Fact-Checking Obama’s Stimulus Stumping

Barack Obama’s sales pitch on the enormous package we here call “Porkulus” has hit a fever pitch. In Elkhart Indiana yesterday, Barry was projecting job creation numbers that may be impossible to verify, and glossing over ethical problems that have plagued his first few weeks. Here’s a look at some of Obama’s claims in Elkhart, Ind. before his prime-time news conference to make his case to the nation, where he repeated his claim of “no earmarks”. An earmark by any other name, is still an earmark.

OBAMA: “I know that there are a lot of folks out there who’ve been saying, ‘Oh, this is pork, and this is money that’s going to be wasted,’ and et cetera, et cetera. Understand, this bill does not have a single earmark in it, which is unprecedented for a bill of this size. … There aren’t individual pork projects that members of Congress are putting into this bill.”

THE FACTS: “Earmarks” are usually inserted by lawmakers at the end of the bill. Several of the projects have the same characteristics of pork…tailored to benefit specific interests or to have thinly disguised links to local projects. For example, the latest version contains $2 billion for a clean-coal power plant with specifications conveniently matching one in Mattoon, Ill., $10 million for urban canals, $2 billion for manufacturing advanced batteries for hybrid cars, and $255 million for a polar icebreaker and other “priority procurements” by the Coast Guard.

Obama told Elkhart that Indiana will benefit from work on “roads like U.S. 31 here in Indiana that Hoosiers count on.” He added: “And I know that a new overpass downtown would make a big difference for businesses and families right here in Elkhart.” U.S. 31 is a north-south highway serving South Bend, 15 miles from Elkhart.

OBAMA: “I’ve appointed hundreds of people, all of whom are outstanding Americans who are doing a great job. There are a couple who had problems before they came into my administration, in terms of their taxes. … I made a mistake … I don’t want to send the signal that there are two sets of rules. Everybody will acknowledge that we have set up the highest standard ever for lobbyists not working in the administration.”

THE FACTS: Two of his appointees, former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle for Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Nancy Killefer as his chief compliance officer, dropped out after reports they had not paid a portion of their taxes.

Obama previously acknowledged he “screwed up” in making it seem to Americans that there is one set of tax compliance rules for VIPs and another set for everyone else. Yet his choice for Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, skated through to the job, despite having belatedly paid $34,000 to the IRS, an agency he now oversees. The perception remains that there is one set of rules for Geithner and another set for everyone else.

On lobbyists, Obama has espoused tough new rules barring them from working for his administration. Again, in reality, the ban is not absolute. William J. Lynn III, tapped to be the No. 2 official at the Defense Department, recently lobbied for military contractor Raytheon. William Corr, chosen as deputy secretary at Health and Human Services, has lobbied as an anti-tobacco advocate. And Geithner’s choice for chief of staff, Mark Patterson, is an ex-lobbyist from Goldman Sachs.

OBAMA: “The plan that we’ve put forward will save or create 3 million to 4 million jobs over the next two years.”

THE FACTS: Job creation projections are uncertain even in stable times, and some of the economists relied on by Obama in making his forecast acknowledge a great deal of uncertainty in their numbers. Beyond that, it’s unlikely the nation will EVER know how many jobs are saved as a result of the stimulus. While it’s clear when jobs are abolished, there IS no gauge that tracks job preservation.

Nice try, Barry. The Senate is about to begin the final vote on Porkulus, which is still giving up many VERY concerning provisions, including healthcare restrictions that would affect EVERY AMERICAN. Barry’s off to Ft. Myers today, and a protest march against the stimulus is planned there. Keep calling and emailing your representatives, and give Spector, Collins, Snow and Nelson a special ring to let them know how you feel about their turncoat position on the bill. Click here to easily contact them. Also, don’t forget to sign the “No Stimulus” petition at www.nostimulus.com.

source: AP

Share this Right Soup with others: