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Is Obama's fiscal discipline argument valid?

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    Reaction to Charles Krauthammer calling president's claim the 'whopper of the year'

  • Duration 5:55
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Back to politics now on President Obama says that he has slowed the growth of federal spending to historic sixty year levels.

Conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer.

Strongly disagree last night on special report came back.

What makes -- the whopper of the year I mean this is an unbelievable distortion of the truth.

And he -- its -- really if you compared to what was spent.

-- in the bush years particularly if you take out the emergency spending that the two administrations agreed on at the end the bailouts.

Then you've got an 8% increase which is historic you -- in 2009 alone.

-- increases in the agencies of 20% 50% so many agencies.

Historically high and Obama has increased in the year after year.

So what what he's talking about really is a false impression.

Susan.

So we're joined now by Kristen solstice is she's a communications advisor to cross roads generation a -- GOP backed by backed super pac.

And expansion on the former pollster for President Bill Clinton also Fox News contributor welcome to both good to have you here thank you it didn't happen and can't -- -- here -- -- what do you make for -- -- that back and forth between President Obama.

And Charles Krauthammer.

I think the President Obama has put on the table a first step to reduce spending.

-- reform entitlements and raise revenue through.

Tax increases which is what we've got to do to.

Balance the budget -- the Republicans have answered as we heard the sound -- Before -- massive tax cuts and -- basically think that.

The Republicans have been irresponsible.

I think Charles Krauthammer overstates the case -- liked it.

You know then there's a lot of discussion out there obviously about the debt about the deficit and the polls show us that people do care about bringing it down and they do want to see spending cut.

As well as some of these other ideas that are out there -- is so.

You know me.

Is the president being.

And Jennie -- and in what he's saying about his own in his own record in his administration.

No not at all unfortunately if you look at 2009 which is the year that they sort of talk about it.

This horrible year with an anomaly we had to have the stimulus we had to have the bailouts.

And Democrats want to blame this on Republicans.

And it doesn't answer the question of why 2010 and 2011 all looked just as fat.

So we have -- that rated growth of the spending didn't really change that much because they kept doing a terrible year over and over again.

I think that's what voters are hoping to see -- change in direction for when they're going to vote the senate if.

Recap for people to get an apples to apples comparison I can as -- they went not a bad about this last night a special forest where your benchmark is -- what's your considering and not considering when you look at these -- across the years.

Stimulus packages and all of that bailout packages whether or not they should be in the mix in these have administration to administration calculations I've been -- As an interesting polls this morning from the Washington Post I wanna take a look at.

This first one that we're gonna pull out.

Is quite interesting the question was who would do more to advance the economic interest -- -- in your family.

And you take a look at that number Mitt Romney -- at 55%.

And president Obama's at 32% this was among white voters.

Describing themselves as struggling to remain in a certain class.

That that as a rough number for the president Doug.

Oh it absolutely is and one of the reasons why I think the president has -- and we'll talk about real deficit reduction and make it clear that.

President.

Obama has taken a first step in that governor Romney with his massive tax cuts.

And the Ryan plan which would eviscerate entitlements will actually make it tougher for middle class families.

Not easier.

But but -- -- and -- -- -- -- the next poll which shows an overall number is solid the break Alice in the prior when this when his neck in -- who would do more to advance economic interest to union and the so the question is.

About these you know -- middle class are struggling to stay in the middle class white voters who may very well.

Sort of -- folks who are on that bubble where they say don't wanna keep the president I have and I wanna give someone else a try.

-- Steiner on economic experience traveling or not troubling for the president -- and that number.

Well I think I think it's I think it's very troubling I think for folks are looking at the last three years and wondering is this the new normal.

They want something new they want a fresh start and I think you know these issues of debt and deficits you know I don't think the president has a lot of credibility on this Gallup did a poll earlier this month where they asked.

On a variety of economic issues who do you trust more to handle.

Unemployment -- cost of health care debt deficits and debt and deficits is the issue on which Romney had the biggest advantage over Obama a fifteen point advantage.

I think that's what you're seeing Obama try to make the case -- the fiscal conservative but I still.

It's believable.

You know deadly break that down the EU that your -- -- -- so when you look at that it looks like Mitt Romney does very well among white voters.

Middle class -- -- but it looks like he's having a very tough time.

With ethnic voters with Latino voters African American voters IE that asks where's -- cut out.

Well yeah I had absolutely as -- I mean.

He's trailing on who can do more for you in your family he's trailing aren't being in touch.

And while there certainly are concerns about.

The debt and the deficit this is by no means a slam dunk that economic issues are gonna work for governor Romney and I think his fiscal policies have really not been fleshed out.

Other than massive cuts in entitlements and massive tax cuts for the rich and I think people are genuinely confused and the election will be about Hulu people think can really get a handle on our economic problems create jobs and ultimately create economic growth.

And right now it's a jump ball.

Five -- and I did and that we and I hit F five -- that everybody is looking for someone to provide a vision.

App for the next four years absolutely right thing that's something that's very missing in some ways from this package and thank you couldn't agree more -- -- and good to have you here is everything we've seen shields right I mean it is jump ball it's 5050 absolutely.

Five and a half months ago.

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