Crimson Red Sports

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/10/05/in-pictures-debt-by-president-obama-leads-the-pack/

The facts show, however, that the Obama Administration is well on its way to accumulate an unprecedented mountain of debt. The chart below provides a more accurate comparison of President Obama’s debt record to that of his predecessors.

(http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/special-debt-by-administration.jpg)

This chart employs data for debt held by the public, as opposed to gross debt. Debt held by the public reflects how much the U.S. is borrowing from non-government sources, including global capital markets, while gross debt includes debt held by government accounts such as the Social Security Trust Fund.

Debt and changes in debt can be measured in various ways. This chart tracks the change in debt as a share of the economy—that is, gross domestic product (GDP)—instead of as a raw percentage change. As Kessler points out, “GDP is the broadest measure of the national economy and directly indicates the nation’s ability to service its debts.” In this case, it allows for an apples-to-apples comparison of different Administrations.