Government

President Obama Explains How the Economy ‘Grows’: ‘Roads and Bridges…’

Obama Tells Crowd Economy Grows If You Tax the Rich, Invest in Roads and Bridges in Mansfield, Ohio

President Barack Obama delivers remarks during a campaign event in Mansfield Central Park in Mansfield, Ohio, August 1, 2012. (Photo: Getty Images)

President Obama gave a speech in Mansfield, Ohio Wednesday where he explained to the crowd how he believes the economy works.  According to the president, if the government taxes families making over $250,000 at a higher rate, and then spends the money on “roads and bridges,” the economy will eventually get back to its roaring state.

(Related: ‘We Tried Our Plan, & It Worked’: U.S. Manufacturing Shrank Again in July)

He explained (transcript via the White House):

When folks have money to spend, they buy a new car, and the car companies do well, and they hire more workers.  (Applause.)  When you’ve got some extra money in your pockets, then you go get some pizza from Brenda.  (Applause.)  And then Brenda decides, maybe she can afford to hire another worker.  That’s how we grow our economy.

And while no one is arguing that when “folks have money to spend” the economy is probably growing, how does the president think we get there?

If we’re investing in roads and bridges, putting some hard-hats back to work, getting our steelworkers back to work — (applause) — they’ve got more money to spend.  Maybe they buy that new computer.  Maybe they decide to take a little vacation. And all that money circulates in the economy and it makes us all grow.  

Though he lamented the “uncompromising view” people take towards politics at the beginning of his speech, Obama added:

So here’s the bottom line, Ohio.  If you believe that their plan — Mr. Romney’s plan and his congressional allies — if you genuinely believe that that plan will make you better off, if you believe it’s okay for them to tell us just to set our sights lower, or to settle for something less, then by all means, send these folks back to Washington for the next few years.

[Emphasis added]

Here is video:

But that’s not all the president said.  In another inadvertent slip, Obama seemed to imply that those who are “doing well” are not really “working Americans” who are trying to provide for their families.

He told the crowd:

Ohio, we do not need more tax cuts for folks who are already doing really well.  We need tax cuts for working Americans.  We need tax cuts for families who are trying to raise their children, and keep them healthy, and send them to college, and put a roof over their heads…

That’s the choice in this election.  That’s why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States. [Emphasis added]

Which leaves some wondering: just how does President Obama think “the wealthiest Americans” came into their money?  Are all of them Hiltons, Kennedys, and lottery winners?  Are they not “working Americans” because they’ve been successful?

One business owner has been so insulted by Obama’s rhetoric he put up a sign: “I built this business without gov’t help.  Obama can kiss my a**.  I’m Ray Gaster and I approve this message.”

(H/T: Washington Examiner)

Comments (71)

1 2
  • DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:51pm

    While he is picking & choosing who suceeds in business I am asking how can a business survive?

    Report Post » DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT  
    • blOWS
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 1:19am

      Yeah, I agree. Middle class tax cuts?? You really dont expect us to fall for that classic Democrat pitch? You, want to help me Mr. President…really? Ok, here is what you can do for me as a middle class cut:
      1. Cut gas prices…yeah, that $2.00 more a gallon than 2008 STILL hurts, on top of,
      2. Grocery prices…in 2008 I spent $300/month, today is $600/month. Same number of mouths, more generics, and buying less meat (but MORE VENISON, whack‘em stack’em style…you dont eat venison….do you, Mr. Pres?)
      3. Utility prices…The only green program I see is MORE of my green going out in the mail box every month. I have all the ugly sqiggly bulbs, water restricters, etc., but my utilities are higher becuase while I be using less elec, I still gotta pay for that union lineman or utility worker.
      4. I’m a Roman Catholic…stop TRYING to mess with my conscience and my church and my brothers and sister Christians and Jews. Stop making me pay my meager middle class wage to pleasure and murder my future fellow Americans. But, if you insist on continuing let me warn you that we are sinners, yup, what can you do to a sinner? Break them? Nah…martyrs blood has always been the seed of faith. Besides, if faithful Christians are the only ones pro-creating, then you and your abortion cronies have 15-20 years left of reign? I’m a patient man.

      Only 4 commitments…the least you could do for the pitiful last 4 years.

