A Look Back At The Last Few Months Of The Obama Administration As We Reach The End Of Obama’s Fundraising Quarter

“Freed From The Shackles Of The Summer’s Budget Negotiations With Republicans, President Obama Has Dramatically Picked Up The Pace Of Fundraising For His Re-Election Campaign.” (Richard Wolf, “Obama Revs Up Fundraising For Re-Election Bid,” USA Today, 9/27/11) 

In September Alone, “Obama Has Held 11 Fundraisers, Biden 12 And First Lady Michelle Obama One, With Three More On Her Schedule Friday In Maine And Rhode Island.” (Richard Wolf, “Obama Revs Up Fundraising For Re-Election Bid,” USA Today, 9/27/11)

HIS QUARTER, PRESIDENT ZERO HAS SEEN THE ECONOMY GROW MORE “SICKLY”

This Past Week, Vice President Biden Says Obama’s Responsible For The Economy And That Americans Are Right To Be Mad.  BIDEN: “There’s a lot of people in Florida that have good reason to be upset because they’ve lost jobs. Even though 50 some percent of the American people think the economy tanked because of the last administration, that’s not relevant. What’s relevant is we’re in charge. And right now we are the one’s in charge and it’s gotten better but it hasn’t gotten good enough. And in states like Florida, it’s even been more stagnant because of the real estate market. And so I don’t blame them for being mad. We’re in charge.”(WLRN/Miami Herald News, 9/28/11)

• Click To Listen To Biden Explain That Obama’s The One Responsible For The Economy

   

Obamanomics: Slower Growth, More Poverty, And More Pessimism

The Associated Press: “The Economy Is Sickly, And He’s In Charge.” “The economy is sickly, and he’s in charge. That’s not only threatening his re-election; it’s also making it more difficult to inspire people to open their checkbooks for his campaign.” (Erica Werner, “Fundraiser Obama Works In Tough Money Environment,”The Associated Press, 9/26/11)

Reuters: “The U.S. Economy Grew Much Slower Than Previously Thought In The Second Quarter As Business Inventories And Exports Were Less Robust …” (“Economic Growth Slows To Crawl, GDP Increase At 1%,” Reuters, 8/26/11)

• Reuters: “The United States Is On A Recession Watch …” “The United States is on a recession watch after a massive sell-off in the stock market knocked down consumer and business sentiment.” (“Economic Growth Slows To Crawl, GDP Increase At 1%,” Reuters, 8/26/11)

The U.S. Census Bureau Reports That 2.6 Million More Americans Fell In To Poverty And The Number Of Americans Living In Poverty (46.2 Million) Reached The Highest Level On Record. “The nation’s official poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1 percent, up from 14.3 percent in 2009 – the third consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate.  There were 46.2 million people in poverty in 2010, up from 43.6 million in 2009 – the fourth consecutive annual increase and the largest number in the 52 years for which poverty estimates have been published.” (Press Release, “Income, Poverty And Health Insurance Coverage In The United States: 2010,” U.S. Census Bureau, 9/13/11)

“Three In Four Americans Assess The U.S. Economy As No Better Than A Year Ago, With 35% Saying It Is About The Same And 42% Saying It Is Worse.” (Jeffrey M. Jones, “In U.S., 6 In 10 Do Not Expect The Economy To Improve Soon,” Gallup, 9/21/11)

80 Percent Of Americans Believe The Economy Is Still In Recession. (Jeffrey M. Jones, “In U.S., 6 In 10 Do Not Expect The Economy To Improve Soon,” Gallup, 9/21/11)  

86 Percent Of Americans Think The National Economy Is “Fairly” Or “Very” Bad.  (New York Times/CBS News Poll, 1452 A, MoE 3%, 9/10-15/11)

Only 12 Percent Of Americans Think The Economy Is Improving. (New York Times/CBS News Poll, 1452 A, MoE 3%, 9/10-15/11) 

• 43 Percent Think The Economy Is Getting Worse. (New York Times/CBS News Poll, 1452 A, MoE 3%, 9/10-15/11)

