On Monday, President Obama sat down for an online group discussion in a Google+ hangout.
Obama's latest campaign stunt took a wrong turn in an exchange with a woman who asked why it was so hard for her husband to find work in this economy.
After hemming and hawing about the condition he thought the economy was in, Obama's response revealed that his view of the economy is out of touch with the dismal economic climate he has created.
The Republican National Committee has launched a new web video titled "Interesting" taking Obama to task for his awkward out of touch response. You can watch the video below:
As RNC Chairman Reince Priebus put it:
"His ivory tower view of ‘economic recovery’ is in stark contrast with the harsh reality of millions of Americans who are struggling to find jobs because of Barack Obama’s failed economic policies."
Or as Obama put it, "If I don't have this done in three years, then there's going to be a one-term proposition."
Mitt Romney was projected to be the winner of the Florida Republican primary as soon as the polls closed. It's not a just a win, but it looks like it will be a regular thumpin.
In Florida, Mitt showed he can fight to win. Based on exit polling Romney won key groups including:
51% of the Women
53% of the Hispanics
57% of Cubans
51% of Other Hispanics
51% of the Somewhat Conservatives
59% of Moderates
51% of Seniors
In addition Romney beat Gingrich among TEA Party Supporters 40% to 38% and lost to Gingrich by only 1% among born-again or evangelical Christians.
The good folks at the RNC took a look at what Obama promised in Florida four years ago .... and the record of failure that followed. The result is the following research demonstrating Obama's failure:
Three Years After Campaigning In Florida, President Obama Has Failed To Live Up To Candidate Obama’s Promises
IN 2008, OBAMA ASKED FLORIDIA, “Will This Country Be Better Off Four Years From Now?” “The question in this election is not ‘Are you better off than you were four years ago?’ We know the answer to that. The real question is, ‘Will this country be better off four years from now?’” (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Sarasota, FL, 10/30/08)
FAIL: AMERICA IS NOT BETTER OFF
Obama: Americans Are Not Better Off Than They Were Four Years Ago. OBAMA: “Well I don’t think they are better off than they were four years ago. They’re not better off than they were before Lehman’s collapse, before the financial crisis, before this extraordinary recession that we’re going through.” (ABC News/Yahoo News’ Live Interview, 10/3/11)
OBAMA: “It Has Been Three Wrenching Years For This Country.” “At a series of fundraisers in New York, where he raised more than $2 million for his campaign and those of other Democrats, Obama acknowledged frustration over the stalemate in Washington that has soured views of his leadership ‘After all that is happening in Washington, it may be tempting to believe that change may not be as possible as we thought,’ he told supporters. ‘It has been three wrenching years for this country,’ said Obama, whose re-election prospects hinge on his ability to heal the economy from the financial crisis that struck before he took office and to lower the 9 percent unemployment rate.” (Laura MacInnis, “Obama Pleads With Voters For Patience On ‘Change,’” Reuters, 11/30/11)
84 Percent Of Americans Say They Are “Not As Well Off” Or “About The Same” Financially Since Obama Became President. (Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1,000 A, MoE 3.5%, 1/12 – 15/12)
Only 15 Percent Of Americans Say They Are Better Off Since Obama Became President. (Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1,000 A, MoE 3.5%, 1/12 – 15/12)
“Nearly Half Of U.S. Adults, 49%, Say They Are Worse Off Financially Today Than A Year Ago, While 29% Say They Are Better Off And 21% Volunteer That Their Finances Haven't Changed.” (Lydia Saad, “Half In U.S Feel Worse Off Financially,” Gallup, 1/18/12)
“The Worst Evaluations Americans Have Given Of Their Finances Since Gallup Began Measuring This In 1976.” “With barely 3 in 10 saying their finances are better, this is among the worst evaluations Americans have given of their finances since Gallup began measuring this in 1976.” (Lydia Saad, “Half In U.S Feel Worse Off Financially,” Gallup, 1/18/12)
52 Percent Of Americans Say Obama Has Accomplished “Not Much” Or “Little Or Nothing” As President. “Slightly more than half the respondents — 52 percent — say Obama has accomplished ‘not much’ or ‘little or nothing’ as president, while 47 percent offer a positive assessment of his record.” (Jon Cohen And Dan Balz, “Electorate Is Sharply Split Over Obama, Poll Finds,” The Washington Post, 1/18/12)
Only 12 Percent Of Americans Say Obama Has Accomplished A “Great Deal” As PresidentAnd 35 Percent Said He Has Just Accomplished A “Good Amount.” (Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 1,000 A, MoE 3.5%, 1/12 – 15/12)
FAILED ON GREEN ENERGY JOBS
Obama Promised Five Million New Green Energy Jobs For Just $15 Billion. “We'll create two million new jobs by rebuilding our crumbling roads, and bridges, and schools, and by laying broadband lines to reach every corner of the country. And I will invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy to create five million new energy jobs over the next decade - jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced; jobs building solar panels and wind turbines and a new electricity grid; jobs that will help us eliminate the oil we import from the Middle East in ten years and help save the planet in the bargain.” (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Sarasota, FL, 10/30/08)
“Obama’s Efforts To Create Green Jobs Are Lagging Behind Expectations At A Time Of Persistently High Unemployment.” (Carol D. Leonnig and Steven Mufson, “Obama Green-Tech Program That Backed Solyndra Struggles To Create Jobs,” The Washington Post, 9/14/11)
“Federal And State Efforts To Stimulate Creation Of Green Jobs Have Largely Failed.” “Federal and state efforts to stimulate creation of green jobs have largely failed, government records show. Two years after it was awarded $186 million in federal stimulus money to weatherize drafty homes, California has spent only a little over half that sum and has so far created the equivalent of just 538 full-time jobs in the last quarter, according to the State Department of Community Services and Development.” (Aaron Glantz, “Number Of Green Jobs Fails To Live Up To Promises,” The New York Times, 8/18/11)
