Obama Keeping Promises That Grow Government; Abandoning Promises That Hold It Accountable <http://www.reason.com/blog/show/134282.html>
Posted on June 22, 2009, 4:40pm | Radley Balko<http://www.reason.com/staff/hitandrun/143.html> McClatchy summarizes <http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/70383.html> the long list of policies where President Obama has reneged on campaign promises—either in letter or spirit—and adopted the policies of his predecessor. We've covered many of them here, but they range from a broad application of the state secrets doctrine to invocations of executive privilege to the Defense of Marriage Act to a host of other issues related to transparency and disclosure. My own hunch is that presidents try to keep campaign promises that expand the government and their own power, and either back down from or are unwilling to expend much capital on promises that make government smaller and more accountable, thus limiting their own power. Looking over PolitiFact's report card<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/>on Obama's campaign promises, that seems to be about right thus far. By my count (and some of this is certainly subjective) of the of the 31 promises<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/promise-kept/>the site says Obama has kept thus far, 20 in some way grow or expand the federal government. Just six make the government smaller, more transparent, or more accountable. The remaining five have no effect, or amount to a wash. Of the six campaign promises PolitiFact says Obama has unquestionably broken<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/promise-broken/>, five would have limited his own power, provided tax breaks, or provided more accountability and transparency to the federal government. One was mostly symbolic (recognizing the Armenian genocide). So far, he hasn't broken a single promise that would grow or expand the government, though he has compromised on a few, and many have been stalled. PolitiFact also gives Obama more credit than he deserves on some promises. For example, Obama's promise that "Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes," was broken when he signed a bill raising taxes on cigarettes to pay for an expansion of the SCHIP program. PolitiFact calls this a "compromise."<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/promise/515/no-family-making-less-250000-will-see-any-form-tax/>But "not any of your taxes" seems pretty clear. Obama didn't say, "not any of your taxes, so long as you don't smoke" or "so long as you don't have habits the government finds distasteful." In short, I think it's safe to say that Obama has been willing to spend plenty of political capital on his promises that vastly expand the size and scope of the federal government, and relatively little on promises related to eliminating waste, putting limits on his own power, or making the government more transparent and accountable. It's worth emphasizing that this analysis isn't holding Obama to some libertarian standard of the ideal president—I'm not looking at how many of his total policies grow government versus how many limit it or hold it accountable. It's holding him up against his own campaign promises. That is, even when you assume the positions of left-of-center, big government Obama-the-candidate as your baseline, Obama-the-president comes up short. Permalink <http://www.reason.com/blog/show/134282.html> | 14 Comments<http://www.reason.com/blog/show/134282.html#comments> On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 1:10 PM, Travis <[email protected]> wrote: > "Where is bin Laden when we need him?" > > On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 10:16 PM, bruce majors <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Bush = Obama >> >> >> On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 11:05 PM, Hollywood >> <[email protected]>wrote: >> >>> >>> bruce, >>> >>> The fuck we can't blame Bush. >>> >>> On Jun 21, 9:52 pm, bruce majors <[email protected]> wrote: >>> > *Before watching this film entitled "Rethink Afghanistan" please >>> prepare >>> > yourself emotionally. The little girl in the yellow dress has died >>> since >>> > this film was made in May. We can no longer lay this at the feet of >>> George >>> > Bush; Barack Obama has dramatically escalated the war in Afghanistan >>> and is >>> > spreading misery and murder on a massive scale. Please pass the link on >>> to >>> > your network of friends and relatives. As always, you can circulate all >>> of >>> > my essays with or without attribution.