Most people stop at a section of the 14th amendment and wrongly conclude it only referred to President Lincoln using it to pay the civil war debt. But it doesn't say raising the debt to pay for the war was the ONLY reason a president can justify using the 14th amendment. The civil war debt was simply one of the reasons used at the time. It can be used for any reason when the country defaults on it's debt and the president raising the debt ceiling shall not be questioned.
The framers made sure their intent was to make clear no reason was left out when they made clear by this language, "INCLUDING debt incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection, or rebellion" (civil war). In President's Obama case, it would be to prevent a radical unhinged and most obstructionist party in history bent on defaulting on the debt at all cost, regardless of the consequences, or the harm it does to the UNITED STATES. But the president doesn't have to tell them shit, because it's not to be questioned.
It could also be argued, that the actions of the republican party is a rebellion by people with motives to stop our government from functioning. They have actually stated, they want a "government so small it can be drown in a bath tub". There actions when the country was on the brink of a second great depression, when they did all they could to "make Obama fail" including the country. Add to that, this would actually be the third time republican will have shut the government down. But regardless, the president doesn't have to tell them sh*t, because it's not to be questioned
The framers didn't list what reasons, or conditions other than a default on the debt to give the president the right to raise the debt ceiling. But the framers didn't have to, because the president doesn't have to give them a reason, because his decision is not to be questioned.
This confirms the president can do it for any reason. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by LAW...Shall not be questioned. If the presidents actions in raising the debt ceiling is not to be questioned, how could anyone know the reason?