OBAMA’S FAILURE TO ADDRESS CHINESE CURRENCY MANIPULATION HAS COST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN JOBS

Obama’s Failure To Confront China Cost The United States 450,000 Jobs From 2008 To 2010. “American jobs have been shifting to low-wage countries for years, and the trend has continued during Obama’s presidency. From 2008 to 2010, U.S. trade with China alone cost about 450,000 American jobs because of the growth of Chinese exports, said Robert E. Scott, a pro-labor advocate at the liberal Economic Policy Institute. That figure was less than in previous years, but the decrease was probably tied to the U.S. economic slowdown, which crimped demand for imports. ‘I think he has walked away from the campaign commitments,’ said Scott, the institute’s director of trade and manufacturing policy research. ‘He has done far too little to improve U.S. trade.’” (Tom Hamburger, Carol D. Leonnig and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “Obama’s Record On Outsourcing Draws Criticism From The Left,” The Washington Post, 7/9/12)
“Obama’s Critics, Primarily On The Political Left, Say He Has Repeatedly Failed In Other Ways To Protect American Jobs From Being Moved Overseas” Including Confronting China. “While White House officials say they have been waiting on Congress to act, Obama’s critics, primarily on the political left, say he has repeatedly failed in other ways to protect American jobs from being moved overseas. They point to a range of actions they say he should have taken: confronting China, reining in unfettered trade and reworking a U.S. visa program that critics say ends up sending high-tech jobs abroad.” (Tom Hamburger, Carol D. Leonnig and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “Obama’s Record On Outsourcing Draws Criticism From The Left,” The Washington Post, 7/9/12)

• Robert Scott Of The Economic Policy Institute: “I Think He Walked Away From The Campaign Commitments.” “‘I think he has walked away from the campaign commitments,’ said Scott, the institute’s director of trade and manufacturing policy research. ‘He has done far too little to improve U.S. trade.’ According to a study by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, large American companies in 2010 barely added any workers in the United States, increasing their numbers by 0.1 percent, while they expanded their foreign workforce by 1.5 percent.” (Tom Hamburger, Carol D. Leonnig and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “Obama’s Record On Outsourcing Draws Criticism From The Left,” The Washington Post, 7/9/12)

• Scott Paul, Head Of The Alliance For American Manufacturing, Is “Perplexed” By Obama’s Refusal To Label China A Currency Manipulator. “But Obama’s critics say the most important step the president could take – but hasn’t – is to declare China a ‘currency manipulator,’ which could ultimately allow the U.S. government to erect tariffs to protect American industries. ‘I’m perplexed by this decision because it runs counter to the goal of re-shoring jobs from China,’ Scott Paul, head of the labor-backed Alliance for American Manufacturing, said in a May statement.” (Tom Hamburger, Carol D. Leonnig and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “Obama’s Record On Outsourcing Draws Criticism From The Left,” The Washington Post, 7/9/12)

BILLIONS WERE SHOWERED ON GREEN ENERGY STIMULUS PROGRAMS THAT RELIED ON FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS IN LOW-WAGE COUNTRIES

A Department Of Energy Study Found “That 60 Percent Of The 40 Largest Wind Farms Then Financed By The Stimulus Relied On Foreign Manufacturers For Their Central Components, Including Turbines.” “According to some critics, a galling example of the Obama administration fostering overseas work came as part the 2009 stimulus program. They point to millions of dollars meant to develop a domestic clean-energy industry that instead landed in the hands of foreign businesses. An April 2010 study by the Energy Department found that 60 percent of the 40 largest wind farms then financed by the stimulus relied on foreign manufacturers for their central components, including turbines.” (Tom Hamburger, Carol D. Leonnig and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “Obama’s Record On Outsourcing Draws Criticism From The Left,” The Washington Post, 7/9/12)
The Liberal Apollo Alliance Found That 41 Percent Of The Funds Awarded Through The Stimulus’ 48c Advanced Manufacturing Program Went To Foreign Based Companies Which Were Awarded On Average $20 Million Versus $11 Million For U.S. Companies. “The results are somewhat less encouraging when we look at the distribution in dollar terms. U.S.-based recipients account for only 59 percent of the total, reflecting the fact that the projects proposed by foreign-based companies tend to be larger in size and thus receive larger tax credits, which are calculated as a percentage of the intended investment. The average project involving a U.S.-based parent company is $11 million; for those with a foreign parent, the average is $20 million.” (“Winning the Race: How America Can Lead the Global Clean Energy Economy,” The Apollo Alliance and Good Jobs First, 3/4/10)
“In Total, The U.S. Has Awarded $458 Million In Advanced Energy Tax Credits To 23 Companies That Are Also Investing Money And Creating Jobs In Low-Wage Countries.” (“Winning the Race: How America Can Lead the Global Clean Energy Economy,”The Apollo Alliance and Good Jobs First, 3/4/10)

• 17 Of The 25 Foreign Companies That Received Advanced Energy Tax Credits Had Already Or Had Plans To Setup Operations Overseas In Low-Wage Countries. “Of the 25 foreign-based companies involved in 48C projects, we found that 17 have either already set up wind or solar production operations in low-wage countries or have plans to do so in the near future. These include 13 companies with plants in China: Alstom, BP, Brevini Power Transmission, Führlander, Gamesa, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Moventas, Nordex, Siemens, Suntech Power, Vestas, Winergy, and Yingli Green Energy (Suntech and Yingli are based in China). There are three with plants in India (BP, Gamesa and Winergy); two in Mexico (Ingeteam and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the latter a joint venture with TPI Composites); two in the Czech Republic (Flabeg and Schott); one in Brazil (Alstom); and one in Singapore (Renewable Energy Corporation).” (“Winning the Race: How America Can Lead the Global Clean Energy Economy,” The Apollo Alliance and Good Jobs First, 3/4/10)

• Those 17 Companies Accounted For $406 Million Out Of The $1.6 Billion Awarded Through The Program. “Altogether, the 17 foreign-based corporations with operations in low-wage countries account for $406 million of the $1.6 billion in 48C tax credit dollars authorized for wind and solar production.” (“Winning the Race: How America Can Lead the Global Clean Energy Economy,” The Apollo Alliance and Good Jobs First, 3/4/10)

• Six U.S. Based Companies That Received Awards Have Also Expanded Operations To Low Wage Countries Such As China, Mexico, Philippines And Malaysia. “Among the 65 U.S.-based 48C recipients, six companies, accounting for $52 million in 48C credits, have made significant new expansions of clean energy manufacturing operations in low-wage countries: Advanced Energy Industries has a plant in China. Energy Conversion Devices (parent of United Solar Ovonic) has a plant in Mexico and a joint venture in China. First Solar has a plant in Malaysia. SunPower has plants in the Philippines and Malaysia and uses a Chinese subcontractor. Timken has a joint venture in China. TPI Composites has a plant in China and a joint venture in Mexico.” (“Winning the Race: How America Can Lead the Global Clean Energy Economy,” The Apollo Alliance and Good Jobs First, 3/4/10)

Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) And Jon Tester (D-MT) Urged President Obama To Suspend A Stimulus Program Sending Money Overseas To Foreign Manufacturers. “In the wake of a new report revealing that a clean-energy grant program in the stimulus has paid out more than $1 billion to foreign manufacturers, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jon Tester (D-MT) urged the Obama administration Wednesday to suspend the program indefinitely until the law can be fixed so that funds only flow to projects that will create jobs in the United States.” (Press Release, “Schumer, Casey, Brown & Tester Urge Obama Administration To Suspend Stimulus Program Funneling Billions Overseas,” Office Of Sen. Charles Schumer, 3/3/10)

• Research From The Investigative Reporting Workshop Showed That 79 Percent Of The First $2 Billion Went To Foreign Manufacturers. “Administration officials have said they do not have the authority to prevent that payment. If the aid goes through, it would be just the latest example of a larger trend, according to an independent report conducted last month. The Investigating Reporting Workshop found that 79 percent of the $2 billion in grants doled out by the clean-energy program in the stimulus so far went to foreign companies.” (Press Release, “Schumer, Casey, Brown & Tester Urge Obama Administration To Suspend Stimulus Program Funneling Billions Overseas,” Office Of Sen. Charles Schumer, 3/3/10)

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): “It is a no-brainer that stimulus funds should only go to projects that create jobs in the United States rather than overseas …”(Press Release, “Schumer, Casey, Brown & Tester Urge Obama Administration To Suspend Stimulus Program Funneling Billions Overseas,” Office Of Sen. Charles Schumer, 3/3/10)
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) : “It’s simple: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act should reinvest in America and help America and American workers recover …”(Press Release, “Schumer, Casey, Brown & Tester Urge Obama Administration To Suspend Stimulus Program Funneling Billions Overseas,” Office Of Sen. Charles Schumer, 3/3/10)
Sen. Sherrod Brown(D-OH): “We cannot sit idly by while China races to the forefront of clean energy production at the expense of U.S. manufacturing, U.S. jobs, and U.S. energy independence. And we certainly can’t shoot ourselves in the foot by helping to finance Chinese clean energy production.” (Press Release, “Schumer, Casey, Brown & Tester Urge Obama Administration To Suspend Stimulus Program Funneling Billions Overseas,” Office Of Sen. Charles Schumer, 3/3/10)

With Jobs On The Line, Obama Doesn’t Want To “Embarrass” China

 

Asked About China’s Currency Manipulation And Unfair Trade Practices, Obama Said That He Did Not Want To “Embarrass” China. “President Barack Obama, addressing questions Wednesday about China’s alleged trade abuses and currency manipulation, said the United States must push back against unfair practices but not ‘go out of our way to embarrass’ the country. Doing so would risk ‘an all-out trade war,’ Obama told The Plain Dealer in an exclusive interview.” (Henry Gomez, “President Barack Obama Warns Against Embarrassing China On Trade Complaints: Plain Dealer Interview,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, 9/27/12)
Obama Claimed That Labeling China As A Currency Manipulator Would Have No Effect On Their Trade Practices. “Asked if the tag would present the embarrassment he is hoping to spare China, Obama suggested that the designation would accomplish little. ‘They’d have to push back, and there’s no automatic trigger that results from it,’ Obama said. ‘So the only thing that happens is we then have to go back and negotiate with them. The key here is just constant pressure, and that’s what we’ve applied in a much more aggressive way than the previous administration.’” (Henry Gomez, “President Barack Obama Warns Against Embarrassing China On Trade Complaints: Plain Dealer Interview,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, 9/27/12)

What Happened To Obama’s “Straightforward Proposition” From 2008?

In 2008, Obama Said He Had A “Pretty Straightforward Proposition” For China, “You Guys Keep On Manipulating Your Currency, We Are Going To Start Shutting Off Access To Some Of Our Markets.” OBAMA: “Now look, here’s the thing I think people don’t understand. China needs our market. Their economy is dependent on exports to the United States and we have bargaining power. The problem that we’ve got with China is not that we couldn’t work out a deal in which they are benefitting and we are benefitting. The problem is that through all the tough talk of George W. Bush, he is a patsy when it comes to negotiating these agreements. And, what we need to do is to just be better bargainers that say, ‘Look, here’s the bottom line, you guys keep on manipulating your currency, we are going to start shutting off access to some of our markets. If you are doing the right thing and not trying to manipulate your currency to disadvantage us, then you will have access.’ It’s a pretty, pretty straight forward proposition.” (Senator Barack Obama, Q&A At The AAM Forum, Pittsburgh, PA, 4/14/08)
Once In Office, Obama Retreated From His “Tough Talk” On The Campaign Trail And Decided Not To Label China A Currency Manipulator. “The Treasury Department on Wednesday declined to label China a currency manipulator, retreating from tough talk last year when a campaigning Barack Obama said Beijing had kept its currency’s exchange rate unfairly low.” (Glenn Somerville and Doug Palmer, “U.S. Again Declines To Brand China Currency Manipulator,” Reuters, 4/25/09)

• In May 2012, The Treasury Department Said That China “Did Not Meet The Definition Of A Currency Manipulator Under Its Standards.” “The Treasury Department on Friday once again declined to name China a currency manipulator despite bipartisan calls for action from Congress. Treasury noted that China’s currency has appreciated against the dollar since June 2010, and said it did not meet the definition of a currency manipulator under its standards.” (Julian Pecquet, “Treasury: China Not Manipulating Currency,” The Hill ‘s “Global Affairs” Blog, 05/25/12)