“Obama Is On Track To Have The Worst Jobs Record Of Any President In The Modern Era”

“Unless The Economy Turns Around In The Next 18 Months, Obama Is On Track To Have The Worst Jobs Record Of Any President In The Modern Era. That Would Be An Accurate Statement.” (Glenn Kessler, “Rick Perry’s Claim That Obama Has ‘Killed More Jobs’ Than Any Other President,” The Washington Post’s “The Fact Checker,” 8/22/11)

The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “Zero Jobs Created In August. President Obama, Call Your Office.” (Chris Cillizza, Twitter Feed, 9/2/11)

CNBC: “It Was The First Time Since World War II That The Economy Had A Net Zero Jobs Created For A Month.” (“Economy Gains No Jobs In August, Rate Holds At 9.1%,” CNBC, 9/2/11)

ABC News: “The Fact That No Net New Jobs Were Added In August Was Another In A String Of Disappointments For The Economy.” (Lyneka Little, “U.S. Employers Add No New Jobs In August,” ABC News, 9/2/11)

Rates Of Long-Term Unemployment “Are Unprecedented In The Post-World War II Era” With 31 Percent Of Unemployed Workers Jobless For Over A Year,  “On average, 44 percent of workers who were unemployed in the first half of 2011 had been jobless for more than six months. Moreover, in mid-2011, 31 percent of unemployed workers had been jobless for at least a year. Those rates of long-term unemployment are unprecedented in the post–World War II era.” (“The Budget And Economic Outlook: An Update,” Congressional Budget Office, 8/24/11)

WHILE OBAMA’S POLL NUMBERS HAVE PLUMMETED TO NEW LOWS

CNN/ORC Poll: 52 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of Obama. (CNN/ORC, 1010 A, MoE 3%, 9/23-25/11)

Obama’s Job Approval Rating Has Plummeted To 39 Percent Suggesting “Enormous Trouble For A President Who Faces Re-Election In 14 Months.” “President Barack Obama’s job approval rating has plunged to a dismal 39 percent, the lowest of his presidency, as increasing numbers disapprove of his handling of the nation’s ailing economy, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll. The low job approval rating among registered voters, down from 44 percent last month, suggests enormous trouble for a president who faces re-election in 14 months.” (David Lightman, “As Economy Sputters, Obama’s Approval  Rating Continues To Sink,”McClatchy Newspapers, 9/19/11)

 “‘These Numbers Could Typically Spell Doom For An Incumbent,’ Poll Director Lee Miringoff Said.”  (David Lightman, “As Economy Sputters, Obama’s Approval  Rating Continues To Sink,” McClatchy Newspapers, 9/19/11)

Americans Soundly Disapprove Of Obama’s Handling Of The Economy 

“50 Percent Of Americans Believe That The Policies Of The Obama Administration Have Hurt The Economy, And 53 Percent Say That They Have Hurt The Middle Class.” (Justin Sink, “New Poll Shows Obama Approval Slips To Historic Low,” The Hill, 9/24/11)

“A Slight Majority Of Americans For The First Time Blame President Obama Either A Great Deal (24%) Or A Moderate Amount (29%) For The Nation’s Economic Problems.” (Lydia Saad, “In U.S., Slight Majority Now Blame Obama For U.S. Economy,” Gallup, 9/21/11)       

57 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of Obama’s Handling Of The Economy. (New York Times/CBS News Poll, 1452 A, MoE 3%, 9/10-15/11)

53 Percent Of Americans Disapprove Of Obama’s Handling Of Job Creation. (New York Times/CBS News Poll, 1452 A, MoE 3%, 9/10-15/11)

52 Percent Of Americans Disagree With Obama On The Issues That Matter The Most To Them. (CNN/ORC, 1010 A, MoE 3%, 9/23-25/11)

Even Obama’s Democrat Base Is Growing Weary

Gallup: “Democrats Dispirited About Voting in 2012.” (Lydia Saad, “Democrats Dispirited About Voting In 2012,” Gallup, 9/29/11)

