“With The City Going Broke You May Be Surprised To Find Out That Los Angeles Is The Proud Owner Of A Million Dollar Yacht And It Is About To Undergo Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars In Renovations At Taxpayer Expense.”  (David Goldstein, “Taxpayer Money Used To Maintain Million-Dollar Yacht,” KCAL-TV [Los Angeles, CA], 2/6/12)

IN LOS ANGELES, STIMULUS FUNDS WERE SPENT ON A CITY YACHT, CREATING NO JOBS BUT WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY  

$489,000 Of Taxpayer Federal Stimulus Money “That Is Supposed To Go Create Jobs” Was Spent On The Port Of Los Angeles’ Luxury Yacht, The “Angelena.” “The port is using $489,000 in federal taxpayer stimulus money that is supposed to go create jobs, plus another $200,000 coming from the port — totaling $689,000 for new engines.” (David Goldstein, “Taxpayer Money Used To Maintain Million-Dollar Yacht,” KCAL-TV [Los Angeles, CA], 2/6/12)

• The Money Was Spent Installing New Hybrid Engines On The Yacht Because The Old Engines “No Longer Meet California Emissions Standards.” “The engines have been removed because they no longer meet California emissions standards. They will be replaced by low-emission hybrid motors. The port is using $489,000 in federal taxpayer stimulus money that is supposed to go create jobs, plus another $200,000 coming from the port — totaling $689,000 for new engines.” (David Goldstein, “Taxpayer Money Used To Maintain Million-Dollar Yacht,” KCAL-TV [Los Angeles, CA], 2/6/12)
• The Yacht Is Used For VIP Tours Of The Harbor, Many Of Which Have Nothing To Do With Port Business. “The port bought it in 1988. It is used for public relations tours of the harbor, which run about two hours long. They are free of charge for just about any group, like one we observed for students of Banning High. We obtained the ship’s logs for the past two years, which show cruises with as many as 48 passengers at a time. We also obtained the names of thousands of people who have been on-board. More than 4,000 took the cruise just last year. Some of the people do business with the port, but many have nothing to do with it.” (David Goldstein, “Taxpayer Money Used To Maintain Million-Dollar Yacht,” KCAL-TV [Los Angeles, CA], 2/6/12)

“‘It’s Not Helping To Create Any Real Jobs,’ Said Tom Schatz With Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW).” (David Goldstein, “Taxpayer Money Used To Maintain Million-Dollar Yacht,” KCAL-TV [Los Angeles, CA], 2/6/12)

• “It’s A Big Waste Of Money Both For Taxpayers Across The Country And For Los Angeles Residents.” “‘It’s a big waste of money both for taxpayers across the country and for Los Angeles residents, who clearly aren’t all going to benefit from this and are spending money at a time when the city is more than $70 million in the red,’ Schatz said.” (David Goldstein, “Taxpayer Money Used To Maintain Million-Dollar Yacht,” KCAL-TV [Los Angeles, CA], 2/6/12)

STIMULUS MONEY HAS BEEN SQUANDERED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DESPITE OBAMA’S PROMISES OF OVERSIGHT

THEN: Obama Claimed All Stimulus Projects Received Funding “Based Solely On Their Merits.” OBAMA: “And I just want to point this out -- there has never been a program of this scale, moved at this speed, that has been enacted as effectively and as transparently as the Recovery Act.  I’m grateful that Congress agreed to my request that the bill include no earmarks, that all projects receive funding based solely on their merits.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks On The One-Year Anniversary Of The Signing Of The Recovery Act, Washington, D.C., 2/17/10)

• NOW: Obama Thought “Even The Worst Kind Of Boondoggle” Was Stimulative. “For the Obama transition teams and their allies on the Hill, three questions loomed large in designing the package. The first was whether the proposed spending was economically stimulative: Did it save or create jobs, and thereby put money in people’s pockets? It turned out that economists believed almost any spending met this criterion. In a recession even the worst kind of boondoggle is stimulative, a fact that critics had a hard time comprehending.” (Jonathan Alter, The Promise, Simon & Shuster, 2010, p. 84)
  • In A Rush To Put Together A Stimulus Package, The White House Sacrificed Impact, Creativity And Competence. “With precious little time for innovative policymaking, it became a trade-off of speed over impact, speed over creativity, and, no doubt, speed over competence. Obama believed there was a steep cost to delay; if talks on the stimulus dragged into the spring or summer the recession would get much worse.” (Jonathan Alter, The Promise, Simon & Shuster, 2010, p. 85)

THEN: Obama Pledged That Joe Biden Would Lead An “Unprecedented Oversight Effort” For The $825 Billion Stimulus, “Because Nobody Messes With Joe.” OBAMA: “Here in Washington, we’ve all seen how quickly good intentions can turn into broken promises and wasteful spending.  And with a plan of this scale comes enormous responsibility to get it right. That is why I have asked Vice President Biden to lead a tough, unprecedented oversight effort – because nobody messes with Joe.” (President Barack Obama, Address To Joint Session Of Congress, Washington, DC, 2/24/09)

• NOW: There Have Been 298 Criminal Convictions Related To Fraudulent Spending Of Stimulus Funds. “To date, there have been 298 criminal convictions and $7.2 million in Recovery losses, according to our latest figures. Part of oversight, of course, is making sure that recipients comply with the law and publicly submit reports on their spending each quarter. When we started collecting data, recipients failed to submit 4,359 reports. This was unacceptable so the Board created what we describe internally as a “Wall of Shame,’’ a listing of those non-compliers on Recovery.gov.” (Press Release, “Devaney, In Final Column, Urges Taxpayers To Press Data Reforms,” Recovery Accountability And Transparency Board, 12/14/11)
• At The Energy Department Alone, Over 100 Criminal Investigations Have Been Launched Into The Way Stimulus Money Was Spent. “The Energy Department's inspector general has launched more than 100 criminal investigations related to 2009 economic stimulus spending. In written testimony prepared for delivery to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today, Inspector General Gregory Friedman said the investigations have involved ‘various schemes, including the submission of false information, claims for unallowable or unauthorized expenses, and other improper uses of Recovery Act funds.’” (Darius Dixon, “DOE IG: 100+ Stimulus-Related Criminal Probes,” Politico, 11/2/11)

$1.5 Million Of Stimulus Money Was Spent On Eight Homes That Ended Up Worth Less Than $1 Million. “In an effort to stabilize the city's real estate market, a federal stimulus program has spent nearly $1.5 million on eight Modesto homes that ended up being worth less than $1 million. Example: Taxpayers paid $223,641 to buy and fix up a foreclosed south Modesto house that was built in 1992. But when the city's 16-month renovation project was done, the home appraised and sold for only $114,000. The government lost $109,641 on that just completed deal. Taxpayers also have spent $109,494 to buy and renovate a 1948-vintage two-bedroom home in Modesto's airport neighborhood. That house has appraised for only $55,000, and a buyer has yet to be found. The federally funded Neighborhood Stabilization Program is being managed by the city of Modesto, which plans to resell an additional 18 or more rehabilitated homes this year.” (J.N. Sbranti, “Modesto Renovates Homes Expensively, Doesn’t Recoup Money In Sales,” The Modesto Bee, 1/14/12)

Stimulus Money Sent To North Carolina Schools Was Used On “Tickets For Movies, A Water Park, Fast Food, And Other Entertainment.” “In our review of documents, we found evidence that in addition to paying teachers a total of $17,270 in salaries, HAWS also used ESEA Title I funds to pay for STEP activities that included other salaries and field trip-related expenses, including tickets for movies, a water park, fast food, and other entertainment.” (“GAO Review Of LEA Controls Over And Uses Of Recovery Act Education Funds [Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools],” Government Accountability Office, 7/9/10)

72,000 Stimulus Checks Sent To Dead People. “The Social Security Administration sent about 89,000 stimulus payments of $250 each to dead and incarcerated people — but almost half of them were returned, a new inspector-general’s report has found. The inspector general found that about 72,000 payments were sent by electronic-transfer and as checks to people who would have qualified to receive them — had they still been alive. The report said that of these payments, about 55,000  were sent because the recipients had died recently, and the Social Security Administration had not been informed of their deaths by states, families or funeral homes at the time the payments were sent. The remaining 17,000 of the mistaken payments were attributed to the SSA failing to properly process death records that it did have.” (Louise Radnofsky, “Maybe You Can Take It With You: Stimulus Checks Sent To The Dead,” The Wall Street Journal’s “Washington Wire,” 10/7/10)

Stimulus Money Went To Study Young Adults Who Drink Malt Liquor And Smoke Marijuana. “The State University of New York at Buffalo won $390,000 to study young adults who drink malt liquor and smoke marijuana.” (Alexander Bolton, “Mark Penn’s Two Firms Awarded Millions From Stimulus For Public Relations Work,” The Hill, 12/09/09)

$54 Million In Stimulus Funds For Napa Valley Wine Train.  Jonathan Karl: “The Napa Valley wine train, to tourists a great way to see America’s most celebrated wine region, to others exhibit A in what’s wrong with the stimulus.” Sen. Tom Coburn: “What that is, is a situation where you see the wealthy or well connected get taken care of and the community suffers.” Jonathan Karl: “He’s talking about the Napa Valley wine train relocation project, $54 million stimulus dollars to build a new rail bridge, elevate and relocate 3,300 ft of tracks and put flood walls around the train’s main station.” (ABC News’ “Good Morning America,” 2/2/10)

$3 Million In Stimulus Funds For Turtles. “A report due to be released today by a Republican senator contends the Obama administration’s stimulus program is fraught with waste and incompetence – evidenced by a turtle crossing in northern Florida that will cost more than $3 million.” (Peter Nicholas, “Stimulus Program Fraught With Waste Report Says,” The Los Angeles Times, 6/15/09)

Candidate Obama: "We Will Not Take A Dime From Washington Lobbyists Or Special Interest PACs - We're Going To Change How Washington Works. They Will Not Fund My Party ..." (Sunlen Miller, "Obama Commends DNC For Cutting Lobbyist Contributions," ABC News' "Political Radar" Blog, 6/5/08)

OBAMA GIVES SUPER PAC HIS BLESSING

Obama’s Re-Election Campaign Reversed Its Position On Super PACs, “Encouraging Donors To Send Their Unlimited Contributions” To Pro-Obama Priorities USA PAC.  “President Obama's re-election campaign made an about-face late Monday in its opposition to super PACs, encouraging donors to send their unlimited contributions to one such group founded by a former administration spokesman. Obama campaign manager Jim Messina emailed supporters to formally endorse contributions to Priorities USA, the Democratic super PAC founded by Bill Burton, a former White House deputy press secretary.” (Michael O’Brien, “Obama Campaign Reverses Stance, Urging Donations To Super PAC, NBC News’  "First Read", 2/7/12)

