--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing is, Obama is right that it…" description: "\"The thing is, Obama is right that it would be a calamity for the government to default on its debt by not meeting its obligations. Such a thing has nev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/john-podhoretz-4983_calamity_the-thing-is-obama-is-right-that-it-woul_1330109.jpg" --- # The thing is, Obama is right that it would be a calamity… ![“The thing is, Obama is right that it would be a calamity for the government to default on its debt by not meeting its obligations. Such a thing has never happened and can't be allowed to happen.” quote by John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/john-podhoretz-4983_calamity_the-thing-is-obama-is-right-that-it-woul_1330109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/john-podhoretz-4983_calamity_the-thing-is-obama-is-right-that-it-woul_1330109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1a/john-podhoretz-4983_calamity_the-thing-is-obama-is-right-that-it-woul_1330109.jpg) > “The thing is, Obama is right that it would be a calamity for the government to default on its debt by not meeting its obligations. Such a thing has never happened and can't be allowed to happen.” [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that a government default would be disastrous, emphasizing that such a scenario has never occurred and must be prevented. **In simple terms:** Defaulting on debt would be a crisis and must be avoided. Key Takeaway Prevent fiscal defaults by maintaining responsible budgeting and debt management. Themes economics government policy financial stability Mood cautionary policy‑focused Type analysis opinion When to use this quote - budget negotiations - debt ceiling debates - economic crises Key Concepts public finance risk management political accountability Questions to Reflect On - How can governments safeguard against defaults? - What safeguards are most effective? A Different Perspective Political pressures can force risky financial decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calamity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) ## Related quotes > [In the liberal imagination, the money is the government's by default, and the president and Congress determine through the tax code how much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is-the-government-s-by-default/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [The shutdown itself is bad but not devastating. The real danger will come up in a couple of weeks. There's legislation which is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-shutdown-itself-is-bad-but-not-devastating-the-real-danger-will/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [After everyone has had a chance to bluster, posture, and pontificate, we are left with one basic question: under any foreseeable circumstance, would it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sununu/after-everyone-has-had-a-chance-to-bluster-posture-and-pontificate-we/) [John Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sununu/) > [There is absolutely no way that the U.S. will ever default on its debt. We are not going to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-mulvaney/there-is-absolutely-no-way-that-the-u-s-will-ever-default-on-its-debt/) [Mick Mulvaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-mulvaney/) > [I do not want America to default on its debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-hensarling/i-do-not-want-america-to-default-on-its-debt/) [Jeb Hensarling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-hensarling/) > [In my min,d there is arguably a greater risk of a default on the debt of a U.S. state than there is on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasios-orphanides/in-my-min-d-there-is-arguably-a-greater-risk-of-a-default-on-the-debt/) [Athanasios Orphanides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasios-orphanides/) > [Nobody wants the United States to default on its debt. Nobody. But, at some point in time, we've got to address the fiscal woes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-fleischmann/nobody-wants-the-united-states-to-default-on-its-debt-nobody-but-at/) [Chuck Fleischmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-fleischmann/) > [I think Obama is right when he talks about the rule of law as a cornerstone of what the United States should stand for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/i-think-obama-is-right-when-he-talks-about-the-rule-of-law-as-a-2/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I think Obama is right when he talks about the rule of law as a cornerstone of what the United States should stand for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/i-think-obama-is-right-when-he-talks-about-the-rule-of-law-as-a/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [The greatest propaganda coup of the American Right has been to convince its citizens that we are in the grip of a liberal conspiracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-smith/the-greatest-propaganda-coup-of-the-american-right-has-been-to-2/) [Shane Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-smith/) > [ I think the president \[Barack Obama\] is right to call for a full investigation. Every federal agency involved should be - should put everything… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/i-think-the-president-barack-obama-is-right-to-call-for-a-full/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [I'm not saying Obama is right on everything. Of course not. He may be wrong on a number of things. But what I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-m-not-saying-obama-is-right-on-everything-of-course-not-he-may-be/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [In one of my songs, in the song on the "Why?" remix that I did with Jadakiss in 2004, I said, "Why is Bush…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/in-one-of-my-songs-in-the-song-on-the-why-remix-that-i-did-with/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [The problem, gentlemen, is that Obama is right: The promise of upward mobility is dying in America, and no amount of political demagoguery will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/the-problem-gentlemen-is-that-obama-is-right-the-promise-of-upward/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [ I didn't elect \[Barack\] Obama because he's a black; I voted for Obama because he was the right person at the time. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/i-didn-t-elect-barack-obama-because-he-s-a-black-i-voted-for-obama/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) ## More by John Podhoretz > [The great mystery is why robots come off so well in science-fiction films when the human characters are often so astoundingly wooden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-great-mystery-is-why-robots-come-off-so-well-in-science-fiction/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [The exit polls suggest that after a relatively disappointing first term, Obama managed to reassemble almost all of his 2008 electorate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-exit-polls-suggest-that-after-a-relatively-disappointing-first/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [For Obama to save himself, he should be thinking about the example of an unlikely Republican predecessor: Richard Nixon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/for-obama-to-save-himself-he-should-be-thinking-about-the-example-of/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Your race and gender don't change, but you can choose to change your political affiliation at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/your-race-and-gender-don-t-change-but-you-can-choose-to-change-your/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Imagine his delight after it 'leaked' that he will propose raising taxes on the wealthy by $320 billion over the next 10 years, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/imagine-his-delight-after-it-leaked-that-he-will-propose-raising/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Robots have a rich and storied history in movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/robots-have-a-rich-and-storied-history-in-movies/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Aside from being bad sportsmanship - Romney basically said Obama won by cheating - he was displaying the same obtuseness about the wants and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/aside-from-being-bad-sportsmanship-romney-basically-said-obama-won-by/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [There is a new conservative establishment in America, made up of those who claim to be the anti-establishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/there-is-a-new-conservative-establishment-in-america-made-up-of-those/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [As the Republican nominee, it was Romney's job to find a way to speak to some of those groups of voters and offer practical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/as-the-republican-nominee-it-was-romney-s-job-to-find-a-way-to-speak/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Memories of the last nine years have turned Ground Zero from a site of horror, to a reminder of grief, to an occasion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/memories-of-the-last-nine-years-have-turned-ground-zero-from-a-site/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Some candidates need to say provocative things that make noise to break through the media muffle and get themselves noticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/some-candidates-need-to-say-provocative-things-that-make-noise-to/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Let us now praise Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/let-us-now-praise-barack-obama/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [All non-incumbent campaigns promise hope and change, but Obama took the promise to a new level of absurdity. He suggested that a vote for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/all-non-incumbent-campaigns-promise-hope-and-change-but-obama-took/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [By the time Obama came into office, Washington had already agreed over a period of a few weeks to a $700 billion government infusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/by-the-time-obama-came-into-office-washington-had-already-agreed-over/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [The defense of ObamaCare's constitutionality relies mainly on the truism that everyone is sure to get sick at some point in their lives, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-defense-of-obamacare-s-constitutionality-relies-mainly-on-the/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) [Explore all 104 John Podhoretz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) ## More Calamity quotes > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [In spite of calamity, He still has a plan for me, And it’s working for my good, And it’s building my testimony...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-sapp/in-spite-of-calamity-he-still-has-a-plan-for-me-and-it-s-working-for/) [Marvin Sapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-sapp/) > [Calamity, war, famine, plague, death, adversity, disease, injury do not necessarily produce repentance. We may become better in a calamity but it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/calamity-war-famine-plague-death-adversity-disease-injury-do-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I doubt if I have made the best use of all my calamities. Soft, amiable natures they would have refined to saintliness; of strong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-doubt-if-i-have-made-the-best-use-of-all-my-calamities-soft-amiable/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Drudgery, calamity, exasperation, want, are instructors in eloquence and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/drudgery-calamity-exasperation-want-are-instructors-in-eloquence-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It is the common calamity of old age to lose whatever might have rendered it desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/it-is-the-common-calamity-of-old-age-to-lose-whatever-might-have/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The liberty of the press is a blessing when we are inclined to write against others, and a calamity when we find ourselves overborne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-liberty-of-the-press-is-a-blessing-when-we-are-inclined-to-write/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [There is a big lesson in experiencing uncertainty and calamity with a sober focus - the most chaotic moments are the ones from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/there-is-a-big-lesson-in-experiencing-uncertainty-and-calamity-with-a/) [Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/) > [The worst calamity: 'To have eyes and fail to see.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-worst-calamity-to-have-eyes-and-fail-to-see/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Such exceptional suffering and calamity, then, affecting the hero, and-we must now add-generally extending far and wide beyond him, so as to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bradley/such-exceptional-suffering-and-calamity-then-affecting-the-hero-and/) [A. C. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bradley/) > [When a man has calamity upon calamity the world generally concludes that he must be a very wicked man to deserve them. Perhaps the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-barr/when-a-man-has-calamity-upon-calamity-the-world-generally-concludes/) [Amelia Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-barr/) > [I can remember certain Manchester United defeats the way most people remember family bereavements or great political events. The four-nil drubbing by Barcelona, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-dunne/i-can-remember-certain-manchester-united-defeats-the-way-most-people/) Tom Dunne [Browse all 442 Calamity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calamity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing is, Obama is right that it would be a calamity for the government to default on its debt by not meeting its obligations. 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