Barack Obama just gave his first State of the Union address. His comments on employment and job creation were not consistent with facts in the public domain.
Because of the steps we took, there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. 200,000 work in construction and clean energy. 300,000 are teachers and other education workers. Tens of thousands are cops, firefighters, correctional officers, and first responders. And we are on track to add another one and a half million jobs to this total by the end of the year.
The plan that has made all of this possible, from the tax cuts to the jobs, is the Recovery Act. That’s right – the Recovery Act, also known as the Stimulus Bill. Economists on the left and the right say that this bill has helped saved jobs and avert disaster. But you don’t have to take their word for it.
No let’s not take their word for it; let’s look at the promises and statistics.
So how’s that Recovery Act working for you?
AP facts checks the speech. Yes, it was almost all crap.
C.L.
28 Jan 10 at 6:21 pm
The State of the Union speech was a bit of a dud, IMO. Sure, there were good bits, as you’d expect from such an accomplished orator. But there was nothing surprising, interesting or new. It was the same ole’ Obama.
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the foot-tapping schoolteacher: “I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay.”… “And if the bill that ends up on my desk does not meet the test of real reform, I will send it back.”
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a bit of blame Washington: “This can’t be one of those Washington gimmicks that lets us pretend we solved a problem.”
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a false choice (no Obama speech should be without one): “Let’s reject the false choice between protecting our people and upholding our values.”
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a bit of middle-class welfare: “Now, the price of college tuition is just one of the burdens facing the middle-class. ”
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some empty platitudes: “In the end, it is our ideals, our values, that built America – values that allowed us to forge a nation made up of immigrants from every corner of the globe; values that drive our citizens still.”
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attempt at world record for the most numbers of self-mentions in one sentence: “But when I ran for President, I promised I wouldn’t just do what was popular – I would do what was necessary. ”
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later, another sentimental trip down memory lane back to that awesome campaign of his: “I campaigned on the promise of change – change we can believe in, the slogan went.”
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blaming Bush: “By the time I took office, we had a one year deficit of over $1 trillion and projected deficits of $8 trillion over the next decade. Most of this was the result of not paying for two wars, two tax cuts, and an expensive prescription drug program.”
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and to finish, some soaring rhetoric: (you have to imagine a crescendo of violins and the camera zooming out to a blue sky) “But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s seize this moment – to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.”
daddy dave
28 Jan 10 at 7:31 pm
You’re very kind daddy dave. At best Obama is a competent reader. An orator? Never.
I prefer Mark Steyn’s take on Obama’s reading:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NGQyYzZlNTY2MTdjZWZhNTU0ZGE4NTNmZGRlZDRkZWQ=
Infidel Tiger
28 Jan 10 at 7:43 pm
“We don’t quit” “I don’t quit” That’s the problem
tal
28 Jan 10 at 7:44 pm
That’s right, Tal. The problem is that won’t quite the job and realize it’s too big for him and allow Hillary to take over with everyone down the line deferring to her.
JC
28 Jan 10 at 7:57 pm
GOP’s response by Bob McDonnell. Not bad I thought quietly spoken and telegenic.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6149168n&tag=related;photovideo
JC
28 Jan 10 at 8:01 pm
“…such an accomplished orator.”
LOL. That’s cruel, Dave.
C.L.
28 Jan 10 at 8:39 pm
Interestingly, Hillary skipped the speech. She has also said recently that she might not want to be a two-term Sec. of State. There’s talk around that she’s setting up a primary challenge for 2012.
C.L.
28 Jan 10 at 8:41 pm
Hillary would be a big improvement on the incumbent.
daddy dave
28 Jan 10 at 8:59 pm
Yeah, I think so too.
C.L.
28 Jan 10 at 9:00 pm
I prefer Mark Steyn’s take on Obama’s reading
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Oh, so now I’m competing with Mark Steyn? I guess that’s a kind of compliment, in a back-handed way.
daddy dave
28 Jan 10 at 9:01 pm
Hillary would be a big improvement on the incumbent.
Amazing that it’s come to this.
Michael Fisk
28 Jan 10 at 10:48 pm
By the way, I love this one Daddy Dave:
(you have to imagine a crescendo of violins and the camera zooming out to a blue sky)
Throughout that infamous “race speech”, I rather suspect he had Handel’s Messiah playing inside his head on repeat.
Michael Fisk
28 Jan 10 at 10:58 pm
Most US Secretaries of State could be President. Most of them are actually quite competent politicians/administrators.
Who would have thought Obama would have been picked as Secretary of State if another Dem was President?
Semi Regular Libertarian
29 Jan 10 at 10:03 am