CBS Complains Obama 'Saddled' By 'Stubbornly Sluggish Economy'
By Matthew Balan | June 03, 2011 | 11:57
On Friday's Early Show, before the new 9.1% unemployment figure came out, CBS's Dean Reynolds bewailed how President Obama is being "saddled" by the "stubbornly sluggish economy." Reynolds played up how "GM, Ford, and Chrysler have all returned to profitability," and tracked down a beneficiary of the auto industry bailout, who sang the praises of the Democrat.
[Audio clips from Reynolds's report available here; video available below the jump]
The correspondent visited the Chrysler plant in Toledo, Ohio, which the President is scheduled to visit later on Friday, and led his report with his lament for Mr. Obama, setting the tone for his entire report: "Well, saddled as he is with that stubbornly sluggish economy, it's no wonder that the President is looking for perceived success stories to highlight, and that's why he's coming to Toledo."
Even after he acknowledged the "national unemployment rate hovering around 9%," instead of finding one of the multitude of unemployed Americans, Reynolds highlighted the revamping auto industry, almost acting as a stenographer of the economic talking points coming from the Obama administration:
REYNOLDS: Mr. Obama has to look hard for examples that his economic policies have helped to improve job prospects....So the President is coming to this Jeep assembly plant his policies have directly affected. It was closed shortly after Chrysler declared bankruptcy, and the company's future as a whole was in serious doubt. But two years after the government rode to the rescue with taxpayer dollars, Chrysler is humming along, posting a 10% increase in sales in May, upgrading facilities, and returning people to work.
Indeed, GM, Ford, and Chrysler have all returned to profitability, and are gaining market share for the first time in more than 15 years, according to an administration report released on Wednesday.
Near the end of his report, the CBS reporter singled out a worker at the assembly plant who had been laid off, but is now working again as a result of the bailout:
REYNOLDS: James Fayson assembles Jeeps here in Toledo. He was laid off in 2009, but called back to work late last year.
JAMES FAYSON: I wonder, you know, where I would be at, you know, in life right now, had not my president been able to help the American people and the auto industry.
REYNOLDS: He declined a $100,000 buy-out from Chrysler because he believed he and the company had a future together.
FAYSON: I'm standing here today and blessed and thankful that I'm where I'm at.
Reynolds concluded his report with even more seemingly positive news for the Obama administration, highlighting how "the National Economic Council the President put together said the government will lose less than 20% of the 80 billion it used to bail out the car industry. And while that's $14 billion, it's a lot better than the $48 billion the Treasury first thought the government would lose."
The full transcript of Dean Reynolds's report from Friday's Early Show, which began four minutes into the 7 am Eastern hour:
CHRIS WRAGGE: As the jobs report comes out, President Obama goes to a Chrysler factory kept open by the auto industry bailout, while the U.S. Treasury prepares to sell off its last shares of the automaker.
CBS News national correspondent Dean Reynolds is outside that Chrysler plant in Toledo, Ohio for us this morning. Dean, good morning.
DEAN REYNOLDS: Good morning, Chris. Well, saddled as he is with that stubbornly sluggish economy, it's no wonder that the President is looking for perceived success stories to highlight, and that's why he's coming to Toledo.
REYNOLDS (voice-over): With a national unemployment rate hovering around 9%, Mr. Obama has to look hard for examples that his economic policies have helped to improve job prospects.
REBECCA LINDLAND, IHS AUTOMOTIVE: Whether it's the economy or the oil crisis or the Japan tragedy, all these things are really preventing a full-blown recovery.
REYNOLDS: So the President is coming to this Jeep assembly plant his policies have directly affected. It was closed shortly after Chrysler declared bankruptcy, and the company's future as a whole was in serious doubt. But two years after the government rode to the rescue with taxpayer dollars, Chrysler is humming along, posting a 10% increase in sales in May, upgrading facilities, and returning people to work.
