AFP News: Many of America’s Problems Predated Obama
A news article written by a reporter at AFP and reproduced at such news sites as Google, Yahoo, NPR, the Dallas Morning News, and others, might qualify as an example of what happens when one allows opinion to seep into reporting. Despite a mission statement involving claims that AFP coverage is balanced, accurate, and includes the other side of the story, this piece makes no secret of where the reporter’s bias lies.
The article features such gems as:
- A strong yet hyperbolic opening statement – “President Barack Obama, once a fresh faced prophet of hope…”
- A picture of the presidential seal with the caption ‘The presidential seal of Barack Obama’
- Comedy – “Obama will … brandish a record as a genuine reformer…”
- Labeling of the President’s opposition – “…a Republican Party dragged right of the crucial political center ground by the ultra-conservative Tea Party movement” – with no labeling of his own liberal policies or base.
Most interesting was the inclusion of this possible 2012 campaign slogan: “Though many of America's problems predated his presidency…”
Blame. Bush.
Here is a short list of American problems since Obama took office:
- A 100% increase in gasoline prices.
- A $5 trillion plus increase in the national debt, and a projection that the debt will increase to 102.6% of the nation’s GDP – a first since the end of World War II.
- Tripled the national deficit in his first year in office.
- An increase in the unemployment rate to 10.0%, and an underemployment rate of 19.3%.
- The torture (as defined by liberals) of an American soldier.
- Has failed in an embarrassing manner to close Guantanamo Bay, a focal point of his campaign in 2008.
- 858 U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan since Obama’s inauguration.
- Launched a third war in Libya by avoiding Congressional approval - something Vice-President Biden called an impeachable offense, and which Obama himself declared unconstitutional.
- Did manage to end combat operations in Iraq. Well, maybe that was Bush.
- A mere 37% of American voters believe Obama is doing a good job handling their national security.
Can Obama and the media really continue to blame Bush for America’s problems three or four years after he last served as President?
Cross-posted at The Mental Recession
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Comments
Cut the CRAP, AFP News! You
Submitted by Van Halen on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 12:47am.
Cut the CRAP, AFP News! You know d*mned well this Presidency is Epic Fail! You can defend Obama all you want but we're in three wars, unemployment is skyrocketing (No, it's NOT going down - forget that lie.), and our foreign policy is a disaster. Obamacare, Obama's crown jewel of his presidency has been declared unconstitutional and half the states are suing to get out. Everyone in this country knows this except for the glossy-eyed 40% who would vote for Obama no matter what was happening.
That's a very short list
Submitted by Garlock on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 1:29am.
That's a short list of problems since Obama took office, not as many as the problems resulting from Bush and other previous administrations and Congresses. Moreover, let's take a look at a couple of the "problems" you mention here that somehow are a result of Obama:
- A 100% increase in gasoline prices.
Fluctuations and record gas prices have most certainly happened before Obama, and are outside his purview. Also, gas prices were low due to the recession and before Obama was inaugurated, and have risen since then as the economy grew stronger. Mostly though, oil and gas prices are dictated by global demand, something outside of U.S. control.
- Tripled the national deficit in his first year in office
This is laughable and entirely false. During Obama's first year in office, the budget that was in place was the 2009 budget, which was set by the previous Congress and Administration. The budget deficit was already projected to be over $1 trillion before Obama ever stepped foot into the White House, indeed before he even won the election. The first budget set under Obama was the 2010 budget which indeed resulted in a deficit over $1 trillion, but it was not a tripling of the deficit from the year before, since that deficit was also $1 trillion.
- An increase in the unemployment rate to 10.0%, and an underemployment rate of 19.3%
This is accurate, but misleading. The economy was shedding about 700K jobs per month when Obama walked in the door, and continued to do so for a few months before Obama's policies could take effect. Once his policies were in place and beginning to take effect, there is a noticeable and significant drop-off in job losses, and the gradual but steady return to job creation each month. In fact, we are currently in the 13th straight month of positive job growth, with the private sector seeing job growth of well over 1 million, and the public sector decreasing by a few hundred thousand. So far in 2011 there have already been 478,000 jobs created.
The rest of your statements, though, are pretty valid.
I don't believe so.
Submitted by Par for the Course on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 8:00am.
This is laughable and entirely false. During Obama's first year in office, the budget that was in place was the 2009 budget, which was set by the previous Congress and Administration
President Obama's signature is on the 2009 $410 Billion omnibus appropriations bill. The Democrats wanted to spend more on the 2009 budget than Bush did, so, in anticipation that Obama would win, they put off passing most of the 2009 appropriation bills until after Obama was sworn in.
