Government

Fact Check: AP Finds Errors in Obama’s Jobs Speech

Fact Check of Obamas Jobs SpeechWASHINGTON (AP) — Are President Barack Obama’s ideas for job creation really bipartisan as he claims? Not when the means for paying for them are put in the equation.

(Related: Watch excerpts from Obama’s speech)

The president dodged various facts and and left some evidence in the dust in his latest challenge to Republicans to get behind his jobs program or offer a real alternative.

A look at some of the claims in his fast-paced news conference and how they compare with the facts:

OBAMA: “If it turns out that there are Republicans who are opposed to this bill, they need to explain to me, but more importantly to their constituencies and the American people, why they’re opposed, and what would they do.”

THE FACTS: While Republicans might not be campaigning on their opposition to Obama’s plan, they’ve hardly kept their objections a secret.

In a memorandum to House Republicans Sept. 16, House Speaker John Boehner and members of the GOP leadership said they could find common ground with Obama on the extension of certain business tax breaks, waiving a payment withholding provision for federal contractors, incentives for hiring veterans, and job training measures in connection with unemployment insurance.

They objected to new spending on public works programs, suggesting instead that Congress and the president work out those priorities in a highway spending bill. And they raised concerns about Obama’s payroll tax cuts for workers and small businesses, arguing that the benefits of a one-year tax cut would be short-lived. The memo also pointed out that reducing payroll taxes, which pay for Social Security, temporarily forces Social Security to tap the government’s general fund. And it opposed additional spending to prevent layoffs of teachers, police officers and other public workers.

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OBAMA: “Every idea that we’ve put forward are ones that traditionally have been supported by Democrats and Republicans alike.”

THE FACTS: Obama proposes to pay for his jobs bill by raising taxes, something traditionally opposed by Republicans and, in the form Obama proposed it, even some Democrats. Senate Democrats were so allergic to Obama’s approach, which relied largely on limiting deductions that can be taken by individuals making over $200,000 a year and couples making more than $250,000, that they’re eliminating it and replacing it with a new tax on millionaires.

In claiming bipartisan support for the components of his proposal, the president appears to be referring just to what the plan would do, not how it’s paid for, but that‘s a crucial distinction he doesn’t make.

Some of tax-cutting proposals offered by Obama have received significant Republican support in the past. But some of the new spending he proposes has received only nominal Republican backing. Evidence of bipartisanship provided by the White House includes legislation last year that provided $10 billion to prevent teacher layoffs. It won the support of only two Republican senators – Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both of Maine and among the most moderate Republicans in Congress. Another example cited by the White House was his proposal last year to offer tax breaks to businesses that hire new workers – it passed the House 217-201 with six Republican votes.

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OBAMA: “The answer we’re getting right now is: Well, we’re going to roll back all these Obama regulations… Does anybody really think that that is going to create jobs right now and meet the challenges of a global economy?”

THE FACTS: Well, yes, some think it will. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce last month submitted a jobs proposal to Obama that included a call to ease regulations on businesses. It specifically called for streamlining environmental reviews on major construction projects and to delay the issuance of some potentially burdensome regulations until the economy and employment have improved. In the letter, Chamber President Thomas Donohue also called on Congress to pass legislation that would require congressional approval of major regulations. The chamber did not indicate how many jobs such regulatory changes could create, but it said: “Immediate regulatory relief is required in order to begin moving $1 trillion-$2 trillion in accumulated private capital off of the sidelines and into business expansion.”

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OBAMA: “We can either keep taxes exactly as they are for millionaires and billionaires, with loopholes that lead them to have lower tax rates, in some cases, than plumbers and teachers, or we can put teachers and construction workers and veterans back on the job.”

THE FACTS: True, “in some cases” wealthy people can exploit loopholes to make their tax rate lower than for people of middle or low income. In recent rhetoric, Obama had suggested it was commonplace for rich people to pay lower rates than others, a claim not supported by IRS statistics. But on Thursday, Obama accurately stated that it only happens sometimes.

In 2009, 1,470 households filed tax returns with incomes above $1 million yet paid no federal income tax, according to the IRS. Yet that was less than 1 percent of returns with incomes above $1 million. On average, taxpayers who made $1 million or more paid 24.4 percent of their income in federal income taxes; those making $100,000 to $125,000 paid 9.9 percent; those making $50,000 to $60,000 paid 6.3 percent. The White House argues that when payroll taxes – paid only on the first $106,800 of wages – are factored in, more middle class workers wind up with a higher tax rate than millionaires.

—

OBAMA: “China has been very aggressive in gaming the trading system to its advantage and to the disadvantage of other countries, particularly the United States. …. And currency manipulation is one example of it, or at least intervening in the currency markets in ways that have led their currency to be valued lower than the market would normally dictate. And that makes their exports cheaper and that makes our exports to them more expensive.”