Indeed, GM, Ford, and Chrysler have all returned to profitability, and are gaining market share for the first time in more than 15 years, according to an administration report released on Wednesday.
JAMES FAYSON: I was just there home opening day in-
REYNOLDS: James Fayson assembles Jeeps here in Toledo. He was laid off in 2009, but called back to work late last year.
FAYSON: I wonder, you know, where I would be at, you know, in life right now, had not my president been able to help the American people and the auto industry.
REYNOLDS: He declined a $100,000 buy-out from Chrysler because he believed he and the company had a future together.
FAYSON: I'm standing here today and blessed and thankful that I'm where I'm at.
REYNOLDS (on-camera): Now, the National Economic Council the President put together said the government will lose less than 20% of the 80 billion it used to bail out the car industry. And while that's $14 billion, it's a lot better than the $48 billion the Treasury first thought the government would lose. Chris?
WRAGGE: CBS's Dean Reynolds for us in Toledo, Ohio this morning- Dean, thank you.
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Comments
Obama is the one that put on the saddle....
Submitted by notinstl on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:06pm.
....so right it into the sunset, BO
Since Obama's policies
Submitted by Beukeboom on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:09pm.
Since Obama's policies actually caused the economy to become more sluggish...
obamas' defeat will be sweet
Submitted by gAMEoVER on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:08pm.
As he saddles America. Vote with your wallet.
Wrong metaphor.
Submitted by KyWriter on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:16pm.
It's not the President; it's the country itself, saddled with a stubbornly stupid, demonstrably socialist Chief Executive with seemingly sinister motives. (A little alliteration to go with the metaphor.)
Another Possibility
Submitted by Comrade Jim on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:25pm.
Obama saddled with Marxist indoctrination.
Obama had nothing to do with Ford!
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:21pm.
They refused the government assistance and dug out of their problems by themselves for the most part. All manufacturers received some benefit from the idiotic cash for clunkers program, but Ford managed its own way through--Ear Leader is taking credit for something that happened in spite of him.
takes credit for a lot
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:43pm.
He takes credit for a LOT of things that happen in spite of him.
And he doesn't really give anyone else much credit without him taking something of it anyway.
Scumbag.
-Jon
His model is quite simple as is the totus
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:24pm.
If it's good it's me. If it's bad it's George W. Bush and those grandma hatting republicans.
This economy is doing exactly what Obama intended
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:24pm.
It's tanking, and about to get even worse.
-Dave
Agree Dave.
Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:43pm.
Honestly the press should rip this guy up & Congress should too. There must be something to arrest him on.. treason is not good enough? He lies non-stop. Congress should put him under oath as just lying to voters does not seem to count. And I don't know why the press thinks that is ok.
-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.
You don't know why the press thinks this is ok?
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:26pm.
They're in the tank for our totus or hadn't you noticed?
Romneycare Was The Blueprint For Obamacare, Which I Am Against
Submitted by im41 on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:24pm.
tip
Mitt Romney: Romneycare Was The Blueprint For Obamacare, Which I Am Against
http://conservativeblogscentral.blogspot.com/2011/06/mitt-romney-romneyc...
I would respect Romney a lot more if he just admitted
Submitted by virginia republican on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:42pm.
Romneycare was a bad idea instead of trying to weasel-word his way around by supporting his program while at the same time bashing Obamacare. That's just plain illogical.
more illogic
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:51pm.
What I find illogical is with his announcement of running, that he makes it sound like breaking news that the Chairman's policies are failures and etc.
This is one of the reasons I wouldn't want this for president at all. It's almost like he came to the realization of what many of us KNEW years before today what was going to happen should this fraud becomes the bogus potus with the totus.
We don't need anyone who apparently needed 2-3 years to realize something was bad.
-Jon
Jon excellent & important point
Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 6:26pm.
I think Levin was talking about this several days ago. It is an important point. He also said, so what if the people of his State wanted such a healthcare law. Don't pass a bad & destructive law just because people ask for it. The bad was clearly forseeble and this speaks very poorly of those that fell for this socialist BS. IT DOES NOT WORK! NO INCENTIVE to work what less work hard.