The Washington Post : “China’s Policy Has Probably Cost Americans Hundreds Of Thousands Of Jobs And Contributed To China’s Destabilizing Pile Of Trillions Of Dollars In Reserves.” “China’s undervalued renminbi is a long-standing, bipartisan concern, and it is not a phony one: In pursuit of growth led by exports, China has held the renminbi down in relation to the dollar, rendering its goods artificially cheap in the U.S. market. The renminbi would gain about 20 percent against the dollar if it were allowed to float freely like other currencies, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics. China’s policy has probably cost Americans hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributed to China’s destabilizing pile of trillions of dollars in reserves.” (Editorial, “Breaking China? Last Thing Needed Is A Trade War,” The Washington Post, 9/1/11)
Obama’s Failure To Confront China Cost The United States 450,000 Jobs From 2008 To 2010. “American jobs have been shifting to low-wage countries for years, and the trend has continued during Obama’s presidency. From 2008 to 2010, U.S. trade with China alone cost about 450,000 American jobs because of the growth of Chinese exports, said Robert E. Scott, a pro-labor advocate at the liberal Economic Policy Institute. That figure was less than in previous years, but the decrease was probably tied to the U.S. economic slowdown, which crimped demand for imports. ‘I think he has walked away from the campaign commitments,’ said Scott, the institute’s director of trade and manufacturing policy research. ‘He has done far too little to improve U.S. trade.’” (Tom Hamburger, Carol D. Leonnig and Zachary A. Goldfarb, “Obama’s Record On Outsourcing Draws Criticism From The Left,” The Washington Post, 7/9/12)

Obama Can’t Change The State Unemployment Crisis

Obama: “The Most Important Lesson I’ve Learned Is That You Can’t Change Washington From The Inside. You Can Only Change It From The Outside.” (President Barack Obama, Univision Town Hall, Miami, FL, 9/20/12)

OBAMA CAN’T CHANGE THE BLEAK ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IN THE STATES CAUSED BY HIS OWN POLICIES

Colorado

Jobs: Since Obama Took Office, Colorado Has Lost 13,000 Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 6.6 Percent To 8.2 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

The Pueblo Chieftain: “Hiring In Colorado Grinds To A Halt.” (Dennis Darrow, “Hiring In Colorado Grinds To A Halt,” The Pueblo Chieftain , 9/22/12)

• For The First Time Since 2005, Colorado’s Unemployment Rate Is Above The National Employment Rate. “For the first time since 2005, Colorado’s unemployment rate is above the national unemployment rate, according to a report from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.” (Michael Davidson, “State Has Higher Jobless Rate Than Nation,” Boulder County Business Report, 9/21/12)

Unemployment: Colorado Has 224,431 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

There Are More Than Twice The Amount Of Unemployed Coloradoans Than There Are People In Pueblo, CO. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/23/12)

Colorado Springs “Continues To Struggle To Find Traction In Its Recovery From The Recession.” “Colorado Springs, plagued by high unemployment, continues to struggle to find traction in its recovery from the recession, a report by the Brookings Institution finds.”(Bill Radford, “Study Shows Springs Still Struggling In Its Economic Recovery,” The Gazette, 9/18/12)

• The Unemployment Rate In Colorado Springs In July Was 9.7 Percent, An 18-Month High. “The Springs and Denver ended the second quarter with some of the region’s highest unemployment rates. And things have not improved since then: The unemployment rate in the Colorado Springs area jumped in July, the most recent data available, to 9.7 percent, an 18-month high.” (Bill Radford, “Study Shows Springs Still Struggling In Its Economic Recovery,” The Gazette, 9/18/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In Colorado Has Declined From $59,544 To $55,387. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In Colorado Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 66 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 121,306 Coloradoans Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

• Colorado’s Child Poverty Rate Is At 17.9 Percent. “Larimer County’s child poverty rate increased to 13.7 percent in 2011, up from 12.9 percent in 2010, but remains below a statewide child poverty rate of 17.9. Fort Collins’ child poverty remains stable at 13 percent.” (Sarah Jane Kyle, “Fort Collins’ Poverty Rate Above County, State Levels,” Coloradoan, 9/19/12)

Florida

Jobs: Since Obama Took Office, Florida Has Lost 88,000 Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 8.7 To 8.8 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• Since Obama Took Office, More People Than The Entire Population Of Fort Myers, FL, Have Lost Their Jobs. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/23/12)

• Florida’s Unemployment Rate Isn’t Expected To Fall Below 7 Percent Until 2016. “Florida’s unemployment rate will probably not fall below 7 percent until 2016, and will be higher than the national unemployment rate until 2018.” (Toluse Olorunnipa, “Economists: Florida Jobless Rate To Remain Bleak,” The Miami Herald, 7/23/12)

Unemployment: Florida Has 817,637 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In Florida Has Declined From $49,916 To $44,299. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

• Florida’s Median Household Income Dropped 2.9 Percent Last Year, A Sharp Reminder Of The State’s “Deflated Economy.” “The income of the typical Florida family dropped 2.9 percent last year, one of the sharpest reminders that the Sunshine State’s deflated economy remains mired in unemployment and lower-wage jobs. The decline means we will be financially challenged if we hope to spend our way out of this state’s problems.” (Robert Trigaux, “Florida’s Household Income Slips, Signaling Tougher Recovery Ahead,” Tampa Bay Times, 9/21/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In Florida Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 88 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 802,648 Florida Residents Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

Iowa

Jobs: Since Obama Took Office, Iowa Has Lost 9,900 Jobs. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• In August, The Unemployment Rate In Iowa Increased From 5.3 Percent To 5.5 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

Unemployment: Iowa Has 89,984 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• There Are More Unemployed Iowans Than There Are People In Dubuque, IA . (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/23/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In Iowa Has Increased From $51,172 To $49,427. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In Iowa Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 44 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 43,945 Iowans Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

Michigan

Jobs: In August, The Unemployment Rate In Michigan Increased From 9 Percent To 9.4 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

Unemployment: Michigan Has 436,595 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• There Are Nearly Four Times As Many Unemployed People In Michigan Than There Are People In Lansing, MI . (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/23/12)

Michigan’s Economy “Turned Back The Clock” In August, As The Unemployment Rate Rose To 9.4 Percent. “The Michigan economy turned back the clock during August, bouncing the state unemployment rate to its highest level since November. The jump from July’s jobless rate of 9 percent to 9.4 percent for August marked the fourth straight month the rate has increased after posting 12 straight months where unemployment was flat or declined.” (Brian J. O’Connor, “Michigan Jobless Rate Climbs Again To 9.4%,” The Detroit News , 9/20/12)

• PNC Bank Economist Kurt Rankin: “Michigan Has Been Losing More Employees Since The Middle Of The Year Than The Labor Force Has Been Dropping.” “‘Michigan has been losing more employees since the middle of the year than the labor force has been dropping,’ says Kurt Rankin, an economist with PNC Bank. ‘That’s probably the worst of all worlds in terms of what drives the unemployment rate up in the state.’” (Brian J. O’Connor, “Michigan Jobless Rate Climbs Again To 9.4%,” The Detroit News , 9/20/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In Michigan Has Declined From $50,776 To $45,981. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