“The Green Economy Is Not Proving To Be The Job-Creation Engine That Many Politicians Envisioned.” “In the Bay Area as in much of the country, the green economy is not proving to be the job-creation engine that many politicians envisioned. President Obama once pledged to create five million green jobs over 10 years. Gov. Jerry Brown promised 500,000 clean-technology jobs statewide by the end of the decade. But the results so far suggest such numbers are a pipe dream.” (Aaron Glantz, “Number Of Green Jobs Fails To Live Up To Promises,” The New York Times, 8/18/11)
The Energy Department Has Handed Out $35.2 Billion From The Stimulus, But The Clean Energy Industry Has Yet To Provide The Boost Many Had Hoped For. “The Energy Department handed out $35.2 billion from the Recovery Act for energy efficiency and other initiatives. At the time, clean energy was seen as a potentially powerful industry for job creation. But the industry has yet to provide the boost many had hoped for.” (Vauhini Vara, “Red Flags For Green Energy,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/12/11)
Obama Administration Promised That The $38.6 Billion Loan Guarantee Program Would Create Or Save 65,000 Jobs, But Nearly Two Years Later, Only A Few Thousand Jobs Have Been Created. “A $38.6 billion loan guarantee program that the Obama administration promised would create or save 65,000 jobs has created just a few thousand jobs two years after it began, government records show. The program — designed to jump-start the nation’s clean technology industry by giving energy companies access to low-cost, government-backed loans — has directly created 3,545 new, permanent jobs after giving out almost half the allocated amount, according to Energy Department tallies. President Obama has made ‘green jobs’ a showcase of his recovery plan, vowing to foster new jobs, new technologies and more competitive American industries. But the loan guarantee program came under scrutiny Wednesday from Republicans and Democrats at a House oversight committee hearing about the collapse of Solyndra, a solar-panel maker whose closure could leave taxpayers on the hook for as much as $527 million.” (Carol D. Leonnig and Steven Mufson, “Obama Green-Tech Program That Backed Solyndra Struggles To Create Jobs,” The Washington Post, 9/14/11)
FAILED ON LOWER HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS
Obama Promised Lower Health Care Premiums. “If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change under my plan is that we will lower premiums.” (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Sarasota, FL, 10/30/08)
Factcheck.org: ObamaCare “Falls Short Of Making Health Care ‘Affordable And Available To Every Single American,’ As Promised.” “Furthermore, the law falls short of making health care ‘affordable and available to every single American,’ as promised. The law provides subsidies to help some Americans buy insurance, expands Medicaid and doesn’t allow insurance companies to exclude persons with preexisting conditions. But still, the director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected 23 million persons will remain uninsured — some because they can’t afford coverage.” (D’Angelo Gore, “Promises, Promises,” Factcheck.org, 1/4/12)
Factcheck.org: ObamaCare Is Actually Making Health Care “Less Affordable.” “At the moment, the new law is making health care slightly less affordable. Independent health care experts say the law has caused some insurance premiums to rise. As we wrote in October, the new law has caused about a 1 percent to 3 percent increase in health insurance premiums for employer-sponsored family plans because of requirements for increased benefits. Last year’s premium increases cast even more doubt on another promise the president has made — that the health care law would ‘lower premiums by up to $2,500 for a typical family per year.’” (D’Angelo Gore, “Promises, Promises,” Factcheck.org, 1/4/12)
The Washington Post’s The Fact Checker: “Moreover, at this point it is debatable whether the law has made health care more affordable. Insurance premiums have gone up, in part because of new benefits mandated by the law.” (Glenn Kessler, “The Fine Print In Obama’s ‘Promises Kept’ Ad,” The Washington Post’s “The Fact Checker,” 1/6/12)
“The Cost Of Health Insurance Skyrocketed In 2011 After Several Years Of Relatively Small Increases.” (Jane M. Von Bergen, “Health Insurance Costs Skyrocketing,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/27/11)
Workers Paid An Average Of $132 More For Family Coverage In 2011 Than They Did In 2010. “Although premiums rose, employers kept the percentage of the premium workers pay about the same: An average of 18 percent for single coverage and 28 percent for family plans. Still, with rising costs, workers paid more, up an average of $132 a year for family coverage. Since 1999, the dollar amount workers contribute toward premiums nationally has grown 168 percent, while their wages have grown by 50 percent, according to the survey.” (Julie Appleby, “Cost Of Employer Insurance Plans Surge In 2011,” Kaiser Health News, 9/27/11)
The Cost Of Single Employee Coverage Grew 8 Percent According To The Kaiser Survey. “Family plan premiums hit $15,073 on average, while coverage for single employees grew 8 percent to $5,429, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust. (KHN is an editorially-independent program of the foundation.)” (Julie Appleby, “Cost Of Employer Insurance Plans Surge In 2011,” Kaiser Health News, 9/27/11)
In 2012, Florida Is Expected To See An 8 Percent Increase In Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Costs. “The cost for employer-sponsored health insurance in Florida is expected to increase 8 percent next year…” (Liz Freeman, “Study: Florida Workers Face 8 Percent Health Insurance Cost Hike Or Higher Deductible,” Naples News, 11/21/11)
In the weekly GOP address, Florida's U.S. Senator Marco Rubio talks about why President Obama didn't talk about his accomplishments -- because there isn’t much that Obama has accomplished and Obama made everything worse:
The bottom line is this President inherited a country with serious problems. He asked the Congress to give him the stimulus and Obamacare to fix it. The Democrats in Congress gave it to him. And not only did it not work, it made everything worse.