* >>> > >>> > * **JM*** >>> > * >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krHV9iT20zw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvotersfo... >>> > * >>> > ** >>> > ** >>> > ************************** >>> > * * >>> > >>> > *"He's a hell of a lot better president than George W. Bush". * >>> > >>> > *-Thom Hartmann* >>> > >>> > *Hi Everyone,* >>> > >>> > * * >>> > >>> > *Thom Hartmann is a Democratic Party radio talk show host -- sort of >>> the >>> > Democrats’ version of Sean Hannity. Hartman is not the brightest light >>> in >>> > the harbor but he is aware of Obama's atrocities. Nevertheless as a >>> good >>> > member of the Corporate War Party (there is only one political party in >>> this >>> > country) he can seriously proclaim "he's a hell of a lot better >>> president >>> > than George W. Bush". While it may be refreshing to the educated ear to >>> hear >>> > the **Queen's** English damaged less regularly than the former >>> > war-criminal-in-chief, proper syntax establishes no predicate for the >>> truth. >>> > * >>> > >>> > *“I think those of us who voted for McCain are going to be a lot >>> happier >>> > with Obama than the people who voted for him.” * >>> > >>> > *-Republican Indiana resident Valerie Schlink, quoted in the New York >>> Times, >>> > 1/18/08* >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > * >>> > >>> > Yes, the Democrat controlled House of Representatives voted to continue >>> the >>> > wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan thanks to the so-called "antiwar >>> > Democrats". On Friday the Democrat controlled Senate followed suit. The >>> wars >>> > will continue. According to the Pentagon the occupation of Iraq will >>> > continue at least until 2019. Obama has left 50,000 American soldiers, >>> now >>> > called peacekeepers, along with 100,000 mercenary forces to occupy the >>> > largest US embassy in the world -- larger than the entire Vatican City >>> State! >>> > Those forces will also be occupying 14 permanent military bases. >>> > >>> > * >>> > >>> > *Along with Iraq, the war in Afghanistan will be further escalated by >>> the >>> > Obama administration and US unmanned drones will continue to rain death >>> and >>> > destruction on innocent men, women and children in Pakistan. We will >>> > continue to fund Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people.* >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > ** >>> > * >>> > >>> > “Let me also say that—let me also address an illegitimate concern >>> that’s >>> > being put forward by those who are claiming that a public option is >>> somehow >>> > a Trojan horse for a single-payer system. I’ll be honest. There are >>> > countries where a single-payer system works pretty well. But I >>> believe—and >>> > I’ve taken some flak from members of my own party for this belief—that >>> it’s >>> > important for our reform efforts to build on our traditions here in the >>> United >>> > States. So, when you hear the naysayers claim that I’m trying to bring >>> about >>> > government-run healthcare, know this: they’re not telling the truth.” >>> > >>> > Barak Obama to AMA, April 15, 2009 >>> > >>> > THIS SHOULD PUT TO REST THE DEMOCRAT'S SUPPORT OF A "PUBLIC OPTION"! >>> THIS >>> > WILL BE NOTHING MORE THAN A HEALTH CARE GHETTO >>> > >>> > – A JIM CROW HEALTH CARE PLAN. >>> > >>> > JM >>> > * >>> > >>> > * * >>> > >>> > *The Obama administration is nothing more than a recapitulation of the >>> Bush >>> > registration. The Obama administration told us last week that it will >>> not >>> > make public (as did the Bush administration) who the visitors to the >>> White >>> > House were despite Obama's criticism of this Bush policy at least three >>> > times during his campaign. Obama has chosen hard-core right-wing >>> neoliberals >>> > like Larry Summers and Timothy Geithner as his top economic advisers. >>> He has >>> > not indicated any support for the Employee Free Choice Act. He >>> continues to >>> > openly support free trade agreements which enrich corporate CEOs while >>> > impoverishing the American working class. He has escalated the war in >>> > Afghanistan and began the wholesale destruction of Pakistan. From his >>> first >>> > day in office he could've stopped the enforcement of "don't ask don't >>> tell" >>> > but he has not. He could have insisted on much sterner measures in the >>> > bankruptcy bills a couple of weeks ago that would have kept millions of >>> > people in their homes but he did nothing. He continues to do spoil our >>> > environment pushing "clean coal", mountaintop removal and nuclear fuel. >>> He >>> > has even flip-flopped on military tribunals which continue the >>> suspension of >>> > habeas corpus.* >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > * * >>> > >>> > *When George W. Bush became president he knew he had an agenda. He knew >>> what >>> > he wanted to do. He knew what was expected of him. He knew there was no >>> > popular movement to invade Iraq but he did it anyway. In fact there was >>> no >>> > popular support for any of his plans but that did not stop him from >>> > implementing them.