Obama’s Decision Marks A “Stark Reversal” From A President Who Has Been Among The “Most Vocal Critics” Of Super PACs To One Who Is Embracing Them. “The decision represents a stark reversal for Obama, who has been among the most vocal critics of these outside political spending groups since the Supreme Court's 2010 ruling that paved the way for the rise of super PACs.” (Michael O’Brien, “Obama Campaign Reverses Stance, Urging Donations To Super PAC, NBC News’  "First Read", 2/7/12)

Politifact:  Obama’s Embrace Of Super PACs Is A “Full Flop.” “In this case, Obama and his campaign have gone from refusing to fundraise for super PACs to declaring that senior officials will attend and speak at Priorities USA fundraising events. We respect that the president himself won’t participate, and that he still plans to fight the role of special interest money in campaigns, but that’s a major reversal of position, and we rate it a Full Flop.” (“Obama Campaign Says Officials Will Now Appear At Super PAC Fundraisers,” Tampa Bay Times’ “Politifact,” 2/6/12)

OBAMA’S REVERSAL EQUATES TO THE FORMAL EMBRACE OF LOBBYIST MONEY

ABC News: “Obama To Benefit From ‘Special Interests’ Via Super PAC.” (Devin Dwyer, “Obama To Benefit From ‘Special Interests’ Via Super PAC,” ABC News, 2/7/12)

CNN’s Jessica Yellin: “The Super PAC Will Take Money From Lobbyists, Even Corporations.” YELLIN: “I mean, the campaign won’t take money from lobbyist, still they say, but the super PAC will take money from lobbyists, from even corporations. They can take unlimited amounts of money from any kind of organization, as long as it’s a U.S. organization. And the new policy means that now cabinet members, staff in the White House, and senior campaign officials can attend events for these super PACs to send out the message they won’t explicitly fund raise, but top campaign fund-raisers believe that they were given a message that they should now get their donors to contribute to the super PAC after they’ve gotten their donors to give to the campaign, Brooke.” (CNN’s “Newsroom,” 2/7/12)

Obama’s Shift On Super PACs “Opens The Door To Donations by Lobbyists To Support His Re-Election.” “President Obama's decision to back unlimited donations to a Democratic outside group reverses his opposition to super PACs and opens the door to donations by lobbyists to support his re-election. Obama has made refusing money from federal lobbyists a bedrock principle of his political campaigns.”(Fredreka Schouten, “Obama Urges Donations to Super PAC Backing Him,” USA Today, 2/7/12)

• Team Obama Says They Cannot Control Whether The Pro-Obama PAC Accepts Lobbyist Contributions, Even As It Sends White House Officials And Cabinet Members To Fundraising Events. “Officials with Obama's campaign said they can't control whether the PAC accepts future lobbyist contributions, even as White House officials and Cabinet members plan to appear at Priorities USA Action fundraising events.” (Fredreka Schouten, “Obama Urges Donations to Super PAC Backing Him,” USA Today, 2/7/12)

• Obama Is “Relying On A Super PAC That Can Accept Money From Anyone,” Including Lobbyists And Special Interests. “In that campaign, he at least forswore money from independent groups and lobbyists. Now he is relying on a super PAC that can accept money from anyone.” (Editorial, “Another Campaign For Sale,” The New York Times, 2/7/12)

And Priorities USA Is Already Accepting Unlimited Donations From Lobbyists

Former Obama Officials Set Up A Super PAC That Is Accepting Lobbyists’ Contributions Towards Obama’s Reelection Effort. “Attention, Democratic lobbyists: You now have a way to give money to aid President Obama’s reelection effort. … Now a super PAC formed by two former Obama administration officials is working to further the Obama campaign and ready to accept your money.” (T.W. Farnam, “Obama Fundraising Targets Very Large, Very Small Donors,” The Washington Post, 8/3/11)

The Former Obama Officials Hold “No Objections To Using The Money To Help A President Who Spurns It.” “Priorities USA founder Bill Burton, who served as the national press secretary for Obama’s 2008 campaign, says the group has no objections to using the money to help a president who spurns it. ‘We decided we were going to play by the exact same rules as Karl Rove and the Koch brothers and not let them have any advantages in this election cycle,’ Burton said.” (T.W. Farnam, “Obama Fundraising Targets Very Large, Very Small Donors,” The Washington Post, 8/3/11)

“Last Year, Priorities Counted At Least Three Federal Lobbyists Among Its 60-Plus Contributors, Campaign-Finance Records Show.” (Fredreka Schouten, “Obama Urges Donations to Super PAC Backing Him,” USA Today, 2/7/12)

BUT OBAMA HAS ALREADY IGNORED HIS LOBBYIST PLEDGE 

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)

Obama Gets Around His Own Rule Because The Bundlers Are Not Registered With The Senate. “Because the bundlers are not registered as lobbyists with the Senate, the Obama campaign has managed to avoid running afoul of its self-imposed ban on taking money from lobbyists.” (Eric Lichtblau, “Obama Backers Tied To Lobbies Raise Millions,” The New York Times, 10/27/11)

• “But Registered Or Not, The Bundlers Are In Many Ways Indistinguishable From People Who Fit The Technical Definition Of A Lobbyist.” (Eric Lichtblau, “Obama Backers Tied To Lobbies Raise Millions,” The New York Times, 10/27/11)

Obama’s Narrow Definition Of Lobbyists Has “Allowed His Re-Election Effort To Collect Millions Of Dollars From Bundlers Who, Though Not Registered Lobbyists, Are Active In The Influence Industry.” “Obama's vow has drawn scrutiny because it relies on the relatively narrow definition of lobbyist laid out in the 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act. That has allowed his re-election effort to collect millions of dollars from bundlers who, though not registered lobbyists, are active in the influence industry.” (Michael Beckel, “Obama Campaign Refunding Money Donated By Federal Lobbyists,” Open Secrets, 1/27/12)

Obama Permits Bundlers To Bring In Contributions Up Until The “Minute” They Register As A Lobbyist

Politico: “Lobbyist Ron Klein Fundraising For Obama, Despite Pledge.”(Byron Tau, “Lobbyist Ron Klein Fundraising For Obama, Despite Pledge,” Politico 2/8/12)

• Former Florida Rep. Ron Klein (D-FL) Bundled At Least $200,000 For Obama’s Reelection While Lobbying On Behalf Of Spirit Airlines. “Former Florida Rep. Ron Klein, now working as a partner for the law firm Holland & Knight, has raised between $200,000 and $500,000 for the Obama campaign, while lobbying on behalf of Spirit Airlines, according to public records.” (Byron Tau, “Lobbyist Ron Klein Fundraising For Obama, Despite Pledge,” Politico 2/8/12)

In The Morning, The Obama Campaign Said That Klein Was Able To Bundle Up Until The “Minute” He Registered As A Lobbyist. “The Obama campaign says that Ron Klein, former Democratic congressman from Florida, turned Obama stalwart, turned lobbyist, is out as a bundler after registering as a lobbyist for Spirit Airlines in early January. ‘The minute he became a lobbyist, he stopped raising money for the campaign,’ a senior Obama for America official tells POLITICO.” (Glenn Thrush, “Ron Klein Out ‘The Minute’ He Started Lobbying, Obama Campaign Says,” Politico, 2/8/12)

• Even Though Klein Has Been Employed By The Firm Since, March 2011. “Holland & Knight is pleased to announce that former U.S. Representative Ron Klein (D-FL) has joined the firm's Public Policy & Regulation Group as a partner. Klein will play a major role providing strategic counsel to clients in the area of government regulation and compliance in the financial services, healthcare and energy sectors. He will split his time among the firm's three offices in South Florida and its Washington, D.C. office.”(Press Release, “Former U.S. Representative Ron Klein Joins Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group,” Holland & Knight,  3/14/11)

That Same Afternoon, Klein Said He Had Not Heard From Anyone From The Obama Campaign Regarding His Lobbyist Position. “But Klein said he had not heard from anybody in the Obama campaign. And, he added, he fully expects to continue raising money for the president's re-election. ‘I understand the rules,’ he said.” (Michael Isikoff, “Obama Bundler To ‘De-Register,’” NBC’s “First Read,” 2/8/12)

• And Within Hours Of His Lobbyist Position Being Revealed, Klein Announced He Will De-Register So That He Can Continue To Raise Funds. “A former Florida congressman who has been a top campaign bundler for President Obama said Wednesday he is taking immediate steps to de-register as a lobbyist for a Florida-based airline so he can continue to raise funds for the president.”(Michael Isikoff, “Obama Bundler To ‘De-Register,’” NBC’s “First Read,” 2/8/12)

And The Obama Campaign Isn’t Returning Any Of The Minimum $200,000 Raised By Klein. “The official said Klein raised all of the cash prior to Dec. 31, 2011, meaning he never raised money as a lobbyist — and also meaning they don't have to return the estimated $200,000 to $500,000 he raked in.” (Glenn Thrush, “Ron Klein Out ‘The Minute’ He Started Lobbying, Obama Campaign Says,” Politico, 2/8/12)

“On a conference call with members of President Obama’s 2012 reelection committee Monday evening, campaign manager Jim Messina announced that donors should start funding Priorities USA…”(Jake Tapper, “Changing Positions, Obama Campaign Will Push Support For Democratic Super PAC,” ABC News, 2/7/12)

OBAMA EMBRACES WHAT HE ONCE CALLED A “THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY”

In 2010, Obama Called Super PACs And Outside Spending Groups “A Threat To Our Democracy.” OBAMA: “Now, that’s not just a threat to Democrats -- that’s a threat to our democracy.  Every American business and industry deserves a seat at the table, but they don’t get to a chance to buy every chair.  We’ve seen what happens when they do.  They put the entire economy at risk and every American might end up suffering.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Philadelphia, PA, 10/10/10)

But Today, Obama’s Re-Election Campaign Reversed Its Position On Super PACs, “Encouraging Donors To Send Their Unlimited Contributions” To Pro-Obama Priorities USA PAC.  “President Obama's re-election campaign made an about-face late Monday in its opposition to super PACs, encouraging donors to send their unlimited contributions to one such group founded by a former administration spokesman. Obama campaign manager Jim Messina emailed supporters to formally endorse contributions to Priorities USA, the Democratic super PAC founded by Bill Burton, a former White House deputy press secretary.” (Michael O’Brien, “Obama Campaign Reverses Stance, Urging Donations To Super PAC, NBC News’ First Read, 2/7/12)

• Obama’s Decision Marks A “Stark Reversal” From A President Who Has Been Among The “Most Vocal Critics” Of Super PACs To One Who Is Embracing Them. “The decision represents a stark reversal for Obama, who has been among the most vocal critics of these outside political spending groups since the Supreme Court's 2010 ruling that paved the way for the rise of super PACs.” (Michael O’Brien, “Obama Campaign Reverses Stance, Urging Donations To Super PAC, NBC News’ First Read, 2/7/12)

