Anita Dunn: ‘Nobody Denies That the Stimulus Worked’

Anita Dunn: Nobody Denies That the Stimulus Worked

Appearing on MSNBC, ex-WH Communications Director Anita Dunn tackled the issue of the Obama administration and the great stimulus debate.

Apparently, the new narrative is that the WH misstepped in defining the stimulus as a job creation measure because they had no idea how bad the economy was. (Ah, is this a “BIOB” moment?)

Two points of note:

1) ”The administration, like everybody else in the United States, didn’t understand on Election Day 2008 just how bad the economy was. And because of that, the initial positioning on the economy and on some of the legislation was defined in the context of job creation – a way that was impossible for them to actually carry out.”

And yet:

2) ”Nobody denies that the stimulus worked…”

I wouldn’t say nobody … see here, here, here, here and here for a few…

And someone might want to tell “Recovery Summer” cheerleader Joe Biden that the stimulus was defined in a “way that was impossible for them to actually carry out”…

However, it is worth noting that the CBO did issue a report (.pdf) saying the stimulus package created or saved up to 3.3 million jobs and boosted the gross domestic product by up to 4.5 percent. Yet, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former CBO director, tells Fox News that, ”This is repackaging previous analysis at the request of Democrats in Congress. This is based on a computer model, and with computer models you get out what you put in, and the kinds of models that the CBO uses is one where the stimulus can’t fail to work.”


Dunn is married to Robert Bauer, current White House Counsel.

P.S. Article quote find of the day goes to Business Week:

“More people today believe Elvis Presley is alive than that the stimulus worked.”

H/T Townhall

Comments (163)

1 2 3 ... 6
  • DarthHubrys
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 5:30am

    It has saved jobs, UWA jobs(or was that TARP), AFLCIO jobs, political jobs. There are few states and cities that did not take some stimulus money and pay first responders and teachers with it, oh along with bonuses and raises for government employees. Cloward and Pivens, yes the stimulus is moving that part of the plan along. I look a the coming interest payments and just shake my head, those interest payments are more than our whole federal budget used to be. UNSUSTAINABLE.

    Report Post » DarthHubrys  
  • 2gether
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 5:21am

    and might I add an aside. Yes new laws were inacted and legislation was pushed through, but the truth is it wasn‘t wanted it was rammed down our throats and wasn’t even READ!!!!!! HELLO?! Does anybody see anything wrong with this picture?!

    Report Post »  
  • 2gether
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 5:16am

    Maybe it’s just me but my nobody brother-in-law has been unemployed now for 11/2 years and he has a degree…maybe if he tries hards enough he can get hired to caulk windows and doors!

    Report Post »  
  • DGroundhog
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 5:12am

    Oh thank God! I was beginning to wonder if ‘recovery summer’ was going to appear before Labor day.

    Anita sounds pretty sure. I guess we can expect the unemployment rate to plummet to under 8% in the next few days!

    WOOOHOOO! OOOOOBAAAAAMAAAAAA!!!!! Socialism worked!

    …well, at least you can’t say it failed for 4 more days.

    Report Post »  
  • wciappetta
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 4:57am

    It’s my understanding 25% unemployment in the construction sector and Obama chooses turtle tunnels instead of Nuclear power plants….Amazing indeed … The country should be dotted with such powerplants…..

    Report Post »  
  • Marc Jacobs
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 4:54am

    The stimulus has worked. I cannot even understand the controversy about this statement. Since the Obama administration is attempting to “collapse the system” Nobody can deny that the stimulus has gone a long way in speeding up our financial collapse. Sure it has not happened yet, but at least we are on the path to collapse. So, by this definition, the stimulus worked…. Sure the work to be done is not finished…. Collapse can be brought on by Obamacare, and that is in the pipeline – so collapse is inevitable if we do not change course…. So, Anita, perhaps we should just tweak your remarks…. Although the stimulus has not completed the job it was designed to do, it certainly is working exactly as designed.