• “Michigan’s Income Fell More Than The Nation’s As A Whole.” “Michigan’s income fell more than the nation’s as a whole, which declined by 1.3% between 2010 and 2011. The typical Michigan household brought in $45,981 in 2011, about 9% less than it did in 2008, generally regarded as the height of the recession. The drop caused Michigan to fall to 35th from 34th in state income rankings.” (John Wisely, Kristin Tanner, “Michigan’s Kids Suffer Hard Times As Incomes Fall, Poverty Climbs,” Detroit Free Press , 9/20/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In Michigan Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 32 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 283,018 Michigan Residents Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

• More Than One Out Of Every Five Michigan Residents Are Surviving At Or Below The Poverty Level. “Statewide, poverty levels have risen from 16 percent in 2007 to nearly 21 percent in 2011. That means more than one out of every five residents are surviving at or below the poverty level of $23,021 for a family of four. Michigan has the 15th highest percentage of poor residents, and median household income continues to fall.” (Steve Pardo, “Census Paints Bleak Picture As 1 In 5 In Michigan Live In Poverty,” The Detroit News, 9/21/12)

Nevada

Jobs: Since Obama Took Office, Nevada Has Lost 66,300 Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 9.6 Percent To 12.1 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• Since Obama Took Office, More People Than The Entire Population Of Carson City, NV, Have Lost Their Jobs. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/23/12)

• “Nevada’s Jobs Economy Took A Turn For The Worse During Summer.” “After improving through the spring, Nevada’s jobs economy took a turn for the worse during summer, all because a national malaise that began in the second quarter finally filtered down to the state’s labor markets.” (Jennifer Robinson, “Las Vegas Valley Unemployment Down, Statewide Rate Up,” Las Vegas Review Journal, 9/21/12)
• Bill Anderson, Chief Economist For The Employment Department: “When You See A Trend Developing Where We’ve Lost Jobs Three Months In A Row, It’s Evidence That National Weakness Has Trickled Down To Nevada.” “‘Losing 1,000 jobs (month to month) isn’t necessarily headline news,’ said Bill Anderson, chief economist for the employment department. ‘However, when you see a trend developing where we’ve lost jobs three months in a row, it’s evidence that national weakness has trickled down to Nevada.’” (Jennifer Robinson, “Las Vegas Valley Unemployment Down, Statewide Rate Up,” Las Vegas Review Journal, 9/21/12)

Unemployment: Nevada Has 165,860 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In Nevada Has Declined From $58,883 To $48,927. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In Nevada Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 99 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 136,544 Nevadans Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

New Hampshire

Jobs: Since Obama Took Office, New Hampshire Has Lost 14,000 Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 5.2 Percent To 5.7 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• In August, New Hampshire’s Unemployment Rate Increased From 5.4 Percent To 5.7 Percent As The State Lost 600 Jobs. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

Unemployment: New Hampshire Has 41,867 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• There Are As Many Unemployed People In All Of New Hampshire As There Are People In Concord, NH . (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/23/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In New Hampshire Has Declined From $66,583 To $62,647. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In New Hampshire Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 60 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 15,557 New Hampshire Residents Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

North Carolina

Jobs: Since Obama Took Office, North Carolina Has Lost 56,800 Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 9.0 Percent To 9.7 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• Since Obama Took Office, Nearly As Many North Carolinians Have Lost Their Jobs As The Amount Of People In Chapel Hill, NC. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/23/12)

• “North Carolina Continues To Have One Of The Worst Jobless Rates In The Country.” “North Carolina continues to have one of the worst jobless rates in the country. Nationally, unemployment stood at 8.1 percent last month.” (“N.C Unemployment Rate Climbs To 9.7 Percent,” WRAL, 9/21/12

Unemployment: North Carolina Has 451,642 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• North Carolina’s Comprehensive Unemployment Rate Is 17.5 Percent, Making It The Fourth-Hardest Hit State In The Country. “Though beginning to show slow improvement, North Carolina’s latest comprehensive unemployment rate of 17.5% makes it the fourth-hardest-hit state in the country. That’s North Carolina’s so-called U6 rate, which factors in the official jobless number in addition to part-time workers who would rather be working full time and “discouraged” workers not included in the announced monthly unemployment tallies.” (Adam O’Daniel, “NC ‘Underemployment’ Rate 17.5%,” Charlotte Business Journal, 9/21/12)
• North Carolina’s Unemployment Rate “Is More Than Twice Pre-Recession Levels Of 4.7 Percent In December 2007.” “North Carolina ranks sixth in the nation for most jobs lost since the start of the Great Recession in late 2007, the report said. The state’s unemployment rate – 9.6 percent in August – is more than twice pre-recession levels of 4.7 percent in December 2007.” (Richard Craver, “Study Cites Dismal Job Stats In Last Decade In N.C.,” Winston-Salem Journal , 9/3/12)
• “The State’s Labor Market Will Take At Least Twice As Long To Return To Pre-Recession Employment Levels.” “‘At its current pace, the state’s labor market will take at least twice as long to return to pre-recession employment levels as it did in following previous recessions,’ according to the report. ‘That will leave larger numbers of workers unemployed for longer periods of time than in the past. For example, about 46 percent of North Carolinians who were unemployed in 2011 were in that scenario for at least 26 weeks.’” (Richard Craver, “Study Cites Dismal Job Stats In Last Decade In N.C.,” Winston-Salem Journal , 9/3/12)
• “North Carolina’s Middle Class Is Starting To Show The Wear And Tear.” “But after more than three years with an unemployment rate higher than the national rate, North Carolina’s middle class is starting to show the wear and tear.” (Craig Jarvis, “North Carolina’s Middle Class Shows The Strain Of Years Of Job Losses,” The Charlotte Observer, 9/2/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In North Carolina Has Declined From $48,632 To $43,916. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In North Carolina Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 52 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 379,034 North Carolina Residents Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

Ohio

Jobs: Since Obama Took Office, Ohio Has Lost 16,500 Jobs. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

Unemployment: Ohio Has 413,357 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• There Are More Unemployed Ohioans Than There Are People In Columbus, OH . (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/23/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In Ohio Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 40 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

• 1 In 6 Ohio Households Struggle To Put Food On The Table. “The recession may have ended but 1 in 6 Ohio households continues to struggle to put food on the table.” (Catherine Candisky, “Report: Ohioans Still Struggling With ‘Food Insecurity,’” The Columbus Dispatch, 9/5/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In Ohio Has Declined From $50,136 To $45,749. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 353,646 Ohioans Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

• Ohio’s Poverty Rate Is At 15.3 Percent, Worse Than The Nation’s. “Ohio’s level of poverty – 15.3 percent – was worse than the nation’s, which was at 15.1 percent. Ohio’s level jumped 2 percentage points from 2009; it has never been this high since those records were first kept in 1980. The worst year before 2010 was 1994, when 14.1 percent of Ohioans were in poverty.” (Bill Bush, “Median Income In Ohio Hits 27-Year Low,”Columbus Dispatch, 9/14/12)

