Robert Gibbs: Republicans are Lying About Stimulus

(CBS)

While he was careful not to actually utter the word "lie" in his press briefing today, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs left little doubt about the point he was trying to make when asked about claims by many Republicans that the administration-backed economic stimulus package has not created any jobs.

Numerous objective observers have calculated that the legislation (which is now expected to ultimately cost $862 billion) has saved or created at least 1.6 million jobs. Republican governors Charlie Crist and Arnold Schwarzenegger have said it created jobs in their state.

Here's what a reporter asked Gibbs: "Do you believe that Republicans here in Washington are purposefully lying about the stimulus?"

"I don't actually believe that they believe their own statements," responded the press secretary.

"I mean, again, I used the example last week of [Republican Whip Rep.] Eric Cantor said -- Eric Cantor said that it has created no jobs, but when it came time to apply for high-speed rail funds, he said it would create jobs," continued Gibbs. "Now, speaking of reconciliation, I don't have the slightest idea how one reconciles what one says in Washington and what one says in their district when they seem to be in such contradiction."

"You watch Republicans continue to sort of trip over themselves to both put out a statement for -- on why this hasn't worked, at the same time hoping desperately that someone will read their letter for money to come to their district so it will add to what's working already there as part of the Recovery Act," he added.

In a statement tied to the stimulus package's one-year anniversary, House Republican leader John Boehner said the bill was "poorly conceived and badly executed" and has left Americans wondering why there aren't more available jobs.

[petermkurtz]

I use my full name; how anonymous is that? And I never claimed to be posting anything BUT my opinion. I just think it's better thought out and more informed than yours.

[armchairfirebrand]

A few weeks ago, in a statement typical of his party?s propensity for propaganda, newly-minted Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) forcefully asserted that the Obama administration?s economic stimulus package, ?hasn?t created one new job.?

The problem with Brown?s declaration is that it?s objectively false. On Wednesday, the New York Times published a piece on the bill?s far-reaching impact. The results expose just how deceitful and irresponsible the senator?s remarks were.

So, there you have it. One year on, the Recovery Act is well on its way to accomplishing all of its stated objectives. Next time the junior senator from Massachusetts speaks out of turn, I suggest he do his homework beforehand.

Read more @ http://armchairfirebrand.wordpress.com/

[-One_American-]

Gibbs is spitting into the wind.

Just a short matter of time before he is unemployed, along with his boss.

[the74blaster]

I guess 7 years is a short time when you consider a man can live a 100 years.

[freepress6]

Sure there have been more jobs created in the 'shakes and fries,' industry. Maybe we can overeat our way back to economic prosperity. If every American started eating sensibly, though, our economy would go through the floor.
Sterling Greenwood/AspenFreePress

[sjc_1]

Direct Investment in new business through the SBA would create good stable jobs. In renewable energy alone, millions of new jobs would be created. Now, new companies are created using very scare and selective venture capital. We need a better way to fund new companies.

[velma179]

I listen to what this administration says. And --- bcc243... you and all the voices in your head need to realize I am not in a minority!

_________

One thing that needs to be understood is that the ARR Act (commonly known as the Stimulus Bill) was not ONLY a jobs bill!

Yes, it had jobs in the mix, but it was primarily to STIMULATE the economy. It includes tax cuts (real cuts... yep! See "Make Work Pay" tax credit at the IRS site, or on your 1040 form/instruction booklet) and extensions of unemployment and COBRA benefits so people had money to SPEND. No, not on wide screen TV's ... on things like food, housing and basic needs, mostly!

Though it was not only a job creation plan, jobs have been created as a result of the ARRA. Anyone who says differently is either not looking at things realistically or flat out lying.

The whole "Jobs, Jobs" issue is a tactic used by those in the minority party -- whose only goal is to return to the majority -- so they take the fact that employment always lags behind when the economy improves and use this to say "failure" for the folks in the majority now.

This should be something we all see as political hypocrisy -- but unfortunately there are too many Americans that buy into partisan politics to the detriment of American values.

[petermkurtz]

According to Recovery.Gov, the governments own website, the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 has so far distributed about $277 bllion dollars of the 787 billion originally appropriated. Of that, about 109 billion went for "entitlements", such as COBRA & unemployment benefits, as you point out. However, I sincerely doubt that the recipients of those benefits bought any big screen TV's. They continued to obtain health care, and they paid their rent/mortgages, and they bought food for their families. These are all good things, and necessary, but they aren't going to create a lot of growth. Almost 77 billion went to federal contracts, grants, and loan guarantees, which should have done and probably did do some good in the short term, and just under 93 billion went to tax benefits. Since this administration is oriented to demand-side economics, they and their supporters think they are doing the right thing, and to prove it, they claim to have "saved &/or created 2,000,000 jobs". This number is ridiculous on its face. Reovery.gov claims just over 595,000 jobs saved or created in the last quarter of 2009. I find this hard to believe, especially since I can't find anything describing the methodology of arriving at that number. Based on my own observations of the economy (I'm a professional invester with an undergraduate and autodidactic background in economics) I don't think we're getting a good enough return on our investment.

The opposing party wants to attack the problem from the supply side. I believe this is the better approach, but it runs contrary to the "redistribute the wealth" philosophy of the current administration, and so is not only rejected, but is scorned and mocked as giving tax cuts to the wealthy. Of course, it's the "wealthy" who create the jobs, but that doesn't play well to the "progressives". So the administration is forced by its own partisanship to forge ahead, continuing to implement and defend a clearly losing position, till, like lemmings, they take themselves over the cliff and into the sea. And like "Bagdhad Bob', who was forced by his master to make the silliest false claims during the invasion of Iraq, poor Robert Gibbs goes on and on day after day attacking the opponents of the administration, and looking more and more foolish. If you still believe anything that comes out of his mouth, you need to lay off the Kool-Aid. This administration only tells the truth by coincidence.

[velma179]

by petermkurtz February 22, 2010 6:54 PM EST

What you post is your opinion. Nothing more nothing less -- though it appears you seem to think it is indeed more, all you have is your clearly, ideologically based viewpoint.

It is certainly your right to make your opinion known, but since you decided to tell me to "lay off the kool aid" and then stated (with tired, tired hyperbole) "This administration only tells the truth by coincidence." --- I really don't care what kind of claims you make about your "expertise", your point is fouled by your accusations.

You are nothing more than an anonymous poster on the internet with a point of view.

And by the way, you missed the point of my comment -- so I will clarify my opinion of you: an anonymous poster on the internet that doesn't show very good reading comprehension skills, JUST a point of view.