NBC News: “Obama Campaign Reverses Stance, Urging Donations To Super PAC” (Michael O'Brien, "Obama Campaign Reverses Stance, Urging Donations To Super PAC, NBC News’ "First Read" , 2/7/12)

ABC News: “Obama To Benefit From ‘Special Interests’ Via Super PAC.” (Devin Dwyer, “Obama To Benefit From ‘Special Interests’ Via Super PAC,” ABC News, 2/7/12)

NBC News: “Last Night’s Announcements Looks Hypocritical No Matter How You Try And Rationalize It.” “But make no mistake: The White House is going to receive plenty of heat -- from good-government groups, liberals, and the media -- for this reversal. Why? Because after all of its criticism of Citizens United and Super PACs, last night’s announcement looks hypocritical no matter how you try and rationalize it.”(Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, And Brooke Brower, “First Thoughts: A ‘Super’ Reversal,” NBC News’ “First Read,” 12/7/12)

ABC News’ “Obama Reverses Course On Super PAC Donations.” (Michael Falcone, “Obama Reverses Course On Super PAC Donations,” ABC News’ “The Note,” 2/7/12)

The Washington Post: “Obama Gives Blessing To A Super PAC.” (Dan Eggen, “Obama Gives Blessing To A Super PAC,” The Washington Post, 2/7/12)

The Wall Street Journal: “In A Shift, Obama Campaign Moves To Support Outside ‘Super PAC.’” (Laura Meckler, “In A Shift, Obama Campaign Moves To Support Outside ‘Super PAC’” The Wall Street Journal, 2/7/12)

TPM: “Obama Campaign To Court Super PAC Cash They Loathe.” (Benjy Sarlin, “Obama Campaign To Court Super PAC Cash They Loathe,” Talking Points Memo, 2/6/12)

National Journal: “In Reversal, Obama Urging Super PAC Donations.” (Alex Roarty, “In Reversal, Obama Urging Super PAC Donations,” National Journal, 2/7/12) 

ABC News: “Changing Positions, Obama Campaign Will Push Support For Democratic Super PAC.”(Jake Tapper, “Changing Positions, Obama Campaign Will Push Support For Democratic Super PAC,” ABC News, 2/7/12)

Bloomberg: “Obama Encouraging Donors To Contribute To Super-PAC Backing Him.” (Julianna Goldman, “Obama Encouraging Donors to Contribute to Super-PAC Backing Him,” Bloomberg, 2/7/12)  

Roll Call: “Obama Backs Super PAC” (Steve T. Dennis, “Obama Backs Super PAC, “Roll Call, 2/7/12)

Politico’s Ken Vogel: Obama Is “Trying To Have It Both Ways Here.” VOGEL: “He's trying to have it both ways here. This is a president who going back to his earliest days in politics has made getting rid of the interests of the influence of big money in politics sort of a central part of his political identity. In 2008, he and Senator McCain combined to discourage outside spending. In 2010, he complained about it bitterly when Karl Rove and some of these republicans raised a lot of money for these outside groups. But after they rode these outside groups to beat democrats rather badly in the midterm elections, democrats started to back away from their opposition and now, you see them actively trying to raise the exact same kind of money.” (CNN’s “Out Front” 2/6/12)

• Click To Watch Politico’s Ken Vogel Discuss Obama’s Super PAC Hypocrisy

Politico’s Mike Allen: “He Was Against It Before He Was For It.” ALLEN:"Yeah, he was against it before he was for it. The Obama campaign looked at the huge numbers that were being racked up on the other side, probably $200 million, $300 million take by Karl Rove's Super PAC, the one that he started, American Crossroads, and they decided that they needed to get into the game. So, this is quite remarkable. They're saying up front that cabinet officials, campaign officials, White House officials, will appear at events for Priorities USA, which is the Democratic Super PAC started by the former White House aides, Bill Burton and Sean Sweeney. Now they say the President, the First Lady, the Vice President will not appear. But this is a big billboard, telling the President's biggest donors, hey, you need to be stroking checks to Priorities USA which has had very slow fundraising so far. This is the ultimate jump-start." (MSNBC's "Morning Joe," 2/7/12)

• Click To Watch Politico’s Mike Allen Discuss Obama’s Super PAC Flip Flop

The Daily Beast’s Patricia Murphy: “Did Anyone Ever Believe The Obama Campaign Was Not Going To Get Into Super PAC Or That They Have Not Been Already? Please.” MURPHY:  “Well we have come a long way from the days of change you can believe in and hope that things can be different.  David Axelrod saying that we have to live in the world as it is, not the way we wish it could be. And did anyone ever believe the Obama campaign was not going to get into Super PACs or that they have not been already? Please.” (MSNBC’s “Now” 2/7/12)

New York Magazine’s John Heilemann: “The Obama Campaign Have Been In Two Successful Elections The Biggest Bunch Hypocrites On Earth About This Issue.” HEILEMANN: “Well, look, the Obama campaign, the Obama campaign have been in two successful elections the biggest bunch hypocrites on earth about this issue. In 2008, there was a public financing system that existed which he pledged to abide by and he had a rival who pledged to abide by it, and he decided, because he could raise a lot more money outside the system,  to not only opt out of the system, but to destroy public financing forever in American politics. He was the instrument of that and they did it for totally cynical reasons. There's not a principled argument. It was just there’s no way we can turn down this amount of money.  I say, as a campaign strategist, I say if they had not done what they did, I would have called it political malpractice. They should have done exactly that and won the election. But to stand around now and complain about, well, the system is such a mess, but we have to play in the system, as it is and we hate doing it, but you guys are complicit in making big money as bad as it is in presidential politics as anyone in the country except for maybe the Supreme Court justices in Citizens United. But, they are at the top of the list of people who have messed up money and politics in America.”  (MSNBC’s “Now” 2/7/12)

• Click To Watch MSNBC Contributors Discuss Obama’s 2008 Hypocrisy

IS OBAMA TRYING TO DISTRACT FROM HIS OWN BUNDLERS’ “FUGITIVE” TIES?

The New York Times: “Obama To Return Major Donations Tied To Fugitive.” (Mark McIntire, “Obama To Return Major Donations Tied To Fugitive,” The New York Times, 2/6/12)

“Last Fall, Carlos Cardona And Another Brother In Chicago, Alberto Rojas Cardona, Began Raising Money For The Obama Campaign And The Democratic National Committee.” (Mark McIntire, “Obama To Return Major Donations Tied To Fugitive,” The New York Times, 2/6/12)

• The Cardonas Are Brothers Of A “Mexican Casino Magnate” Who Fled The U.S. On Fraud Charges And Have Been Asking For His Pardon. “Two American brothers of a Mexican casino magnate who fled drug and fraud charges in the United States and has been seeking a pardon enabling him to return have emerged as major fund-raisers and donors for President Obama’s re-election campaign.” (Mark McIntire, “Obama To Return Major Donations Tied To Fugitive,” The New York Times, 2/6/12)
  
  
• Obama Campaign Officials Later Said They Would Return The More Than $200,000 Raised By The Cardona Brothers.  “Later in the day, the campaign said it was refunding the money raised by the family, which totaled more than $200,000.” (Mark McIntire, “Obama To Return Major Donations Tied To Fugitive,” The New York Times, 2/6/12)

Politico: “Obama To Return $200K+ In Donations” (Byron Tau, “Obama To Return 200k+ In Donations,” Politico, 2/7/12)

National Journal: “Two Major Obama Fundraisers, Donor Tied to Mexican Fugitive – Report.” (“Two Major Obama Fundraisers, Donor Tied To Mexican Fugitive – Report,” National Journal, 2/6/12)

MSNBC’S Willie Geist: “But now Mike Allen, the White House going after that money. Jim Messina, the campaign manager of the reelection campaign, says ‘we're not going to fight this fight with one hand tied behind our back.’ What went into this decision?”

Politico’s Mike Allen: “Yeah, he was against it before he was for it. The Obama campaign looked at the huge numbers that were being racked up on the other side, probably $200 million, $300 million take by Karl Rove's Super PAC, the one that he started, American Crossroads, and they decided that they needed to get into the game. So, this is quite remarkable. They're saying up front that cabinet officials, campaign officials, White House officials, will appear at events for Priorities USA, which is the Democratic Super PAC started by the former White House aides, Bill Burton and Sean Sweeney. Now they say the President, the First Lady, the Vice President will not appear. But this is a big billboard, telling the President's biggest donors, hey, you need to be stroking checks to Priorities USA which has had very slow fundraising so far. This is the ultimate jump-start.”

(MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 2/7/12)

OBAMA FLIP FLOPS, NOW EMBRACES SUPER PACS

Obama’s Re-Election Campaign Reversed Its Position On Super PACs, “Encouraging Donors To Send Their Unlimited Contributions” To Pro-Obama Priorities USA PAC.  “President Obama's re-election campaign made an about-face late Monday in its opposition to super PACs, encouraging donors to send their unlimited contributions to one such group founded by a former administration spokesman. Obama campaign manager Jim Messina emailed supporters to formally endorse contributions to Priorities USA, the Democratic super PAC founded by Bill Burton, a former White House deputy press secretary.” (Michael O’Brien, “Obama Campaign Reverses Stance, Urging Donations To Super PAC, NBC News’ First Read, 2/7/12)

Obama’s Decision Marks A “Stark Reversal” From A President Who Has Been Among The “Most Vocal Critics” Of Super PACs To One Who Is Embracing Them. “The decision represents a stark reversal for Obama, who has been among the most vocal critics of these outside political spending groups since the Supreme Court's 2010 ruling that paved the way for the rise of super PACs.” (Michael O’Brien, “Obama Campaign Reverses Stance, Urging Donations To Super PAC, NBC News’ First Read, 2/7/12)

Politico: “Obama Embraces The Super PAC.” (Glenn Thrush, “Obama Embraces The Super PAC,” Politico, 2/6/12)

• “Obama’s Top Campaign Staff And Even Some Cabinet Members Will Appear At Super PAC Events.” (Glenn Thrush, “Obama Embraces The Super PAC,” Politico, 2/6/12)

TPM: “Obama Campaign To Court Super PAC Cash They Loathe.” (Benjy Sarlin, “Obama Campaign To Court Super PAC Cash They Loathe,” Talking Points Memo, 2/6/12)

National Journal: “In Reversal, Obama Urging Super PAC Donations.” (Alex Roarty, “In Reversal, Obama Urging Super PAC Donations,” National Journal, 2/7/12) 

The Washington Post: “Obama Gives Blessing To A Super PAC.” (Dan Eggen, “Obama Gives Blessing To A Super PAC,” The Washington Post, 2/7/12)

