If you have kids, wouldn't you say the responsible thing to do is take care of them? Make sure they're fed, not dying in the streets? Unlike conservatives, liberals actually care about everyone, not just rich white men.
That's a little different though. At the time, Bush was out of control spending money on a war he started in Iraq. Why should we raise the debt ceiling just so we can spend even more money over there?
Obama is doing his best to try to get out of those stupid wars which is the real money...