In the second part of the weekly address, Senator Rubio takes Obama to task for asking us to abandon our economic heritage and accept Obama's devise class warfare:
He tells all of us that the only way for some of us to climb up the economic ladder is for others to be pulled down.
This divisive rhetoric, this effort to gain political support by convincing some that they will be better off if we punish others, this stuff has never worked anywhere it’s been tried.
Rubio continues with an optimistic call to embrace the American Free Enterprise system.
Americans have always believed that all of us can succeed.
[. . .]
This is what has made us different. This is what has made us prosperous. This is what makes us exceptional.
Watch Rubio's outstanding address:
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Full transcript of Senator Rubio’s Address:
"Hello, I’m Marco Rubio, a Senator from Florida. Right now all eyes are focused on my home state ahead of next week’s Republican presidential primary. It’s an exciting contest and I know that passions are high. So I wanted to take a moment to explain to the rest of the country why Republicans in Florida are so excited about this primary: Because we believe our country is in big trouble.
As you know, earlier this week, President Obama delivered his fourth annual address to Congress. It was an opportunity for the President to talk about his accomplishments over the last three years and to lay out his plans for the year ahead.
And he missed on both counts.
You didn’t hear much talk about the success of his Administration—and that’s because there isn’t much.
Yes, this President inherited a significant national debt, but over the last three years he’s made it worse. Our national debt has grown by nearly 50 percent since he took over, and now, for the first time since World War II, our national debt is larger than our country’s economy.
Yes, this President inherited an economy where unemployment was too high, but over the last three years he’s made it worse. Today our unemployment rate is higher than the day he took office. In fact, since he took over, it’s been stuck over 8 percent every single month.
This President didn’t talk about his record for one simple reason; he doesn’t want you to know about it. But you do know about it, because you feel the failure of his leadership every single day of your life.
The bottom line is this President inherited a country with serious problems. He asked the Congress to give him the stimulus and Obamacare to fix it. The Democrats in Congress gave it to him. And not only did it not work, it made everything worse.
President Obama has a year left in the White House. So what are his plans now to make things better? What does he plan to do now, that he didn’t do before? Well we got our answer Tuesday night. He plans to divide us against each other. To pit Americans against other Americans in the hopes of generating enough votes to get re-elected.
He tells Americans worried about their jobs that the way to help them is to raise their bosses’ taxes.
He tells those who are hurting that the only way they can be better off, is for others to be worse off.
He tells all of us that the only way for some of us to climb up the economic ladder is for others to be pulled down.
This divisive rhetoric, this effort to gain political support by convincing some that they will be better off if we punish others, this stuff has never worked anywhere it’s been tried.
People end up fleeing countries who adopt economic policies based on these flawed principles. And more often than not, they come here.
They come here because this is not who we are.
Americans have always believed that all of us can succeed.
That those who have made it fairly, can stay there. And those who are trying to make it will have a real chance to join them.
This is what has made us different. This is what has made us prosperous. This is what makes us exceptional.
And now, for the first time in my adult life, we have a President who’s asking us to abandon our economic heritage.
To become like the countries people come here to get away from.
To become like everybody else.
Yes, people are hurting. Yes, there is a growing gap between the rich and the poor.
But the way to solve it is not to embrace the ‘trickle up poverty’ economics of other nations.
The way to solve it is to embrace the American Free Enterprise system.
No economic system is perfect. But the American Free Enterprise system has empowered millions of people in the past. I know, because I saw it with my own eyes.
My father was a bartender. And I thank God every night that there was someone willing to risk their money to build a hotel on Miami Beach and later in Las Vegas where he could work.
I thank God that there was enough prosperity in America so people could go on vacation to Miami or Las Vegas. Where people felt prosperous enough to have weddings or Bar Mitzvahs and, by the way, could leave tips in my Dad’s little tip jar. Because with that money he raised us. And he gave me the opportunity to do things he never had a chance to do.
Now, we had help along the way. I had student loans and grants from the government to help me get my education. And I went to our public school system.
That’s an important role for government to play. And so I also thank God that we had an economy prosperous enough to afford to pay for these things as well.