BUT JUST YESTERDAY, OBAMA WAS WORRIED ABOUT SUPER PACS IN CAMPAIGNS

In His Interview That Aired Monday Morning, Obama “Reviled The Negative Tone” Of The Super PACs, But By The Evening,  Obama “Offered His Support For Priorities USA.” “President Barack Obama — in an act of hypocrisy or necessity, depending on the beholder — has reversed course and is now blessing the efforts of a sputtering super PAC, Priorities USA Action, organized to fight GOP dark-money attacks. On Monday morning, Obama reviled the ‘negative’ tone of the super PACs, a dominant fundraising source in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. But by the evening word leaked to POLITICO that Obama had offered his support for Priorities USA, which has thus far raised a fraction of what GOP-backed groups have raked in.” (Glenn Thrush, “Obama Embraces The Super PAC,” Politico, 2/6/12)

• Obama Was Worried That There Were Too Many Super PACs.  “President Barack Obama didn’t disavow his big-money fundraising machine but did voice dismay about the presence of super PACs and negative campaigning in an interview that aired Monday. ‘One of the worries we have obviously in the next campaign is that there are so many of these so-called super PACs, these independent expenditures that are gonna be out there,’ Obama told NBC’s Matt Lauer in an interview taped before the Super Bowl on Sunday. ‘There is gonna be just a lot of money floating around, and I guarantee a bunch of it’s gonna be negative.’” (Jennifer Epstein, “Obama 'Worries' Over Super PACs,” Politico, 2/6/12)

AND CALLED SUPER PACS “SHADOWY GROUPS” AND “A THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY”

In 2010, Obama Called Super PACs And Outside Spending Groups “A Threat To Our Democracy.” OBAMA: “Now, that’s not just a threat to Democrats -- that’s a threat to our democracy.  Every American business and industry deserves a seat at the table, but they don’t get to a chance to buy every chair.  We’ve seen what happens when they do.  They put the entire economy at risk and every American might end up suffering.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Philadelphia, PA, 10/10/10)

• In Obama’s 2010 State Of The Union, Obama Said The Citizens United Ruling Would “Open The Floodgates For Special Interests – Including Foreign Corporations – To Spend Without Limit In Our Elections.” OBAMA: “With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests –- including foreign corporations –- to spend without limit in our elections.  I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities They should be decided by the American people.  And I'd urge Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to correct some of these problems.” (President Barack Obama, State Of The Union Address, Washington, D.C., 1/27/10)
• In 2010, Obama Called Super PACs “Shadowy Groups.” OBAMA: “As the political season heats up, Americans are already being inundated with the usual phone calls, mailings, and TV ads from campaigns all across the country.  But this summer, they’re also seeing a flood of attack ads run by shadowy groups with harmless-sounding names.  We don’t know who’s behind these ads and we don’t know who’s paying for them.  The reason this is happening is because of a decision by the Supreme Court in the Citizens United case – a decision that now allows big corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence our elections.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks For Weekly Address, 8/21/10)

“The Lines Have Increasingly Blurred” On Obama’s “Evolving Stances” On Campaign Finance. “The decision, which comes nine months before Election Day, escalates the money wars and is a milestone in Mr. Obama’s evolving stances on political fund-raising. The lines have increasingly blurred between presidential campaigns and super PACs, which have flourished since a 2010 Supreme Court ruling and other legal and regulatory decisions made it easier for outside groups to raise unlimited donations to promote candidates. The outside groups are playing an increasingly prominent role in the presidential race by running aggressive advertising campaigns, often attacking opponents.” (Jeff Zeleny and Jim Rutenberg, “Obama Yields in Marshaling of ‘Super PAC,’” The New York Times, 2/6/12) 

• “Obama Was Staunchly Anti-Outside Money During His Pre-White House Political Career.”  “The new posture is a reversal for the president, and one likely to trouble some in the progressive universe (see: Feingold, Russ). Obama was staunchly anti-outside money during his pre-White House political career, and first ran for the White House encouraging deep-pocketed Democrats to send checks only through his campaign. He wanted a consistently coordinated message and his advisers were willing to starve non-campaign organizations of cash in order to achieve it.” (Sam Stein, “President Obama Softens Super PAC Opposition,” The Huffington Post,, 2/7/12) 
• In 2008, Obama Did Not Want Any Financial “Support From Outside Groups And Took A Strong Stance Against The Influence Of Special-Interest Money In Politics.” Mr. Obama said in 2008 that he did not want support from outside groups and took a strong stand against the influence of special-interest money in politics, effectively shutting down independent activity on his behalf.” (Jeff Zeleny and Jim Rutenberg, “Obama Yields in Marshaling of ‘Super PAC,’” The New York Times, 2/6/12) 

In 2011, Obama Campaign Press Secretary Ben LaBolt Insisted Obama And “His Campaign Staff Or Aides” Would Not Fundraise For Super PACs.  “Neither the President nor his campaign staff or aides will fundraise for super PACs.” (Melanie Mason, “Pro-Romney 'Super PAC' Reports $12-Million Haul,” Los Angeles Times, 7/5/11)

January 2012: Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina Attacks Super PACs For Being "Funded By Corporations And Anonymous Donors." “We'll be facing an onslaught of unprecedented spending from outside groups funded by corporations and anonymous donors.”  (Jim Messina, “This Is Not A Joke,” Barackobama.com, 1/4/12)

“Scarlett Johansson and Anna Wintour are hosting a fashion event in New York City to benefit President Obama's reelection campaign… The event is part of Runway to Win, a project by fashion designers designed to bolster the president in 2012.” (Byron Tau, “Scarlett Johansson, Anna Wintour Pitch In For Obama,” Politico, 1/20/12)

TONIGHT, OBAMA’S HIGH FASHION FRIENDS UNVEIL HIS “RUNWAY TO WIN” FUNDRAISING EFFORT

“Anna Wintour Is Apparently Pulling Strings To Get Fashion Brands To Design Merchandise For Barack Obama's Reelection.” (Jenna Sauers, “Anna Wintour Is Putting Designers To Work For The Obama Campaign,” Jezebel, 1/9/12)

• Wintour, “A Prominent Democratic Fundraiser” And Obama Supporter, Has Corralled 22 Fashion Designers To Participate In Her “Runway To Win.” “Under Wintour's program, called Runway to Win, goods from 22 designers including t-shirts, totes, and scarves will go on sale online this Thursday. Wintour has been a prominent Democratic fundraiser, and has hosted fêtes for Obama at her house. Runway to Win is modeled on a similar 2008 program organized by Wintour, called Runway to Change.” (Jenna Sauers, “Anna Wintour Is Putting Designers To Work For The Obama Campaign,” Jezebel, 1/9/12)

Team Obama Is Marketing “Obama-Inspired Apparel” Made By “Twenty-Three Top American Designers” To Its “Fashion-Conscious” Supporters. “President Obama’s re-election campaign is about to get a strong dose of fashion sense – something manager Jim Messina says he really needs. Twenty-three top American designers on Thursday will unveil a new line of ‘Obama-inspired’ apparel and accessories that campaign aides said will be marketed and sold to fashion-conscious Democratic supporters.” (Devin Dwyer, “Obama Markets Celeb-Designed Fashions For 2012 Campaign,” ABC News, 1/10/12) 

• Obama’s “Runway To Win” Includes Items Designed By Tory Burch, Tracy Reese, And Jason Wu. “The collection of trendy t-shirts, tote bags and scarves – dubbed ‘Runway to Win’ – will feature pieces designed by Tory Burch, Tracy Reese and Jason Wu, according to an announcement on the campaign’s website. All are favorites of First Lady Michelle Obama.” (Devin Dwyer, “Obama Markets Celeb-Designed Fashions For 2012 Campaign,” ABC News, 1/10/12) 

                                                                                                                                                BUT OBAMA DOESN’T HAVE A MESSAGE TO SELL  

“Take This Quiz: If President Barack Obama Wins A Second Term, He Has Promised That He Will Do … What Exactly?” (John F. Harris And Carrie Budoff Brown, “What Exactly Would Obama Do In A Second Term?” Politico, 1/24/11)   

• “There Are People Who Follow The President Closely Who Couldn’t Answer That Question.” (John F. Harris And Carrie Budoff Brown, “What Exactly Would Obama Do In A Second Term?” Politico, 1/24/11

Obama’s Agenda – “If Voters Give Him Four More Years – Is Blurry.”  “As he stands before the nation Tuesday evening to present his State of the Union address, Obama is a president whose positions may be well-known but whose agenda — what he actually intends and can reasonably expect to achieve if voters give him four more years — is blurry.” (John F. Harris And Carrie Budoff Brown, “What Exactly Would Obama Do In A Second Term?” Politico, 1/24/11)

Obama “Doesn’t Have A Story To Tell” For The 2012 Campaign. “The irony here, of course, is that for the moment, Barack Obama doesn’t have a story to tell. … And the list of Obama’s accomplishments—repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell; health care reform; Wall Street reform; student loan reform; green energy investment, etc.—is not going to cut it either.” (Michael Scherer, “Mitt Romney’s Rhetorical Evolution: From Listmaker To Storyteller,” TIME’s "Swampland", 12/28/11)

When Asked What Phrase Would Define His 2012 Campaign, Obama Replied, ‘We’re Still Working On It.” “The man who made ‘change we can believe in’ and ‘yes, we can’ hallmarks of the 2008 presidential race is still searching for a catchy phrase to define his next campaign. ‘We’re still working on it,’ President Obama told ABC News’ Barbara Walters when asked about his slogan in an exclusive pre-Christmas interview.” (Devin Dwyer, “Obama On Campaign Slogan: ‘We’re Still Working On It’,” ABC News’ "Political Punch", 12/27/11)

Politico’s Mike Allen Noted That There Was “Real Nervousness” In The Obama Campaign That “There’s Not A Message.” POLITICO’S MIKE ALLEN: “Right, and Chuck what we picked up on was real nervousness among the Obama campaign about the fact that there’s not a message. And you’ve talked about it here on the show, on Meet the Press, Savannah asked what their message is. You know the bumper stickers that just say ‘Obama 2012’ might as well say ‘message to come.’ As you know, Obama’s campaign manager Jim Messina said okay, we’re going to build the machine and they will come. They told us yesterday they’ve had a million conversations so far. But it’s not clear yet this president is going to do. I had an interview the other day with Valerie Jarrett where we asked her, okay, say you win--”MSNBC’s CHUCK TODD: “What are you going to do?” ALLEN: “Yeah, what does January 2013 look like? And she mentioned jobs and some things that are carried over. And I said to her, like you didn’t mention entitlement reform, like they have not said what their big thing is. And people who love the president worry about that. But I can tell you they said they believe the intangibles, the personal connection is what ultimately will do it for them. One person said to me, we still have Michael Jordan.” (MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown,” 12/29/11)

