Any president will spend as much public money as he possibly can. The dominate motive any president has for running for office is a thirst for power. Once in office, spending public money is the best way to obtain and enhance personal power. Some of history’s biggest spenders have been small government Republicans. Political philosophy always takes a back seat to the personal need to gain power.
I often say the Bush Jr. made Obama’s cake. All Obama had to do is eat it. When Bush left office, the country was in such a state that any president had the chance to spend almost limitless amounts of Public money. Of course, Obama spent and continued to spend until he couldn’t spend another dime. Obama, has managed to outspend George Bush Jr. That is because he had the opportunity to do so.