Research Briefing

While He Tries To Feel Ohioans’ Anger In Lorain County Today, Obama Fails To Notice It’s Him They’re Angry With

Obama Continues Main Street Jobs Tour In Lorain County, Ohio. “During the visit, Obama will hold a town hall meeting at Lorain County Community College where he’ll discuss how to improve the economy and increase jobs with students, workers, business and civic leaders.” (Sabrina Eaton, “Obama’s Upcoming Ohio Trip Will Give The President Ideas, Adviser David Axelrod Says: Video,” The Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1/19/10)

AFTER LOSS IN BAY STATE, OBAMA BRINGING “CONFRONTATIONAL” TONE TO BUCKEYE STATE

Obama Taking Increasingly “Confrontational Political Tone” In “Departure From His Olive Branches.” “Obama’s trip to Massachusetts on Sunday comes as he and his administration have adopted a more confrontational political tone. In a departure from his olive branches to the GOP a year ago, Obama on Thursday welcomed a fight with Republicans on healthcare. ‘Let me tell you something, if Republicans want to campaign against something by standing up for the status quo and for insurance companies over families and businesses, that is a fight I want to have,’ Obama said Thursday.” (Ian Swanson, “President Obama Revives Fiery Rhetoric For Campaign Season,” The Hill, 1/16/10)

With “Mood In The Country Souring Against Democrats,” Obama “Picking Up His Pitchfork.” “But through it all – a global meltdown, 10 percent unemployment, mega-buck bonuses – President Barack Obama resisted feeding the wave of populist anger sweeping the nation. Now, with the mood in the country souring against Democrats, Obama is picking up his pitchfork — trying to harness that popular angst and turn it to the Democrats’ political advantage.” (Josh Gerstein & Victoria McGrane, “Obama Looks To Tap Populist Anger,” Politico, 1/19/10)

Obama Shifting From “Measured Tones” To “Fiery Campaign Rhetoric.” “President Barack Obama this month has shifted from the measured tones he used throughout 2009 to push his policies, reviving his fiery campaign rhetoric that helped him win the White House.” (Ian Swanson, “President Obama Revives Fiery Rhetoric For Campaign Season,” The Hill, 1/16/10)

BECAUSE DEMS DESPERATE FOR PIVOT TO JOBS IN FACE OF RISING VOTER ANGER

After Massachusetts Loss, Some Dems Worry That If They Don’t “Recalibrate,” They “Not Only … Risk Looking Ignorant But Arrogant.” Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY): “If there isn’t any recognition that we got the message and we are trying to recalibrate and do things differently, we are not only going to risk looking ignorant but arrogant.” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “Weiner: Dems Should Take A Step Back From Health Care,” Politico’s “Live Pulse” Blog, 1/19/10)

Democratic Defeats In Virginia, New Jersey Last November Showed “Voters Nervous About The Economy And Fed Up With The Political Establishment Dominated The Off-Year Elections, Sending A Strong Message To President Barack Obama …” (Beth Fouhy, “Analysis: Nervous Voters Send Message To Obama,” The Associated Press, 11/4/09)

So “Frustrated Democrats” Want White House To Turn Their Attention To Jobs. “Wounded in Massachusetts, frustrated Democrats on Wednesday urged the White House to focus on jobs and the economy — not the health care overhaul that’s now at risk.” (Liz Sidoti, “Democrats See Mass. Message: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs,” The Associated Press, 1/20/10)

DGA Chair Gov. Jack Markell Says Unemployment Is “Our Problem.” “Markell predicted that once the unemployment rate starts to go down, some of the anger in the electorate will ease. ‘Until then, it’s our problem,’ he said.” (Dan Balz and Paul Kane, “After Massachusetts Loss, Democrats Vow To Focus On Economy, Jobs,” The Washington Post, 1/21/10)

• Markell: “[P]eople In Power … Are Seen As The People Who Are Responsible… We Have An Affirmative Responsibility To Do Something About These Issues.” (Dan Balz and Paul Kane, “After Massachusetts Loss, Democrats Vow To Focus On Economy, Jobs,” The Washington Post, 1/21/10)

BUT OBAMA DOESN’T REALIZE THAT HE’S THE ONE OHIOANS ARE ANGRY WITH

54% Of Ohioans Now Disapprove Of President Obama’s Job Performance, With 41% Disapproving. (Rasmussen Reports Ohio Survey, 500 LVs, MoE +/- 4.5, 1/12/10)