SO IT’S NO WONDER THE END PRODUCTS ARE STRICTLY MERCHANDISE

Obama Is “Taking Cues From Top Marketers” To “Raise Money Off Of Campaign Merchandise.” “Yoga pants. Hoodies. Wine and Martini glasses. Kids apparel. Cat and dog collars. Basketball shirts. Spatulas. An apron that says ‘Fired up and ready to grill,’ a wry reference to the famous Barack Obama campaign slogan. When it comes to raising money off of campaign merchandise, President Obama's team is taking its cues from top marketers, outflanking the GOP competition with a wide variety of innovative branded products” (Lynn Sweet, “Obama 2012 Product Calendar: Yoga Pants Wine Glasses, Onesies, And Pet Collars,” Chicago Sun-Times, 12/6/11)

• “Obama 2012 Product Calendar: Yoga Pants Wine Glasses, Onesies, And Pet Collars.” (Lynn Sweet, “Obama 2012 Product Calendar: Yoga Pants Wine Glasses, Onesies, And Pet Collars,” Chicago Sun-Times, 12/6/11
• “And Taking A Cue From Christmas Merchandisers Who Know How To Move Product, The Obama Store Is Offering A 20 Percent Off Deal Until Dec. 17.” (Lynn Sweet, “Obama 2012 Product Calendar: Yoga Pants Wine Glasses, Onesies, And Pet Collars,” Chicago Sun-Times, 12/6/11) 

Joe Biden Can Holder: $10

Golf Divot Tool: $15

Martini Glass Set: $30

Dog Sweater: $35

Cufflinks: $40

Marc Jacobs Crew Neck: $45

Tailgate Pack: $65

Tory Burch Tote: $75
 

Thakoon Panichgul Scarf: $95

Limited-Edition Basketball Jersey:  $95

CREATING AN OBAMA MESSAGE THAT SEEMS OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

Too Many High Fashion Celebrity Events Make Obama Seem “Out Of Touch” With The American People. “The downside risk for President Obama is that too many high fashion celebrity events like this one could make the president seem out of touch in an election season where the top issues are jobs and a struggling economy.” (Byron Tau, “Scarlett Johansson, Anna Wintour Pitch In For Obama,” Politico, 1/20/12)

Runway To Win Is Marked By “Exclusive, Limited-Edition Merchandise.” “Four years after the success of Runway to Change, designers and the fashion community are putting their considerable talents back to work to support President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign by creating exclusive, limited-edition merchandise—including everything from nail polish to tote bags to T-shirts—and donating the full proceeds to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fund-raising committee authorized by Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee.”(“Runway to Win: 23 Designers Create Exclusive Pieces To Support President Obama’s 2012 Reelection Campaign,” Vogue Daily, 1/12/12)

Obama’s “Runway To Win” Markets “Blandly Patriotic” Apparel And Accessories. “Fashion designers — including several who dress first lady Michelle Obama — are lending their talents to President Obama’s reelection bid, but those efforts may have been wasted on the blandly patriotic Obama apparel and accessories of ‘Runway to Win.’” (Maura Judkis, “’Runway To Win’s’ Designer Apparel Bores,” The Washington Post, 1/31/12)

• “The Collection Is Meant To Raise Funds For The Campaign And Will Be Available Feb. 7, But Its Uninspired Look Might Not Send Voters To Booths, Let Alone Buyers To The Store.” (Maura Judkis, “’Runway To Win’s’ Designer Apparel Bores,” The Washington Post, 1/31/12)

The Message Conveyed By Obama’s “Runway To Win” Collection “Doesn’t Seem To Have Evolved From The 2008 Last Cycle Beyond Jettisoning The Word ‘Hope.’” “Certainly, political shirts and totes must convey a message, but the message put forth by these designs doesn’t seem to have evolved from the 2008 last cycle beyond jettisoning the word ‘Hope’ — and many of the shirts are such such [sic] straightforward takes on the logo or flag that they may as well have been designed by the campaign staff, rather than those who regularly appear on the pages of Vogue.” (Maura Judkis, “’Runway To Win’s’ Designer Apparel Bores,” The Washington Post, 1/31/12)

$45.1 Trillion:  

Total Federal Spending Proposed By Obama’s FY2012 Budget Through 2021. (OMB, 9/1/11)

$24.0 Trillion:  

Projected Federal Debt In 2021 Due To Obama’s Binge Spending. (OMB, 9/1/11)

$15.3 Trillion:  

Current National Debt ($15,351,406,294,640.49). (U.S. Treasury Department, Accessed 2/6/12)

$9.1 Trillion:  

Amount Obama’s FY2012 Budget Would Add To The Debt Through FY2021. (OMB, 9/1/11)

$6.4 Trillion:  

Cumulative Deficits Caused By President Obama’s Deficit Reduction Proposal. (OMB, 9/19/11)

$5.2 Trillion:  

Total Interest Payments On The National Debt Due To Obama’s Proposed Budget, FY2012-2021. (OMB, 9/1/11)

$4.7 Trillion:  

Added To The National Debt Since Obama Took Office. (U.S. Treasury Department, Accessed 2/3/12)

$2.6 Trillion:  

True Cost Of ObamaCare Once Fully Implemented. (Office Of The Speaker Of The U.S. House Of Representatives, Report, 1/6/11)

$1.75 Trillion:  

Annual Cost Of Federal Regulations. (Small Business Administration, September 2010)

$1.57 Trillion:  

Tax Hikes In Obama’s Deficit Reduction Proposal. (OMB, 9/19/11)

$1.416 Trillion:  

Federal Budget Deficit For FY2009 – Highest In U.S. History. (CBO, 10/7/10)

$1.334 Trillion:  

Projected FY2012 Budget Deficit Under Obama’s “Deficit Reduction” Proposal. (OMB, 9/19/11)

$1.298 Trillion:  

Federal Budget Deficit For FY2011 – Second Highest In U.S. History. (CBO, 10/7/11)

$1.294 Trillion:  

Federal Budget Deficit For FY2010 – Third Highest In U.S. History. (CBO, 10/7/10)

$1.17 Trillion:  

Total Cost Of Obama’s First Stimulus With Interest.  (CBO, 8/24/11, CBO, 1/27/09)

$1.13 Trillion:  

American Debt Held By China. (U.S. Treasury Department, Accessed 1/9/12)

$1.079 Trillion:  

Projected FY2012 CBO Baseline Deficit. (CBO, 1/31/12)

$825 Billion:  

Price Tag Of Obama’s First Failed Stimulus. (CBO, 8/24/11)

$763 Billion:  

Net Interest Payment On Our National Debt In 2021 Due To Obama’s Proposed Budget. (OMB, 9/1/11)

$575 Billion:  

Amount Of Medicare Cuts In ObamaCare. (CMS Chief Actuary Richard S. Foster, Memo, 4/22/10)

$535 Million:  

Stimulus Loan To The Failed Solar Company Solyndra. (The Oakland Tribune, 11/4/10)

$491.7 Billion:  

Amount Of Taxes In ObamaCare. (Letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 3/18/10; Joint Committee On Taxation, 3/2/10)

$447 Billion:  

Price Tag Of Obama’s Second Stimulus. (The White House, 9/8/11)

$347.1 Billion:  

Debt Service Costs For Borrowing To Pay For Obama’s First Stimulus. (CBO, 1/27/09)

$231 Billion:  

Burden Of New Regulations Imposed In 2011. (American Action Network, 1/2/12)

$175 Billion:  

Increased Spending In Obama’s Second Stimulus. (CBO, 10/5/11)

$141 Billion:  

Taxpayer Funds For Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac. (The Hill, 10/27/11)

$23.8 Billion:  

Amount Government Expects To Lose On Bailouts Of Auto Industry. (The Detroit News, 1/30/12)

$24 Billion:  

Stimulus Funds Sent To Tax Cheats. (Government Accountability Office, April 2011)

$1.3 Billion:  

Amount Taxpayers Will Not Recover From Bailout Of Chrysler. (FactCheck.org, 6/6/11)

133 Million:  

Annual Paperwork Burden Hours Imposed By Regulators In 2011. (American Action Network, 1/2/12)

$77.4 Million:  

Obama Campaign Cash Raised By Bundlers. (ABC News, 1/31/12)

49.1 Million:  

Number Of Americans Living In Poverty (Supplemental Poverty Measure). (US Census Bureau, 11/7/11)

46.2 Million:  

Record Number Of Americans Living In Poverty (Official Measure). (U.S. Census Bureau, 9/13/11)

46.1 Million:  

Record Number Of Americans Receiving Food Stamps. (Department Of Agriculture, 2/1/12)

$18 Million:  

Cost Of The Stimulus Website Recovery.org. (ABC News’ “The Note“ Blog, 7/8/09)

$15.6 Million:  

Amount Obama Has Raised From Wall Street – More Than All The GOP Candidates Combined. (Dan Eggen And T.W. Farnam, “Obama Still Flush With Cash From Financial Sector Despite Frosty Relations,” The Washington Post, 10/19/11; TW Farnam, “MF Global Ties Awkward For Obama Campaign,” The Washington Post, 11/2/11)

12.8  Million:  

Unemployed Americans. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

8.2 Million:  

Americans Working Part-Time For Economic Reasons. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

7.7 Million:  

Foreclosure Filings Since Obama Took Office. (RealtyTrac, Accessed 1/9/12)

6.3 Million:  

Number Of Americans That Fell Into Poverty Since Obama Took Office.  (U.S. Census Bureau, 9/13/11)

6.2 Million:  

Number Of Mortgages Either 30 Days Delinquent Or In Foreclosure. (Lender Processing Services, 1/19/12)

5.5 Million:  

Americans Unemployed 27 Weeks Or Longer. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

$5 Million:  

Obama Campaign Cash Raised By Bundlers In The Lobbying Industry. (The New York Times, 10/27/11)

3.6 Million:  

Workers Granted Waivers So That ObamaCare Would Not Outlaw Their Health Care Plan. (HHS.gov, Accessed 1/9/12)

2.3 Million:  

Foreclosure Starts During 2011. (Lender Processing Services, 1/20/12)

1.59 Million:  

Personal Bankruptcies In 2010. (United States Courts, 2/15/11)

$1.5 Million:  

Stimulus Funds Sent To Indonesia To Discourage Air Pollution In Jakarta. (The Daily Caller, 7/7/11)

1.47 Million:  

Personal Bankruptcies In 2009. (United States Courts, 2/15/11)

1.35 Million:  

Personal Bankruptcies In 2011. (Los Angeles Times, 1/5/12)

1.2 Million:  

Jobs Lost Since Obama Took Office. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

1.1 Million:  

Americans That Have Given Up Looking For Work. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

986,000:  

Construction Jobs Lost Since Obama Took Office. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

690,000:  

Manufacturing Jobs Lost Since Obama Took Office. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

549,000:  

Private Sector Jobs Lost Since Obama Took Office. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

428,000:  

Jobs Lost Since Obama’s Stimulus Was Passed. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

$278,000:  

Cost Per A Stimulus Job. (The Weekly Standard, 7/6/11)

176,000:  

Private Sector Jobs Lost Since Stimulus Was Passed. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