Obama signs earmark-laden budget bill
[...]
The measure, delayed by term-ending politics between the Bush White House and Congress, funds nine departments for activities that are not related to defense or homeland security agencies, whose budgets were funded last fall.
[...]
And increase spending they did. From the link above.
[...]
The measure also boosts operating budgets by 10 percent or more for some of the programs over 2008 levels. Both the earmarks and the amount of money included in the operations budget drew howls of protest from both sides of the aisle.
[...]
I saw 8 percent mentioned as the overall percent increase in spending:
President Obama, veto this earmark-packed bill
[...]
The $410 billion, designed to fund parts of the government through the rest of this fiscal year, is an 8 percent increase over last year, more than double the inflation rate.
[...]
huh?
Submitted by stehill51 on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 2:08pm.
The idea that Obama somehow has no responsibility for the calamities facing this country because he was a non-voting senator and community organizer is ridiculous. It is common knowledge that Obama was 100% on board w/ the people and policies which caused the housing/freddiefannie crisis and gutted this nations ability to produce energy, before he entered office and began exasperating the situation.
Sorry if I wasn't clear.
Submitted by Par for the Course on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 3:02pm.
Sorry if I wasn't clear. Garlock said Obama didn't have anything to do with the 2009 budget.
My short answer should have been: Bush proposed a 2009 budget, but the Democrats wouldn't pass any of the appropriation bills, other than Homeland Security and Defense. They waited until after the 2008 election hoping Obama would get elected and when he was and sworn in, they passed the remaining appropriation bills that contained, in some instances, increases in spending up to 10%. Obama signed the 2009 omnibus bill, funding the government for the remainder of the 2009 fiscal year.
My point was, contrary to what Garlock said, Obama did have something to do with the 2009 deficit, he signed the appropriation bills.
Fair enough
Submitted by Garlock on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 7:54pm.
I didn't realize about the omnibus bill, but the CBO did give a report before Obama was inaugurated that projected the FY 2009 deficit to be $1.2 trillion, and that was before the omnibus bill.
Before Obama was inaugurated, he voted for Tarp.
Submitted by Par for the Course on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 9:23pm.
President Bush's 2009 Budget proposal was scored by the CBO at a budget deficit of $342 billion.
The CBO updated its 2009 Budget outlook in January, 2009 projecting a deficit of $1.186 trillion.
Part of the projected 2009 deficit of $1.186 trillion included part of the $700 billion for Tarp, which Obama voted for as a Senator.
The first $350 billion was made available when the bill was signed, but the second $350 billion had to pass the Senate for the funds to be available, after Obama became President. The outcome: TARP Vote: Obama Wins, Senate Effectively Approves $350 Billion
The GSEs, Fannie and Freddie also were bailed out to the tune of $240 Billion in 2009.
Bottom line: Obama was far more involved (as President and as a Senator) in the 2009 deficit than you would like to admit.
Garlock the Stupid Lying Garlock Troll doubles down on a LIE.
Submitted by The Vet on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 9:26pm.
And gets Cold Busted by Par for the Course.
Thank you, Par for the Course
Submitted by Garlock on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 10:04pm.
Even though it does take down one point of my argument pretty well, you do so in a reasonable manner with effective use of reputable sources, and in a way that's not at all snarky, presumptuous, offensive, or berating. This is something that is sorely lacking in this community. Usually I get responses from The Vet, and almost all of them are in the same vein as:
"Garlock is a vicious unrepentent liar that spits in your face and tells you it is raining.
The Collected Stupid and Lies of the Stupid Lying Garlock Troll.
He has 66 lies there. IT DOES NOT EVEN SLOW HIM DOWN.
Don't feed this troll.
Don't feed this troll.
Don't feed this troll."
And they're often much worse than that. So it's refreshing to see comments from someone like you.
So being wrong isnt important to you
Submitted by Boudin on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 10:09pm.
Just how others inform you of it? How about you try not being wrong for a change?
Boudin---
Submitted by matthewdean on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 10:18pm.
Whether a zinger, a dinger, or a pinger, that was cool!
MD
Uh
Submitted by Garlock on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 2:31am.
What about that says being wrong isn't important to me? I'm just glad somebody finally was reasonable and polite in showing my error for once rather than just being a douchebag about it.
Garlock the Stupid Lying Garlock Troll LIES again.
Submitted by The Vet on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:46am.