So, I’ll just close by saying, I hope this year will be the beginning of our work towards a new and prosperous American century.
Because I know that this idea of a nation where anyone from anywhere can accomplish anything, it’s not just something I read about in history books. I’ve seen it in my own life. And there’s no reason why we cannot continue it here, if only we do the right things.
May God bless all of you, and may God continue to bless the United States of America."
Huntsman's rationale for now backing Romney, who he has criticized for weeks on the campaign trail as lacking a "core," is that he doesn't want to block the person best prepared in the field to beat Obama.
As soon as word was out that Huntsman was quitting and would endorse Romney, team Huntsman sent out the scrubbers to remove his criticism of Romney from the web including:
Huntsman's "Backflip," video that highlighted Romney’s flip-flopping on abortion, gun rights and Ohio’s proposal to curb bargaining rights for unions.
Huntsman's video calling Romney of being a “perfectly lubricated weather vane” because of Romney's changes on issues.
Huntsman's Web site produced to mock Romney's offer to bet Rick Perry $10,000.
What happened to the Jon Huntsman that gave the nominating speech for Governor Sarah Palin at the 2008 Republican nominating convention?
Obama's strategy of co-opting Huntsman by appointing him to be ambassador to China worked. More 50% of Huntsman's New Hampshire voters said they were satisfied with Obama as president.
Huntsman bet his whole campaign on New Hampshire, where he came in a disappointing third.
On the November 6, 2011 edition of Meet The Press, Jon Huntsman says Mitt Romney is unelectable against Barack Obama.
"I think when you're on too many sides of the issues of the day, when you don't have that core, when there's that element of trust out there, I think that becomes a problem. And I think it makes you unelectable against Barack Obama." -- Jon Huntsman November 6, 2011.
Here's the video. The discussion about Romney begins at the 2:40 mark. The unelectable quote is at the 6:10 mark.
From the Meet the Press transcript for November 6, 2011:
MR. GREGORY: Mitt Romney was the one who you were supposed to be drafting most closely. Everybody talked about Huntsman, Romney fighting this thing out in New Hampshire and beyond. You haven't come close to him yet. Yet, you think there's a real issue with whether he can beat President Obama.
MR. HUNTSMAN: Well, I, I think there is an, an issue on the flip-flops as it relates to trust. I don't know that he can go on to beat President Obama, given, given his record. I mean, when there is a question about whether you're running for the White House or running for the waffle house, you've got a real problem with the American people.
MR. GREGORY: And his big flip-flop to you is what?
MR. HUNTSMAN: Well, I think there's a range of them. But when you have something as central as life that you flip-flop on, when you have a Second Amendment, when you have health care, you have a range of issues that--on taxes, for example, that he's been on both sides of. And I think that what the American people want today more than anything else is a level of consistency. They want trust. They want a level of trust in their elected officials.
MR. GREGORY: You think that's a reason why he's capping out at where he is among conservatives at 25 percent or thereabouts?
MR. HUNTSMAN: I, I think that could very well be the issue with not being able to break beyond a certain level. So, if you have 100 percent name recognition in a place like New Hampshire, everyone kind of has done the analysis and made their evaluation, you know, there may be something there that, that doesn't allow you to get beyond a certain ceiling.
MR. GREGORY: I want to ask you about faith and the Mormon faith. You're a Mormon, so is Romney. This was a poll that Quinnipiac took in May that indicated, if you look at the numbers, more than a third think that they're uncomfortable with someone of the Mormon faith being a presidential candidate. Do you think there will be a Mormon president, and when?
MR. HUNTSMAN: Oh, of course there will be. I think this election cycle you--we could very well prove that point. But I think it's a nonsense issue. I, I completely think it's a nonsense issue. There is no bandwidth left in our political discussion to focus any of our effort or time on religion when we've got jobs, when we've got an economy that's broken, when this country has hit the wall. I don't think people are spending a whole lot of time evaluating one's religion. They may have in years past, but I think we're beyond that point this election cycle.
MR. GREGORY: You've talked about other candidates in the race. We've talked about Cain, we've talked about Romney, but you've also talked about some who were too outside the mainstream, too extreme in their views to be elected president. Are you talking about some of your rivals right now in this race?
MR. HUNTSMAN: Well, I'm talking about a Republican Party that dismisses mainstream science. I think in order for us to be successful we've got to win over some independents, we've got to do the math. The math has to be in our favor. You can't run away from mainstream science, for example, and expect, and expect to win the race. You can't be on an extreme end of politics and expect to win over the independent vote. That's going to be a critical calculus in making sure that the next president is a Republican. You can't avoid that reality.
MR. GREGORY: But you would not put Romney in that camp per se. Yet, you're saying unequivocally he cannot beat President Obama?
MR. HUNTSMAN: Listen, when I stand on the debate stage after the whole debt ceiling debate has been had and every single person on that stage was in favor of default, I mean, I don't think you can get any more extreme than that at a time in this nation's history where we've got to stand up as 25 percent of the world's GDP, we've got to fix the problems as opposed to default. A default would have destroyed this economy. Retirements and 401(k) programs would have been shipwrecked.