Pennsylvania

Jobs: Since Obama Took Office, Pennsylvania Has Lost 900 Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 6.8 Percent To 8.1 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

Unemployment: Pennsylvania Has 524,547 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• There Are More Unemployed Pennsylvanians Than There Are People In Pittsburgh, PA . (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/23/12)
• Pennsylvania “Lost Ground” In August, As Its Unemployment Rate Increased To 8.1 Percent. “After spending four years and three months with a better unemployment rate than the rest of the nation, Pennsylvania lost ground in August, matching the national unemployment rate at 8.1 percent.” (Ann Belser, “Jobless Rate In Pa. Creeps Up To 8.1%,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/21/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In Pennsylvania Has Declined From $52,983 To $50,228. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In Pennsylvania Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 39 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 237,602 Pennsylvanians Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

Virginia

Jobs: Since Obama Took Office, The Unemployment Rate In Virginia Has Increased From 5.8 Percent To 5.9 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

Unemployment: Virginia Has 255,343 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• There Are More Unemployed Virginians Than There Are People In Norfolk, VA. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/23/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In Virginia Has Declined From $63,974 To $61,882. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In Virginia Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 48 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 137,883 Virginians Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

Wisconsin

Jobs: Since Obama Took Office, Wisconsin Has Lost 90,800 Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 7.2 Percent To 7.5 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

• In August, The Unemployment Rate In Wisconsin Increased From 7.3 Percent To 7.5 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

Unemployment: Wisconsin Has 229,069 Unemployed Seeking Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/23/12)

Median Household Income: Under Obama, The Median Household Income In Wisconsin Has Declined From $54,426 To $50,395. (U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 9/21/12)

Food Stamps: Since Obama Took Office, The Number Of People In Wisconsin Receiving Food Stamps Has Increased By 65 Percent. (“Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating ,” Food Research And Action Center, Accessed 8/10/12; “Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program: Number Of Persons Participating,” USDA Food And Nutrition Service , Accessed 8/30/12)

Poverty: Under Obama, 156,707 Wisconsin Residents Have Fallen Into Poverty. (“Poverty: 2007 And 2008,” U.S. Census Bureau, 10/11; “Poverty: 2010 And 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/12)

Obama’s Biggest Mistake

After Insisting Four Times His Biggest Mistake Was Not Telling A Story, Obama Changes His Answer To Immigration Reform On Univision

TODAY, WHILE SPEAKING ON UNIVISION, OBAMA SAID THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF HIS FIRST TERM WAS NOT PASSING IMMIGRATION REFORM

Obama: “My Biggest Failure So Far Is We Haven’t Gotten Comprehensive Immigration Reform Done.” UNIVISION’s JORGE RAMOS: “What is your biggest failure?” OBAMA: “Well, Jorge as you remind me, my biggest failure so far is we haven’t gotten comprehensive immigration reform done, so we’re going to be continuing to work on that. But it’s not for lack of trying or desire.” (President Barack Obama, Univision Town Hall, Miami, FL, 9/20/12)

EVERY OTHER TIME HE HAS BEEN ASKED, OBAMA HAS CLAIMED THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF HIS FIRST TERM WAS NOT TELLING A STORY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

One

Obama Thinks His Challenges Exist Because He Forgot To Tell A “Story.” “He was especially alive to the power of a story to influence the American public. He believed he had been elected chiefly because he had told a story; he thought he had had problems in office because he had, without quite realizing it, ceased to tell it.” (Michael Lewis, “Obama’s Way,” Vanity Fair, 9/12)

Two

Obama Said He Is Trying To Tell The Story Of His Presidency Better On The Campaign Trail. TIME’s MICHAEL SCHERER: “You said that one of the mistakes you see in the first term was not telling that story better. What does it mean to tell the story better in the next four years?” OBAMA: “…And that’s a story that I’m doing my best to tell during the campaign. That’s a story that I will continue to try to tell, if I’m fortunate enough to have a second term, in inaugurations, in States of the Union. I want to make sure that people understand that I’ve got a focus on growing this economy, not growing the public sector, but doing enough to ensure that we’ve got the best workers in the world, we’ve got the best technology in the world, and we’re competitive in the 21st century.” (Michael Scherer, “What He Knows Now: Obama on Popularity, Partisanship and Getting Things Done in Washington,” TIME, 8/30/12)

Three

Obama Said The Biggest Mistake Of His First Term Was Not Telling A Story To The American People. “Mr. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama sat down Thursday with ‘CBS This Morning’ anchor Charlie Rose in the White House Blue Room, where they discussed the failures and successes of his administration as he heads into another election, among other things. ‘The mistake of my first term – couple of years – was thinking that this job was just about getting the policy right. And that’s important, but, you know, the nature of this office is also to tell a story to the American people that gives them a sense of unity and purpose and optimism, especially during tough times.’” (Lindsey Boerma, “Obama Reflects On His Biggest Mistake As President,” CBS, 7/12/12)
Obama: “In My First Two Years, I Think The Notion Was, ‘Well, He’s Been Juggling And Managing A Lot Of Stuff, But Where’s The Story That Tells Us Where He’s Going?’” “‘When I think about what we’ve done well and what we haven’t done well,’ the president said, ‘the mistake of my first term – couple of years – was thinking that this job was just about getting the policy right. And that’s important. But the nature of this office is also to tell a story to the American people that gives them a sense of unity and purpose and optimism, especially during tough times.’ Mr. Obama acknowledged the dissonance between others’ perception of his strength as an expert orator, and his own. ‘It’s funny – when I ran, everybody said, well he can give a good speech but can he actually manage the job?’ he said. ‘And in my first two years, I think the notion was, ‘Well, he’s been juggling and managing a lot of stuff, but where’s the story that tells us where he’s going?’ And I think that was a legitimate criticism.’” (Lindsey Boerma, “Obama Reflects On His Biggest Mistake As President,” CBS, 7/12/12)

Four

Obama: “Beyond That, I Also Think That Over The First Two Years I Was So Focused On Policy And Getting The Policy Right, That Sometimes I Forgot Part Of My Job Is Explaining To The American People Why We’re Doing This Policy And Where We’re Going.” OBAMA: “Beyond that, I also think that over the first two years I was so focused on policy and getting the policy right, that sometimes I forgot part of my job is explaining to the American people why we’re doing this policy and where we’re going. And so I think a lot of people started trying to figure out, well, how do all these pieces fit together. The auto industry has been saved, and that was a good thing. Well, that saved a million jobs, but people weren’t sure how did that relate to our housing strategy, or how did that relate to health care. And so I think that was something that I could have done better.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At The University Of Maryland Town Hall, 7/22/11)
When Asked About His Regrets, Obama Said “I Could Have Told The American People More Clearly.” “Sounding like a job applicant asked to name his faults, Obama also said he could have ‘told the American people more clearly’ how dire the nation’s economic situation was, and that he was ‘so focused on … getting the policy right’ he failed to explain why he was taking the steps he took.” (Michael A. Memoli, “Regrets? Obama Has Had A Few,” Los Angeles Times, 7/22/11)

They Said It!