149,900:  

Number Of Local Government Education Jobs Lost Since Obama Signed A $10 Billion Teacher Union Bailout He Said Would Save 160,000 Teacher Jobs. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12; The Washington Post, 8/10/10)

89,000:  

The Number Of Stimulus Checks Sent To Dead Or Incarcerated People. (The Wall Street Journal, 10/7/10)

81,405:  

Record Number Of Pages Added To The Federal Register In 2010. (Competitive Enterprise Institute, 2011)

66,800:  

Number Of Heavy And Civil Engineering Construction Jobs Lost Since The Stimulus Was Passed. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

$49,655:  

Your Share Of The National Debt. (U.S. Treasury Department Accessed 2/3/12; U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 2/3/12)

45,696:  

Pages Of New Rules Added To The Federal Register During Obama’s First Two Years In Office. (Competitive Enterprise Institute, 2011)

23,000:  

The Number Of Jobs Obama Knew His Drilling Moratorium Would Kill. (The Wall Street Journal, 8/21/10)

$15,500:  

Annual Cost Per Household From Federal Regulations. (Small Business Administration, September 2010)

$15,235:  

Increase In Your Share Of The National Debt Since Obama Took Office. (U.S. Treasury Department Accessed 2/3/12; U.S. Census Bureau, Accessed 2/3/12)

        $11,300:  

Negative Effect Of Debt On Gross National Product Per Person In 2035. (CBO, 6/22/11)

$10,585:  

Cost Per Employee That Federal Regulations Place On Small Businesses. (Small Business Administration, September 2010)

3,700:  

Number Of Tax Delinquents Who Received Stimulus Funds. (Government Accountability Office, April 2011)

2060:  

Year Federal Spending Will Reach 50 Percent Of GDP. (CBO, 6/22/11)

2037:  

Year That Federal Debt Will Reach 200 Percent Of GDP. (CBO, 6/22/11)

2036:  

Year That The Social Security Trust Fund Will Be Exhausted. (The Trustees Of Social Security & Medicare, 5/10/11)

2022:  

Year That The CBO Predicts Medicare’s Trust Fund Will Be Exhausted. (CBO, 1/31/12)

1,722:  

Number Of Waivers Granted To Unions And Businesses So That ObamaCare Would Not Outlaw Their Health Care Plans. (HHS.gov, Accessed 1/9/12)

1,603:  

Number Of Regulations That Would Impact Small Businesses Proposed By Obama Administration In First Two Years In Office. (Competitive Enterprise Institute, 2011)

1,014:  

Days Since Harry Reid’s Senate Has Passed A Budget Resolution. (S. Con. Res. 13, Roll Call 173; 4/29/09)

408:  

Number Of Regulations Proposed By Obama During First Two Years That Have An Economic Impact Of Over $100 Million. (Competitive Enterprise Institute, 2011)

104:  

Current Or Former Registered Lobbyists In The Obama Administration. (Center For Responsive Politics, Opensecrets.org, Accessed 2/6/12)

94.2%:  

Federal Debt Held By The Public As Share Of GDP In 2021. (CBO, 1/31/12)

92:  

Number Of Bank Failures In 2011. (FDIC, Accessed 2/3/12)

89%:  

Americans Who Rate The Economy As “Not So Good” Or “Poor.” (The Washington Post/ABC News Poll, 2/6/12)

80%:  

Small Businesses That Could Be Forced To Change Health Care Plans As A Result Of ObamaCare. (NFIB, 7/11)

79%:  

Stimulus Funds For Wind, Solar And Geothermal Energy Projects That Went To Foreign Firms. (Investigating Reporting Workshop/ABC’s World News Tonight/Watchdog Institute, 2/8/10)

72.5%:  

Federal Debt Held By The Public As Share Of GDP By End Of The Year. (CBO, 1/31/12)

72%:  

Americans That Are Worried The Economy Will Get Worse Rather Than Better Over The Next Year. (Gallup, 1/25/12)

70%:  

Americans That Say The Country Is Headed In The Wrong Direction. (CNN, 12/23/11)

65%:  

Voters Who Say The Nation Is On The Wrong Track. (CBS, 1/9/12)

57%:  

Americans Worried That The Value Of Their Home Won’t Increase. (Gallup, 1/25/12)

51%:  

Americans Worried About Maintaining Their Standard Of Living. (Gallup, 1/25/12)

48.5%:  

Households That Receive Some Form Of Government Assistance. (The Wall Street Journal, 10/5/11)

44.8%:  

Top Tax Rate By 2014 Under Obama’s FY2012 Budget. (The Washington Post, 5/16/11)

44.5%:  

Increase In National Debt Since Obama Took Office. (U.S. Treasury Department Accessed 2/3/12)

44%:  

Americans Who Approve Of Obama’s Handling Of The Economy. (The Washington Post/ABC News Poll, 2/6/12)

40.1:  

Number Of Weeks That It Takes To Find A Job. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

38%:  

Americans Who Approve Of Obama’s Handling Of The Budget Deficit. (The Washington Post/ABC News Poll, 2/6/12)

36:  

Record Number Of Straight Months With Unemployment Rate Above 8 Percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

34.2%:  

Households That Receive Either Food Stamps, Subsidized Housing, Cash Welfare Or Medicaid. (The Wall Street Journal, 10/5/11)

32%:  

Share Of Existing Home Sales In December That Were Distressed Properties (Foreclosures And Short Sales). (National Association Of Realtors, 1/20/12)

29.2%:  

Unemployed Workers Out Of Work For Over A Year. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

24.4%:  

Federal Spending As A Share Of GDP By 2022. (CBO, 1/31/12)

22.1%:  

Home Loans Underwater (Negative Equity) In Third Quarter Of 2011. (Reuters, 11/29/11)

18%:  

Amount GNP Would Be Lowered Due To Debt’s Effect On Economic Growth By 2035. (CBO, 6/22/11)

17%:  

Cut To Medicare Benefits When Trust Fund Is Exhausted. (House Ways & Means Committee Hearing, 6/22/11)

15.1%:  

Workers Unemployed, Underemployed Or Marginally Attached To The Labor Force. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

15.1%:  

Americans Living In Poverty. (U.S. Census Bureau, 9/13/11)

8.3%:  

Unemployment Rate. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

8.15%:  

Percent Of Home Loans Delinquent In November. (Lender Processing Services, 1/27/12)

4.11%:  

Percent Of Mortgage Loans In Foreclosure During December 2011. (Lender Processing Services, 1/27/12)

2.5%:  

Decline In Median Home Sale Price In The Last Year. (National Association Of Realtors, 1/20/12)

3:  

Record +$1 Trillion Deficits On Obama’s Watch. (CBO, 10/7/11)

2.3%:  

Decline In Median Household Income In 2010. (U.S. Census Bureau, 9/13/11)

0:  

Other People Obama Will Have Left To Blame For The Failures Of His Economic Policies In 2012. (The American People, 11/6/12)

AMERICA’S MISSING WORKERS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF THE LABOR FORCE BY THREE YEARS OF OBAMA’S FAILED POLICIES

The Economy Remains In “By Far The Worst Jobs Recovery Since The Great Depression.” “Even with the recent gains, this is also by far the worst jobs recovery since the Great Depression, and the U.S. still has about 5.5 million fewer jobs than it did before the recession began in December 2007.” (Editorial, “The January Jobs Thaw,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/4/12)

 “There Are Currently Over 3 Million ‘Missing’ Workers Who Should Be Participating In The Labor Force But Are Not Actively Seeking Work.” (“Jobs Preview 2012:The Year of the Missing Worker,” Hamilton Place Strategies, 1/2012)

• If Those Missing Workers Were In The Labor Force, Unemployment Would Be 10.4 Percent. “How is labor force participation looking today? At 64 percent, it is well below the peak of 67 percent during the dotcom bubble, and significantly below the steady state of 66 percent we saw during the 2000s.  Given the Baby Boom retirement and other demographic shifts, CBO projections expected it to be declining – 65.3percent at the beginning of 2012.  We are now 1.3 percentage points below tha tdemographic estimate, the equivalent of 3.2 million ‘missing’ workers. If the ‘missing’ people were in the labor force, the unemployment rate today would be 10.4 percent, not the current 8.5 percent.”  (“Jobs Preview 2012:The Year of the Missing Worker,” Hamilton Place Strategies, 1/2012)

Labor Force Growth Has Lagged Since The Recession Ended. “The size of the labor force makes a big difference in the unemployment rate, and labor force growth has been lagging estimates since the end of the recession –many people have either dropped out of the labor force, or have not entered in the first place.”  (“Jobs Preview 2012:The Year of the Missing Worker,” Hamilton Place Strategies, 1/2012)

• Labor Force Participation Decreased Due To The Increase Of Discouraged Workers And Fewer People Entering The Workforce. “The number of ‘discouraged workers’ — those who have given up looking for work and thus aren't counted as being part of the labor force — went up to 1.1 million from 950,000 in December. Also, slightly fewer people either reentered the workforce or entered it for the first time. Those are among the reasons why the ‘labor force participation rate’ went down to 63.7 percent from 64 percent in December.”  (Mark Memmott, “Unemployment Rate Edges Down To 8.3 Percent,” NPR’s “The Two-Way,” 2/3/12)
• If And When Missing Workers Return To The Labor Force, There Will Be “Significant Upward Pressure On The Unemployment Rate.” “This is the ‘no-win’ situation the President faces as he begins his reelection campaign.  Even as we have seen a marginal improvement in economic activity at the end of 2011, we have not yet seen a return of the ‘missing’ labor force.  As these workers return, there will be significant upward pressure on the unemployment rate.” (“Jobs Preview 2012:The Year of the Missing Worker,” Hamilton Place Strategies, 1/2012)

In January, The Number Of Working Age Adults Not In The Work Force Increased By 88,000. “In January, working-age adults not participating in the labor force–those neither employed nor looking for work–increased by 88,000. Morici said many adults have quit looking for work altogether so the unemployment rate should be higher.” (Susanna Kim, “U.S. Jobs Report Skepticism: As Good As It Gets?” ABC News, 2/3/12)

 “If The Size Of The U.S. Labor Force As A Share Of The Total Population Was The Same As It Was When Barack Obama Took Office—65.7 Percent Then Vs. 63.7 Percent Today—The U-3 Unemployment Rate Would Be 11.0 Percent.” (James Pethokoukis, “Why The Official 8.3 Percent Unemployment Rate Is A Phony Number—And What It Means For Obama’s Reelection,” The American, 2/3/12)

• If The Participation Rate Was The Same As One Year Ago, The Unemployment Rate Would Be 8.9 Percent. “But let’s not go all the way back to January 2009. In January 2011, the unemployment rate was 9.1 percent with a participation rate of 64.2 percent. If that were the participation rate today, the unemployment rate would be 8.9 percent, instead of 8.3 percent.” (James Pethokoukis, “Why The Official 8.3 Percent Unemployment Rate Is A Phony Number—And What It Means For Obama’s Reelection,” The American, 2/3/12)