      In peace, on this great feast day of St. Peter Julian Eymard

      Report Post » blOWS  
    • Michael61
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 9:47am

      Do you like the idea of socialism? Oh, well, here is what happened to me:

      Few years ago, we went on a business trip to Medvezhyegorsk, Karelia (Russian names are difficult to spell even for Russian immigrants, but it is the correct spelling, look it up on the map). It is a nice little town in the middle of nowhere surrounded by lakes and mountains. The town name means Bear Mountain Town, and there is Bear Mountain of course.

      The town is behind the Polar Circle, so it gets 10-20 feet of snow, and the temperature could easily be negative 40 degrees and more. Ever been to Alaska in the winter?

      We were given a room in a hotel right accross the statue of Vladimir Lenin. Locals probably didn’t get the news that the Soviet Union ceased to exist, so they kept the statues and red flags everywhere.

      Oh, well, each hotel floor had a single public toilet shared by everybody, and no bathrooms. Unfortunately, the sewer system got frozen and overflowed, so there was a big pile of sh1t where the toilet seats used to be. People had to stand on a chair and to sh1t on top of that pile.

      Fortunately, the temperature INSIDE the toilet was below freezing, so that pile of sh1t was frozen and didn’t smell too much.

      Every time somebody talks about socialism, this vivid image of pile of sh1t comes to my memory.

      Enjoy. I feel much better after sharing it with you.

      Report Post »  
  • RebelPatriot
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:42pm

    This is stupid, we need more roads and bridges built. Why, we can’t afford to go anywhere. I can travel down some of the best roads in America and you know what I see. Going out of business signs, Foreclosure signs. What I don’t see is Grand opening today! Hiring Now! Today I saw government at it’s finest some public works employees were digging a hole and working on a power line. There were 10 workers watching as one man on the equipment dug the hole.
    We don’t need more roads we need less people employed in government. They do not contribute to the GDP, if anything those workers at the EPA inhibit the GDP. We need less bureaucrats in DC and more entrepeneurs out in the public sector creating jobs.
    King Hussein’s target is set too low and will cripple small businesses all over the country. His policies to over regulate small business also inhibits those who attempt to start new businesses, hence less jobs available under his administration. Nobody is going to start up their own business when government attempts to take as much as possible from them to begin with.

    It’s all about keeping Americans from earning their fare share and attempting to take the wealth from the majority and place it in the hands of government.

    Report Post »  
  • Angel
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:38pm

    hasn’t he repeated this same old mantra for almost 4 years while we keep sliding deeper into the obama slime pit

    Report Post » Angel  
  • Bonnieblue2A
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:21pm

    Only in Obama’s neo-Marxist/Pan-Leninist fantasyland is keeping tax rates at the same level they have been for 12 years be considered a “tax cut”.

    Report Post »  
  • seeker9
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:20pm

    Simple as that. Wonder why the stimulus did not work?

    Report Post » seeker9  
    • RebelPatriot
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:46pm

      They put money into green energy companies that took out huge loans and ran off with the money. It just so happened most of those people were also big donors to Obama’s 2008 campaign to get into office.

      You can‘t create jobs when you give the people’s money to your buddies for supporting your campaign.

      So blatant an act if this had been done by a Conservative he would have been impeached and sent straight to Levinworth.

      Report Post »  
    • BloodSweatandTears
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:12pm

      @ RebelPatriot….Someone said that business owners should check exempt on returns and instead of giving the government a steady stream of revenue quarterly, just pay once in April. Perhaps it helps a mite bit.

      Report Post »  
  • TAXEVERYONE
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:13pm

    I couldn’t believe it when I read this article. He is speaking in my home town. He says “When folks have money to spend, they buy a new car, and the car companies do well, and they hire more workers.” (Applause.) His campaign prepared him so well that he doesn’t have a clue that most of the audience do not have jobs anymore because General Motors closed their plant, in Mansfield, over two years ago. Didn’t Obama and his “auto czar” have a hand in that? How insensitive can you be? Add to that the recent closing of the Air Guard base that cost hundreds of jobs that he played a role in, and you wonder how he had the nerve to show up at all. His chief supporter in the Senate, Sherrod Brown, was smarter than that because he didn’t.
    The people there are hurting and they still think this empty suit cares about them. If it wasn’t so sad it would be laughable.
    Mansfield has a long history of union activism and union violence. One would figure that a majority of this crowd was there because of the urging of what unions are left. The unions are the main reason Mansfield has lost over 80,000 jobs in the past decades from large employers such as Westinghouse, Tappan, General Motors, Empire Steel, Ohio Brass, Borg Warner, Mansfield Tire, Barnes Pumps, Stevens, Dominion and Sprint to name a few of the larger ones.
    Sadly the major industry in this once great city is now tatoos and body piercing. Hopefully more residents will see the light before the November electi

    Report Post » TAXEVERYONE  
    • RebelPatriot
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:59pm

      Exactly, the NAFTA free trade agreement was responsible for the manufacturing demise of America.