• 56% Oppose Of The Health Care Plan “Proposed By President Obama And The Congressional Democrats,” With 49% Strongly Opposing. (Rasmussen Reports Ohio Survey, 500 LVs, MoE +/- 4.5, 1/12/10)

BECAUSE HE USED ECONOMIC CRISIS TO PUSH HIS BINGE SPENDING AGENDA …

“Barack Obama’s Big Bang ... Theory Was Simple ... Use A Season Of Economic Anxiety To Enact Sweeping Changes The Public Likely Wouldn’t Stomach In Ordinary Times.” (Mike Allen And Jim VandeHei, “Obama’s Big Bang Could Go Bust,” Politico, 8/21/09)

So Obama Pushed Massive Binge Spending Agenda That Will Create $9.1 Trillion In Debt Over Next Decade. (“An Analysis Of The President’s Budgetary Proposals For Fiscal Year 2010,” Congressional Budget Office, June 2009; Public Debt, www.treasurydirect.gov, Accessed 7/20/09)

• That Included His $787 Billion Stimulus That Has Failed To Prevent Double-Digit Unemployment. (U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 1/19/10)

• His Cap-And-Trade National Energy Tax That Could Mean 1 Million Jobs Lost Per Year. “Overall, a cap-and-trade system that reduces annual GDP by 0.34 percent per year can be expected to reduce U.S. employment by roughly 964,900 jobs per year ...” (Andrew Chamberlain, “Who Pays For Climate Policy?,” Tax Foundation, 3/09)

• And His $2.5 Trillion Government-Run Health Care Experiment. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT): “Just for a second -- health care reform, whether you use a ten-year number or when you start in 2010 or start in 2014, wherever you start at, so it is still either $1 trillion or its $2.5 trillion, depending on where you start...” (Sen. Max Baucus, Floor Remarks, 12/2/09)

Obama’s Proposed Tax On Medical Devices Has Resulted In Hiring Freeze At One Lorain County’s Largest Factories. “But in the short run, some of his policies could cost existing jobs, especially health-care reform if it is enacted. One of the few large businesses that has prospered in Lorain County in recent years has been Invacare, a maker of home medical devices, such as walkers and wheelchairs. The company has 1,300 employees in Lorain County but has stopped hiring in anticipation of a tax on medical devices that was proposed to help pay for the president's health-care reform plan.” (Michael A. Fletcher, “Assessing Obama’s Promises Of Jobs In A Hub Of Manufacturing,” The Washington Post, 1/21/10)

INSTEAD OF CREATING JOBS IN OHIO

Last Time Obama Was In Lorain County He Told Workers At A Drywall Factory That He “Would Pursue A Job-Creation Agenda.” “The last time Barack Obama came to this struggling blue-collar city was during the 2008 presidential primary campaign, when he told workers at the National Gypsum's drywall factory that if elected he would pursue a job-creation agenda.’” (Michael A. Fletcher, “Assessing Obama’s Promises Of Jobs In A Hub Of Manufacturing,” The Washington Post, 1/21/10)

• But Drywall Factory Is Now Closed, Resulting In The Loss Of 58 Jobs. “Now, as President Obama returns here Friday, the drywall plant is closed, its 58 jobs victims of a steep downturn in housing construction.”  (Michael A. Fletcher, “Assessing Obama’s Promises Of Jobs In A Hub Of Manufacturing,” The Washington Post, 1/21/10)

And Obama’s Bailout Of Automakers Has Resulted In Hundreds Of Lost Jobs In Lorain County. “The auto bailout itself was problematic, Giardini continued, as it led to the elimination of 1,900 General Motors and Chrysler dealers, including 120 in Ohio and five in Lorain County. ‘That was a mistake the administration made thinking fewer dealers would help the manufacturers. It is just the opposite,’ Giardini said. ‘Multiply each of those dealerships by about 30, that's how many jobs you are talking about. Good jobs.’” (Michael A. Fletcher, “Assessing Obama’s Promises Of Jobs In A Hub Of Manufacturing,” The Washington Post, 1/21/10)

But Since The Stimulus Was Signed, Over 142,000 Jobs Have Been Lost In Ohio. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 1/21/10)

• In November, State Unemployment Hit 10.6%. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 1/21/10)

• When The Stimulus Was Signed, Unemployment Was 9.5%. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 1/21/10)