THE FACTS: While Obama complained about China’s efforts to keeps its currency undervalued to gain trade advantages, his administration has repeatedly refused to brand China as a currency manipulator in a report that the Treasury Department is required to send to Congress twice a year.

Such a designation would trigger negotiations between the two countries and could ultimately lead to U.S. trade sanctions against China.

The administration has been reluctant to brand China a currency manipulator, as have past administrations, because the United States depends on China to buy U.S. Treasury securities to help finance America’s budget deficits. China owns $1.17 trillion in U.S. Treasury securities, making it the largest foreign holder of Treasury debt.

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Associated Press writers Erica Werner, Martin Crutsinger and Calvin Woodward contributed to this report.

Comments (71)

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  • ColoradoMaverick
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:37am

    This wasn’t a “jobs speech”. Nothing the president is doing has anything to do with running the country, creating jobs, or anything else that a president should be doing as a president. Everything he says and does is part of his 2012 re-election. That is priority #1. That is his ONLY priority.

    Report Post » ColoradoMaverick  
  • ddg7
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:29am

    If someone could ever put an ‘industrial strength’ polygraph on this president it better have an extended warranty!

    Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on October 8, 2011 at 10:44pm

      Waterboard his butt and find out the truth.

      Report Post »  
  • oldcoyote
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:20am

    I can’t watch or listen to anything obama does any longer. I am sick of him. He is one huge lie and a spit in America’s face and no one cares but us. Soon we will be on his death squad hit list.

    Report Post » oldcoyote  
    • gwssacredcause
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:36am

      Oldcoyote I feel the same way you do and so does my sister, a woman that used to vote Democrat. A retired teacher with a Masters in Education. My sister doesn’t even listen to his speeches anymore and says there is no point, he lies with every breath he takes, though I agree I would rather stand against decievers and tyrants like this than live under their rule even if it mean an internment camp or death.

      Report Post »  
    • Junter
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 11:00am

      I feel the same way. Why listen to his words when you know they mean nothing.

      Report Post »  
    • PilgrimStuckInBizarroWorld
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:16pm

      A liar always believes their own lies.
      TRUTH

      Report Post »  
  • papabear27
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:18am

    President Barack Hussein Obama is offering BRIBES to ANYONE who will VOTE for him! No news agency has asked him –
    “Where are the RESULTS of the 2009 payments to UNION teachers, UNION fire fighters, and UNION police”?
    “Where are the postings of all of those shovel ready jobs for ROADS, BRIDGES, and INFRASTRUCTURE projects”?
    “How many more companies like ”Solyndra“ debacles has the President and his czars ”bet on”?

    Most importantly is the “LIE” of President BO stating the Republicans are NOT working with him and they “have no plan” AFTER his puppet Harry Reid refused to present ANY BUDGET for running this country for THREE YEARS! How many House Bills have DIED on the desk of Harry Reid, who is a Demon-Rat!
    Barack Obama is flaming the fires of CLASS WARFARE with every campaign statement that he makes on the road or in the White House!

    Of course this is my opinion of what I witness, and I could be wrong!

    Report Post »  
  • Silversmith
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:15am

    Error my Butt!!
    He is the President of the United States. His words are scrutinized and chosen carefully; and fact checking at that level is impeccable. If it’s not true, it‘s because he’s lying — It’s on purpose. No one at that level is just “guessing” in a composed speech.

    Silversmith

    Report Post » Silversmith  
  • turkey13
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:10am

    I don’t care if this provided jobs – we can’t afford a half trillion $$$ when we owe almost 15 trillion $$$. The new contracts to fix the countries roads is a joke. To get these contracts you have to be union so the contracts go to the same old contractors – providing job security. This will provide a few tempory jobs.

    Report Post »  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:05am

    Put it into language that these IDIOTS can understand, please. LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE!

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • lel2007
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:02am

    AP finds errors? They were not errors. They were baldfaced lies.

    Report Post » lel2007  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:54am

    Hey AP like you think this is the first time or something…you clowns supported him and enabled him for the last 3 or so years…so yeah he continues to do the same and now you come out with some little truths…bunch of liberal suck ups.

