NPR Cries Factual Foul on Paul Ryan for Saying 'Failed Stimulus' in SOTU Response
Beware when the liberal media starts a "fact check" story on political speeches. Their "facts" often come directly from liberal policy wonks. On Wednesday's Morning Edition, NPR ran through a series of Obama claims without really saying he mangled a fact. Reporter Elisabeth Shogren suggested he was too optimistic about getting electric cars on the road with "this Congress" (ahem, not progressive enough). But reporter John Ydstie suggested Paul Ryan was wrong to suggest the stimulus failed, citing that "economists of both persuasions" agree Ryan was incorrect:
RENEE MONTAGNE, anchor: And the president also spoke of infrastructure projects, such as high-speed rail and expanding to most of the population high-speed Internet. John Ydstie, let's bring you back in. Investment was a big theme of this State of the Union speech. In the official Republican rebuttal, Congressman Paul Ryan had this to say about that.
Rep. PAUL RYAN: Since taking office, President Obama has signed into law spending increases of nearly 25 percent for domestic government agencies, an 84 percent increase when you include the failed stimulus. All of this new government spending was sold as investment. Yet after two years, the unemployment rate remains above nine percent, and government has added over $3 trillion to our debt.
The official NPR transcript of this fact-check piece identifies Ryan as a Republican from "Wyoming." Someone needs to fact-check the fact check: he said right at the opening of his State of the Union response that he's from Janesville, Wisconsin. But it continued:
MONTAGNE: A lot of numbers there. But, John Ydstie, Congressman Ryan's assessment, is it correct?
JOHN YDSTIE: Well, it's certainly an assessment many Republicans share. And there's no doubt that President Obama has presided over massive increases in spending, in order to stimulate the economy and keep it from slipping back into recession. Whether that's a failed stimulus or not is arguable, certainly. The economy is growing now. And I think economists of both persuasions agree that the stimulus spending played a big role in keeping the economy from sliding back into recession.
What Republican economist (as opposed to Republican big-city mayors or other "stimulus" beneficiaries) has praised the "stimulus"? NPR may be thinking of Mark Zandi, a media favorite. Columnist Larry Elder put the kibosh on that:
In a study widely cited by the stimulus-supporting media, economists Alan Blinder and Mark Zandi wrote: "We estimate that, without the government's response, GDP in 2010 would be about 11.5 percent lower, payroll employment would be less by some 8 1/2 million jobs, and the nation would now be experiencing deflation."
Case closed? Hardly.
Blinder is a liberal Princeton economist who advised President Bill Clinton and presidential candidates Al Gore and John Kerry. House Democrats happily call Zandi -- with whom they agree and who advised presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. -- a "conservative Republican economist." Democrats say that if a "conservative Republican economist" says the stimulus worked, why, it must be true!
Except Zandi himself says, "I'm a Democrat." Oops.
Zandi explains: "I didn't view (McCain) as a Republican or Democrat." Exactly. Neither did many Republicans.
But NPR surely knows Zandi has consistently supported the stimulus. Last August, NPR noted that Zandi was a stimulus supporter, and conservative economist Tyler Cowen was not. In interviews, NPR found neither had changed their mind over the first 18 months of Obama's presidency.
- Tim Graham's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Pie in the sky
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 11:52am.
Again with the high speed rail (and the infrastructure that Clinton was going to 'fix'). High speed rail from where to where??? And who (how many millions) is chomping at the bit to ride it? Please, tell me where we need a train that goes 250 MPH?
A 250 mph train?
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:05pm.
I'd vote for a 250 mph train leaving Capitol Hill heading directly east for about 250 miles, if congress would promise to ride it for a couple of hours! No life jackets, by the way.
Trains
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:22pm.
What is it with dictators and trains? (ex Mussolini)
-Jon
Jon, it's the
Submitted by UpNorth on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:57pm.
base. If you have an engineer and conductor/assistant, or whatever they're called this week, chances are you have 3 unions represented by two people. Unions are cash cows for the dems/progs, so they're all down for anything that'll enhance railroads.
Gotta do that, as rail-laying itself is mostly automated now, so a net loss for unions there, gotta beef up the membership of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the United Transportation Union.
Wonder why Barry didn't use the more familiar "bullet trains"
Submitted by bkeyser on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:46pm.
I've got a little free time this morning (a foot of snow last night pretty much shut us down for the day) so I was looking for something to photoshop and the train thing crossed my mind. Doing some research, I actually came across a website called ProgressiveRailroading.com.
