I don’t always agree with President Obama. I can’t figure out why he is keeping troops in Afghanistan for one thing. And I sigh in exasperation as he persists in seeking some kind of “grand bargain” with recalcitrant Republicans. But I must admit, he has much to be proud of.
In this morning’s radio address, he reminded us of some of them:
- Turning the economy around
- Rescuing the auto industry
- Reviving manufacturing in America
- Reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil
- Encouraging development of renewable energy
- Reducing the annual deficit
- And – surprise! – significantly slowing the growth of health-care costs
That’s right. The Council of Economic Advisers reported Wednesday that health care costs are growing at the slowest pace in 50 years. And Obama’s much-maligned Affordable Care Act gets some of the credit.
Of course, the right-wing noise machine tells a different story. According to the Heritage Foundation (which used to be a credible conservative voice), “Obamacare undermines American values, penalizing work, marriage, citizenship, and the disabled.” And an article in Forbes Magazine declares: “We must repeal Obamacare to make society much more humane.”
That kind of shrill sophistry sounds temperate compared with the wildly false accusations on Fox News and the fantasies conjured up by talk radio loudmouths like Rush Limbaugh.
I think it’s fair to call this stuff lying. Opinions are one thing but invented “facts” are something else. And that’s what President Obama has had to put up with throughout his presidency.
He has also been subjected to the most flagrant betrayal. The history of his health care reform is marked by broken promises and turncoat politicians.
Never before has a president been so lied about – or lied to.
He has also been subjected to a deliberate campaign of constant obstructionism.
In this week’s radio address, he wistfully asked listeners to “imagine how much farther along we could be if both parties were working together.’ He invited us to:
Think about what we could do if a reckless few didn’t hold the economy hostage every few months, or waste time on dozens of votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act rather than try to help us fix it.
We can think what we like. We can dream all we want. But it ain’t gonna happen, Mr. President.
As Oprah Winfrey remarked recently:
There is a level of disrespect for the office (of President) that occurs. And that occurs in some cases and maybe even many cases because he is African American.
I would suggest a stronger word than “disrespect,” but I’m sure you get the idea.
Click for the President’s weekly address.
