Mitt Romney Press Release: Bump In The Road
“The failed stimulus might be funny to President Obama, but it is not funny to 14 million unemployed Americans or those taxpayers who footed the nearly $1 trillion bill.” – Governor Mitt Romney
President Obama’s Attempt At “Shovel-Ready” Humor Rings Hollow In Light Of High Unemployment And Growing Unease Among The American People:
Today In North Carolina, President Obama Joked That “Shovel-Ready” Stimulus Projects Were “Not As … Uh … Shovel-Ready As We Expected.” “President Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness met today in Durham, NC at Cree Inc. … One of the Council's recommendations to President Obama was to streamline the federal permit process for construction and infrastructure projects. It was explained to Obama that the permitting process can delay projects for ‘months to years … and in many cases even cause projects to be abandoned ... I'm sure that when you implemented the Recovery Act your staff briefed you on many of these challenges.’ At this point, Obama smiled and interjected, ‘Shovel-ready was not as ... uh … shovel-ready as we expected.’ The Council, led by GE's Jeffrey Immelt, erupted in laughter.” (“Obama Jokes At Jobs Council: ‘Shovel-Ready Was Not As Shovel-Ready As We Expected,’” Fox News’ “The Nation” Blog, 6/13/11)
President Obama Repeatedly Invoked “Shovel-Ready” Projects When Marketing His Stimulus Plan. “This is America on the eve of the Obama era. Shovel-ready. He keeps telling us so. On ‘Meet the Press,’ fill-in host Tom Brokaw wants to know how quickly Barack Obama can create jobs, and the president-elect promises to move fast. After all, he says, he's met with a bunch of governors ‘and all of them have projects that are shovel-ready.’ Announcing his energy team, Obama beams about ‘shovel-ready projects all across the country.’ Unveiling his choice for education secretary, Obama plugs his plans ‘to start helping states and local governments with shovel-ready projects.’ So many shovels. All of them, apparently, quite ready.” (Manuel Roig-Franzia, “The Obama Buzzword That Hit Pay Dirt,” The Washington Post, 1/8/09)
New York Times Magazine: In 2010, President Obama “Realized Too Late That ‘There’s No Such Thing As Shovel-Ready Projects’ When It Comes To Public Works.” “During our hour together, Obama told me he had no regrets about the broad direction of his presidency. But he did identify what he called ‘tactical lessons.’ He let himself look too much like ‘the same old tax-and-spend liberal Democrat.’ He realized too late that ‘there’s no such thing as shovel-ready projects’ when it comes to public works.” (Peter Baker, “Education Of A President,” The New York Times Magazine, 10/17/10)
The Obama Administration Also Projected That Passing The Stimulus Bill Would Keep The Unemployment Rate Below 8%. “Back in early January, when Barack Obama was still President-elect, two of his chief economic advisers — leading proponents of a stimulus bill — predicted that the passage of a large economic-aid package would boost the economy and keep the unemployment rate below 8%.” (Stephen Gandel, “Obama's Stimulus Plan: Failing by Its Own Measure,” Time.com, 7/14/09)
The National Unemployment Rate Has Never Been Under 8.2% During Any Full Month Of President Obama’s Term. Unemployment has ranged from 8.2% to 10.1% during the Obama Administration. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 6/13/11)
“Including All Of Those Who Had Part-Time Jobs But Wanted To Work Full-Time As Well As Those Who … Had Given Up Searching, The [Unemployment] Rate Was 15.8%” In May. “The official unemployment rate hit 9.1% in May. Including all of those who had part-time jobs but wanted to work full-time as well as those who want to work but had given up searching, the rate was 15.8%. While sidelined workers can keep the jobless rate lower, they weigh on the economy in other ways.” (Sara Murray, “Average Job Seeker Gives Up After 5 Months,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/8/11)
A “Record-High” Number Of Americans Are Anxious About The Economy:
48% Of Respondents In A Recent CNN Poll “Said Another Great Depression Is Likely In The Next 12 Months.” “A record-high of nearly half the country fears the economy is careening toward a depression, helping push President Barack Obama’s approval rating down by six points in just the last two weeks, according to a new poll. … Americans’ fears that the country is headed into another Great Depression are higher than they’ve ever been in the CNN poll. In all, 48 percent of those surveyed said another great depression is likely in the next 12 months, while 41 percent said the same in 2009 and 38 percent said so in 2008.” (Jennifer Epstein, “Poll: Many Think U.S. Headed For Depression,” Politico, 6/8/11)
Politico: “[W]hile Americans Are Voicing Concern That The Economy Is Getting Worse And Plunging Toward A Depression, Obama Said Tuesday That He’s ‘Not Concerned About A Double-Dip Recession.’” (Jennifer Epstein, “Poll: Many Think U.S. Headed For Depression,” Politico, 6/8/11)
ANOTHER “BUMP IN THE ROAD” IN NORTH CAROLINA
Administration Spokesman Says President Obama’s Meaning Of Bump In The Road “Is Clear” And Added That “We Are Headed In The Right Direction”:
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney: “Bump In The Road Is Exactly What The President Said … And His Meaning Is Clear.” “Does the president regret using the phrase ‘bump in the road’ to describe the economy? Was it appropriate? Said Carney, ‘Bump in the road is exactly what the president said, when you are emerging from the worst recession since the Great Depression, 8 million jobs lost because of the recession that he inherited when he took office ... what he said is that as we emerge from this recession it's not going to be a straight road, there may be some bumps on the road. These are common phrases in the English lexicon and his meaning is clear.’” (Lynn Sweet, “Romney Ad Slams Obama On Jobs,” Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/11)
Carney: “We Are Headed In The Right Direction…” (Lynn Sweet, “Romney Ad Slams Obama On Jobs,” Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/11)
Under President Obama, North Carolina’s Job Growth “Has Virtually Flatlined,” Leaving The State With The Nation’s 10th Worst Unemployment Rate:
WRAL-TV: “Job Growth Has Virtually Flatlined” In North Carolina And The State “Has The Country’s 10th Worst Jobless Rate.” “Unemployment data for May won’t be released until later this month, but a comparison of data from May 2009, May 2010 and April 2011 shows that job growth has virtually flatlined despite talk of an economic recovery and growth in the national Gross Domestic Product since the height of the recession two years ago. North Carolina, the nation’s 10th largest state in terms of population, also has the country’s 10th worst jobless rate at 9.7 percent in April.” (“As Obama Visits, Fewer People Work In NC Than Two Years Ago,” WRAL-TV Website, www.wral.com, 6/13/11)
The Statewide Unemployment Rate In North Carolina Was 9.7% In April. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 6/13/11)
North Carolina Has Lost An Estimated 116,800 Jobs Since President Obama Took Office. According to the Department of Labor, nonfarm payroll employment in North Carolina was an estimated 3,892,900 in April 2011. When President Obama took office in January 2009, nonfarm payroll was an estimated 4,009,700. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 6/13/11)
The State’s Workforce Has Contracted As Residents Struggle To Find Employment. “The size of North Carolina’s workforce as estimated by the government has shrunk due to the fact that an increasing number of people are either not receiving jobless benefits, have stopped looking for work, or have moved or retired or other factors.” (“As Obama Visits, Fewer People Work In NC Than Two Years Ago,” WRAL-TV Website, www.wral.com, 6/13/11)