Never a more perfect example of a double entendre.
Progressive Railroading
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:06pm.
Now THAT's funny!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Since I wasn't alive during the Depression
Submitted by donabernathy on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 11:53am.
I always wondered how that Bull Shit line about FDR's programs ending it ever got started. IT'S CLEAR TO ME NOW.
roflmao
"economists of both persuasions" agree Ryan was incorrect?
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 11:58am.
Ah, yes! Economists. Aren't they the "experts" who are "surprised" with the economic numbers EVERY SINGLE MONTH when they come out? How in hell can they be wrong EVERY TIME, and still be considered firkin(look it up) "experts" or any other kind of expert? Their record doesn't even beat a stopped clock! WTF (Winning the future?)?
Any day now, I expect the left wing to begin attacking Paul Ryan as being Eddie Munster, all grown up. (OK, they may have a point there) This guy scares the hell out of liberals because he obviously understands more about the economy than their entire party. I'll bet that he actually read the entire Obamacrap bill BEFORE it was passed so that he could find how just how idiotic the stuff in it actually was.
I hope his skin is as thick as it appears to be. He's gonna need it.
Technically it's true
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:12pm.
"Both persuasions" is a reference to Barney Frank.
Not all economists
Submitted by The Vet on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:24pm.
Walter Williams: Any so-called stimulus program is a ruse. The government can increase its spending only by reducing private spending equivalently. Whether government finances its added spending by increasing taxes, by borrowing, or by inflating the currency, the added spending will be offset by reduced private spending. Furthermore, private spending is generally more efficient than the government spending that would replace it because people act more carefully when they spend their own money than when they spend other people's money." A short translation of Wagner's comment is: There is no Santa Claus or Tooth Fairy.
Robert J Barro: The fiscal stimulus package of 2009 was a mistake.
Thomas Sowell: A common problem with government economic policies in general is that it is very hard to predict how long it will be before the policy actually affects the economy. An economic stimulus policy created during a contraction in demand can take effect during an inflationary expansion of demand-- and fuel still more inflation.
A trillion dollars or so, created out of thin air by a government that already has a huge deficit, can set off another round of inflation that can take some very painful new policies to bring under control-- or can have even more painful effects, if it is not brought under control. The new administration may need that get-out-of-jail-free card.
Arthur Laffer: Instead of the massive bailouts, stimulus and other giveaway programs, Laffer says, “I would have had a federal tax holiday. No taxes of any sort for a year and nine months which comes out to $3.5 trillion.
A link I'd like to add to your list Vet.
Submitted by Par for the Course on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:15pm.
IMO, a decent analysis of the stimulus.
Great rant and excellent links, guys.
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:25pm.
Um, Bubba, I know Paul Ryan read the stupid Obamacare bill, because during the Health Care Kabuki Theatre meeting, he had it in front of him, with tabs, and he quoted line and verse to The Obama!
Nervy little fella. He had me at hello.
My dream ticket? Paul Ryan/Allen West.
The other reason we KNOW (and should repeat, over and over) that "The Stimulus" not only wouldn't work, but in fact hasn't worked...is because of the journoliars' words when talking about it. They went from the canard of "saved or created" to "support" jobs. It's kind of a nebulous, hopin' changey, shifty concept...which goes along with the arithmetic they use...where 1 + 1 = 347. But I digress.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
John Cogan
Submitted by The Vet on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:35pm.
He was also in article with Mr. Laffer above. Thank you Sir. I get most of my knowledge of conservative economists from the WSJ. Your link sounded familiar.
Mr. Cogan and Mr. Taylor said pretty much the same thing last month in the WSJ --- The bottom-line is the federal government borrowed funds from the public, transferred these funds to state and local governments, who then used the funds mainly to reduce borrowing from the public. The net impact on aggregate economic activity is zero, regardless of the magnitude of the government purchases multiplier.
Sorry I did not include them.
Really NPR? REALLY? Paul
Submitted by Van Halen on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:06pm.
Really NPR?
REALLY?
Paul Ryan is wrong for saying FAILED STIMULUS?
Well, how about these facts - 25 months of Obama and his FAILED STIMULUS has given us: record deficits, record unemployment, longest jobless stretch since the 1930's, record bank failures, record foreclosures, record trade deficits, record poverty rate, failing dollar, national poverty at record highest level, foreign policy disasters, record number of golf games played by a president, record death toll in Afghanistan, record number of food stamp recipients, consumer confidence at record lows, home values have fallen to Depression levels, record number of days spent abroad by a US President, 25 of 50 states suing to stop Obamacare...
