PBS Newshour
September 16, 2008

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), Illinois: This morning, instead of offering up concrete plans to solve these issues, Senator McCain offered up the oldest Washington stunt in the book. You pass the buck to a commission to study the problem.

Here's the thing: This isn't 9/11. We know how we got into this mess. What we need now is leadership that gets us out. I'll provide it; John McCain won't. And that's the choice for Americans in this election.


Obama creates fiscal reform commission
UPI Feb. 18, 2010

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- A bipartisan commission on fiscal responsibility and reform came into being Thursday when U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order.

"I know the issue of deficits has stirred debate. And there's some on the left who believe that this issue can be deferred. There are some on the right who won't enter into serious discussions about deficits without pre-conditions." Obama said during the signing ceremony. "But those who preach fiscal discipline have to be willing to take the hard steps necessary to achieve it."....

If Obama is willing, why is he passing the buck to a commission?