      Because our government allowed China to ship their goods into the US when they knew they were using illegal work practices that undercut American goods. Those same goods traveling to China are restricted and held for extra charges for handling and processing making them even more expensive than the Chinese products which are usually knock offs of the American product with a patent.

      They raised taxes on corporation that made it beneficial for them to move their plants to foreign countries.

      My mother worked for Sharp Electronics for 15 years, she had to train the Mexicans at the American plant and then was laid off when they moved the plant to Mexico. At the time the Mexican workers told her they made in one week what the Americans made in one day. These products are shipped into the US from Mexico without any tariffs to protect American workers.

      They knew when they implemented NAFTA the ramifications it would have on Americans and they approved it anyway. These are the same people who say they are fighting to bring back jobs to the US now, the dumbocrat socialist and the fascist Republicans.

      Report Post »  
  • PershinG13
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:07pm

    Whenever I read a liberal post or have to actually talk to one live I feel like i am listening to a bloody parrot! Tax the rich, shovel ready, build roads and bridges, it‘s Bush’s faul! Anyone who lived thru the carter years should understand that keynsian economics which is what obamonomics is does not work.you must then have lived thru the Reagan years or the path Romney wants to take us down (well Mostly) Reagan economy was creating over 260,000 jobs a month at this point in his administration. The reason Reagan’s economy worked was not because he or the Feds built roads…he got the government out of the way and let actual hard working Americans do what needed to be done!

    Report Post »  
    • RebelPatriot
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:09pm

      Here’s what these socialist idiots do not understand. Government didn’t make the United States exceptional. The working people of America is what made the United States exceeptional.

      The government didn’t build this country, the people built it and did so with their own money. Whether through building their own business our through their tax dollars Americans are responsible for everything great in this country. The government didn’t do anything but collect the revenues and grow government in the process. Without us the government doesn’t exist, we don’t give them our money they cease to operate and exist.

      Before the government built highways across this nation Americans made their own way with their own dreams of what America had to offer.

      Report Post »  
  • BlondeFrenzy
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:00pm

    I am a small business owner and can not wait to exhale.. be able to hire some people… Romney please be the answer..
    This freak of nature that is our President needs to go away.. now!!!

    God help us.

    Report Post » BlondeFrenzy  
  • TexOkie
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:47pm

    Have you ever seen a bigger idiot act like a genius.

    Report Post »  
  • seeker9
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:44pm

    I can’t remember the year that taxes were not my biggest expense in life. I just don’t get where paying more will make me better off.

    Report Post » seeker9  
    • docgreen
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:21pm

      seeker9
      Isn’t it Crazy to understand everyone is paying more for food, fuel, and everything else we buy! Yet “Bozo obamanation of desolation” keeps telling us how he only wants to tax the Rich! So why then are we paying more? I heard him say today, that they tried it the Romney and Republicans way; from the Top down! Giving breaks to the Rich, but do you remember what Glenn told us” From the Top down Bottom up, and Inside out! Isn’t this exactly whats taking place? What R the chances, that obama would say it exactly what obama’s saying now? OMG people Glenn was spot on!… Last if we only tax the Really Rich, how long will it be, before we have NO rich! Someone needs to ask him this! One last thing, obama keeps talking about Romney and he should pay more Taxes; someone Please stand up and ask Obama why GE doesn’t pay any taxes! Are they not the Rich? Oh, I guess it only apply‘s if your not obama’s friend. Just like the health care waivers!

      Report Post »  
    • BloodSweatandTears
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:24pm

      High taxes are not the answer. Tony Robbins has an excellent video on the subject of the deficit and taxing the wealthy. In strenuous detail he covers how taxing the top earners 100% AND taking their ENTIRE wealth would only pay for the debt for 237 days! Then the golden goose would be no more.