MR. GREGORY: But my question is, Mitt Romney in your view cannot beat President Obama?
MR. HUNTSMAN: I, I think when you're on too many sides of the issues of the day, when you don't have that core, when there's that element of trust out there, I think that becomes a problem, and I think it makes you unelectable against Barack Obama.
MR. GREGORY: You wouldn't support him if he were the nominee?
MR. HUNTSMAN: Oh, of course I would. Of course I would support him.
MR. GREGORY: But you wouldn't--you don't think that he'd be able to overcome...
MR. HUNTSMAN: But I think the electability issue is a, is a very real one.
The good folks at the RNC took a look at what Obama promised in Iowa four years ago .... and the record of failure that followed. The result is the following video, "Failed Promises: Iowa Edition" along with a little research to demonstrate Obama's failure:
In Des Moines, Iowa, four years ago Obama promised that when "We’ve made the changes we believe in," we’d be "Able to look back with pride and say that this was the moment when it all began."
"[Y]ears from now, when we've made the changes we believe in, when more families can afford to see a doctor, when our children -- when Malia and Sasha and your children inherit a planet that's a little cleaner and safer, when the world sees America differently, and America sees itself as a nation less divided and more united, you'll be able to look back with pride and say that this was the moment when it all began." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks, Des Moines, IA, 1/3/08)
Four years later, a look back at Obama's record reveals a litany of failure -- not only to Iowa, but to the entire country:
FAILED ON JOBS
Since President Obama Took Office The Nation Has Lost 1.9 Million Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 7.8 Percent To 8.6 Percent. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov, Accessed 12/7/11)
The Unemployment Rate Has Remained Above Eight Percent For A Record 34 Straight Months. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov, Accessed 12/7/11)
There Are Currently 13,303,000 Unemployed Workers.(Bureau Of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov, Accessed 12/7/11)
The Washington Post's Fact Checker Said "Obama Is On Track To Have The Worst Jobs Record Of Any President In The Modern Era." "Unless the economy turns around in the next 18 months, Obama is on track to have the worst jobs record of any president in the modern era. That would be an accurate statement." (Glenn Kessler, "Rick Perry’s Claim That Obama Has 'Killed More Jobs' Than Any Other President," The Washington Post's "The Fact Checker," 8/22/11)
FAILED ON HOUSING
"This Summer At The White House, Obama Offered A Rare Acknowledgment That His Response To The Housing Crisis Had Fallen Short." (Zachary A. Goldfarb, "Obama’s Efforts To Aid Homeowners, Boost Housing Market Fall Far Short Of Goals," The Washington Post, 10/23/11)
FAILED ON SPENDING AND DEFICITS
President Obama Has Racked Up The Three Largest Deficits In U.S. History. "The U.S budget deficit for fiscal year 2011 is $1.299 trillion, the second largest shortfall in history. The nation only ran a larger deficit for the 2009 fiscal year, which included the dramatic collapse of financial markets and a huge bailout effort by the government."(Erik Wasson, "Treasury Announces 2011 Deficit Is Second Highest In History," The Hill's "On The Money," 10/14/11)
FY2009: The Federal Budget Deficit Was $1.413 Trillion, The Highest In U.S. History. ("Monthly Budget Review: November 2011," Congressional Budget Office, 11/7/11)
FY2011: The Federal Budget Deficit Was $1.299 Trillion, The Second Highest In U.S. History. ("Monthly Budget Review: November 2011," Congressional Budget Office, 11/7/11)
FY2010: The Federal Budget Deficit Was $1.294 Trillion, The Third Highest In U.S. History. ("Monthly Budget Review: November 2011," Congressional Budget Office, 11/7/11)
FAILED ON DEBT - Politifact: "Obama Is The Undisputed Debt King Of The Last Five Presidents." "So by this measurement -- potentially a more important one -- Obama is the undisputed debt king of the last five presidents, rather than the guy who added a piddling amount to the debt, as Pelosi's chart suggested." ("Nancy Pelosi Posts Questionable Chart On Debt Accumulation By Barack Obama, Predecessors," Politifact, 5/19/11)
Since Obama Took Office, The National Debt Has Increased By Over $4.5 Trillion, An Increase Of Over 42 Percent. (Department Of The Treasury, "Debt To The Penny And Who Holds It," Treasury Direct, Accessed 12/29/11)
Obama Is Responsible For "The Most Rapid Increase In The Debt Under Any U.S. President." "The latest posting by the Treasury Department shows the national debt has now increased $4 trillion on President Obama's watch. The debt was $10.626 trillion on the day Mr. Obama took office. The latest calculation from Treasury shows the debt has now hit $14.639 trillion. It's the most rapid increase in the debt under any U.S. president." (Mark Knoller, "National Debt Has Increased $4 Trillion Under Obama," CBS News, 8/22/11)
FAILED ON TONE
Four Years Ago In Iowa On Caucus Night, Obama Promised That His Presidency Would End Politics Of Divisiveness And Cynicism:
PROMISE – Obama Promised That His Iowa Victory Would Be The Moment That Ended The Politics "Where We Tear Each Other Down Instead Of Lifting This Country Up." OBAMA: "This was the moment when we finally beat back the policies of fear and doubts and cynicism, the politics where we tear each other down instead of lifting this country up. This was the moment." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks, Des Moines, IA, 1/3/08)