* >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > *"It is impossible to separate the country's financial ills from the >>> > long-term need to rein in health care costs, stabilize Social Security >>> and >>> > prevent the Medicare program from bankrupting the government". * >>> > >>> > *O-BOMB-A is not worried about his wars or corporate welefare >>> bankrupting >>> > the government but Medicare and Social Security ! Obama is also >>> considering >>> > a plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service related injuries >>> with >>> > private insurance! * >>> > * >>> > >>> > Talk to the hand 'cause the face ain't listening. >>> > >>> > ** JM* >>> > >>> > * * >>> > >>> > *It was clear that Barack Obama had a clear mandate for change: to end >>> the >>> > wars, to introduce single-payer healthcare, to improve the living >>> conditions >>> > of the working class, to introduce significant campaign finance reform, >>> to >>> > take a different approach to our collapsing economy than the >>> "neoliberal", >>> > free-market approach taken by George Bush, to end torture and punish >>> those >>> > responsible for using those techniques, to usher in a new era of >>> openness >>> > and ended the secrecy of the Bush administration. We are told by his >>> > administration that he can do none of these because there is no public >>> > support! We are told by the Democrat Party apologists that all we need >>> to >>> > do is form a mass movement and pressure Obama into doing those things >>> for >>> > which he was given a clear mandate. Bush needed no such mass movement. >>> He >>> > acted. Sometimes illegally but actually, most of what he did was legal. >>> He >>> > seized the opportunity presented by every crisis to advance his >>> imperialist >>> > agenda.* >>> > >>> > * * >>> > >>> > *I submit that no mass movement will make Obama do anything other than >>> what >>> > his corporate pay masters dictate. He received huge campaign >>> contributions >>> > from the coal industry, the nuclear power industry and of course the >>> > healthcare insurance and drug companies. He does not see himself as >>> having >>> > the same mandate that the majority of American people see for him. The >>> one >>> > page he might have taken from the Bush administration without causing >>> > further global misery would have been to carry out the mandate given to >>> him >>> > by those who voted for him. Unfortunately, he sees his agenda as >>> mandated by >>> > those who paid for his election. Brock Obama has a history of doing >>> what he >>> > is told. He would not have moved from the Illinois legislature to the >>> United >>> > States Senate to the presidency of the United States unless he had >>> followed >>> > the instructions of Mayor Daley and the corrupt one-party Democrat >>> system of >>> > Chicago.* >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > * * >>> > >>> > *Though I have listed dozens, I have lost count of his atrocities yet >>> even >>> > though he has not significantly departed from the Bush foreign or >>> domestic >>> > policy, amusingly the Republicans criticize him for being a Socialist >>> while >>> > the Democrats think he's the "Second Coming".* >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > *Democrats continue to see Barry-the-Bomber as the savior!* >>> > >>> > * * >>> > >>> > *Obama portrayed himself as the peace candidate, he is certainly not a >>> peace >>> > president. Those who voted for him actually thought he was "lying" when >>> he >>> > promised military escalation in Afghanistan. They thought this was a >>> > necessary campaign promise so that he would not look wimpish in the >>> face of >>> > war hawk John McCain. The way things are going; Pakistan could become >>> the >>> > new Cambodia** and Obama the new Nixon.* >>> > ** >>> > ** >>> > ** >>> > >>> > As for pork-barrel politics, Obama named one of its greatest champions, >>> > Chicago’s own Rahm Emanuel (every bit the war criminal as were Colin >>> Powell >>> > and Donald Rumsfeld), as his chief of staff, and the new budget (as >>> well as >>> > the “stimulus” package) is loaded with pork. >>> > >>> > * * >>> > >>> > *Of course it's just another one of those niggling details, but Obama’s >>> > naming of former Raytheon lobbyist William Lynn III as deputy secretary >>> of >>> > defense seems to be at odds with the president’s alleged crusade >>> against >>> > special interests and the “revolving door” between private business and >>> > government. It is in fact a continuation of the military-industrial >>> complex >>> > and a hundred years (historian Howard Zinn might correctly suggest 220 >>> > years) of imperialism. Obama has even “sold” ambassadorships to >>> campaign >>> > donors. The biggest plum, London, is slated for Lou Susman, a