• The Unemployment Rate Would Be A Point Higher If It Counted The Thousands Who Have Given Up Looking For Work.  “A major reason that the jobless rate has gone from 9.9 percent to 8.5 percent in the past two years is that many thousands of people have given up looking for work. If the workers who dropped out were counted as unemployed, the jobless rate would be a full point higher, said Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the liberal-leaning Economic Policy Institute.” (Michael Fletcher, “Falling Jobless Rate Is Good News For Obama,” The Washington Post, 1/6/11)

Since November 2010, The Number Of Those Who Want Jobs But Aren’t Counted In The Work Force Has Risen To 6 Million. “There are all sorts of possibilities. Some stay at home, or decide to enroll in school, or focus on raising kids, or simply bide their time until the job market improves. The number of workers who want a job but aren’t counted in the labor force rose by 110,000 last month, and has risen since last November to about 6.1 million people.” (Brad Plumer, “Why Are People Dropping Out Of The Labor Force?” The Washington Post’s “Wonk Blog,” 12/2/11)

• There Are 6 Million “Drop-Outs” Who Have Stopped Looking For Work. “One of the unanswered mysteries about the economy today isn't just where the jobs are, but where the drop-outs are. Those ‘drop-outs’ are the 6 million would-be workers who are not counted in the labor force because they've stopped actively seeking more work, even if they're very much hoping for more work.” (Derek Thompson, “Who Are The 6 Million?” The Atlantic, 12/29/11)

 Obama: “At This Rate, The Question Isn't Just ‘Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?’, It's ‘Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Weeks Ago?’” (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Reno, NV, 10/25/08)

OBAMA CAMPAIGNED SAYING THAT HELPING HOMEOWNERS WAS “ESPECIALLY CRITICAL HERE IN NEVADA”

PROMISE: Obama Promised Nevadans That He Would “Act Quickly To Help People Stay In Their Homes” “I'll also act quickly to help people stay in their homes, something that's especially critical here in Nevada where foreclosure rates are five times the national average. I'll help responsible homeowners refinance their mortgages on affordable terms, and put in place a three-month moratorium on foreclosures to give folks the breathing room they need to get back on their feet. And I won't let banks and lenders off the hook when it was their greed and irresponsibility that got us into this mess.” (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Reno, NV, 10/25/08)

FAILURE: Obama’s “Mosaic” Of Housing Policies Is “Entering Its Fourth Year Of Weak Sales And High Foreclosures.” "The proposal, to be released in the coming weeks, is the latest addition to a mosaic of Obama administration programs aimed at boosting the housing market, which is entering its fourth year of weak sales and high foreclosures." (Lorraine Woellert, "Obama Pushes Proposal To Streamline Refinancing For Homeowners," Bloomberg, 1/25/12)

Under Obama’s Housing Programs “Fewer Than 1,000 Loans Have Refinanced.”  "Haven't similar programs been tried before? Yes. But those programs put in place a series of rules designed to ensure that government entities weren't taking on more risk by allowing investors and banks to offload risky mortgages onto the government. In 2010, for example, the Obama administration rolled out a program to let underwater borrowers refinance through the FHA, but that program required banks to first write down loan balances so that borrowers could qualify under existing rules. Fewer than 1,000 loans have refinanced through the program. Congress approved a more complicated version of this idea in spring 2008 called Hope for Homeowners, but it also resulted in just a few hundred refinances." (Nick Timiraos, "Six Questions On Obama's Mortgage Refinance Proposal," The Wall Street Journal, 1/25/12)

After Four Years, Housing Is Still “Especially Critical Here In Nevada”

“For 60 Consecutive Months, Nevada Has Had The Highest Foreclosure Rate Of Any State. That's Five Long, Painful Years.” (Dana Bash and Deirdre Walsh, “No Silver Lining In Housing Market As Nevada Votes,” CNN, 2/3/12)

“More Than 6 Percent Of Nevada Housing Units (One In 16) Had At Least One Foreclosure Filing In 2011, Giving It The Nation’s Highest State Foreclosure Rate For The Fifth Consecutive Year” (RealtyTrac, “2011 Year-End Foreclosure Market Report: Foreclosures On The Retreat,” Press Release, 1/12/12)

• “[L]as Vegas Posted The Nation’s Top Foreclosure Rate For The Year Among Metropolitan Statistical Areas…” “With 7.38 percent of its housing units (one in 14) with at least one foreclosure filing in 2011, Las Vegas posted the nation’s top foreclosure rate for the year among metropolitan statistical areas with a population of 200,000 or more.” (RealtyTrac, “2011 Year-End Foreclosure Market Report: Foreclosures On The Retreat,” Press Release, 1/12/12)

In Nevada, Nearly Two-Thirds Of Homeowners Are Underwater On Their Mortgages. "Data earlier this year from CoreLogic.com showed that nearly two-in-three Nevada homeowners owed more on their property than their homes were worth - a situation also known as being 'underwater.' Nevada was followed by Arizona (51 percent), Florida (47 percent) and Michigan (36 percent) in terms of underwater loans." (Aaron Blake, "Obama And The Politics Of The Housing Foreclosure Crisis," The Washington Post 's “The Fix ,“ 10/24/11)

IN 2008, OBAMA PROMISED NEVADANS THAT HIS HEALTH CARE PLAN WOULD LOWER PREMIUMS

PROMISE: Obama Said That Under His Plan, Americans Would See “Lower Premiums.” “If you 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, Reno, NV, 10/25/08)

FAILURE: 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: “Insurance Premiums Have Gone Up . . .” "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)

Kaiser Study Found That Costs Of Family Coverage “Climbed” 9 Percent In 2011. “The average cost of a family policy climbed 9 percent in 2011 to $15,073, according to a poll of 2,088 private companies and state and local government agencies by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in Menlo Park, California, and the Chicago- based American Hospital Association’s Health Research and Educational Trust.” (Jeffrey Young, “Health-Benefit Costs Rise Most In Six Years,” Bloomberg, 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)

Nevada Received A Waiver From ObamaCare To Avoid “Destabilization”

The Obama Administration Gave Nevada A Statewide Waiver From ObamaCare To Avoid “Destabilization Of The Individual Market.” “The Health and Human Services Department announced late Friday that Nevada had secured a statewide waiver from certain implementation requirements of the Obama administration’s health care law, because forcing them through, the department found, ‘may lead to the destabilization of the individual market.’” (Karoun Demirjian, “Nevada Secures Partial Waiver From Federal Health Care Law,” Las Vegas Sun, 5/16/11)

• Nevada Received A Waiver Reducing The Requirement Of Revenue Spent On Medical Expenses From 80 Percent To 75 Percent Due To Fears It Would Drive Golden Rule And Aetna From The Insurance Market. “Nevada’s Insurance Division had appealed to the feds to reduce the federal requirement that health plans serving people who buy insurance on their own must spend at least 80 percent of the money they collect on medical expenses. Under the national rule, companies that don’t spend that percentage of revenue on medical costs have to cut policyholders rebate checks starting this year. Nevada asked that requirement be reduced to 72 percent for one year, arguing that top insurance providers would be so strapped to make the payments that they’d exit the state market. Health and Human Services didn’t fully buy that argument, but did agree to reduce the requirement to 75 percent for a year, expressing concern about what might happen to people with policies from insurers Golden Rule and Aetna if they didn’t.” (Karoun Demirjian, “Nevada Secures Partial Waiver From Federal Health Care Law,” Las Vegas Sun, 5/16/11)

IN 2008, OBAMA PROMISED TO CREATE GREEN ENERGY JOBS AND REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL

PROMISE: Obama Said He Would “Create Five Million” New Jobs And “End Our Dependence On Oil From Middle East Dictators.” “If I am President, I will invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy to create five million new, green jobs over the next decade - jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced; jobs building solar panels and wind turbines and fuel-efficient cars; jobs that will help us end our dependence on oil from Middle East dictators.” (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Reno, NV, 10/25/08)

FAILURE: Obama Has Taken Credit For 2.7 Million Green Energy Jobs That He Did Not Create. “The Brookings Institution study refers to 2.7 million workers currently employed by the clean economy — not the number of jobs created by Obama, which a viewer might interpret from the ad. The report found that ‘clean economy establishments’ added half a million jobs between 2003 and 2010, comprising six years of the Bush administration.” (“AdWatch: Obama’s 1^st Campaign TV Ad Defends His Energy Record Without Feel-Good Images,” The Associated Press, 1/20/12)

Obama’s $38.6 Billion Green Loan Program Created Only 3,500 Jobs, But Obama Had Predicted It Would Save Or Create 65,000. “The Washington Post reported in September that Mr. Obama’s $38.6 billion green loan program had created a mere 3,500 jobs over two years. He had predicted it would ‘save or create’ 65,000.” (Editorial, “The Non-Green Job Boom,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/28/11)

• Obama’s $500 Million Program Designed To Train Workers For Green Jobs “Has Come Up Far Short Of Its Goals.” “The Labor Department's inspector general says a $500 million program designed to train workers for green jobs has come up far short of its goals. A report finds that only about 8,000 people participating in the program have actually found work so far. That's just 10 percent of the target goal of placing 80,000 workers in careers in energy efficiency or renewable energy by 2013.” (“Report Says Green Jobs Program Far Short Of Goals,” The Associated Press, 10/3/11)

It Is “Absolutely Not True” That Obama’s Policies Have Helped Wean The U.S. From Foreign Oil. “When asked, though, whether the Obama administration's policies have helped wean the U.S. from foreign oil, [Oppenheimer & Co. energy analyst Fadel] Gheit was equally emphatic. ‘Absolutely not true,’ Gheit said. ‘It was all market driven and all through American ingenuity….It was no thanks to Washington, not thanks to lobbyists, not thanks to anybody.’” (Josh Gerstein, “What Obama’s First Ad Doesn’t Say,” Politico’s "Under The Radar", 1/19/12)

The Obama Administration Denied A Permit To Build The Keystone Pipeline. “The Obama administration announced Wednesday that it will deny a permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline, an important link between a U.S. market that's thirsty for energy and a rich source of petroleum in nice, stable, neighborly Canada.” (Editorial, “Pipeline Politics: Misguided Obama Blocks Keystone Pipeline,” Chicago Tribune, 1/19/12)

• “The Oil From Canada Could Ultimately Supplant Much Of The Oil The United States Imports From The Middle East And Other Unstable Regions. It Could Give The Country A Measure Of Energy Security.” (Editorial, “Pipeline Delay An Insult To Jobless,” The Detroit News, 11/14/11)