Obama’s "Reelection Effort Will Be More Sharply Partisan In Tone Than The Idealistic-Sounding Campaign That Brought Him To Power." "President Obama's latest attacks on Republicans are another sign that his reelection effort will be more sharply partisan in tone than the idealistic-sounding campaign that brought him to power." (Paul West, "Obama Campaign Gears Up To Pull In New Voters," Los Angeles Times,9/30/11)
Obama Will "Run A Much More Negative Campaign" To Combat A Jobless Rate That Has Not Allowed For A President’s Reelect "Since The Great Depression." "The jobless rate will stand at levels that have not led to a president's re-election since the Great Depression. Largely because of that, Obama will run a much more negative campaign, his aides acknowledge, even if it threatens to demoralize some supporters who were inspired by his 2008 message of hope." (Charles Babington, "2012 Race Likely To Be Close, Tough, Maybe Brutal," The Associated Press, 11/5/11)
"Forget Hope And Change," Obama’s Campaign Is Based On "Fear And Loathing." "Forget hope and change. President Obama's reelection campaign is going to be based on fear and loathing: fear of what a Republican takeover would mean, and loathing of whomever the Republican nominee turns out to be. Of course the Obama campaign will attempt to present the affirmative case for his reelection, citing legislative achievements, foreign policy successes and the current flurry of executive actions. But his strategists have clearly concluded that selling the president will not be enough, and the contours of the ugly months ahead are becoming increasingly apparent." (Ruth Marcus, "Campaign 2012: Welcome To The Slugfest," The Washington Post, 11/2/11)
"And As Much As Obama Presented Himself As Above The Regular Partisan Fray During The 2008 Campaign, He Was Not Averse To Taking The Lower Road When It Appeared The Advisable Route." (Ruth Marcus, "Campaign 2012: Welcome To The Slugfest," The Washington Post, 11/2/11)
Time’s Mark Halperin: "Barack Obama's Campaign And Allies Will Run More Negative Ads Against This Republican Nominee In 2012 Than Have Ever Been Run In The History Of The World." "Look we have a recent example of somebody who talked like this, Barack Obama, he got elected, but he also ran more negative tv ads than anyone has run in the history of the world against john McCain. Barack Obama's campaign and allies will run more negative ads against this Republican nominee in 2012 than have ever been run in the history of the world." (MSNBC’s "Morning Joe," 6/22/11)
FAILED ON INFLUENCE OF LOBBYISTS
Four Years Ago In Iowa On Caucus Night, Obama Promised To End The Influence Of Special Interests And Lobbyists:
Obama Promised To End The Influence Of Lobbyists. OBAMA: "You said the time has come to tell the lobbyists who think their money and their influence speak louder than our voices that they don’t own this government – we do. And we are here to take it back." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks, Des Moines, IA, 1/3/08)
Obama’s 2012 Bundler List "Features A Number Of People Involved In The Business Of Influencing Government." "A list of Obama's own top fundraisers features a number of people involved in the business of influencing government, including the head of a lobbying and public relations firm, the corporate executive who oversees Comcast's lobbying efforts and the chairwoman of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s political action committee, among others." (Michael Scherer, 'No Registered Lobbyists Among Top Obama Fundraisers, But Influence Seekers Abound," Time’s "Swampland," 7/20/11)
Obama Is Ignoring His Pledge To Not Take Money From Lobbyists, Raising Millions From "Prominent Supporters Who Are Active In The Lobbying Industry." "Despite a pledge not to take money from lobbyists, President Obama has relied on prominent supporters who are active in the lobbying industry to raise millions of dollars for his re-election bid." (Eric Lichtblau, "Obama Backers Tied To Lobbies Raise Millions," The New York Times, 10/27/11)
At Least 15 Of Obama’s Bundlers Are In The Lobbying Industry And Have Raised Over $5 Million For Obama’s Reelection Campaign. "At least 15 of Mr. Obama's 'bundlers' — supporters who contribute their own money to his campaign and solicit it from others — are involved in lobbying for Washington consulting shops or private companies. They have raised more than $5 million so far for the campaign." (Eric Lichtblau, "Obama Backers Tied To Lobbies Raise Millions," The New York Times, 10/27/11)
The Obama Administration Meets With Lobbyists At "A Complex Just Off The White House Grounds." "Caught between their boss's anti-lobbyist rhetoric and the reality of governing, President Barack Obama's aides often steer meetings with lobbyists to a complex just off the White House grounds – and several of the lobbyists involved say they believe the choice of venue is no accident." (Chris Frates, "Lobbyists: W.H. Hides Meetings Off-Site," Politico, 2/24/11)
These Lobbyists Do Not Make It Into The Visitors Log Which Is Released To The Public. "It allows the Obama administration to keep these lobbyist meetings shielded from public view – and out of Secret Service logs collected on visitors to the White House and later released to the public." (Chris Frates, "Lobbyists: W.H. Hides Meetings Off-Site," Politico, 2/24/11)
