Research Briefing

VIDEO RESEARCH BRIEFING:

THEY MESSED WITH JOE, PART FIVE

A Week Long Stimulus Anniversary Retrospective

OBAMA PLEDGED

FEBRUARY 24, 2009: Obama Pledged That Joe Biden Would Lead “Unprecedented Oversight Effort” For $862 Billion Stimulus, “Because Nobody Messes With Joe.” “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)

OBAMA DELIVERED:

Stimulus Funds Going To Tennis Courts In Montana & Armored Trucks For Safe City

CNN Investigates $50,000 In Stimulus Funds Used For Tennis Court In Montana. CNN’s David Mattingly: “I came to Bozeman to find a city on thin ice over how it's spending stimulus money -- $50,000 to erase all of these cracks and potholes in city tennis court. … Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer wants to make Bozeman an example of how not to spend stimulus money.” … GOV. BRIAN SCHWEITZER: “What they violated was that rule of common sense. There ought to be that little guy in your head that waves his finger at you and says, wait a minute, we might want to rethink this thing.” (CNN, 1/25/10)

16^th Safest City In America Wants To Use Stimulus Funds To Purchase Armored Truck. WFAA-TV’s Steve Stoler: “But take a look at Frisco’s $259 million request. In addition to the road projects, there’s an armored carrier, similar to this one, for the police department. … Frisco ranks as the 16^th safest city in the country…”  (Steve Stoler, “Frisco Requests Armored Car From Stimulus Check,” WFAA-TV, 2/12/09)

OBAMA DENIES 

Now Obama Claims That We “Have Not Seen Scandal Break Out” On Stimulus With Biden Leading Oversight Effort. “[L]et me just say, by the way, give a compliment to Vice President Biden. He and his team have overseen the Recovery Act. You have not seen scandal break out on a huge endeavor.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At Town Hall Meeting, Tampa, FL, 1/28/10)