    Report Post » Marc Jacobs  
  • BurningTruth
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 4:16am

    The Summer of Recovery is working just as well as the stimulus. unemployment is down to a percentage of… oh wait ummm nevermind my teleprompter is acting up.

    Report Post »  
  • Ellie
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 4:10am

    I highly doubt that those pushing for 99 weeks of UI think that the stimulus worked.

    Report Post » Ellie  
  • Zcat
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 3:27am

    Obama confidante Anita Dunn announced today that she’s severing ties with the Democratic National Committee through the 2010 elections. Her reason: Crist.

    Last week, the Florida governor, who recently changed his party affiliation from GOP to independent, hired Dunn’s consulting firm, SKD Knickerbocker, to advise his Senate campaign

    Report Post »  
    • pickgnee
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 6:38pm

      I always thought that Crist is an empy suit. This just proves that the dems are ready to dress him up and send him out there. I hope and pray Rubio beats the crap out of him…..that doesn’t sound nice but, oh well….

      Report Post »  
  • openeyes1
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 3:26am

    Anita is actually completely correct.
    For a given vaue of “Nobody” of course. She means “nobody who is anybody important i.e. one of the Political Class.

    And they didn’t know how bad the economy was? What, all those genius academicians they love couldn’t be bothered to look at publicly available statistics? They spent years screaming at how GWB’s economy is horrible (an egregious lie), but thought everything would be OK when they take over.

    I think the think that ticks me off the most is that they really think we are that dumb!

    Report Post »  
  • Zcat
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 3:22am

    Anita Dunn is now working for Charlie Crist in Florida! I can’t remember her job title! But they do make a good pair!

    Report Post »  
    • Mama Who
      Posted on September 4, 2010 at 12:40am

      Floridians take note: if SHE is working for CRIST, he’s even more dangerous than I feared! He already cut a deal with ObamaCare. Now he’s showing his true colors. Heck, he’ll even go RED for the right pay day!

      Report Post »  
    • timeisnow
      Posted on September 4, 2010 at 11:20am

      I know I heard that, I wonder if the people of Florida know that? Beck should tell them…LOLLLL

      Report Post »  
  • Yakimaniacal
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 3:07am

    This Mao-worshiping Marxist psychopath is far more demented than I thought.

    Report Post »  
  • sparrowablaze
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 3:06am

    “creative excuses”, FHC92 ??? Well okay then, I suppose it is a kindness I’ll grant you, but I say this gal is prototypical amoung The Bamer‘s inner circle that don’t know their butt from 3rd base. Having an excuse for failure might well assume that these clowns can recognize failure and success, and the differences between them … variables notwithstanding.
    “nobody denies the stimulus worked …” just tells all the nobodys that this gal isn’t allowed out much unless it may be into a controled environment. I suspect there is a LOT of that sort of control going on with those like Anita. ‘Course, they ALL have a problem getting just about anything right when they attempt to speak responsively in an extemporaneous fashion. Hell’s bells, even the Top Cat himself has a hard time making any sense when he drifts off the Mmmm, Uh, Ummm, Uh teleprompter.

    Report Post »  
  • honestyplease
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 3:04am

    I’m amazed by the fact that adults are still buying this B.S., fools… the lot of you!

    Report Post »  
  • natural_law
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 2:53am

    Nobody other then 200 million Americans – oh and lots of foreign countries notice also.

    Report Post »  
  • Free Radical
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 2:47am

    She’s actually right if you mean having the government taking over more of the private sector as each day goes by!

    Report Post »  
    • richierich
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:04am

      Yes. It all depends on what the definition of “worked” is.

      Report Post »  
  • BMartin1776
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 2:41am

    STIMULUS WORKED? What crack is she on? Tell her to shut up and go back to praising Mao! How did we get here people, how did we allow so many real word inexperienced fools into government? Have any f these idgets like this ditz ever held a real job and had to answer to a real boss, or have to meet payroll? Its amazing they spend a good chunk of their life in some BS radical ivy league school graduate and then get gov’t jobs dictating our lives! Time to elect real people into office; VOTE THEM ALL OUT so we don’t have to worry about someone appointing a clueless individual like Dunn into a position of power (regardless of what level).