Obama In 1998: “I Actually Believe In Redistribution”

Obama: “Let me just close by saying as we think about the policy research surrounding the issues that I just named, the policy research for the working poor, broadly defined. I think that what we are going to have to do is somehow resuscitate the notion that government action can be effective at all. There has been a systematic – I don’t think it’s too strong to call it a propaganda campaign against the possibility of government action and its efficacy. And I think some of it has been deserved. Chicago Housing Authority has not been a model of good policymaking. And neither necessarily have been the Chicago Public Schools. What that means that as we try to resuscitate this notion that we’re all in this together, leave nobody behind. We do have to be innovative in thinking how – what are the delivery systems that are actually effective and meet people where they live? And my suggestion I guess would be that the trick – and this is one of the few areas where I think there are technical issues that have to be dealt with as opposed to just political issues. I think the trick is figuring out how do we structure government systems that pool resources and hence, facilitate some redistribution because I actually believe in redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure everybody’s got a shot.” (State Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At Loyola University Panel, Chicago, IL, 10/19/98)

• Click To Listen

Top 10 Things Obama Should Be Doing Instead of Hobnobbing With Jay-Z, Beyonce, Letterman

President Obama hobnobbed with Jay-Z, Beyonce and Letterman, but from finding a plan to decrease the number of Americans on food stamps to meeting with Netanyahu and giving us specifics on his plan to create jobs, here are the top 10 things he should be doing instead.

Top 10 Things Obama Should Be Doing Instead of Hobnobbing With Jay-Z, Beyonce and Letterman:

1. Get An Intelligence Briefing
National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor Dismissed Concerns That Obama Is Skipping His Daily Intelligence Briefings As “Not Particularly Interesting Or Useful.” ”I asked National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor about the findings, and whether there were any instances where the president attended the intelligence meeting that were not on his public schedule. Vietor did not dispute the numbers, but said the fact that the president, during a time of war, does not attend his daily intelligence meeting on a daily basis is ‘not particularly interesting or useful.’ He says that the president read his PDB every day, and he disagreed with the suggestion that there is any difference whatsoever between simply reading the briefing book and having an interactive discussion of its contents with top national security and intelligence officials where the president can probe assumptions and ask questions. ‘I actually don’t agree at all,’ Vietor told me in an e-mail, ‘The president gets the information he needs from the intelligence community each day.’” (Mark Thiessen, Op-Ed, “Why Is Obama Skipping More Than Half Of His Daily Intelligence Meetings?,” The Washington Post , 9/10/12)

2. Tell Americans How He’s Going To Get Nearly 47 Million Americans Off Food Stamps
“A Record 46.7 Million Americans Received Food Stamps In June…” “A record 46.7 million Americans received food stamps in June, up 0.4 percent from the previous month, the government said. Participation was 3.3 percent higher than a year earlier and has remained higher than 46 million all year as the unemployment rate has stagnated just above 8 percent. New jobless numbers will be released Sept. 7.” (Alan Bjera, “Food-Stamp Use Climbed To Record 46.7 Million In June, U.S. Says,” Bloomberg, 9/4/12)

3. Come Up With A Plan To Reduce The Number Of Americans Living In Poverty
In 2011, 46.2 Million People Lived In Poverty – Nearly One In Six Americans. “About 46.2 million people, or nearly 1 in 6, were in poverty. That is not statistically different from the 15.1 percent who were impoverished in 2010.” (“Census Bureau: Poverty Rate Remains At 15 Percent,” The Associated Press, 9/12/12)
“The Ranks Of America’s Poor Remained Stuck At Record Levels…” “The ranks of America’s poor remained stuck at record levels, although dwindling unemployment benefits and modest job gains helped stave off what experts had predicted would be the fourth rise in a row in the poverty rate.” (Hope Yen, “US Poverty Rate Unchanged; Record Numbers Persist,” The Associated Press, 9/12/12)

4. Meet With His Jobs Council
Obama Has Not Met With His Jobs Council In Six Months Because He Has Got “A Lot On His Plate.” REPORTER: “So there’s no reason they [the Jobs Council] haven’t met publicly?” WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JAY CARNEY: “No, there’s no specific reason except the President’s obviously got a lot on his plate.” ( White House Press Conference , Washington, D.C., 7/18/12)

5. Explain Why The Vice President Of The United States Would Cite The China’s State-Run News Agency To Attack Governor Romney Or For Anything For That Matter
Vice President Biden Cited The Chinese State-Run News Agency In An Attack On Governor Romney. BIDEN: “And we’re not the only ones who think it’s laughable. I seldom ever quote from the Chinese—official Chinese news agency. Seriously, this is what the Chinese government news agency said, and I quote: ‘it’s rather ironic that a considerable portion of this China battering politician’s wealth was actually obtained by doing business with Chinese companies before he entered politics’ end of quote.” (Vice President Joe Biden, Remarks, Burlington, Iowa, 9/17/12) Click Here To Watch

6. Meet With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
In unusual snub, Obama to avoid meeting Netanyahu: In a highly unusual rebuff to a close ally, the White House said on Tuesday that President Barack Obama would not meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a U.S. visit later this month, as tensions escalated over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program. The apparent snub, coupled with Netanyahu’s sharpened demands for a tougher U.S. line against Iran, threatened to plunge U.S.-Israeli relations into crisis and add pressure on Obama in the final stretch of a tight presidential election campaign. An Israeli official, who declined to be identified, said the White House had refused Netanyahu’s request to meet Obama when the Israeli leader visits the United States to attend the U.N. General Assembly, telling the Israelis, “The president’s schedule will not permit that.” (Matt Spetalnick and Allyn Fisher-Ilan, “In Unusual Snub, Obama To Avoid Meeting With Netanyahu,” Reuters, 09/12/12)

