GOP focuses on national debt as it hits $16 trillion

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Just a couple of hours before the Democratic National Convention opened here, the nation’s debt passed the $16 billion mark, an unfortunate milestone for the country — but a political gift of sorts to Republicans looking to make their own message heard this week.

“We just heard about an hour ago that our government eclipsed the $16 trillion mark in our national debt,” Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan said during a rally in Iowa.

“This is a serious threat to our economy. Of all the broken promises from President Obama, this is probably the worst one. Because this debt is threatening jobs today, it’s threatening prosperity today, and it is guaranteeing that our children and grandchildren get a diminished future.

“We had a debt clock at the convention last week. I don’t see the debt clock at the convention this week.”

Ryan addressed the deficit Monday in a one-on-one interview with FOX31 Denver.

The Republican National Committee also released a web video blaming Obama for the rising debt.

Of the $16 trillion debt, $5.4 trillion has been added to the total under Obama.

“Despite his promise to cut the deficit in half, President Obama has presided over four straight years of trillion dollar-plus deficits,” said Colorado GOP Chairman Ryan Call in a statement.

“He’s run up more debt than every president from George Washington through George H.W. Bush combined.”