    56 men had the balls to stand up and do whats right what about you? The time has come to take the gloves off and give corrupt politicians, media and special interest groups a “lethal dose” of their own medicine through http://www.savingtherepublic.com

    Report Post » BMartin1776  
  • Lftcoaster
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 2:39am

    First one must determine what the goal is, and define it. If the goal is to restore the economy in the US, then it could be defined as decreasing joblessness and improving the NGP. If this were the goal, the Stimulus was a miserable failure. If, on the other-hand, the goal is to destroy the economy and send the Country into chaos, then the stimulus is working. Anita Dunn professed Mao as a person she looks up to, and therefore must embrace the Marxist belief system. I would also expect her to follow Alinsky’s methodology, hence I would not believe anything she has to say as she would incorporate any means to meet her progressive targets.

    Report Post » Lftcoaster  
  • fhc92
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 2:20am

    You know, I wasn’t aware that nobody knew how bad the economy was in 2008. I just love the new creative excuses the left has been coming up with for their failures.

    Report Post »  
  • plunderpower
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 2:17am

    LA LA LA LA LA LA I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you.

    Report Post » plunderpower  
  • plunderpower
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 2:16am

    I always thought that eventually American citizens would get blamed for the mess…when nothing else worked. Now she says we didn’t understand how bad it was. Told ya’ so. “Hey, Lady Lib, we know it was bad that‘s why we’ve been screaming at you for the last 2 years. Now you can add that we’ve been screaming at you because you have made it worse.” The sooner this bunch is hauled off in straightjackets and the pens are taken away from them, the better off we will all be.

    Report Post » plunderpower  
  • Chevalier
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 2:05am

    The stimulus worked?????

    What the heck is she smoking????

    Report Post » Chevalier  
    • ncwiseguy
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 5:09am

      chev………

      come on man, you know she aint been smoking. she s been in the kool aid again.

      Report Post »  
    • Jeff in Miami
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 5:53am

      Now you know why they won’t close the borders, the illegals bring in the drugs! I just wonder if they take it from the caught stash or if they by direct.

      Report Post » Jeff in Miami  
    • LesterWillox
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 7:36am

      I think what she means is “The stimulus prevented the worst”. Which is a pretty clever thing to say, because it’s something that cannot be conclusively proven.

      Report Post »  
    • BECKELICIOUS
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:58am

      I’m sorry,
      but that woman is the spitting image of Underdog’s girlfriend
      “Sweet Polly Purebread,“ or an inhabitant of ”The Island of Doctor Moreau.”

      Report Post »  
    • timeisnow
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 10:29am

      Anita Dunn is smoking from the same pipe that Obama is… its called controlling the conversation, in this case its about that the Porkulus Bill worked… all it did was reward the UNIONS for getting him elected.. Obama threw the Privated Sector under the bus…Thats who will vote him out in November

      Report Post »  
    • 4th climacteric
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 5:52pm

      beckalicious—Island of Dr. Moreau visual was very funny…..But the original version not the remake….Keep up the good work….

      Report Post »  
  • judd
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 2:01am

    “Nobody” must be the guy with the gun pointed at his head.

    Report Post »  
    • judd
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 2:09am

      Or maybe its “Nobody” with the gun… or “sombody” or… well… maybe… oh who cares the EPA is banning bullets anyway!

      Report Post »  
    • tprince
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:34am

      hehe, remember it is the lead in the ammunition. Kinda like we are not banning air just the oxygen in it.

      Report Post »  
  • alshere
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 1:51am

    You know what Anita, why don’t you go down to the unemployment office and how the Obam recovery is working for them! What color is the sky in this woman’s world. She references Mao so it has to be red.

    Report Post »  
  • SignPainterGuy
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 1:51am

    Nearly 29 years in my business, using my God-given talent to develop workable and profitable skills and now I must admit, I`m NOBODY, `cause I absolutely DENY the stimulus worked !!!! It`s becoming more and more widely recognized , the stimulus is little more than a dem. party slush fund !!!

