National Intelligence Director James Clapper’s testimony about Russian meddling in the U.S. election Thursday, gave network news all the cover they needed to avoid mentioning President Barack Obama’s goodbye letter to the country. And all of the fact manipulation therein. “While President Obama's letter to the American people aimed to spotlight his legacy and achievement, it may have missed the mark in several key areas,” reported Fox News’ Kevin Corke on Special Report.
In his letter, Obama reiterated a line that he used when addressing America’s armed forces on Wednesday, “Over the past eight years, no foreign terrorist organization has successfully planned and executed an attack on our homeland.” That claim is a half-truth at best and a lie at worst
The Fox News correspondent appeared to call the president out, noting, “The president's comments from Wednesday were reflected in his letter today, but didn't talk about the ISIS-inspired attacks that struck Fort Hood, Orlando, and San Bernardino.”
As would be expected, Obama tried to glorify his failed healthcare law before the Republican congress and Trump scrap it. Corke pointed out that the president stayed well clear of his infamous lie of being able to keep your doctor. But the president argued, “If you lose your job, change your job, or start that new business, you will finally be able to purchase quality affordable care and the security and peace of mind that comes with it.”
Corke cited numerous instances in the letter where Obama was not telling the American people the whole truth:
On jobs, he wrote, “The longest streak of job creation on record … wages have grown faster over the past few years than at any time in the past 40.” He left out the part about the workforce participation rate being at historic lows. On Iraq, the president said, “We’ve drawn down from nearly 180,000 troops in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan to just 15,000.” The president didn't, however, mention the fact that just last summer, twice, he authorized hundreds more American forces to deploy, to Iraq. Nor his failed goal to end the war there and in Afghanistan.
High ranking members of the Obama administration also released exit memos. Secretary of State John Kerry was one such official, and in his memo, he touted the administration’s efforts against ISIS in driving them farther and farther out of Iraq. But as Corke mentioned, “But as in the president's letter, it left out important details, like the fact that ISIS has now spread far beyond the Levant.”
Given these facts, it’s no wonder the Big Three networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) wouldn’t touch the letter. All three networks have spent the last eight years covering for Obama and dressing up his failures. The feud between President-elect Donald Trump and National Intelligence Director James Clapper provided to be just what they need to ignore the letter.
Transcript below:
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FNC
Special Report
January 5, 2017
6:14:21 PM EasternBRET BAIER: President Obama penned a farewell letter to the American people today, and with it, he is sending a message that some critics say is not completely accurate. Correspondent Kevin Corke reports from the White House tonight on how President Obama's memory of the last eight years looks a lot different from the other side of the aisle.
[Cuts to video]
KEVIN CORKE: While President Obama's letter to the American people aimed to spotlight his legacy and achievement, it may have missed the mark in several key areas.
BARACK OBAMA: No foreign terrorist organization has successfully planned and executed an attack on our homeland these past eight years.
CORKE: The president's comments from Wednesday were reflected in his letter today, but didn't talk about the ISIS-inspired attacks that struck Fort Hood, Orlando, and San Bernardino. On ObamaCare he wrote, “If you lose your job, change your job, or start that new business, you will finally be able to purchase quality affordable care and the security and peace of mind that comes with it.” But nowhere did he mention this:
OBAMA: If you like your doctor, you keep your doctor.
CORKE: On jobs, he wrote, “The longest streak of job creation on record … wages have grown faster over the past few years than at any time in the past 40.” He left out the part about the work force participation rate being at historic lows. On Iraq, the president said, “We’ve drawn down from nearly 180,000 troops in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan to just 15,000.” The president didn't however mention the fact that just last summer, twice, he authorized hundreds more American forces to deploy, to Iraq. Nor his failed goal to end the war there and in Afghanistan.
The president's letter was one brick and a virtual wall of reflections designed to build upon the administration’s story in full view of the American people. And it included more than two dozen cabinet exit memos, including the state department, where Secretary John Kerry hailed the administration's progress in the fight against ISIS, writing, “In Iraq, ISIL controls less than 61 percent of the territory it once held. In Syria, ISIL has lost over 28 percent of the territory it once held.”
But as in the president's letter, it left out important details, like the fact that ISIS has now spread far beyond the Levant. Some experts question the wisdom of creating the memos because political virtual reality has little to do with political history.
DOUG WEAD: I think it is a mistake to play with your legacy at this point. He has got it, whatever it is, and it is better now to leave with his dignity intact.
[Cuts back to live]
CORKE: Meanwhile, Bret, UN Ambassador Samantha Power also had an exit memo. In it she said, American interests and in particular US security would be greatly damaged were the United States to back away from its leadership role at the United Nations. And while there is no clear indication that will happen under the Trump administration, the president-elect certainly has been critical of the world body before. Bret?
BAIER: That is clear. Kevin Corke live on the north lawn. Kevin, thank you.
