issued and loans held by those entities at the start of the fiscal year. In addition, the cost of Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's new credit activity in 2009 will total $38 billion, CBO estimates.

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    • Author by angels4light (February 25, 2010 9:30 am ET)
      7  
      I see this all the time in my local papers. Funny, when I point out that the CBO projected the deficit for the FY ending in September of 2009 back in September or October of 2008, before President Obama was even ELECTED, I get no replies or refutations. Though later, someone else spews the same view of alternate reality.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by The_Cat (February 25, 2010 10:37 am ET)
      3  
      Kilmeade cites Rove! ROVE! Hahahahahahahahaha! Oh, oh my. I actually slapped my knee. It'd be even funnier if it weren't such a heinous and willful and malicious LIE, told by Rove and forwarded by FOX Propaganda.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by jediknight65 (February 25, 2010 10:48 am ET)
      3  
      kilmeade will now get his treat for being such a good boy obeying kkkarl rove's orders.

      btw why isnt kkkarl rove in jail yet
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Bill from Palmdale (February 26, 2010 2:11 am ET)
           
        Don't hate Kilmeade. Hate the 'sin'. Isn't that how it goes?
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Lizinbklyn (February 25, 2010 11:43 am ET)
      1  
      I think the republicans SHOULD BRING IT ON . .

      Whatever they have to say to Mr. Obama, this is their chance, say it to his face!!

      GO FOR IT . .
      Report Abuse
    • Author by waiting4che (February 25, 2010 11:58 am ET)
         
      The right wingnuts love karl rove again? Are they dumb or insane or both?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by hurricaneyankee52983 (February 25, 2010 12:26 pm ET)
      2  
      ROVE is NOT a source to be trusted. He's nothing but a lying S.O.B.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Refresh (February 25, 2010 2:36 pm ET)
      1  
      Let's see, you can cite the CBO or you can cite Rove. Which to choose, it's such a difficult decision. Okay, go with the one that supports your argument regardless of validity or truthfulness. I guess you could give them points for consistency if you want to reward consistently lying and being wrong.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by txthinker (February 25, 2010 5:08 pm ET)
      2  
      Why isn't Karl Rove in prison yet?
      Report Abuse
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