-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.
Country saddled with Obama Economy, Hurting.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:28pm.
There, fixed it. It's not Bush's fault anymore.
Or: 20% Unemployment Dooms Obama Re-election
The "saddled" word
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:29pm.
Has me picturing a horse-faced Mr. & Mrs. O.
I'm just wondering how a horse can saddle itself without opposable thumbs? Because Obama surely saddled himself with this mess...as for the Clydesdale, I'm not sure, but that draft horse figures into the picture somehow.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 138 (and Counting)
Yeah.............the amazing
Submitted by killa37 on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:33pm.
Yeah.............the amazing talking horse - Boy O'Barry - just threw the damn saddle on his own back, strapped it up, and started clip-clopping his way into oblivion - along with the high-strutting Clydesdale. Unfortunatly, WE are tied to the wagon that they are dragging behind them!!!!
And somewhere in that mule train, braying and hee-hawing, is ol' Donkeyface Bill Maher.
A wagon....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:36pm.
...with no wheels! Obamugabe gave those to the Unions/communists.
Ain't it just amazin'
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:33pm.
How companies that are losing billions of dollars over a few years can return to profitability when they are given tens of billions by the government and allowed to cancel their bond debts at the expense of the bond holders? Is that a great economic system that Obama has made or what?
Obama is saddled with an ideology that doesn't match reality, so of course his huge ego is making him try and change reality to match his ideology. What other country could have elected such a man? Usually they have to take power through a military coup...(that's pronounced "coo" Mr. President)
Part time Congress with term limits! - No more professional politicians. Let's start rebuilding the Republic!
I think O'Blunder would be a
Submitted by killa37 on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:35pm.
I think O'Blunder would be a CORPSE if he thought that the military would help him with a COUP!!!
Hmmmm.
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:32pm.
The rider complaining to the horse the he's the one saddled?
I see John Edwards has been
Submitted by ChrisMatthewsiswack on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:44pm.
I see John Edwards has been indicted - can't wait to see how this one is played by the lamestream media.
I see John Edwards has been
Submitted by ChrisMatthewsiswack on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:43pm.
I see John Edwards has been indicted - can't wait to see how this one is played by the lamestream media.
Overs and Unders -
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 4:58pm.
How many networks will identify his political affiliation - (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC)
I say under 3.
Obama is "saddled" with a sluggish economy the same
Submitted by virginia republican on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:45pm.
way a bank robber is "saddled" with a prison term after conviction.
Chrysler is "humming along" at +10%?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:44pm.
Only an Obama fanboy would characterize a 10% increase on an overall crappy number as "humming along."
And BTW, that 10% is ALL due to sales of gas-guzzling trucks/SUVs, which were up 16.7%. CARS were down 4%. This is bad news for the planet.
Now on the other hand, Hyundai cars were up 25.3%. THAT is humming along.
I heard a comment....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 5:10pm.
that Chrysler's improvement was due, in part, to dumping the awful PT Cruiser.
No, seriously. I did hear that. Really.
Hyundai RULES!
Submitted by Diesel on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 11:14pm.
Hyundai RULES!
all saddle no horse
Submitted by Rackie on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 12:57pm.
"Movin', movin', movin',
Though they're disapprovin',
Keep them dogies movin', rawhide.
Don't try to understand 'em,
Just rope an' throw an' brand 'em.
Soon we'll be living high and wide.
My heart's calculatin',
My true love will be waitin':
Waitin' at the end of my ride."
rawhide
Sluggish Economy?
Submitted by IgnatzJFahrquar on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:06pm.
A nice Washington enema in 2012 would do the trick.
Only a lying propagandist
Submitted by robert108 on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:06pm.
Only a lying propagandist would describe being $14 Billion in debt as being "profitable". No wonder his economy is tanking; he knows nothing about real economics.