7. Declare China A Currency Manipulator
In May 2012, The Treasury Department Said That China “Did Not Meet The Definition Of A Currency Manipulator Under Its Standards.” ”The Treasury Department on Friday once again declined to name China a currency manipulator despite bipartisan calls for action from Congress. Treasury noted that China’s currency has appreciated against the dollar since June 2010, and said it did not meet the definition of a currency manipulator under its standards.” (Julian Pecquet, “Treasury: China Not Manipulating Currency,” The Hill ’s “Global Affairs” Blog , 05/25/12)

8. Provide A Detailed Plan For What He Is Going To Do To Create Middle Class Jobs
“Forget Concerns About Obama’s Campaign Message — To One Group Of Sober-Sounding Operatives, The Real Problem Is That He Doesn’t Have A Sharp Enough Policy Vision.” (Alexander Burns and John F. Harris, “Second-Guessing President Obama,” Politico, 6/14/12)
Obama’s DNC Speech “Included Nothing New In The Way Of Policy Initiatives Or Fresh Approaches To Job Creation.” “The poor report from the Labor Department took on added significance for Obama after a convention acceptance speech that received decidedly mixed reviews — even from sympathetic Democrats in Charlotte — and included nothing new in the way of policy initiatives or fresh approaches to job creation.” (Ben White, “Jobs Report Challenges Obama’s Economic Message,” Politico, 9/7/12)

9. Provide A Plan That Actually Balances The Budget At Any Point In The Future
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Admitted The Administration Doesn’t Have “A Definitive Solution” To Our Long-Term Budget Imbalance. REP. PAUL RYAN: “Because we got 10,000 people retiring every day, and healthcare costs going up…” TREASURY SECRETARY TIMOTHY GEITHNER: “That’s right. We have millions of Americans retiring every day, and that will drive substantially the rate of growth of healthcare costs. You are right to say we’re not coming before you today to say we have a definitive solution to that long-term problem. What we do know is, we don’t like yours.” (Testimony Before The House Committee On The Budget, U.S. House Of Representatives, 2/16/12)

10. End The War On Coal That Cost 1,200 Jobs Just Today
This Morning, Alpha Natural Resources Announced It Is Eliminating 1,200 Jobs, Nearly A Tenth Of Its Work Force. ”Coal producer Alpha Natural Resources said Tuesday it’s cutting production by 16 million tons and eliminating 1,200 jobs companywide, including 400 with the immediate closing of eight mines in Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The mine shutdowns start Tuesday, while the rest of the layoffs will be completed by the end of the first quarter after Alpha fulfills current sales obligations, Chief Executive Officer Kevin Crutchfield said. In all, the layoffs amount to nearly a tenth of Alpha’s 13,000-person work force.” (Vicki Smith, “Alpha Closing 8 Mines, Cutting 1,200 Jobs In All,” The Associated Press, 9/18/12)

Five Misleading Claims In Obama’s China Remarks Today

OBAMA CLAIM VS. REALITY: Focused On Trade Every Single Day
WHAT OBAMA WILL CLAIM: “You can talk a good game, or you can play one – and my experience has been waking up every single day doing everything I can to give American workers a fair shot in the global economy.” (“Excerpts: Obama To Talk Trade Enforcement Against China In Ohio,” CNN, 9/17/12)

• REALITY: Not Even Democrats Can Agree With The President On That.

• Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): “The U.S. Treasury Department Has Given China A Free Pass When It Comes To Its Currency Manipulation.” “‘Once again, the U.S. Treasury Department has given China a free pass when it comes to its currency manipulation,’ Brown said. ‘While we’re seeing American manufacturing rebound, China is stepping up its efforts in a number of critical sectors, including clean and solar energy, advanced manufacturing, and auto parts.’” (Press Release, “Treasury Giving China A ‘Free Pass’ On Currency Manipulation,” Senator Sherrod Brown , 5/25/12)

• Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY): “The Administration Continues To Let China Get Away With Flouting Trade Rules Just For The Sake Of Diplomacy.” “Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has been sponsored legislation that would punish Chinese imports for the undervalued currency, also criticized the administration’s report. ‘The administration continues to let China get away with flouting trade rules just for the sake of diplomacy. Calling out China as a manipulator may be awkward, but it is time to take off the kid glove,’ he said in a statement.’” (Julian Pecquet, “Treasury: China Not Manipulating Currency,” The Hill ‘s “Global Affairs” Blog , 5/25/12)

• Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) Urged Obama To “Pursue The Aggressive Policies” Needed To Protect American Companies And Jobs. “‘China’s unfair trade practices and economic policies are harming companies and costing jobs in Pennsylvania and across the country,’ said Senator Casey. ‘I urge President Obama to address these concerns with the Chinese Vice President and pursue the aggressive policies I have advocated to give Pennsylvania workers and manufacturers a chance to compete.’” (Senator Bob Casey, Casey Urges Obama to Get Tough On China Ahead Of Visit From Chinese Vice President,” Press Release, 2/14/12)

• Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH): “China Continues To Flout International Trade Laws By Manipulating Its Currency Value To Increase Its Trade Advantages. … This Is Completely Unacceptable. All That Our People Are Asking For Is A Level Playing Field.” “In March, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, and Congressman Mike Michaud, D-Maine, drafted a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to address China’s continued currency manipulation. ‘China continues to flout international trade laws by manipulating its currency value to increase its trade advantages,’ Ryan said. ‘This is completely unacceptable. All that our people are asking for is a level playing field.’” (Editorial, “Cheating Robs U.S., Area Of Jobs,” Tribune Chronicle, 6/15/12)

OBAMA CLAIM VS. REALITY: Trade Cases
WHAT OBAMA WILL CLAIM: “When other countries don’t play by the rules, we’ve done something about it. We’ve brought more trade cases against China in one term than the previous administration did in two – and we’ve won.” (“Excerpts: Obama To Talk Trade Enforcement Against China In Ohio,” CNN, 9/17/12)

• REALITY: Obama Is Manipulating The Stats And “Fails To Acknowledge Time For China After It Joined To Adjust To New WTO Regulation.” “Though the statistic takes into account the fact that China didn’t join the WTO until nearly a year into Bush’s term, it fails to acknowledge time for China after it joined to adjust to new WTO regulation. By contrast, Obama’s administration could hit the ground running.” (“President Barack Obama Says His Administration Has Nearly Doubled Rate Of China Trade Cases,” Politifact , 4/13/12)

• As A New Entrant To The WTO, China Was Given A “Honeymoon” Period. “But there’s a distinction between the two presidencies, what we’ll call China’s ‘honeymoon.’ China joined the WTO in 2001, after Bush took office. At that point, member countries essentially gave China a grace period to follow the new rules.” (“President Barack Obama Says His Administration Has Nearly Doubled Rate Of China Trade Cases,” Politifact , 4/13/12)

