Obama's plan = more than $9 trillion in deficits

The Associated Press on Friday reported that President-for-the-time-being Barack Obama's socialist agenda would result in nearly $10 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years, a staggering figure that some economists say the nation could not sustain.

The estimated deficit for the current fiscal year is $1.8 trillion, or 13.1 percent of the estimated value of all goods and services that will be produced in the United States. Not since WWII has the ratio of deficit to gross domestic product been that high.

Demonstrating his customary resistance to reality, Obama indicated he would plunge ahead with his program of socialized medicine and new entitlements, including college education as a right, as well as the boondoggle known as cap and trade.

Nevertheless, the AP's revelations change the political equation. The Republican Party now has a powerful issue for the 2010 House and Senate elections, and a potentially pivotal issue with which to try to unseat Obama in 2012.

That is, unless Obama changes his tune or congressional Democrats scuttle his program out of fear for their own careers.

The AP obtained its figures from the Congressional Budget Office, which calculates that Obama's budget will produce $9.3 trillion in deficits, or $2.3 trillion more than the White House had predicted, during the decade starting in 2010.

In defiance of the obvious, Obama responded, "What we will not cut are investments that will lead to real growth and prosperity over the long term. That's why our budget makes a historic commitment to comprehensive health care reform. That's why it enhances America's competitiveness by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and building a clean energy economy."

Less than 20 months from now, the voters will have their say on Obama's plans. Members of Congress will hear from those voters over the next few weeks.

Look for a change in Obama's tune in April or May. Democrats in Congress will not risk their seats on the promise of some distant, perhaps elusive, payoff for today's unpopular stand.

Rasmussen Reports' latest poll, published Friday, shows that Obama's margin of approval among those with strong opinions has shrunk to 4 points. Thirty-five percent strongly approve of Obama's performance, while 31 percent strongly disapprove.

The trend is not Obama's friend.