• 44 Percent Of Democrats Are Less Enthusiastic About Voting In 2012, A “Sharp Contrast To 2008.” “In thinking about the 2012 presidential election, 45% of Democrats and independents who lean Democratic say they are more enthusiastic about voting than usual, while nearly as many, 44%, are less enthusiastic. This is in sharp contrast to 2008 and, to a lesser extent, 2004, when the great majority of Democrats expressed heightened enthusiasm about voting.” (Lydia Saad, “Democrats Dispirited About Voting In 2012,” Gallup, 9/29/11) 

“The President’s Support Has Fallen To Its Lowest Levels Across Parts Of The Diverse Coalition Of Voters Who Elected Him, From Women To Suburbanites To College Graduates.”(Jeff Zeleny and Megan Thee-Brenann, “Support For Obama Slips; Unease On 2012 Candidates,” The New York Times, 9/16/11) 

• Obama Is Losing The Support Of Young Democrats: “27 Percent Of Democrats Under Age 45 Say He Is Not A Strong Leader.” “Younger voters and liberals are showing doubts about him, too. Obama won younger voters in 2008 by a bigger margin than Democrat Bill Clinton in his victories in 1992 and 1996. But younger Democrats are no more apt to say the president deserves re-election than are older Democrats. Twenty-seven percent of Democrats under age 45 say Obama is not a strong leader, compared with 11 percent in June.” (Ken Thomas and Jennifer Agiesta, “AP-GfK Poll” Obama Faces Trouble With Key Voters,” The Associated Press, 8/27/11)

Obama’s Approval Rating Among African Americans Has Fallen 25 Points In Five Months. “Approval for President Obama has begun to fall among African Americans, who have been his strongest supporters. Five months ago, 83 percent of African Americans held strongly favorable views of Obama. In a new Washington Post-ABC news poll that number has dropped to 58 percent.” (Krissah Thompson, “Obama’s Ratings Among Blacks Fall,” The Washington Post, 9/21/11)

Only 48 Percent Of Hispanics Approve Of The Job Obama Has Done As President. “Just 48 percent of Hispanics approve of the job Obama has done, while 37 percent disapprove. This is down from a 60 percent approval rating as recently as January, an erosion that came later than his slipping numbers with Anglo voters. This trend should worry Obama: Hispanics are the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the country, and there are high numbers of Hispanic voters in swing states including New Mexico, Florida, Colorado, Nevada and even Virginia.” (Cameron Joseph, “Obama’s Hispanic Support Collapses,” The Hill, 9/8/11)

PUSHING OBAMA INTO USING SHARPER AND MORE DIVIDING RHETORIC

Obama Is Trying To Re-Energize An “Increasingly Disenchanted” Base. “President Barack Obama is trying out his newly combative message on the liberal West Coast, aiming to re-energize faithful Democratic voters who have grown increasingly disenchanted with him.” (Erica Weiner, “Obama Heads West To Raise Money, Energize Liberals,” The Associated Press, 9/25/11)

“Democrats Say The Man Who Ran On Hope And Change In 2008 Will Have To Claw His Way Toward A Second Term With A Sharply Negative Campaign.” (Scott Thuman, “Tough Economic Climate As Obama Seeks 2^nd Term,” The Associated Press, 9/5/11)

“The Dramatic And Unabashedly Negative Turn Is The Product Of Political Reality.” (Ben Smith And Jonathan Martin, “Obama Plan: Destroy Romney,” Politico, 8/9/11)

Obama Has Taken To Publicly Venting His Frustrations With His Own Base

Obama To The Congressional Black Caucus: “Shake It Off. Stop Complainin’. Stop Grumblin’. Stop Cryin’. We Are Going To Press On. We Have Work To Do.”(Mark S. Smith, “Obama Tells Blacks to ‘Stop Complainin’ and Fight,” The Associated Press, 9/24/11)