    Report Post »  
    • drparker37
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 7:33am

      I think it would be more accurately described as a Progressive slush fund seeing that we saw the first “stimulus” packages role out under Pres. Bush.

      Report Post »  
    • SheriS
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 7:34am

      People like Ms. Dunn apparently live in a different country then I do. In my county, unemployment has been at 14.5% since before her precious, do nothing stimulus and it is still there today! Somehow it hasn’t helped as more people get laid off, or totally lose their jobs. Two weeks ago we learned of another business closing their doors leaving 300 people with no jobs! Somehow these are facts that don’t seem to reach Ms. Dunn’s desk or she chooses to ignore facts! Sorry Ms Dunn, you through all that money, we don’t have, down the “old drain” and added to the deficit–THAT APPEARS TO BE TRUER THEN YOUR STATEMENT!

      Report Post »  
    • badswing
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:12am

      a RULING CLASS slush fund

      Report Post » badswing  
    • getpd4it
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:19am

      Politicians, especially most on the left or those earning a living off promoting them will say just about anything except admit they are or could have been wrong.

      This not reported anywhere but the FIRST year in Social Security history seniors did not a 1-2 or 3%COL increase. My poor 87 yr old Aunt worked ALL of her life did NOT get a cost of living increase on her Social Security check this past January, the second year of the Obama administration. Then her cost for the medical coverage they take from her SS check went up almost $5.00 a month so in reality, she gets about $600.00 less a year. Some may not think that is not that much but when that is all you get, it’s your medication, property tax bill or FOOD.

      No one tells the Dems or people like Anita real life situations like this and I would like to see her try to live on the amount the seniors try to live on. I was against the first stimulus Bush gave out and all those that followed under Obama.

      Report Post »  
    • WVRob
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:48am

      That’s odd, I’m NOBODY also! Go figure. “The ruling class” is so far out of touch with the rest of the nation, the God that we appear to be on the verge of a new awakening in this great land of ours.

      Report Post » WVRob  
    • timeisnow
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 10:25am

      Anita Dunn and her husband are Radical Progressives. They lie right to your face and act like it’s the truth… Her job before she was asked to resign because she Loves Mao, was to Control Obamas Message. She is not doing a good job thats for sure because his Agenda has been exposed like a HUGE SEEPING OOSING SOCIALIST WOUND that has gotten away from her big time…LOL

      Report Post »  
    • Mikee T
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 11:09am

      I honestly believe (after watching a video of this woman last year) that she is on some type of mind altering drug….prescribed or otherwise……..she showed dry mouth, which is a by product of drug use… She believes that nobody can deny that the stimulus worked ? I’ll tell you what it worked for, zillions of unnecessary road work projects throughout the country……You can’t drive anywhere in NJ or PA without the roads being under construction (all at once, it seems). It also worked for the green energy scam which will result in higher energy costs for tax paying americans and new wealth for the ruling class elites……..period…….

      Report Post »  
    • Putouttheblaze
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 1:32pm

      It worked for me. I opened a second business in Florida and hired 32 people through the SBA part of stimulus package. It took ten years to create the depression it is going to takje longe rthan twelve months to rectify it.

       
    • RandomOne
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 5:26pm

      It all depends on what your definition of worked is. If your goal is to destroy the US economy, by the use of hyperinflation, then yes it has worked. Buckle up and get ready to see the remaining money in your bank account become worthless.

      Report Post »  
    • 4th climacteric
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 5:44pm

      Hey putouttheblaze, a marijuana clinic doesn’t count…Geeeezzz, put out the blaze in you head…

      Report Post »  
    • orkydorky
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 6:57pm

      Yes, Bush was duped into thinking the sky was falling, but are you seeing any of those funds going for GOP causes?

      Report Post » orkydorky  
    • orkydorky
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 7:11pm

      To………Putouttheblaze, Are you in the building of overpasses for turtles business?

      Report Post » orkydorky  
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