Attendees Say The Meetings Are Being Kept "Off The Books – So Their Visits Wouldn’t Later Be Made Public." "The White House scoffs at the notion of an ulterior motive for scheduling meetings in what are, after all, meeting rooms. But at least four lobbyists who’ve been to the conference rooms just off Lafayette Square tell POLITICO they had the distinct impression they were being shunted off to Jackson Place – and off the books – so their visits wouldn’t later be made public." (Chris Frates, "Lobbyists: W.H. Hides Meetings Off-Site," Politico, 2/24/11)
FAILED ON AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
Four Years Ago In Iowa On Caucus Night, Obama Promised To Make Health Care Affordable:
Obama Promised To Make Health Care Affordable. OBAMA: "I'll be a president who finally makes health care affordable and available to every single American, the same way I expanded health care in Illinois, by bringing Democrats and Republicans together to get the job done." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks, Des Moines, IA, 1/3/08)
"The Cost Of Health Insurance Skyrocketed In 2011 After Several Years Of Relatively Small Increases." (Jane M. Von Bergen, "Health Insurance Costs Skyrocketing," The Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/27/11)
Workers Paid An Average Of $132 More For Family Coverage This Year. "Although premiums rose, employers kept the percentage of the premium workers pay about the same: An average of 18 percent for single coverage and 28 percent for family plans. Still, with rising costs, workers paid more, up an average of $132 a year for family coverage. Since 1999, the dollar amount workers contribute toward premiums nationally has grown 168 percent, while their wages have grown by 50 percent, according to the survey." (Julie Appleby, "Cost Of Employer Insurance Plans Surge In 2011," Kaiser Health News, 9/27/11)
Cost Of Single Employee Coverage Grew 8 Percent According To The Survey. "Family plan premiums hit $15,073 on average, while coverage for single employees grew 8 percent to $5,429, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust. (KHN is an editorially-independent program of the foundation.)" (Julie Appleby, "Cost Of Employer Insurance Plans Surge In 2011," Kaiser Health News, 9/27/11)
Polls Show That Voters Don’t Support ObamaCare, One Of Obama's "Signature Accomplishments." "Heading into his re-election campaign, the president faces a conflicted public that does not support his steering of the economy, the most dominant issue for Americans, or his reforms to health care, one of his signature accomplishments." (Ken Thomas and Jennifer Agiesta, "AP-GfK Poll: More Than Half Say Obama Should Lose," The Associated Press, 12/16/11)
Half Of Americans Oppose ObamaCare While Only 29 Percent Support It. "The poll found unpopularity for last year's health care reform bill, one of Obama's major accomplishments. About half of the respondents oppose the health care law and support for it dipped to 29 percent from 36 percent in June." (Ken Thomas and Jennifer Agiesta, "AP-GfK Poll: More Than Half Say Obama Should Lose," The Associated Press, 12/16/11)
Survey Found That Only 60 Percent Of Employers Offered Medical Coverage This Year, A 9 Percent Decrease From 2010. "Sixty percent of employers said they offered medical benefits this year, a decrease from 69 percent in 2010." (Jeffrey Young, "Health-Benefit Costs Rise Most In Six Years," Bloomberg, 9/27/11)
GALLUP: "The Percentage Of American Adults Who Get Their Health Insurance From An Employer Continues To Decline, Falling To 44.5% In The Third Quarter Of This Year." (Elizabeth Mendes, "Employer-Based Health Insurance Continues To Trend Down," Gallup, 11/11/11)
Gallup reports that the campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination has been the most volatile since the advent of polling:
The lead in the Republican nomination race has thus far changed seven times since May in Gallup polling. Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, and Newt Gingrich each held the top spot at various points in 2011.
In an appearance on the Early Show RNC Chairman Reince Priebus talked about the volatility of the 2012 campaign for the Republican. Priebus says that big tough primaries are good for the opposition party. You can watch Chairman Prebius talk about the presidential campaign in the following video:
"Americans are ready to fire Barack Obama." -- Reince Priebus.
The Meet the Press roundtable talks about the too close to call Iowa Republican Caucuses. The bottom line is like what we have been saying here and here -- the race is so close and volatile we do not know who will wind up where. Watch the Meet the Press roundtable video clip:
MR. GREGORY: We are back with our political roundtable. Joining me, Republican strategist Mike Murphy; New York Times columnist David Brooks; Time magazine senior political analyst Mark Halperin; columnist for The Des Moines Register, Kathie Obradovich; and host of "Andrea Mitchell Reports" on MSNBC, NBC's Andrea Mitchell.
Welcome, everybody. Thanks for being here. Happy new year. Group: (In unison) Happy new year.
We've got a great political story to dig into. Major moments of the week and Kathie Obradovich with The Des Moines Register, Iowa as a toss-up. Who's going to win this thing? MS. KATHIE
OBRADOVICH: Boy, you know, it is a moving target right now and right now all the movement is behind Rick Santorum. Our poll actually, the first two days that we were in the field this week had Romney and Paul neck and neck. We actually had an illustration on the front page for our paper of Romney and Paul arm wrestling. And when we came in and saw the last two days of polling, we had to, we had to, you know, put in Rick Santorum into the picture. So he is the, he is the only candidate that is surging upward right now. Everybody else is static except Ron Paul, who is trending down.
