Research

Obama’s Attempt To Address Gap Between His Rhetoric And Reality Falls Short

Last Night, Obama Used Campaign Slogan, “Change Is,” To Describe His First Terms Accomplishments.  “Reprising a litany of accomplishments from his first term that he’s begun to brand as ‘change is,’ Obama touted the repeal of ‘don’t ask don’t tell,’ end of the Iraq war, and passage of a landmark health care overhaul as promises kept from the 2008 campaign.” (Devin Dwyer, “Obama Raises $1.2M, Promises More ‘Change’ in Primary Eve Stump,” ABC News, 1/9/12)

• “The Formulation Actually Debuted At A Nov. 14 Obama Campaign Event At The Aulani Disney Resort In Hawaii, Where He Declared ‘Change Is’ On 10 Occasions.” (Sam Stein, “Obama Turns To A New Campaign Phrase: 'Change Is,'” The Huffington Post, 12/1/11)

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)

On Jobs

CHANGE WAS: Obama Predicted The Stimulus Would Save Or Create 3.5 Million Jobs. OBAMA: “And tonight, I am grateful that this Congress delivered, and pleased to say that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is now law. Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs.  More than 90% of these jobs will be in the private sector – jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges; constructing wind turbines and solar panels; laying broadband and expanding mass transit.” (President Barack Obama, Address To Joint Session Of Congress, Washington, D.C., 2/24/09)

CHANGE IS: Since President Obama Took Office, The Nation Has Lost 1.7 Million Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 7.8 Percent To 8.5 Percent. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 1/6/12)

On Deficits

CHANGE WAS: Obama Pledged To Cut The Deficit In Half By The End Of His First Term. OBAMA: “And that's why today I'm pledging to cut the deficit we inherited by half by the end of my first term in office.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At The Fiscal Responsibility Summit, Washington, D.C., 2/23/09)

CHANGE IS: President Obama Has Racked Up The Three Largest Deficits In U.S. History. “The U.S budget deficit for fiscal year 2011 is $1.299 trillion, the second largest shortfall in history. The nation only ran a larger deficit for the 2009 fiscal year, which included the dramatic collapse of financial markets and a huge bailout effort by the government.” (Erik Wasson, “Treasury Announces 2011 Deficit Is Second Highest In History,” The Hill’s On The Money, 10/14/11)

• Politifact: “Obama Is The Undisputed Debt King Of The Last Five Presidents.” “So by this measurement -- potentially a more important one -- Obama is the undisputed debt king of the last five presidents, rather than the guy who added a piddling amount to the debt, as Pelosi’s chart suggested.” (“Nancy Pelosi Posts Questionable Chart On Debt Accumulation By Barack Obama, Predecessors,” Politifact, 5/19/11)

On Health Insurance Premiums

CHANGE WAS: Obama Promised His Plan Would “Bring Down Premiums By $2,500 For The Typical Family.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks Of Senator Barack Obama At Campaign Event, Raleigh, NC, 6/9/08)

CHANGE IS: Kaiser Study Finds 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)

• CBO: Premiums For Families Will Increase By $2,100 As A Result Of ObamaCare. “Average premiums per policy in the nongroup market in 2016 would be roughly $5,800 for single policies and $15,200 for family policies under the proposal, compared with roughly $5,500 for single policies and $13,100 for family policies under current law.”  (Douglas W. Elmendorf, CBO Director, Letter To Senator Evan Bayh, 11/30/09)