Research Briefing

As The Economy Falters, Obama’s New Plan Is To Blame The Democrat-Controlled Congress

The New York Times Editorial Board: “If President Obama Has A Big Economic Initiative Up His Sleeve, As He Hinted Recently, Now Would Be A Good Time To Let The Rest Of Us In On It.” (Editorial, “Waiting For Mr. Obama,” The New York Times, 8/28/10)

OBAMA’S NEW PLAN FOR THE STRUGGLING ECONOMY: BLAME CONGRESS 

NBC’s Brian Williams Asks Obama If He Has A New Plan For The Economy. “Let's talk about another topic that's part of the firmament here and everywhere and that's the economy. The New York Times said this weekend, President Obama has another new plan on the economy, now would be a good time to find out about it. Do you have anything new on the economy and while you've been away, we had a horrible GDP number last week.”  (NBC’s “Nightly News” 8/29/10)

Obama Responds By Blaming Congress. “Well, look, we anticipated that the recovery was slowing. The economy is still growing, but it's not growing as fast as it needs to.  I've got things right now before Congress that we should move immediately. And I said so before I went on vacation and I’ll keep on saying it now that I’m back. We should be passing legislation that helps small businesses get credit.” (NBC’s “Nightly News” 8/29/10)

A Tactic He’s Used Before, Even Though Democrats Control Congress.  “According to the president, he's been ‘adamant’ with Congress for months now about a new jobs bill to help small businesses. Obama says this really good bill is stalled in the Senate, where so much administration legislation has been crammed through so effectively by Majority Leader Harry Reid. … So, that means Harry Reid must be a Democrat, just like Obama, and just like 59% of the Senate's votes.  The very same party that has controlled both houses of Congress since the 2006 election and really controlled them both since the 2008 hopey-changey balloting.” (Andrew Malcolm, “Obama Now Blames Poor Job Numbers On Congressional Inaction.  Wait! His Party Runs Congress,” Los Angeles Times’ “Top Of The Ticket,” Blog, 8/20/10)

FLASHBACK:  IN 2009 OBAMA SAID HE WOULD “GLADLY ACCEPT” RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ECONOMY

SUMMER 2009: Obama Takes Ownership Of The Economy Saying “Give It To Me.” “Now, my administration has a job to do, as well, and that job is to get this economy back on its feet.  That's my job.  And it's a job I gladly accept.  I love these folks who helped get us in this mess and then suddenly say, well, this is Obama's economy.  That's fine.  Give it to me.  My job is to solve problems, not to stand on the sidelines and harp and gripe.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks By The President On The American Graduation Initiative, Warren, MI, 7/14/09)

The Associated Press: “With Four Simple Words — ‘Give It To Me!’ — President Barack Obama Took Possession Of The Economy.” (Jim Kuhnehenn, “Give It To Me! Obama Takes Charge Of Economy,” The Associated Press, 7/15/09) 

With His Speech In Michigan, Obama “Made The Pivot” From “Inheritance To Ownership” On The Economy.  “For months, the White House and Obama's economic team have laid the economic crisis at the feet of President George W. Bush. But there comes a point in a presidency when inheritance becomes ownership. Obama made that pivot Tuesday in Michigan, the state suffering the worst unemployment in the nation.”  (Jim Kuhnehenn, “Give It To Me! Obama Takes Charge Of Economy,” The Associated Press, 7/15/09)

SUMMER 2010: “President Obama This Summer Has Repeatedly Blamed George W. Bush For The Nation’s Economic Woes, A Year After He Took Ownership Of The Economy And Criticized Those Who ‘Carp And Gripe.’” (Bob Cusack, “A Year After Claiming The Economy As His Own, Obama Points Finger,” The Hill, 8/21/10)

• With Low Approval Ratings, Obama Is No Longer Taking Responsibility For The Economy. “The White House’s effort to tie congressional Republicans to Obama’s predecessor comes less than three months before the midterm elections. But the president’s campaign speeches this summer contrast to a speech he delivered in Michigan last year when his approval ratings were 17 points higher. During a July 14, 2009, address in Warren, Mich., Obama said, ‘Now, my administration has a job to do, as well, and that job is to get this economy back on its feet. That's my job. And it’s a job I gladly accept. I love these folks who helped get us in this mess and then suddenly say, ‘Well, this is Obama’s economy.’ That’s fine. Give it to me. My job is to solve problems, not to stand on the sidelines and carp and gripe.” (Bob Cusack, “A Year After Claiming The Economy As His Own, Obama Points Finger,” The Hill, 8/21/10)

NOW WITH FAILURE OF “RECOVERY SUMMER,” OBAMA LOOKS TO DUCK THE BLAME

MSNBC's Chuck Todd:”I Have To Say These Housing Numbers, This Entire Summer, Remember It Began - The Administration Called It 'Recovery Summer.’ Every Economic Indicator Has Collapsed In The Last Two Months.” (MSNBC’s, "The Daily Rundown," 8/25/10)

The Associated Press: “The Government Is About To Confirm What Many People Have Felt For Some Time: The Economy Barely Has A Pulse.” (Christopher S. Rugaber, “Snapshot Of Economy About To Get A Lot Bleaker,” The Associated Press, 8/27/10)

The New York Times: “Economic Statistics Released Friday Offered The Clearest Sign Yet That The Recovery, Already Acknowledged To Be Sauntering, Had Slowed To A Crawl.” (Motoko Rich, “U.S. Economy Slowed to 1.6% Growth Pace in 2nd Quarter,” The New York Times, 8/27/10)

Mort Zuckerman Writes That Americans Have Reached An “Instinctive Conclusion” That The Stimulus Has Not Worked. “There is an instinctive conclusion among the American public that President Obama's stimulus package has failed to create a sustained recovery. Unemployment has increased, not declined; consumers have retrenched; housing starts have crashed along with mortgage applications; and there is a fear that a double-dip recession may very well be in the pipeline.” (Mortimer Zuckerman, “The Most Fiscally Irresponsible Government in U.S. History,” U.S. News & World Report, 8/26/10)

“Thirty-Four Percent Now Say The Economy Is Getting Worse, Up From 26 Percent Last Month. Only 20 Percent Now Say The Economy Is Getting Better, According To The Poll, Conducted Aug. 20 - 24. The Last Time Views Were This Pessimistic Was April Of 2009.” (“Poll: Americans Growing More Pessimistic about the Economy,” CBS News, 8/26/10)

“Additionally, Americans' Overall Rating Of The Economy Has Been Stagnant This Summer. Over Eight In 10 Say The Economy Is In Bad Shape, And That Negativity Hasn't Budged. Just 17 Percent Of Americans Describe The Nation's Economy As Being In Good Shape.” (“Poll: Americans Growing More Pessimistic about the Economy,” CBS News, 8/26/10)