Stan Collender: “The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines committing fraud as the ‘intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value,’ and a fraud as ‘a person who is not what he or she pretends to be.'”

“When it comes to the federal budget, both of these definitions fit the GOP perfectly.”

“Contrary to what it still wants you to believe, the GOP — the political party that once supported “pay-as-you” go rules and balanced budget amendments to the U.S. Constitution and still routinely excoriates Democrats for what it says is their profligate ways — today is not the political party of fiscal responsibility and reduced deficits.”

“Actually, it’s not at all clear this is anything new.”