Obama: "If I Don't Fix (Economy) In 3 Yrs....One-Term Proposition"

Posted by Brian

Words Mean Things:  What Obama Said In January 2009

Three years ago President Obam sat down with Matt Lauer and discussed a range of topics, including the economy and Gitmo.  The interview was held 10 days into his presidency, during which he make some of the following claims/promises"

• Regarding the "recovery package", that there is "transparency and accountablility" and the "an independent board looks at these programs before the money goes out the door".
• False - In fact there was very little transparency, and we don't know, even now, where the money really went, other than to union slush funds and the auto bailout.
• "we're not going to be spending $4 trillion".
• True and False - We've spent over $5 Trillion dollars since Obama took office.
• On closing Gitmo - "It's the right thing to do.  Ultimately it will make us safer"
• Promise Broken - Gitmo is still open.
• "If I don't have this done (turn the economy around) in 3 years, then there 's going to be a one-term proposition".
• After nearly 3 years - 9.1% unemployment, housing market in a double-dip recession, the Fed looking at a QE3.  Accountability

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Toward the end of the interview, Matt Lauer, ever the consumate tough-as-nails journalist, asks the toughest question of the night...about a peanut butter recall.  Obama assures Lauer that a thorough review of the FDA will happen,  and that "at bare minimum we should be able to count on our government keeping our kids safe when they eat peanut butter". Whew! I feel better knowing the Obama was at the helm during the 'Great 2008 Peanut Butter Recall'.