Iz mumzietroll neglecting to change itz diapers again? Iz that diaper rash getting more and more itchy by the day? Doesits sunones got Veet on teh brain? Poor little trollies that gets soooooooo butt hurt by the Veet. Should we throw a pity party for the little girlytroll?
No little milquetoastroll, being wrong IS NOT importatant to you. You are the only active troll that is working ferociously on reaching the 115 lies and stupid limit. You are the troll with THE MOST AMOUNT OF LIES that still has an active account. Every single other troll that has lied with such intensity as you HAS BEEN BANNED.
So you keep pretending it is all about the big bad word bully. MmmmmKay?
dear vet
Submitted by abeautifulperson on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 1:11pm.
please direct yourself to a medical professional, your anger management issues are showing.
Yep, The Vet sure enough has problems with---
Submitted by matthewdean on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 7:32pm.
liars.
He don't much like 'em.
Same as most reasonable people do not.
Liars cannot be trusted.
Whether they are not trusted because they are liars; or whether they are liars because they cannot be trusted, is immaterial.
Unless one is a psychiatrist or psychologist, being sensitive towards liars will do nothing more than result in more lies being proffered.
Ignoring, or worse, accepting lies, is a no win situation for anyone other than the liar.
A fool's errand, indeed.
MD
Shack!!!!
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 12:43pm.
Well played, Par.
Which, as we say, is Par for the Course, for you. :)
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
question
Submitted by kinijane on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 7:52am.
Not to defend the previous administration, but who controlled the congress?
Seems to me the dem's
took over, but in their defense, Bush didn't put up much of a fight.
Garlock the Stupid Lying Garlock Troll LIES again.
Submitted by The Vet on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 11:56am.
GtSLGT: During Obama's first year in office, the budget that was in place was the 2009 budget, which was set by the previous Congress and Administration.
LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE from the confirmed 66 time liar.
President Barack Obama has signed the FY 2009 federal budget into law, representing final action on the budget for the current fiscal year.
Now, with a new president in the White House and an increased majority in the House of Representatives, House Democrats combined the nine Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 appropriations bills that Congress failed to pass at the end of 2008 into a single price tag of $410 billion, the omnibus bill funds most domestic discretionary programs through the end of the federal fiscal year (September 30).
The Democrat Congress under President Bush reneged on their duty and waited until the new President and Congress came in to pass a bill. It was late JUST LIKE THIS YEAR.
Garlock is a vicious unrepentent liar that spits in your face and tells you it is raining.
The Collected Stupid and Lies of the Stupid Lying Garlock Troll.
He has 66 lies there. IT DOES NOT EVEN SLOW HIM DOWN.
Don't feed this troll.
Don't feed this troll.
Don't feed this troll.
Fair enough
Submitted by Garlock on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 8:00pm.
Ok, so Obama did have something to do with the FY 2009 budget, by signing the omnibus/appropriations bill that added $410 billion. But the CBO was projecting, before Obama took office, that FY 2009 deficit would be $1.2 trillion, and that was before Obama did anything.
Hee hee hee.... another thing
Submitted by stanrhintx on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 6:25am.
Hee hee hee.... another thing you liberals often leave out with your "Obama inherited a huge deficit" rant is that Obama voted for TARP, which accounts for a majority of that deficit.
Furthermore, with regards to oil prices- commodity prices are going up at least in significant part due to Obama's huge deficits and QE2. More inconvenient truths you liberals like to leave out.
Oil
Submitted by Gothampc on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 1:08pm.
"Fluctuations and record gas prices have most certainly happened before Obama, and are outside his purview. Also, gas prices were low due to the recession and before Obama was inaugurated, and have risen since then as the economy grew stronger. Mostly though, oil and gas prices are dictated by global demand, something outside of U.S. control."
Oil and gas prices are determined by what the POTUS announces to the world. If we had a president that stood up and said "Drill baby drill on American soil" the prices would drop drastically. But because Obama has made comments about killing the coal industry, the nations that supply our oil know they can charge whatever because we're not going to stop buying from them anytime soon.
Let's hope our next POTUS announces plans to drill in the US.
You're kidding, right?
Submitted by Garlock on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 7:52pm.
"Oil and gas prices are determined by what the POTUS announces to the world. If we had a president that stood up and said "Drill baby drill on American soil" the prices would drop drastically."
Please tell me you're kidding? That is most definitely NOT how it works.
You could try owning up to your 71 lies and stupid.
Submitted by The Vet on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 12:37am.
Then. Then you can question others and ONLY when you have not spewed yet another lie on the very same page.
The Collected Stupid and Lies of the Stupid Lying Garlock Troll.
