This is what Obama said:
Over the last four years, the deficit has gone up, but 90 percent of that is as a consequence of two wars that weren’t paid for, as a consequence of tax cuts that weren’t paid for, a prescription drug plan that was not paid for, and then the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Now we took some emergency actions, but that accounts for about 10 percent of this increase in the deficit, and we have actually seen the federal government grow at a slower pace than at any time since Dwight Eisenhower, in fact, substantially lower than the federal government grew under either Ronald Reagan or George Bush.
Taxes are lower on families than they’ve been probably in the last 50 years. So I haven’t raised taxes.
OK, so he lied and misstated the truth yet again. But on this occasion he has been taken up by The Washington Post fact checker in chief who has awarded Obama the coveted Four Pinocchios. When it comes to Obama, he could retire with the trophy, but for the WP to take this on, it is near on unprecedented, specially six weeks out from the election. There is some kind of signalling going on here, and who knows, they may even wish to be on the good side of the incoming president. Here is the summation but there is a lot more that comes before:
We are not trying to make excuses for the fiscal excesses of the Bush administration — and Congress — in the last decade. But at some point, a president has to take ownership of his own actions.
Obama certainly inherited an economic mess, and that accounts for a large part of the deficit. But Obama pushed for spending increases and tax cuts that also have contributed in important ways to the nation’s fiscal deterioration. He certainly could argue that these were necessary and important steps to take, but he can’t blithely suggest that 90 percent of the current deficit “is as a consequence” of his predecessor’s policies — and not his own.
As for the citing of the discredited MarketWatch column, we have repeatedly urged the administration to rely on estimates from official government agencies, such as the White House budget office. It is astonishing to see the president repeat this faulty claim once again, as if it were an established fact.
A critique of that same fact checker is also found here written by March Thiessen of the American Enterprise Institute. He had pointed out that Obama had not attended his intelligence meetings but was taken on by the fact checker in the days he worked only to defend Obama. Thiessen therefore responded with this as his conclusion.
Perhaps Obama does not feel he needs such daily interaction. But the fact that he has not been having it is indisputable. (Though, interestingly, since my columns appeared, Obama attended his PDB meeting seven days in a row for the first time in seven months. If live briefings are no better than paper briefings, why has Obama suddenly begun receiving briefings in-person?)
It is a fact that for eight years before Obama took office, there was a daily meeting to discuss the PDB. And it is a fact that, on taking office, Obama stopped holding the daily intelligence meeting on a daily basis. Kessler may not think that is important, and he is entitled to his own opinion — but not his own facts.
I give Four Pinocchios to the Fact Checker.
As they used to say in Roman times, who will check the checker?
We know this will never get reported, but seriously the gaffe-tastic president of the US actually said this:
I’m sure the usual trolls will scream we have to understand the context (which like the “You didn’t build that gaffe” will sound worse when you hear the whole statement).
Token
27 Sep 12 at 8:46 am
The WP has joined the hate media.
boy on a bike
27 Sep 12 at 8:53 am
Hardly, this is the guy who gave 4 Pinnocio’s to people who reported on Obama’s “You didn’t build that” mega-gaffe:
Another time Kessler was fighting for Obama against the truth:
[H/t Breitbart where you can find links to each of the statements]
Token
27 Sep 12 at 9:02 am
Obama has to own up to the effect on the deficit of his spending policies. He chose the Democrat method of stimulus to promote growth, not caring about the deficit. To turn around now and claim he’s concerned about the deficit is contradictory and stupid.
My guess is that because the stimulus didn’t work very well, and thus he can’t take much credit, Obama also doesn’t want to take the blame for the effect on the country’s finances. It’s weak, and plays into Romney’s hands, who desperately needs to bring the economy front and centre.
“Kessler may not think that is important, and he is entitled to his own opinion — but not his own facts.”
Thiessen wrote that Obama “skipped” meetings. That’s not a fact. The briefing is written down, and can be supplemented by a meeting, as Bush always required because he found words difficult. But the meeting isn’t a set event.
As the Post said:
Jarrah
27 Sep 12 at 10:04 am
Bombshell: Saudis may have financed Obama’s education.
C.L.
27 Sep 12 at 10:25 am
Come on, lets have more than a “may have”. You wouldn’t buy into an oil well that “may have” production capacities of 300 BOPD.
Shocking if true however.
.
27 Sep 12 at 10:31 am
Another day another attempt by Jarrah to re-engineer the truth.
Any other White House spin you want to regurgitate while your at it?
Token
27 Sep 12 at 10:38 am
I realise this is off topic – and I don’t want to hijack this great topic – so pls consider not posting and writing something about it – but why is the Govt considering printing not just “new” money, but new style of money? Um…..cost of design, fitting out new machines, transitions etc….please!!!!! Or perhaps foreign nations are sick of being bribed for escort services etc… with our old 90′s style currency?
Lysander Spooner
27 Sep 12 at 10:39 am
No no. Just put it out there. If it’s wrong, we’ll acknowledge it on page 56 in a month’s time.
C.L.
27 Sep 12 at 10:42 am
“Ohhh… that was 90% gravity”
Andreas
27 Sep 12 at 11:11 am
I can envisage the posts from Steve Kates getting more and more shrill as Nov 6 draws closer and the chance of Romney being elected fades.
SteveC
27 Sep 12 at 12:59 pm
Wonk-in-chief Michael Barone talks to Hugh Hughet and raises some great questions about the poll # from the NYT SteveC is quoting.
Token
27 Sep 12 at 1:21 pm
Gee, SteveC, you didn’t have to wait long for your forecast to come true. See the latest post today?
steve from brisbane
27 Sep 12 at 1:22 pm