On Feb. 13, 2008, ABC News Noted Then-Sen. Obama's '100 Years' Remark Re: Janesville, Wis. GM Plant

September 4th, 2012 5:36 PM

While folks at MSNBC are calling Republican vice presidential nominee a "compulsive liar" for, among other things, his factually accurate statement about then-Sen. Obama's February 13, 2008 visit to a now-shuttered Janesville, Wis., General Motors plant, it's worth noting that, well, the video doesn't lie.

Ed Morrissey of HotAir.com has Obama's pledge on video here [You can also watch the video below the page break.] What's more, a search of the Nexis database reveals that David Wright of ABC News showed Obama's pledge in a story on the February 13, 2008 World News (emphasis mine):


CHARLES GIBSON (ABC NEWS)

(Off-camera) Politics next. John McCain and Barack Obama swept yesterday's three primaries in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

GRAPHICS: WINNERS MARYLAND, DC, VIRGINIA

CHARLES GIBSON (ABC NEWS)

(Voiceover) Obama has now won eight-straight primaries and caucuses.

CHARLES GIBSON (ABC NEWS)

(Off-camera) His campaign is doing everything it can to emphasize the momentum. Hers is doing everything it can to blunt it. So, we start with the Obama campaign in Wisconsin and ABC's David Wright. David?

DAVID WRIGHT (ABC NEWS)

(Off-camera) Good evening Charlie. Today, Obama the front-runner is facing a whole lot more scrutiny, from Republicans as well as from Hillary Clinton. Today, he reacted from a jab from John McCain, suggesting that his candidacy has more style than substance. Here in Wisconsin Obama went on a substance offensive.

DAVID WRIGHT (ABC NEWS)

(Voiceover) Today, Obama toured the assembly line at the GM plant in Janesville where 400 workers are expected to lose their jobs.

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA (DEMOCRAT

I guess you could do that blindfolded, couldn't you?

GM WORKER (MALE)

Boy, I sure hope not. Might give me more work.

DAVID WRIGHT (ABC NEWS)

(Voiceover) Obama abandoned his usually rousing stump speech.

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA (DEMOCRAT

This is going to be a speech that's a little bit more detailed, it's going to be a little bit longer. Not as many applause lines.

DAVID WRIGHT (ABC NEWS)

(Voiceover) Instead, Obama outlined his plan to invest $210 billion in the economy to develop more environmentally friendly energy sources and rebuild the nation's infrastructure.

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA (DEMOCRAT

And I believe that if our government is there to support you, this plant will be here for another 100 years.

DAVID WRIGHT (ABC NEWS)

(Voiceover) Obama says his plan is paid for by ending the war in Iraq and ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Later, Obama acknowledged McCain's criticism.

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA (DEMOCRAT

It's clear that he knows who his opponent's going to be, and I'm looking forward to a great debate.

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA (DEMOCRAT

(Voiceover) Today Obama also got a big endorsement. Of all people, from Bill Clinton's former campaign manager. David Wright, ABC News, Racine, Wisconsin.