THE CAMPAIGNER-IN-CHIEF HAS SET HIS SIGHTS ON HISPANIC VOTERS

Obama Has A Version Of His Campaign Message “Customized For The Latino Audience.” “President Barack Obama’s got a version of his ‘We can’t wait’ drive customized for the Latino audience. Never heard of it? Unless you’re a Latino voter, that’s no surprise.” (Josh Gerstein, “Obama’s Custom-Tailored Latino Pitch,” Politico, 1/29/12)

Over The Past Few Months, Obama Has Issued A Series Executive Orders That Get “Huge Coverage” In Media Outlets Favored By Hispanics.  “Over the past few months, the Obama administration has rolled out a series of executive actions that often garner little attention from the English-language press but get huge coverage in the Spanish-language media and other outlets favored by Hispanics.” (Josh Gerstein, “Obama’s Custom-Tailored Latino Pitch,” Politico, 1/29/12)

• “And Obama’s Team Is Heavily Promoting His Actions To Their Target Audience.” “As Obama’s GOP rivals face the primaries’ first sizable group of Latino voters, in Florida, the president’s use of executive power to court the potentially pivotal demographic group already is well under way. And Obama’s team is heavily promoting his actions to their target audience.” (Josh Gerstein, “Obama’s Custom-Tailored Latino Pitch,” Politico, 1/29/12)

“Obama Is Courting Hispanics In Politically Important States.” “President Barack Obama is courting Hispanics in politically important states, setting himself up as a champion of the crucial Latino voting bloc and as a foil to Republican candidates fighting for a share of support from the same groups.” (Jim Kuhnhenn, “Obama Courts Latino Vote On Economic Tour,” The Associated Press, 1/27/12)

BUT OBAMA CANNOT RUN FROM THE EMPTY PROMISES HE HAS MADE TO HISPANICS

Obama Has Failed To Make Immigration Reform A “Top Priority”

PROMISE: During The Campaign, Obama Said He Would Make Immigration A “Top Priority.” OBAMA: “And I will make it a top priority in my first year as President. Not just because we need to secure our borders and get control of who comes into our country. And not just because we have to crack down on employers abusing undocumented immigrants. But because we have to finally bring those 12 million people out of the shadows.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At National Council Of La Raza, San Diego, CA, 7/13/08)

• “Obama Made The Promise To Latino Leaders To Take Up Immigration Reform In His First Year...” (Carolyn Lochhead, “Obama’s Big Risk,” San Francisco Chronicle, 1/28/08)

FAILURE: Immigration Activists Are Disappointed Obama Hasn’t Made Immigration Policy A Priority. “Many activists blame the White House for not making the issue more of a priority, and Tuesday's speech is an effort, in part, to shift attention to Republicans who are blocking action.” (Laura Meckler, “Obama To Travel To Texas To Push For Immigration Legislation,” The Wall Street  Journal, 5/8/11)

“But Immigration Is A Tricky, Slippery Issue For The President, Who Hasn’t Exactly Made It A Front-Burner Priority.” (Glenn Thrush, “Obama’s Secret Weapon With Hispanics: Social Security?” Politico, 1/30/12)

Obama Needs The Hispanic Community In 2012, But So Far, They Have Little Reason To Support Him. “Mr. Obama and his fellow Democrats need strong support from the Hispanic community in 2012, but the president has little to show for his promise to pass legislation giving some illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship.” (Laura Meckler, “Obama To Travel To Texas To Push For Immigration Legislation,” The Wall Street  Journal, 5/8/11)

Immigration Activists Are Making Sure Obama’s Broken Promise Is Not Forgotten Or Forgiven. “And that comment is, to the Latino community, a key broken promise. Ramos, for one, is making certain it’s not forgotten, and that the administration pays for breaking it.” (Ezra Klein, “Wonkbook: Obama’s Belated Immigration Push,” The Washington Post, 5/9/11)

Hispanic Leaders Are Frustrated And Disappointed At Obama’s Lack Of Action On Obama’s Promised “Absolute Top Priority.” “But some Hispanic leaders have expressed frustration at the lack of action on overhauling immigration policy, the death of the DREAM Act and a high rate of deportations under Obama’s watch. ‘It was at our annual conference when he was a candidate that he did make a promise that comprehensive immigration reform would be an absolute top priority,’ Janet Murguia, La Raza’s president and CEO, told NPR Monday. ‘And I think it’s been disappointing for many of us in the Latino community.’” (Julie Mason, “Obama: Immigration Reform Stalled By GOP,” Politico, 7/25/11)

Obama’s 2011 Immigration Speech Should Be “Understood — And Analyzed — As A Political Document Rather Than A Policy One.” “President Obama’s speech Tuesday in Texas was cast as an attempt at restarting the conversation about comprehensive immigration reform but will almost certainly land with a dull thud in a Congress wary of taking on an issue so fraught with political pitfalls. Obama, of course, knows that. And so, his speech today is rightly understood — and analyzed — as a political document rather than a policy one.” (Chris Cillizza, “What President Obama’s Immigration Speech Tells Us About 2012,”  The Washington Post’s “The Fix” Blog, 5/10/11)

• MSNBC’s Chuck Todd: “No, there was nothing new as far as the President’s either legislative strategy or where he is on the policy. That was as much of a campaign speech as we have seen the President give in a couple of years that wasn't related to an actual fundraising event. I mean, you look at the music as he's leaving, the way he began it. It was very, obviously being in an outdoor venue so it a little bit of the extra umph to it that outdoor venues offer, it was very upbeat and campaigny and frankly, that's what this -- it's hard not to look at what he's doing and not view it through the prism of about 2012 and the fact that he knows Hispanic voters can put him over the top in about half of the swing states.” (MSNBC’s “Martin Bashir,” 5/10/11)

Obama’s Failure On The Economy Has Replaced Immigration As The Key Issue For Hispanics

Obama’s Failed Approach To Economic Policy Has Replaced Immigration As A Key Issue For Hispanics In 2012.  “The poll showed that the economy has replaced immigration as the key issue for Hispanics. They, like many Americans, were put off by the battle over the nation's debt ceiling and deficit reduction that concluded in early August.” (Richard Wolf, “Obama’s Support Among Hispanics Slipping,” USA Today 8/23/11)

January 2012: 54 Percent Of Latinos Say The Economic Downturn Has Left Them Harder Hit Than Other Groups In America. “Fully 54% say Hispanics have been hurt more than other groups by the economic downturn of the past four years, while just 5% say they have been hurt less. Some 38% say Hispanics have been affected about as much as other groups.” (Paul Taylor, Mark Hugo Lopez, Gabriel Velasco, And Seth Motel, “Hispanics Say They Have The Worst Of A Bad Economy,” Pew Research Center, 1/26/12)

• 59 Percent Say Someone In Their Household Has Been Out Of Work In The Past Year. (Paul Taylor, Mark Hugo Lopez, Gabriel Velasco, And Seth Motel, “Hispanics Say They Have The Worst Of A Bad Economy,” Pew Research Center, 1/26/12)
  
  
• 75 Percent Say Their Finances Are “Only Fair” Or In “Poor” Shape. (Paul Taylor, Mark Hugo Lopez, Gabriel Velasco, And Seth Motel, “Hispanics Say They Have The Worst Of A Bad Economy,” Pew Research Center, 1/26/12)
  
  

Since President Obama Took Office, The Unemployment Rate For Hispanics Has Increased From 10.0 Percent To 10.5 Percent. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 2/3/12)

Between 2008 And 2010, 2.3 Million Hispanic-Americans Fell Into Poverty And The Poverty Rate For Hispanic-Americans Increased From 23.2 Percent To 26.6 Percent. (People With Income Below Specified Ratios Of Their Poverty Thresholds By Selected Characteristics, 2008, US Census Bureau, 9/10/2009; People And Families In Poverty By Selected Characteristics: 2009 And 2010, US Census Bureau, 9/13/11)

• “Hispanics Now Make Up The Largest Group Of Children Living In Poverty.” “Hispanics now make up the largest group of children living in poverty, the first time in U.S. history that poor white kids have been outnumbered by poor children of another race or ethnicity, according to a new study.” (Carol Morello and Ted Mellnik, “Hispanic Kids The Largest Group Of Children Living In Poverty,” The Washington Post, 9/28/11)

Between 2009 And 2010, The Median Income For Hispanic Households Fell 2.3 Percent, From $38,667 To $37,759. (“Income, Poverty, And Health Insurance Coverage In The United States, 2010,” US Census Bureau, 9/13/11)

And While Obama’s Health Care Legislation Promised Them Coverage, Hispanics’ Uninsured Rate Has Climbed

PROMISE: In 2008, Senator Obama Said The Election Was About The One In Three Hispanics Who Don’t Have Health Care Coverage. “This election is about the 45 million Americans who don't have health care - one in three Hispanics- and about the small business owners who can barely stay afloat because of rising health care costs. They're counting on us to guarantee health care for anyone who needs it and make it affordable for anyone who wants it. That's what I'll do as President.” (Senator Barack Obama, “Remarks To The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Gala,” Washington, DC, 9/10/08)

FAILURE: Under Obama, “The Uninsured Rate Has Been Increasing Since 2008.” “More American adults lacked health insurance coverage last year than in any year since Gallup and Healthways started tracking it in 2008. The uninsured rate has been increasing since 2008, climbing to 17.1% in 2011.” (Elizabeth Mendes, “More Americans Uninsured In 2011,” Gallup, 1/24/12)

• “More Than 40%” Of Hispanics and “30% Of Low-Income Americans” Were Uninsured In 2011. “Hispanic Americans continue to be the most likely to be uninsured, with more than 40% going without health coverage in 2011, the highest Gallup has found for any key group since it began tracking in 2008. More than 30% of low-income Americans were uninsured in 2011 -- a figure that has been rising since 2008, when it was 26.4%.” (Elizabeth Mendes, “More Americans Uninsured In 2011,” Gallup, 1/24/12)
• Gallup: “Groups that were already among the least likely to have coverage -- Hispanics, low-income Americans, and blacks -- have become even more likely to be uninsured.” (Elizabeth Mendes, “More Americans Uninsured In 2011,” Gallup, 1/24/12)

SO IT’S NO WONDER THAT OBAMA’S POPULARITY HAS “COOLED”

“Obama’s Generic Popularity With Latinos, Overall, Has Cooled.” (Glenn Thrush, “9 Numbers Obama Will Watch In 2012,”Politico, 12/25/11)

Obama’s Job Approval Rating Has Dropped To 49 Percent Among Latinos. “The poll indicates there is still room for Republicans to maneuver. Mr. Obama’s overall approval has dropped sharply among Latinos in the last year – to 49 percent from 58 percent.” (Julia Preston, “Latinos Support Obama, Despite Deportation Policies,” The New York Times, 12/28/11)

• 56 Percent Of Latinos Say They Are Dissatisfied With The Direction The Country Is Headed, While Just 38 Percent Say They Are Satisfied. (Pew Hispanic Center Poll, 1,220 LA, MoE 3.6%, 11/9 – 12/7/11)