Now up to 71 including todays new lie.
Fine
Submitted by Garlock on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 2:30am.
I won't question him then on how wrong he is. Why don't you go ahead and do that, Vet, since you're so adamant about misinformation on NewsBusters? Go ahead and tell him off, Vet, tell him he's a lying liar and how show exactly why he's wrong. I'm waiting.
Owwee. Mumzie. Helloooooo. Mumzietroll. It hurtz bad.
Submitted by The Vet on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:49am.
Poor widdle trolliz. Somebody has a nasty case of the Butt Hurts don't they?
Mumzie. Meaniz Word Bulliz is picking on me just cuz I lie like you tawtz me mumziz. Not farz. Not far at allz.Tis udder guy, word bulliz don't even pick on him. Juzz me mumziz. Juzz liddle me with my full diaperz.
GtSLGT: Go ahead and tell him off...
Yeah, you are not very bright at all are you? When did you first get it into your tiny brain you could give me orders?
Great! So tell us how it does work!
Submitted by stanrhintx on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 6:26am.
Explain to us how monetizing the debt and huge deficits affect commodity prices like oil.
Bush's Gas Prices
Submitted by CobraMan on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 2:15pm.
"Fluctuations and record gas prices have most certainly happened before Obama, and are outside his purview."
Well, that's not how price increases were described during the Bush administration. According to the media, ALL price increases were the fault of Bush's policies, remember? The most widely described claim was that Bush's policy of accelerating the filling the National Oil Reserves had the effect of lowering supply, thus forcing increased prices.
Now, after a doubling of the gas prices in the last 3 years, Obama's name isn't even MENTIONED in connection to those prices.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Many of America's problems date back to before the ink was dry..
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 1:29am.
...on the Constitution itself, and we have been going down the tubes ever since.
We started losing ground for-real following the War of Northern Agression, but our decline as a nation didn't really kick in until the very early 1920s, which was the last semblance of a "free market economy" this nation will ever see.
Yet the Commoonity Organizer from Hell has accelerated our decline exponentially in a mere 24 months.
But fret not, as it will all be set right come November of 2012.
Right.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Before the 20's
Submitted by Back Row on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 12:09pm.
I believe the beginning of the end was the emancipation proclamation. Not only were states rights flushed down the toilet with the "win" of the civil war, but a neat little side effect of the 13 and 14 amendments occurred: corporations (who have personability) could no longer be bound by certain restrictions. It may be taboo to mention here, but yep, the first Republican made a big boo boo, but I guess he had all the right intentions.
Long story short, government is now a tool of the corporate structure; Halliburton was the most bold in demonstrating that, but it's pretty much commonplace.
I find it interesting the Clinton and Bush Jr were an about-face for traditional party effects on socioeconomics, but hey, that's a different debate; Obama has returned tradition (socialism, mega-debt). Haven't we run out of other people's money yet... oh yeah, just print some more... *facepalm*
"We know the difference between the reality of freedom, and the illusion of freedom. It's about power." -John Trudell
interpretation
Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 1:43pm.
That is an interesting interpretation of events. It would probably be more interesting to follow the money and the lawyers and 'monetary experts' that control the ebb and flow of funds since the 1930's but that would lead to the real power brokers and it is rarely big business (at least not in the traditional sense that the common person understands the media term 'big business').
Copy editors
Submitted by Blorg on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 1:37am.
You would think that the copy editors would catch it when the reporters misspell: "always a typical POS Chicago thug politician" as "once a fresh faced prophet of hope".
problems predated his presidency
Submitted by Demonhunter on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 1:54am.
Yes, it's true, many of the problems predated his presidency. Yet Obama and the Democrats voted for every single one of them, including authorizing the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
In fact, when it comes to profligate spending, their major complaint against much of Bush's legislative agenda (SCHIP, NCLB etc) was that he didn't spend enough.
Funny how Obambi and the Democrats tried to take credit for success in Iraq after they were against the surge and had already proclaimed defeat.
Every new President inherits
Submitted by celator on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 2:42am.
Every new President inherits the previous administration's problems. Nothing new there. But most do not continually, on a daily basis, blame the predecessor. They buck up and get on with the business at hand, fixing what can be fixed.
That's not the case with this Obama character. He is a creature of the hard left, always blaming others for the messes he's created, continuously lying about every thing, pratfalling all over the place....well, we know the dude by now, no need saying more about his style. He just screws up everything he gets his hands on, most of the time intentionally IMHO.