As Sarah Palin brilliantly said...
WTF??!!
Another point can be made for
Submitted by Van Halen on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:09pm.
Another point can be made for NPR's supposed economic gurus:
Today's job numbers were in the red again - UNEXPECTEDLY.
NPR's merely whining about Ryan...they're on his "Hit List"
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:14pm.
Their little whine is a pre-emptive one, trying to stir up their "base" to stave off imminent defunding by the Feds.
WOOT! Go Paul Ryan. I told you guys a year and a half ago that he's my dark horse, if not this election, definitely in 2016. He says his kids are too young, which makes me like him even more.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Good morning Blonde
Submitted by cocodrie on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:19pm.
You used the term "hit list" Rather violent talk for the AM ain't it? You'll probably be on their blame list if their funding gets cut..
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Oops! Sorry cocodrie
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:15pm.
Um, "target list"? Nope. Too violent.
Alas, I'm just no good at this pc thingy. Never was, never will be. I guess there's absolutely no danger (can I say that?) of me becoming a liberal.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Well now Mr. Machete.
Submitted by The Vet on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:43pm.
You said cut. :-0
Also that whole Jesus dying thing sounds kinda violent ;-0
Just kidding with you big guy.
Sincerely,
A Veteran of a 1000 Psychic Wars that speaks of war which is really violent and bloody if you pay attention.
Good evening Vet
Submitted by cocodrie on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 2:43pm.
Where's George Carlin when we need him.We need his list of 5,000 worda conservqtives can't say in public.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
I wrote my rep a letter
Submitted by Van Halen on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 2:34pm.
I wrote my rep a letter requesting that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting be defunded.
Would respectfully request all others here to do likewise.
Only Republicans think it failed?
Submitted by Bluegill on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:28pm.
I think a poll of Americans might have been helpful IF they wanted to portray reality which is obviously not the objective.
Poll: More Think Obama Stimulus Hurt Employment Than Helped A plurality of Americans believe President Barack Obama's stimulus package has harmed economic growth, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released on Friday.Friday, July 02, 2010
While only 29% think it helped
The Ap did the opposite
Submitted by mzk1 on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:30pm.
The AP put out a "fact check" report, which, to my shock, took mostly the president to task on questionable facts, including the supposed "savings" of the "health care bill".
Government
Submitted by 10ksnooker on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 12:47pm.
Cannot and does not create jobs.
As Reagan said ... "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem."
200 TOP Economists Against the Stimulus
Submitted by TEXASQUINN on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:34pm.
There were 200 economists from universities and businesses that said that stimulus is bad for the economy. Below is a link to get the names of those 200 economists. Next time a liberal says "economists from both sides of the isle agree" ask them to give you names. More times then not the lib will give 2 or 3, this is where you come in and give them 200!!!
http://www.cato.org/special/stimulus09/cato_stimulus.pdf
NPR finally fact checks the "fail" word now?
Submitted by andrew - des moines on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:54pm.
It was clearly apparant when Bush was President that NPR, the MSM in general, and dem pols made a concerted effort to use the word "fail" as often as possible when discussing the President and his policies. They would even draw the word out in its pronunciation -- it was all completely over the top. Now NPR fact checks a Republican's use of the word. As I posted in a comment elsewhere on NPR, they are actively lobbying their listeners to contact their congressmen to support continued funding. We are in a struggle to get conservative viewpoints presented to Americans, and NPR, like the rest of the MSM, is desparately trying to shut us down in ways big and small.
It Failed, It's a Fact
Submitted by forest on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 1:56pm.
The stimulus did not do what the Administrations said it would do. It didn't even come close to doing what they said it would do. It failed. Period.
They said it would keep unemployment from going above 8% and it was supposed to be down to 7% by now. It went to 10% and it's now 9.4%.
The Stimulus failed. It's a fact, and unlike most political claims, it can be verified very simply by looking at the numbers.
Wyoming?
Submitted by Ashrak on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 2:04pm.
Fact check the fact check.
Love it.
Can it get any more ridiculuos?
if your intentions were to rob this country blind ?
Submitted by igor1136 on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 2:13pm.
MISSION ACOMPLISHED!
follow who made the really big bucks. this was the biggest con job on the american public ever. if we dont make sure everyone who made any kind of real money is looked into. we need to put these crooks in jail. and string a few of them up to just so its a warning to any (party) that trys this again. WE THE PEOPLE run this country not some jerk in the white house living off our dime.