      The geniuses in the WH either can’t do the numbers or they are in deep denial. Either way running a country on false premises leads to disaster.

      Report Post »  
  • JustPeachy
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:40pm

    I am not sure I’ve ever seen a more clueless man. . .? And he’s our “president?!?” No WONDER we‘re in the hot water we’re in!!!

    Report Post » JustPeachy  
  • TerryDo
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:40pm

    I am always truly amazed at how a nonsensical jumble of words spew out of Obama’s mouth, whenever he is not reading from his teleprompter script.

    Report Post »  
  • PershinG13
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:29pm

    He is going to put Brenda out of business. She is going not going to be hiring new employees and will probably end up closing her doors. her business must be grossing over $250,000 so she is going to get hit by his tax increase. Then there is obamacare, the new FDA, EPA, ADA to name a few of the problems she will face. Well she will be okay…I mean I am sure the Feds will help her maybe they can even buy the pizza place and let her work there as a federal union employee.

    Report Post »  
    • oldguy49
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:36pm

      build roads and bridges……..if someone doen’t open a business and employ us so we can all pay taxes……………the poor excuse for a gov wouldn’t have any money to spend on roads and bridges…………get real

      Report Post »  
    • TAXEVERYONE
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:56pm

      He is speaking in my home town. He says “When folks have money to spend, they buy a new car, and the car companies do well, and they hire more workers.” (Applause.) His campaign prepared him so well that he doesn’t have a clue that most of the audience do not have jobs anymore because General Motors closed their plant, in Mansfield, over two years ago. Didn’t Obama and his “auto czar” have a hand in that? How insensitive can you be?
      The people there are hurting and they still think this empty suit cares about them. If it wasn’t so sad it would be laughable.
      Mansfield has a long history of union activism and union violence. One would figure that a majority of this crowd was there because of the urging of what unions are left. The unions are the main reason Mansfield has lost over 80,000 jobs in the past decades from large employers such as Westinghouse, Tappan, General Motors, Empire Steel, Ohio Brass, Borg Warner, Mansfield Tire, Barnes Pumps, Stevens, Dominion and Sprint to name a few of the larger ones.
      Sadly the major industry in this once great city is now tatoos and body piercing. Hopefully more residents will see the light before November.

      Report Post » TAXEVERYONE  
    • PershinG13
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:08pm

      What?

      Report Post »  
    • PershinG13
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:13pm

      I ment what to old guy…

      Report Post »  
  • ALL4FREEDOM
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:28pm

    He blew his own argument out of the water with the first six words: “When folks have money to spend…” We’re broke! If, as he believes, the government is the wellspring of free cash, guess what, Obummer, you’re sh*t out of luck. Haven‘t you noticed we’re borrowing 40 cents of every dollar you’re wasting? Are you clueless to the fact that you can’t spend your way out of debt? The only way you can get your grubby hands on cash is to confiscate it from those who ACTUALLY PRODECE SOMETHING OF VALUE FOR THEIR LIVING. Should they be good at it, they get wealthy, and you get to live off their largesse. If not, they become your constituents sucking off the public teat. Leave capital in the hands of those who know best how to use it wisely (hint: they don’t work in government). Get the hell out of the way and Americans will unleash prosperity.

    Report Post »  
    • Bum thrower
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:35pm

      That communist, socialist, progressive ****** has no idea what he is talking about…..; all he wants is GOVERNMENT; GOVERNMENT; AND MORE GOVERNMENT TO control your life………………….Vote HIM and every DEMOCRAT out in 2012; finish the job…………

      Report Post »  
  • OlefromMN
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:24pm

    I am actually surprised he did not come to MN today. It is the 5th anny of the I35 collapse (a bridge that was overstressed by 1960′s modifications). I drove that bridge multiple times daily and was well aware that it was poorly designed. The morning of the collapse I witnessed 2 MNDOT inspection rigs looking at things (trucks that lower booms to allow a visual on conditions under the bridge) and for some reason made a mental note of it. They claim the bridge was overloaded by the repave equipment and supplies but I beg to differ. The bridge was lighter than normal. I passed over the bridge 20 min. prior to the collapse and was surprised at the ease of crossing due to people taking alternative routes during the repave.