Chicagoan >>> and >>> > former Citigroup executive who bundled $239,000 for campaign Obama. >>> Paris >>> > has been reserved for Charles Rivkin, who raised about $500,000 for the >>> new >>> > war-criminal-in-chief. * >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > *After his trip to Cairo, Obama would have us think that he is the >>> Muslim >>> > world’s new best friend. But palling around with Saudi King Abdullah is >>> > clear evidence to the contrary. The Saudi royal family hates the idea >>> of >>> > representative government for ordinary Muslims and is cruelly >>> indifferent to >>> > the fate of the Palestinians. A democratic, independent, partly secular >>> > Palestine could only make the Saudi oligarchy look bad. Thus, the House >>> of >>> > Saud is perfectly happy with the status quo, and so, evidently, is >>> Obama. I >>> > won't even bother to mention the time he spent with dictator Hosni >>> Mubarak!* >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > *Without labor, Obama could not have been elected. During his campaign >>> he >>> > virtually promised to undo the job killing free trade agreements like >>> NAFTA. >>> > But just two months ago his administration spoke of strengthening these >>> > "free-trade" agreements.* >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > ** >>> > >>> > * * >>> > >>> > *In ancient Rome, before the days of empire, the Roman Republic faced a >>> > major threat from the nation of Carthage. Wars were waged between the >>> two >>> > countries for hundreds of years. Italy was finally invaded by the >>> > Carthaginians under the leadership of Hannibal. Though Rome ultimately >>> > triumphed over Carthage Roman Senate remembered the threat to their >>> republic >>> > with the warning cry "Hannibal ad portas", (Hannibal is at the gates). >>> It >>> > was a signal to everyone in those days that a major crisis was upon >>> > them. "DEMOCRATES >>> > AD PORTAS!"* >>> > >>> > *For Justice,* >>> > >>> > *John* >>> > >>> > __._,_.___ >>> > Messages in this topic >>> > < >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/message/21087;_ylc.. >>> .>( >>> > 1) Reply (via web post) >>> > < >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJy.. >>> .>| >>> > Start >>> > a new topic >>> > < >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJm.. >>> .> >>> > Messages< >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/messages;_ylc=X3oD.. >>> .>| >>> > Files< >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/files;_ylc=X3oDMTJ.. >>> .>| >>> > Photos< >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/photos;_ylc=X3oDMT.. >>> .>| >>> > Links< >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJ.. >>> .>| >>> > Database< >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/database;_ylc=X3oD.. >>> .>| >>> > Polls< >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJ.. >>> .>| >>> > Calendar< >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/calendar;_ylc=X3oD.. >>> .> >>> > MARKETPLACE >>> > You have 1 New Message: Someone Challenges your >>> > IQ!.< >>> http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=14kr7g6qv/M=733250.13450162.13535738.1083.. >>> .> >>> > ------------------------------ >>> > How Many Triangles? 92.6% of Americans Fail this >>> > Question!.< >>> http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=14kemtrg0/M=733250.13450161.13535737.1083.. >>> .> >>> > ------------------------------ >>> > Mom Power: Discover the community of moms doing more for their >>> families, for >>> > the world and for each >>> > other< >>> http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=14kj84cjb/M=493064.12016295.13271503.1083.. >>> .> >>> > [image: Yahoo! >>> > Groups]< >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJlanZscGlpBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycEl.. >>> .> >>> > Change settings via the >>> > Web< >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJn.. >>> .>(Yahoo! >>> > ID required) >>> > Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily >>> > Digest< >>> [email protected]?subject=email+delivery:+Digest >>> >| >>> > Switch >>> > format to Traditional< >>> [email protected]?subject=change+delivery+format:+Traditional >>> > >>> > Visit Your Group >>> > < >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZzQ5a.. >>> .>| >>> > Yahoo! >>> > Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> | Unsubscribe >>> > <[email protected]?subject=> >>> > Recent Activity >>> > >>> > - 1 >>> > New Members< >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats/members;_ylc=X3oDM.. >>> .> >>> > >>> > Visit Your Group >>> > < >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewAmericanDemocrats;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNDlic.. >>> .> >>> > Yahoo! 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