CBS fails the public again (still)
Submitted by Boil It Down on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 4:47pm.
Well, I hate being the bearer of bad news too, but that is the duty of the responsible journalist.
If by "sluggish economy" they really meant an economy slowly circling the drain that's how it should have been characterized. Does the increase in the unemployment numbers to 9.1% mean a slower "recovery" to them? For whatever reasons they soft peddled our financial crisis it shows a lack of respect for the craft of journalism and the public they serve.
Saying Obama is "saddled" with a failing economy tells us that CBS is more concerned with Obama's image than informing the public.
Like the laid off assembly plant worker, I wonder how well off we'd be right now without the ill conceived bail outs. Too many legitimate economists think we would have been better off without it the way it was implemented for me to believe Obama's and the Democrat's bail out policies didn't sink us. -bidn-
Jon Stewart's Liberal Bigotry Exposed
Submitted by im41 on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:10pm.
Video "HOLLYWOOD BIGOTRY!"
Everyone knows that Jon Stewart is a moonbat liberal; this Crowder video pokes fun at a dude who makes a living poking fun -- while promoting his political agenda.
It's Boooosh's fault!!!!
Submitted by wizardjr on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:17pm.
.
Whaaaaa,,,
Submitted by Mark81150 on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:19pm.
Darn mean old sluggish economy,.... me worry the MESSIAH might not get to stay long enough to get the 22nd Amendment voided... be president for life like we planned.. The ECONOMY IS MEAN, A BIG DUMB MEAN OLD POOPYHEAD...... it's it's....
Racist, that's what it is, the econmy was designed by dead old white guys.... it, has to be A RACIST ECONOMY....
I mean Bush 1 and 2 had recoveries, Clinton did, Reagan had a giant boom, they're WHITE.... it has to a rightwing racist economy.............
Didn't Tingles speculate not too long ago
Submitted by no tingly legs on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:52pm.
that there was some kind of plot by American Business to subvert the economy by not hiring just to make TOTUS look bad? These libs think we're as dumb as a box of wrenches, maybe dumber.
Racist Media
Submitted by Diesel on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 11:27pm.
For some odd reason, the video reminded me of that '80s comedy "Im gonna git you sucka" because the racist/statist media is going to have to find the 97% black folks that support 0bam0 no matter what, because he's .5 black for any positive sound bites heading toward the election.
It's blaxploitation, straight up.
Poor wittle president. Why
Submitted by mostlymoderate on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 1:57pm.
Poor wittle president. Why couldn't things be easier for him so he will look good for re-election?
STOP lying to us, MSM! Obama
Submitted by Van Halen on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 2:30pm.
STOP lying to us, MSM!
Obama IS the stubborn economy!
Why Is Alaska Selling Sarah Palin's Emails?
Submitted by im41 on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 2:48pm.
tip
I fail to understand how we can give a President -- we know noting about -- a free pass, and then sell 24,000 pages of Sarah Palin's emails.
It sounds more like the
Submitted by Free Stinker on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 2:57pm.
It sounds more like the emails are available free, but they are charging shipping and handling fees.
The Make Believe Media must be desperate for *anything* they can attack Palin with.
/// Sarah Palin Fan since July 11, 2007 /// خال
It is a FOIA request and any
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 3:35pm.
It is a FOIA request and any emails on public accounts are public record. It is sandard and par for the case.
He "bought" the economy when
Submitted by rbosque on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 2:49pm.
He "bought" the economy when he signed the TARP bill and no one forced him to run for office, it's HIS economy and he has to deal with it. All he's done is screw it up.
I thought Osama (Not Usama)
Submitted by ahusser on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 4:05pm.
I had been thinking that Osama had sealed the deal for Obama. That Bin Laden's death would make the Chairman look so good the sheeple would re-elect him hands down. (polls were up for the Chairman by a lot) But he keeps putting his foot in his mouth and golfing (the modern equivalent to fiddling) while the U.S. burns. But hold on folks, and I hate to say it, a bad economy will get rid of him and his party from the senate and white house. Otherwise, if he looks good, or appears to have done the right thing or G forbid the economy actually gets better the sheeple will put him back on the throne and in the saddle again no question and that (my amigos) is American politics..