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • 355engine
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:49am

    Obama knows he’s in trouble with his base and is working hard to “convince” his 2008 supporters that he is still their “man” and is working for the good of the people…What he isn’t telling you is that in order to “change” America he must still punish those whom have been successful in order give more to those who want all given to them. You can see it in his tax proposals, his immigration policies, and in his jobs proposals. Most of which (jobs) are manual labor proposals for blue collar workers and nothing for those whom have worn white collars or choose to use their education to support their families. This is how he views America, and his regulations and policies have made it impossible for employers to know what to expect in a couple years. If you are a “green” company he will give you millions in taxpayer monies and the cost of one single job is more than any middle class family makes in a year. Is this “creating” jobs. We’d be better off if he would just mail a check to those unemployed and “maybe” give them an incentive to create their own source of income. Tax breaks are fine, if we could afford them, but at this time I don‘t see anything that doesn’t just “push ” the economy recovery further down the road. What is in this bill to reduce debt? NOTHING

    Report Post »  
  • Ferrarello
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:41am

    I’ve never seen a “Natural Born Liar” quite like this.

    Report Post » Ferrarello  
    • turkey13
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:04am

      You forget he’s a lawyer!

      Report Post »  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 9:09am

      He may have a Law degree, Obama never actually practiced law. Without his college transcripts available he may not actually have a law degree either.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 2:37pm

      We have no proof that any of his educational background is true. No transcriipts, no one who remembers him from school – teacher or fellow student. A phony SS #, from an area of the c ountry where he never lived.
      His whole history could be a lie.

      OMG – Psalm 109:8

      Report Post »  
  • 50stars13stripes
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:38am

    Boy, am I flabbergasted! Do they mean he may have, just alittle, misled, plausible deniability, didn’t really, was taken out of context, we just don’t understand, are racist, gun toting, bible thumbing, rednecks, and just bald faced lied to us, huh….

    Report Post » 50stars13stripes  
  • felix
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:37am

    so what ! nothing will happen and no one can do anything – we are all screwed-period

    Report Post »  
  • Volsense
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:33am

    Obama is incapable of the truth. He is the master of lies and deceptions when it come to exploiting the ignorance of the American people. He will use hatred and violence to intimidate the American voters. Will it work? Its all he has.

    Report Post »  
  • TRILO
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:32am

    Every time he opens his mouth nothing but lies are told to the American people. Hopefully just one more year of this treasonous president.

    Report Post » TRILO  
  • tobywil2
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:32am

    Which of these two cartoons do you think best describes President Obama’s “Stimulus Plan”?
    http://commonsense21c.com/images/STIMULUS_PLAN2.jpg

    http://commonsense21c.com/images/stimulus_plan-2.jpg

    Report Post » tobywil2  
  • HKS
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:31am

    With this administration the truth could be the real news, it’s rare.

    Report Post » HKS  
  • Sharon Rose
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:30am

    He needs to go~~NOW~~~

    Report Post »  
  • tobywil2
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:30am

    If Obama’s teleprompter malfunctioned and flashed the TRUTH and Obama chocked on that truth, could the HEIMLICH MANEUVER be applied in time to avoid Biden becoming President? http://commonsense21c.com/

    Report Post » tobywil2  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:29am

    Were his lips moving? Then he was lying. SSDD, folks.

    Report Post » biohazard23  
  • cece959
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:25am

    Wow. The AP fact-checked the anointed one and found him lacking? Personally, I think people are getting fed up with his blame, whine and threat tactics. The closer we get to the election, the more he looks like some spoiled, entitled brat who wants to take his basketball and run home screaming to Mommy that the kids won’t play fair and let him win.

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:19am

    .
    According to the AP the first & most glaring error he made was “He opened his mouth!”……….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • Brittany-Imbriaarts
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:19am

    Did I just wake up in Wonderland since when does the AP actually get a Obama speech correct in reporting the lies he told.

    Report Post » Brittany-Imbriaarts  
    • HUNITHUNIT
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:27am

      AP has been fact checking alot of people, including Obama, for quite some time now.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:16am

    The Facts; Obama lies, twists, distorts, fabricates and obstructs each and all things that stand in the way of his agenda (even his own party) and passes the blame fully onto the Republicans and to the Tea Party. He never accepts any blame for his own actions, his attempts to socialistic transform the nation, and the obstructionist tactics of him and his party.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • GeorgieJo
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:27am

      SNOW-
      Obummer will blame the teleprompter. He cannot accept responsibility for his WORDS or ACTIONS.
      Is he so dense that he thinks the American people can’t see through his crap? He needs something to run his campaign on and it can’t be his RECORD so this way he places the blame on the Repub licans.

      NO BO in 2012!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • quicker
      Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:45am

      The Obamas are the ultiment welfare recepticants ,every thing they own is paid by somsbody else.And when misfortune hitts them it`s somebody else s fault. I say thanks agin to sacred honer for this.

      Report Post » quicker  
  • thepatriotdave
    Posted on October 7, 2011 at 8:16am

    A news agency actually doing their job is refreshing.

    Report Post » thepatriotdave  
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