Business

Make Up Your Mind: President Obama Bragged About Reducing Government Employment While Pushing for More Government Employment

Although a few pundits are disregarding President Obama’s “the private sector is doing fine” gaffe as a big non-story, a growing number of people believe it’s indicative of a much bigger issue, namely, the president’s struggle with consistency.

During the president’s news conference last Friday, he said we should be most concerned with the public sector.

“The private sector is doing fine,” President Obama said.

“Where we’re seeing weaknesses in our economy have to do with state and local government oftentimes cuts initiated by governors or mayors who are not getting the kind of help that they have in the past from the federal government and who don’t have the same kind of flexibility as the government in dealing with fewer revenues coming in,” he added.

“And so, if Republicans want to be helpful, if they really want to move forward and put people back to work, what they should be thinking about is ‘how do we help state and local governments and how do we help the construction industry,’” the president said.

Of course, one can easily argue that real economic growth doesn’t come from the public sector. It comes from the private sector (where do you think the public sector, an area that doesn’t produce a tangible product that can be brought to market, gets its funding?). But this article isn’t about which area of the economy generates wealth. It’s about the president’s consistency.

For instance, just last month during a speech at the State University of New York at Albany, President Obama bragged about reducing the size of the federal workforce.

“Just about every time we put these policies up for a vote, the Republicans in Congress got together and they said no,” the president said in reference to his economic proposals, “And this is at a time when we know one of the biggest drags on our economy has been layoffs by state and local governments — that’s true all across the country.”

Okay, so far this isn’t any different than what the president said last Friday.

“And it’s worth noting, by the way — this is just a little aside — after there was a recession under Ronald Reagan, government employment went way up,” the president said.

“It went up after the recessions under the first George Bush and the second George Bush. So each time there was a recession with a Republican President, compensated — we compensated by making sure that government didn’t see a drastic reduction in employment,” he added.

Alright, a little off script, but no big difference.

“The only time government employment has gone down during a recession has been under me,” the president said, practically beaming. “So I make that point just so you don’t buy into this whole bloated government argument that you hear.”

Watch President Obama boast about reducing government employment (via C-SPAN):

So, wait, is the president bragging about reducing federal employment? Didn’t he say last Friday that that was the key to economic salvation?

“[I]f Congress had said ‘yes’ to helping states put teachers back to work and put the economy before our politics, then tens of thousands more teachers in New York would have a job right now,” the president said.

“That is a fact. And that would mean not only a lower unemployment rate, but also more customers for business,” he added.

Wait — then what was that bit about reducing government employment? Was that a good thing? This is confusing. What’s more, this isn’t even the first time the Obama campaign has tried to win over voters with contradictory messages.

“In April, he [sic] Obama reelection campaign simultaneously embraced a seemingly contradictory strategy of painting Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney as both a conservative extremist who leans furthest to the right as any GOP presidential nominee has since Barry Goldwater and also a coreless flip-flopper whose singular ambition is to be president,” writes Mediaite’s Noah Rothman.

“An ever increasing number of observers are uncomfortable with the amount of glaring reversals that the Obama administration has embraced. Sooner or later, media organizations begin to risk their credibility by not calling the President’s team out on these inconsistencies,” he adds.

Comments (89)

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  • wianno94
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:38pm

    I think I remember a lot of Governors saying that didn’t want stimulus money from the first bailout to hire more public workers because when that money ran out the states would be stuck trying to pay for those extra employees. They knew better.

    Report Post »  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:15am

      Bill Clinton did the same thing to many states…Hire them on FED money..leave states with the bill later.

      Report Post »  
  • USA-Ron
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:33pm

    obama, duh

    Report Post »  
  • Al J Zira
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:15pm

    So all that stimulus money managed to lose 250k jobs yet the private sector is doing fine and received no taxpayer money? I’m confused. Don’t public sector jobs cost the taxpayers money rather than help the economy recover? Now I’m really lost. Thank God we have people with superior knowledge to set things straight.

    Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • DEFCON4
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:54pm

      Mr. Zira, I believe it’s called Voo Doo Economics…

      Report Post » DEFCON4  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 6:11am

      It comes down to votes fire those non union Government workers and hire unionized Government workers.

      Report Post »  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 5:55pm

      Its called using different speech writers for different events. The speech writers don’t talk to each other or to Sweet Old Barack. One is told to write about reducing government the other about growing the economy thry bigger government and Sweet Old Barack doesn’t know what he is going to say until he reads it.

      OMG Nov 6, 2012

      Report Post »  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:11pm

    The best way to “Out” a narcissist such as Obama is to LIST his failures. Plain and simple. Then step back and just WATCH him BURY himself with his excuses and blame games….

    Been there-done that. Truth is, it’s almost painful to watch the crash n burn that follows…sadly, they don’t acknowledge it, it just happens around them via all their former fans.

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
    • broker0101
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:19pm

      He is not just a Narcissist, he is a Sociopath; and listing a Sociopath‘s failures does nothing to affect the Sociopath’s behavior in a positive way.

      Report Post » broker0101  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:21am

      His list of failures is all over the internet,..MSM will never show these failures..

      Report Post »  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:27am

      HERE is a great site for a list of Obama’s failures and corruptions,,..IT’s a VERY long list http://american-trojan-horse.blogspot.com/

      Report Post »  
    • charles116
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 1:01am

      You’re confused
      Vo oDoo economics is claiming that lowering taxes increases revenues.
      And if the rich get richer it trickles down. That’s voo doo economics.
      And we have clearly seen this 3 DECADE policy does not work.

      Yet this failure of policy is exactly what Paul Ryan and Romney are proposing.
      It sure beats me.

      Report Post » charles116  
    • RamonPreston
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 1:57am

      Just to save time, list his accomplishments.

      Report Post » RamonPreston  
  • kcinco
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:09pm

    He means “private” as in his own personal government….that’s what he desperately wants.

    Report Post » kcinco  
  • broker0101
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:03pm

    Allow me to translate everything President Obama says publicly, “Vote for me vote for me vote for me vote for me vote for me….” Sadly, around half the voters in America have done just that and will again.

    Report Post » broker0101  
  • broker0101
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:58pm

    When your constituents are imbeciles, you are free to treat them as such.

    Report Post » broker0101  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:56pm

    Implosion time.

    Obama and the entire international Left is imploding.

    June 2012 will be remembered for this occurrence despite the fact that it will usher an entirely different implosion and reconstruction.

    The international right will soon follow…

    Report Post » MrButcher  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:48pm

    This is what I posted earlier today on the article where Cindy questioned Axelrod….

    When Axelrod said, “250K Police, teachers and Firemen lost their jobs in the last couple of years” Cindy should have came back with, “So your saying 250K Police, teachers and Firemen lost their jobs under your watch?”

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • nighttrainno9
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:46pm

    I think his lack of intelligence is really beginning to show.
    You can’t con all the people all the time and since he is trying
    to con both sides of the aisle at the same time everyone is beginning
    to see him for what he is. He’s a good con man but lousy leader.
    He doesn’t have leadership abilities just a big mouth with a
    nickel brain behind it. I believe he has dug his own political grave.

    Report Post »  
    • broker0101
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:05pm

      It‘s not his lack of intelligence that’s the problem. It‘s the electorate’s.

      Report Post » broker0101  
  • Teabunny
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:46pm

    unrelated…..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niAYzId-3mg&feature=related

    Report Post » Teabunny  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:43pm

    At the very least, the ‘embarrassment of the United States’ will be friendless when he leaves office in 2013. He has destroyed people’s lives and livelyhoods and was well aware of his doing so. The man Obama has so much to answer for and one day he will have that opportunity whether in this world or the next. As a Christian, I do hope he realizes his folly and wises up. In the meantime, he is a destroyer and must be defeated soundly in November. Anyone who sees fit in voting for someone other than the GOP nominee is a non serious person. Let’s get this job done!