• “When The Country Has More Trade, You’re Going To Have More Cases. And Trade With China Has Boomed Over The Decade.” (“President Barack Obama Says His Administration Has Nearly Doubled Rate Of China Trade Cases,” Politifact , 4/13/12)

• “Private Companies Have Been Much More Aggrieved In The Last Few Years Than The First Few Years.” “The economic climate matters. While the government brings cases to the WTO, its staff relies on private companies to come forward with strong evidence of wrongdoing. That requires companies to be motivated to do the legwork. In boom times, there’s less motivation. An economic downturn makes a difference. ‘Private companies have been much more aggrieved in the last few years than the first few years.’” (“President Barack Obama Says His Administration Has Nearly Doubled Rate Of China Trade Cases,” Politifact , 4/13/12)

OBAMA CLAIM VS. REALITY: Tires
WHAT OBAMA WILL CLAIM: “When Governor Romney said stopping an unfair surge in Chinese tires would be bad for our workers, we did it anyway – and we got over 1,000 Americans back to work.” (“Excerpts: Obama To Talk Trade Enforcement Against China In Ohio,” CNN, 9/17/12)

• REALITY: Tire Industry Association: “So Far As Saving American Jobs, It Just Isn’t Working.” “A recent Wall Street Journal article says the increased tariff is falling flat. Imports from China did drop sharply after the tariff took effect in 2009, beginning at a rate of 35 percent. However, Chinese tires were soon replaced by imports from Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico and elsewhere. ‘So far as saving American jobs, it just isn’t working,’ the newspaper quoted Roy Littlefield of the Tire Industry Association, which has 6,000 members, as saying. ‘And it really hurt a lot of people in the industry-smaller businesses that geared up to bring these tires in from China.’” (“The State Of America’s Facts,” FactCheck.org, 1/26/12)

OBAMA CLAIM VS. REALITY: Trade Enforcement Unit
WHAT OBAMA WILL CLAIM: “Earlier this year, I set up a new task force to aggressively go after unfair trade practices that harm our workers – and it’s already delivering.” (“Excerpts: Obama To Talk Trade Enforcement Against China In Ohio,” CNN, 9/17/12)

• REALITY: But The Trade Enforcement Unit Was Created In February 2012, More Than Three Years After The Obama Administration Came To Washington And Only After Criticism From Governor Romney. “President Barack Obama, following through on a promise to beef up enforcement of trade agreements, on Tuesday will sign an executive order creating a new government team to make sure China and others play by the rules, the White House said. The move comes as Obama has faced criticism from Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney over his handling of China and the U.S. trade deficit with the world’s second largest economy has soared to record $295.5 billion in 2011. In addition, two new reports on Tuesday raise concerns about state-supported competition from China and call for the United States to take a variety of steps to respond. Obama outlined his plan to create a new Interagency Trade Enforcement Unit (ITEC) in his annual State of the Union speech last month to Congress.” (Eric Martin, “Obama To Sign Order Creating Trade Enforcement Unit,” Reuters, 2/28/12)

OBAMA CLAIM VS. REALITY: Holding China Accountable For Practices Harming American Automakers
WHAT OBAMA WILL CLAIM: “Two months ago, we moved to hold China accountable for unfair trade practices that harm American automakers.” (“Excerpts: Obama To Talk Trade Enforcement Against China In Ohio,” CNN, 9/17/12)

• REALITY: Automakers Say “It’s Not An Automotive Business Issue. It’s A Political Issue.” “The automakers, however, were largely silent on the administration’s request for consultations at the World Trade Organization. Coming as it did with Obama on a campaign stop in suburban Toledo, some saw the challenge — one of several taken against China trade policies in recent years — as largely political. ‘It’s not an automotive business issue. It’s a political issue,’ said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with IHS Automotive. With the government estimating the duties would impact only about 92,000 vehicles a year, she said, ‘It’s not necessarily something that’s going to cripple the industry.’” (Todd Spangler, “Obama Challenges China On Vehicle Import Tariffs,” Detroit Free Press, 7/6/12)

Is Egypt an Ally?

After warning against shooting first and aiming later, President Obama is sending mixed messages on whether Egypt is an ally or not. Sounds like it’s time to start answering questions.

RNC Research: Obama “Shot First” And Now Mixing Messages On Egypt http://bit.ly/Peqyb5

FROM THE HEADLINES:
AP Fact Check: Obama Doesn’t Think Egypt Is An Ally
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/fact-check-obama-doesnt-think-egypt-ally
This week’s storming of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo by an angry mob has sent U.S.-Egyptian relations to a new low, prompting President Barack Obama to say he doesn’t see the two countries as allies. But under U.S. law, they are.

Huffington Post: Obama Administration Clarifies Eyebrow-Raising Egypt Statement
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/13/obama-egypt-ally_n_1881524.html?1347561698
President Barack Obama’s statement in an interview Wednesday night that the Egyptian government was neither an ally nor an enemy to the U.S. turned heads. It was an unfiltered take on the state of relations between the two countries. And coming in the wake of riots at the U.S. embassy in Cairo — for which the Egyptian government took a notably long time to condemn –- it suggested a sense of strain or trepidation. On Thursday morning, the Obama administration sought to clarify the matter.

Weekly Standard: “State Dept: Egypt Is An Ally, Regardless Of What Obama Said”
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/state-dept-egypt-ally-regardless-what-obama-said_652297.html
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland maintained that Egypt is an ally, regardless of what President Obama said: … Nuland’s statement comes after a President Obama first said Egypt is not an ally and later tried to backtrack.

BuzzFeed: “State Department: Egypt Is An Ally”
http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/state-department-egypt-is-an-all
The President said yesterday “I don’t think we would consider them an ally. But we don’t consider them an enemy. They are a new government that is trying to find it’s way.

Politico: State Dept: Egypt’s still an ally
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/09/state-dept-egypts-still-an-ally-135479.html
Watch Video. The State Department affirmed Egypt’s legal status as an ally Thursday — an apparent contradiction to what President Obama said in a Wednesday interview. Asked repeatedly if the State Department still considered Egypt a major non-NATO ally — a designation they were awarded in 1989 — State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said simply: “Yes.” President Obama, asked by Telemundo if he considered the Egypt to be an ally or an enemy said that they were neither. Instead, he called them a “new government that is trying to find its way.” The White House said immediately that there was no change in policy.

Foreign Policy: White House Clarifies Obama’s Statement That Egypt Is Not An Ally
http://bit.ly/QJ5x9L
That comment had Egypt watchers scratching their heads, especially since technically, Egypt was designated as a Major Non-NATO Ally in 1989 when Congress first passed the law creating that status, which gives them special privileges in cooperating with the United States, especially in the security and technology arenas.”