Obama is a toxic political mix of many flavors: part Marxist, part anti-colonialist, part agitator, part supreme narcissist, part BS'er, a very, very angry man completely untethered from the basic sense of what this country means to most of us, its history, its role in the world.
a failure of affirmative action
Submitted by MidAmerica on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 6:36am.
The fact that supporters still have to use excuses to cover up for a lack of accomplishments is quite telling.
And you realize, of course,
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 8:32am.
And you realize, of course, that the battle cry will be that it took Bush 8 years to make the mess; Obama can't clean it up in just 4.
I actually heard this from an
Submitted by Dutch on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 10:51am.
I actually heard this from an Obama voter the day after he was elected. I knew right then how 2012 would turn out.
Calling bkeyser!!
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 6:40am.
It's time for a photshop of the crying-baby Democrat logo and where the stars are:
It's not my fault!!
Ahmadinejad Says Obama Sucks
Submitted by im41 on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 8:36am.
as President more than George W. Bush
More soft bigotry
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 9:02am.
and excuse-making for the first black president.
Every single president, even for George Washington, has had to deal with problems that started before he took office.
The whole premise of running for president is the claim that one can fix the problems that are there before he takes office!
Which part of this didn't Obama understand?
All of ...
Submitted by SentryDan on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 2:18pm.
All of it. What kind of experience does it take to be a community organizer? Answer: None. What kind of experience did obama have that qualified him to be president? Answer: None. What kind of experience does it take to destroy the country? Answer: None. And what kind of experience does obama have? Answer: None. I guess based on his lack of experience, the only thing obama is good at is destroying things, cause he doesn't have any experience at making things work.
Remember folks, FREEDOM isn't Free. It is bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Community organizer
Submitted by Radical1979 on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 2:34pm.
Not only does one need no experience to be a community organizer, there is no measure of success. If nothing gets done they can cry well we had no political power! Anything accomplished they can take credit for saying they "organized" it into being.
So remember when BO
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 9:02am.
pours gasoline on the fire, he didn't light it. Carter and Clinton lit it.
As I said before...
Submitted by LastKnownOne on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 10:09am.
As I said before, Obammi could have six 5 year old children bound and gagged on the front lawn of the White House for all of the world to see. He could then pour gasoline on them and set them on fire. The MSM would spin the news as a brilliant move on Obama's part and something that is good for the world. THAT is how much the MSM is in the tank for Obama, liberalism, communism, fascism, marxism, and socialism. He is not the problem, MSM is the problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Until they actually become neutral, we will always have this liberal lefty problem.
Yes, there were so many
Submitted by Smartypants on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 11:14am.
Yes, there were so many problems out there when Obama assumed office, unlike every other U.S. president who started out with a completely clean slate...
Scared
Submitted by Jerry Mack on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 11:29am.
A tie in with Tingles article. The Messiah water carriers are already running scared.
What about the Dem majority in Congress
Submitted by JDL on Tue, 04/05/2011 - 11:32am.
before Obama became president? How come so may people ignore this fact?
The Dems have been in the drivers seat when the car went into the ditch and the GOP gets blamed for ALL of it.
I'm sick of the facts getting skewed by the propagnadist-in-chief and his koolaid drinkers.
some more problems that have happened since OBAMA took office...
Submitted by abeautifulperson on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 1:05pm.
- japan had an earthquake
- the iPad was launched
- violent crime rates have dropped
- the price of coffee has increased
- major oil spill in the gulf
obama may make some problems but the biggest ones blamed on him is like criticizing the guy who couldn't prevent the boulder already rolling downhill into oncoming traffic. why couldn't he halt it completely? he only slowed it down... damn him...
all troops out of afghanistan would be nice. and then, let's just bomb the country to powder.
fire a third of all public sector workers would balance the budget. private school is better.
execute all murder convicts would reduce costs.
so will eliminating bothersome regulations and scrutiny of food, the oil industry; abolishing the FDA.
let's cut staff of fire and police by 50%. leave it up to citizens to police themselves.
more coal. it's cheaper. less regulations on the coal industry.
more fracking.
abolish the minimum wage.
shoot-to-kill policy for illegals at the border.
and if these things don't happen, it's all obama's fault.
Poor Barry!
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 1:16pm.
Well, at least he can count on your vote.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
LOL. He never even laid eyes on the boulder.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 1:49pm.
He was either in Europe, golfing, on vacation or out fundraising.
problems predated Obama
Submitted by Agnostic on Thu, 04/07/2011 - 12:05pm.
Many of America's problems predated Obama - absolutely true
All of America's successes predate Obama - also true, IMO