"Somehow, I told you so, just doesn't quite say it." Will Smith in 'I, Robot.'
Hes BACK in the saddle again!
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 4:09pm.
Good ol boy Tex Obama is riding off into the sunset, his work is done, he killed all them Right-winged varmints, and he can go mosey into the sunset with his damsel in distress Moochelle! If only!
I heard
Submitted by Bob K on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 4:12pm.
today that no president since Roosevelt has been re-elected with unemployment above 7.2%. Maobama is not Roosevelt, and the people are not as simple and as uninformed as they were in those bygone days. Good luck with Hope & Change, Take II, Maobama.
Why can't CBS be honest?
Submitted by Injest on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 10:22pm.
" Reynolds played up how "GM, Ford, and Chrysler have all returned to profitability," and tracked down a beneficiary of the auto industry bailout, who sang the praises of the Democrat."
Considering Ford was not part of the "bailout" its hard to sight the "bailout" for Fords profitability.
Considering "GM and Chrysler" have had BILLIONS of "bailout" dollars forgiven, its impossible to sight the "bailout" for GM and Chrysler profitability because they haven't had any profitability!
Why can't CBS be honest?
CBS = Can't Be Serious
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 10:28pm.
I wonder how the coddling of GM & Chrysler sits vis-a vis Ford with the Equal Protection Clause.
Wrong, He "bought" the economy when he became a US Senator
Submitted by Injest on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 10:41pm.
He "bought" the economy when he signed the TARP bill and no one forced him to run for office, it's HIS economy and he has to deal with it. All he's done is screw it up.
Wrong, He "bought" the economy when he became a US Senator, one of one hundred Americans who had actual control of the government money.
He never should have been given a pass when he first said "he inherited this"
Any President who used this line and was a member of Congress or VP would have been laugh out of office the 2nd time he said this!
Obama "saddled" by a "sluggish economy"?
Submitted by Chris Norman on Fri, 06/03/2011 - 11:29pm.
Obama "saddled" by a "sluggish economy"? I wish we could remove the saddle Obama put on our economy and put it on him to see how he likes it.
Why Is Alaska Selling Sarah Palin's Emails? There not.
Submitted by Injest on Sat, 06/04/2011 - 12:23am.
"Why Is Alaska Selling Sarah Palin's Emails?"
There not.
The E-mails that are available, have been available for years.
"Alaska's disclosure law. Sec. 40.25.110 of Alaska's Freedom of Information Act law says that unless specifically provided otherwise, the public records of all public agencies are open to inspection by the public under reasonable rules during regular office hours."
They have nothing to do with Palin's private yahoo account that the judge ruled was a private yahoo account.
The judge in this case had to school Andree "51-50" McLeod that her "fantasy imagination" is not the same as fact.
Just because the voices in yur head tell you Palin is using her private Yahoo account for government business, does not mean Palin is using her private Yahoo account for government business.
As the judge Jack W. Smith ruled, nothing in Alaska law prevents state officials from using private e-mail accounts.
For clarification State officials can also
Have their own car/vehicle/plane
Have their own home.
Have their own phone.
In short the judge ruled state officials can have private lives.
These things also apply to civilians.
It does not apply to military personnel.
"Officials now say they have sorted through the email accounts of more than 50 state workers, and have collected emails Palin sent from her Yahoo email address.
Some parts of the emails will likely be redacted - and approximately 2,400 pages were judged to be exempt."
The 2,400 pages are Palin's private E-mails.
CBS
Submitted by jessieH on Sat, 06/04/2011 - 9:53am.
That's it guys, spin those lies! The American people are mocking the MSM. They are so blatantly biased for o'bama it's almost laughable. O'bummer needs a muzzle, not a saddle.