    Report Post »  
  • DEFCON4
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:42pm

    After the failure of the Stimulus, it’s clear he never had a clue of creating Private Sector jobs..

    Report Post » DEFCON4  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 12:25am

      NO you follow the money, it is obvious he thinks the people are idiots and do not know how to count money. He has funneled money to his cronies and no one else. In any other world than politics this is theft.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Too_Far_Gone
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 2:05am

      “a clue of creating”

      Your right, he didn’t because he wants to destroy it, why do you people (some) think he may have set out to do ANY good, he DID NOT, Geeezzz, Open your eyes to the obvious !

      Well Duh !! TooFarGone may have a point, My God.

      Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  
  • jdtanker
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:35pm

    So he really wants to create jobs? What about Keystone?

    Report Post » jdtanker  
  • marcus_arealius
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:35pm

    His head is up his arse like I always said. Here is how I get through each day the idiot occupies the WH: This government executive administration (cult is more like it) is the WORST POSSIBLE horror I will ever experience in my lifetime. Therefore once he’s gone, it’s all smooth sailing, yeah, happy days may be here again.

    Report Post »  
  • korbin
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:33pm

    In the big picture none of this matters as I have stated over and over THEY are ALL oath breakers. they do not believe in the US Constitution PERIOD. oathkeepers.org it really is our only chance to slow things down enough to kick all of the oath breakers out of office and elect those who will uphold and defend the Constitution. This will take many years but it is very possible if all military and law enforcement just obey their oaths. You do not have to be a member just do the right thing.

    Report Post »  
    • korbin
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:35pm

      Obama does suck but we can’t allow his failures to take all of our energy, we must focus on all oath breakers, CONGRESS.

      Report Post »  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:30pm

    Just say anything and do anything to get re-elected. What else can we expect from this guy?

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • dylan
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:29pm

    Sad, sad man.

    Report Post »  
  • dylan
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:28pm

    Sad man.

    Report Post »  
  • PROSECUTE_PUBLIC_SERVANTS__FOR_CONSTITUTIONAL_TREASON
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:27pm

    This gang of criminals is bigger than MS13, Bloods, Cripps, and the Hells Angels combined. They are organized and have the law on their side. We are the victims. They extort all they can collect under the banner of the law and enforce collection with nazi ss thugs. The US is 1930′s nazi Germany.

    The biggest terrorist organization in America is inside the beltway of Washington.

    Report Post »  
    • broker0101
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:34pm

      I gotta ask, since you chose it as your handle, what other flavors of Treason are there besides “Constitutional”? Or are you just too smart by half?
      P.S That was a rhetorical question.

      Report Post » broker0101  
  • bobbyjoe
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:24pm

    Don’t try to make sense out of it. None of Zero’s polices make sense unless you are a marxist, big government, lying windbag or bow down to one.

    Report Post » bobbyjoe  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:17pm

    If Government Employment keeps Exspanding… Private Sector Employment must eventually Shrink… and the Parasite will begin to destroy the Host!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 5:29am

      The host is on life support..(borrowing 40% of every gov’t dollar spent)

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 12, 2012 at 7:21am

      @STOIC…
      That just means… we are acting alike a Parasite feeding off another Host… in a Chain!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • Individualism
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:16pm

    just like Romney did as Governor in Massachusetts.

    Report Post » Individualism  
    • marcus_arealius
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:38pm

      Did what? Provide some facts, if you know what a fact is, look it up.

      Report Post »  
    • Bob_R_OathKeeper
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:03pm

      Stick a sock in it or another joint, Paul worshiper.

      Report Post » Bob_R_OathKeeper  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:10pm

      @marcus_arealius

      Nice try but, this troll never provides anything to back up his words. I do know that he is in college.

      I don‘t know if he’ll ever graduate. : )

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • Ella
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:11pm

    Obama is ambidextrous. He can say what the left wants to hear or what the right wants to hear all at the same time.

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:11pm

    Pres Obama is a self serving narcissist who refuses to admit the reality or truth of anything; so what else can we expect save lies and distortions.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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