• Obama: “I Expect All Of You To March With Me And Press On.  Take Off Your Bedroom Slippers, Put On Your Marching Shoes.” (Mark S. Smith, “Obama Tells Blacks to ‘Stop Complainin’ and Fight,” The Associated Press, 9/24/11)
• Click To Watch

Obama’s Rhetoric Has Become More Partisan

“President Goes On The Attack Early.” (Carol Lee and Jonathan Weisman, “President Goes On The Attack Early,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/27/11)

Obama’s “Sharper Rhetoric” Is Dragging Him Into “The Partisan Fray.” “The sharper rhetoric and engagement of GOP candidates run the risk of dragging the president into the partisan fray as he tries to secure passage of jobs and budget legislation that will need bipartisan support in Congress.” (Carol Lee and Jonathan Weisman, “President Goes On The Attack Early,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/27/11)

Obama Ignored His Plans To Stay Out Of The Republican Nomination Contest And Already Gone Negative Against His Potential Opponents. “President Barack Obama has sharpened his line of attack against Republicans during a West Coast swing and injected himself into the GOP presidential-nomination fight, setting aside his plans to stay out of the 2012 campaign until an opponent is selected.” (Carol Lee and Jonathan Weisman, “President Goes On The Attack Early,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/27/11)

ALL WHILE OBAMA’S SOLYNDRA SCANDAL IS INTENSIFYING

“A Deeper Political Storm Has Now Formed And Shows Signs Of Intensifying.” (Ronnie Greene, “Recurring Red Flags Failed To Slow Obama Administration’s Race To Help Solyndra,” iWatch News, 9/13/11)

Obama’s Poster-Child For ‘American Ingenuity And Dynamism,’ Declared Bankruptcy. “The California-based Solyndra, which employed more than 1,000 people, declared bankruptcy earlier this month. President Obama visited the company in May of 2010, saying it was a prime example of ‘American ingenuity and dynamism.’” (Alexander Mooney, “White House Beats Back Claim It Pressured Loan To Now-Bankrupt Company.” CNN, 9/14/11)

• “At Least Three Reports” Warned The Obama Administration That The Energy Department Did Not Have “The Controls Needed To Manage” Solyndra. At least three reports by federal watchdogs over the past two years warned that the Energy Department had not fully developed the controls needed to manage the multibillion-dollar loan program that provided more the loan to Solyndra Inc., a now-bankrupt solar panel manufacturer.” (Matthew Daly, “White House Worried About Solyndra Default,” The Associated Press, 9/15/11)

Taxpayers Will Not Be The First To Recoup From Solyndra; Investors Will Be The First To Receive Funds From Bankruptcy. “Republicans are already dancing on the grave of Solyndra, the solar panel manufacturer that received a $535 million federal loan in 2009 and collapsed on Wednesday.  Here’s more music they can dance to:  Sources tell me the Obama administration restructured the loan this winter, so taxpayers probably won’t even be the first creditors to get paid after Solyndra files for bankruptcy next week.” (Michael Grunwald, “Big Name Investors Behind Obama’s Failed Green Tech Bet First In Line To Recoup Losses,” Time’s“Swampland,” 9/3/11)

• The First $75 Million Will Go To Two Investors, Including “Billionaire George Kaiser, An Obama Campaign Bundler.” “The first $75 million will go to two Solyndra investors who poured in extra cash when the company nearly went bust in January.  And one of them is a venture associated with the billionaire George Kaiser, an Obama campaign bundler.” (Michael Grunwald, “Big Name Investors Behind Obama’s Failed Green Tech Bet First In Line To Recoup Losses,” Time’s “Swampland,” 9/3/11)

Obama Was Personally Warned About The Financial And Political Risks Of The Department Of Energy’s Loan Guarantee Program That Aided Solyndra. “Long before the politically connected California solar firm Solyndra went bankrupt, President Obama was warned by his top economic advisors about the financial and political risks of the Energy Department loan guarantee program that boosted the company’s rapid ascent.” (Tom Hamburger, Kim Geiger and Matea Gold, “Obama Advisors Raised Warning Flags Before Solyndra Bankruptcy,” Los Angeles Times, 9/26/11)