    To this day I feel those in government (MNDOT, Feds, Minneanoplace, etc.) covered up their ineptitude and threw the contractor under the bus. I do not work in that industry and have no ties to the contractors involved.

    When anybody in the government talks about “roads and bridges” I actually yearn for a way to privatize their construction.

    Report Post » OlefromMN  
    • Pokerjoe
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 10:54am

      Than God you made it. ElOdumbo thinks he has all the answeres., he really dont know anything. He never worked at a job never had to meet a payrole. Never has he done anyhthing any good. He is good at lieing and makeing up things. The way this nut thinks is nuts.

      Report Post »  
  • gbfreak
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:23pm

    blah..blah..blah…taxes…blah blah blah…more taxes…blah…blah…blah…government jobs….blah blah…blah…
    Same old socialist spew!

    Report Post » gbfreak  
    • TheVoice1
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:51pm

      Obama has had 3 1/2 years to build and still no roads and bridges… all that stimulus money for shovel ready projects and hello no roads or bridges, just fatter banks and more spending… does he think we have forgotten what he has failed to do and promised more…. blah blah blah

      Stand Strong America

      Report Post » TheVoice1  
  • davetrav
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:18pm

    I don’t understand how Obama is Pres.–he doesn’t have a clue how the real world works. If the rich of big business are taxed to death as he would have it, how would there be monies for the American worker when these are the people keeping things going. Obama needs to learn —money doesn’t grow on trees.When the people with money get the tax breaks, they now have money to invest–HELLO.
    Obama’s dream of take it from the rich and give it to the poor is only good in the movies. OBAMA MUST BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE—America can’t take 4 more years. Help save our country.VOTE HIM OUT.

    Report Post »  
  • Stehekin912
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:16pm

    Hey….Who do you think employs “the middle class”? Who do you think invests money to employ the “middle class”? Who do you think has the money to invest to innovate, resulting in “middle class” jobs? Sheesh

    Report Post »  
    • phrogdriver
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:34pm

      In a way it’s worse than that. If I have an extra $10,000 and I put it in the bank, the bank loans out a $100,000 based on that deposit. So if someone wants to build a house, my $10,000 deposit can give them that opportunity. That’s $100,000 worth of salaries to contractors, subcontractors, plumbers, electricians, surveyors and on and on.

      Last year I paid well over $10,000 in taxes – which went to what? Solyndra? The economy doesn’t work by taking money out of it and shoveling it into the pockets of cronies and the political cause celeb.

      Report Post » phrogdriver  
  • djeffcoat
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:14pm

    Barack Obama is an idiot and anyone who believes his BS is also an idiot.

    Report Post »  
    • Magyar
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:32pm

      So okay– you took the words right out of my mouth!

      Report Post »  
  • Individualism
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:13pm

    If he was serious about tax cuts for middle and lower class that would be great but hes not. i don’t care if rich get taxed more. but simplifying tax code would help through fair or flat tax preferably fair to make sure everyone pays something.

    Romney is not offering an alternative or one that is much better which is why he will probably lose the election, it appears he will be another George Bush and send our troops off to fight Israel and Saudi Arabia’s wars and raise our taxes to fund it, look at his advisers same as Bush. but Americans would rather the Obama mess than the war monger mess.

    Report Post » Individualism  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:13pm

    And here I thought he smoked cigarettes, Perhaps he’d better lay off the mary-jane because he doesn’t have many brain cells he can afford to lose.
    Only the brainless buy this drivel, and those people will vote for our little communist. Frankly I don’t see him winning, especially after Romney gets through with him!

    Report Post » historyguy48  
  • SolitudeBliss
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:10pm

    From a small business owner in ‘REAL” Ohio I have to say:

    “Mr. President, your economy sucks and You can kiss my a**”.

    Report Post »  
  • copatriots
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:09pm

    Perhaps we would have fixed the roads and bridges over the last four years if money wasn’t wasted on failed solar energy companies. Of course, those were merely the vehicle used to divert money back to support 0′s campaign.

    Report Post »  
  • sWampy
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:06pm

    We need more liberals working and paying taxes, like the rest of us already do.

    Report Post »  
  • trolltrainer
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:05pm

    The sad part is he is still polling favorably in all polls. People eat his crap up. I truly fear he is going to win re-election. It seems the more screwed up things get the better he does.

    If he wins then this country gets what it deserves.

    Report Post »  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love