MR. GREGORY: Hm.
MS. OBRADOVICH: I think he peaked a week ago.
MR. GREGORY: Mike Murphy, you're a veteran of these parts and also of the tactics of expectations.
MR. MIKE MURPHY: Sure.
MR. GREGORY: I spoke to some Romney folks last night who actually suggested they think Santorum's going to win this thing.
MR. MURPHY: Right.
MR. GREGORY: Are they setting us up to say, oh, what a win by Mitt Romney?
MR. MURPHY: Well, I think they think Santorum might win this thing. They had too easy of a life seven days ago. They had Gingrich declining and they had Ron Paul, who would be very easy to beat in the full series of caucuses. So now they've got Rick Santorum coming up fast, who I think the surge totally legitimate, your poll shows that. And consolidating that social conservative vote, which in the past has always been the key to finishing at least second in the Iowa caucus. So I think they would love to beat Santorum, but if Santorum beats them they're still in the top two and there's great clarity, which is of--there's no way Romney comes out of her loser if he's in the top two, but now he knows who his opponent is going to be in New Hampshire, which is not social conservative territory at all...
MR. GREGORY: Hm.
MR. MURPHY: ...and as they roll the process out. So I think the Romney people would like a win. I'm not sure need one. And I'm not sure they think they have one.
MR. GREGORY: Well, Mark Halperin, it's interesting, part of that analysis is, hey, Santorum's good for us. We keep it expanded, you take that field to South Carolina. He'll go after Rick Perry. If Perry can stay in the race, better for Romney. If the issue is who is the stalwart conservative, did Rick Santorum help himself this morning in the final push?
MR. MARK HALPERIN: I think he had some convoluted answers to two of your questions. One, about his support for Mitt Romney four years ago, and also on, on rape and incest exceptions on abortion when he was running in Pennsylvania. Right now I see two buckets of scenarios. There's scenarios that are great for Mitt Romney and there's scenarios that are really good or decent for Mitt Romney. They would love to leave here with the top three in whatever order being Paul, Santorum and Romney because they believe they will never lose in the long run and maybe even in the medium run to Santorum or Paul. Gingrich and, and Perry represent bigger threats for them. And I think the worst case for Romney is if one of those two guys surges in the last few days. No indication that will happen, but they're both out there working hard.
MR. GREGORY: Andrea Mitchell, you've been out here reporting. What are you seeing?
MS. ANDREA MITCHELL: Well, the crowds are much smaller than you'd expect, smaller than the Huckabee crowds were four years ago. But that--there's that evangelical core and when we talk about organization and enthusiasm they're going to come out and I think that as Mark and the rest of us all noticed with you today, Santorum may have stubbed his toe a bit by you pinning him down on what he said when he was running for re-election in Pennsylvania in 2006, exceptions that he previously agreed to. The fact that he is willing to compromise, he said not on his principles, but to get things done, a little bit convoluted, and the fact that he said he made a political decision to support Mitt Romney against John McCain, a political decision.
The hot poll is the new Des Moines Register Iowa Poll of likely Republican caucus-goers released last night. It finds Romney leading, Paul stalling and Santorum surging:
Romney - 24%
Paul - 22%
Santorum - 15%
Gingrich - 12%
Perry - 11%
Bachmann - 7%
Huntsman - 2%
Those results are based on four days of polling. Pundits are focused on the last days two of the poll, which show Santorum finishing in second place ahead of Paul. During the four days of polling Paul's support fell from 29% on the first day to 16% on the last day. Paul's stall comes as the media focuses on the racist content in Paul's newsletters.
Only 51% of those polled said their mind was made up 41% said they could change their minds so the Caucus could be much different.
The poll was conducted December 27-30, 2011 and has a margin of error for the full four days of ± 4.0 percent and ± 5.6 percent for the last two days.
The NBC News/Marist Poll of likely GOP caucus-goers also found Romney in the lead and improvement for Santorum and Perry:
Romney - 23%
Paul - 21%
Santorum - 15%
Perry - 14%
Gingrich - 13%
Bachmann - 6%
The NBC News/Marist poll shows that Christian evangelicals, estimated to represent 50% of Iowa Republican caucus-goers are divided between Santorum 24%, Perry 21%, Paul 15%, Romney 13%, Gingrich 10%, and Bachmann 8%.
The Iowa NBC-Marist survey was conducted December 27-28, 2011 and has a margin of error of ± 4.7 percent for likely GOP caucus-goers. The likely voter model in the NBC-Marist poll includes independents and a few Democrats, and it measured some respondents by cell phone.
Among likely Republican caucus-goers saying they are supporters of the TEA Party, Romney leads with 26%, followed by Gingrich at 25%, Paul at 16%, and Bachmann at 10%.
The poll was conducted December 26-28, 2011 and has a margin of error of ± 4 percent.
Just like we said on Thursday, the bottom line is that two days before the Iowa Republican Presidential caucuses we do not know who will come out where. The polling has Romney and Paul in a statistical tie (within the margin of error) for first and Gingrich, Perry and Santorum in a statistical tie for third. At the same time there is a lot of movement with Gingrich and Paul falling and Perry and Santorum improving.
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