Aug 072011
 
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By MacPundit

He may have set a new record!

Broken PromisesIn Texas there is a saying that goes like this: “He’s all hat and no cattle.” Texans use it to describe someone who may look good, sound good, and impress people who don’t know any better, but the person is not exactly who he wants you to think he is. President Obama is “All hat and no cattle.” He impresses people who don’t know any better. So here’s a wake up call for those people. The next time you hear him tell you that he is going to do this or that wonderful thing, think again because his record of keeping his promises is as bad as it gets in politics—and that is really bad.

Take a look at this list of 83 Obama broken promises from PolitiFact. They are all well documented. After more than 4 years, Barack Obama has kept less than half of his promises.

The following are rated as “Broken Promises” by PolitiFact.com as of April 17, 2013. You can see full explanations at PolitiFact.com.

  1. Eliminate all oil and gas tax loopholes – BROKEN
  2. Require publicly traded financial partnerships to pay the corporate income tax – BROKEN
  3. Close loopholes in the corporate tax deductibility of CEO pay – BROKEN
  4. No family making less than $250,000 will see “any form of tax increase.” – BROKEN
  5. Close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center – BROKEN
  6. Negotiate health care reform in public sessions televised on C-SPAN – BROKEN
  7. Allow five days of public comment before signing bills – BROKEN
  8. Introduce a comprehensive immigration bill in the first year – BROKEN
  9. Centralize ethics and lobbying information for voters – BROKEN
  10. Tougher rules against revolving door for lobbyists and former officials – BROKEN
  11. Re-establish the National Aeronautics and Space Council – BROKEN
  12. Support human mission to moon by 2020 – BROKEN
  13. Provide an annual report on “state of our energy future” – BROKEN
  14. Recognize the Armenian genocide – BROKEN
  15. Increase the capital gains and dividends taxes for higher-income taxpayers – BROKEN
  16. Expand the child and dependent care credit – BROKEN
  17. Create a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners – BROKEN
  18. End income tax for seniors making less than $50,000 – BROKEN
  19. End no-bid contracts above $25,000 – BROKEN
  20. Repeal the Bush tax cuts for higher incomes – BROKEN
  21. Phase out exemptions and deductions for higher earners – BROKEN
  22. Sign the Employee Free Choice Act, making it easier for workers to unionize – BROKEN
  23. Forbid companies in bankruptcy from giving executives bonuses – BROKEN
  24. Allow workers to claim more in unpaid wages and benefits in bankruptcy court – BROKEN
  25. Allow imported prescription drugs – BROKEN
  26. Mandate insurance coverage of autism treatment – BROKEN
  27. Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study of federal cancer initiatives – BROKEN
  28. Create a National Commission on People with Disabilities, Employment, and Social Security – BROKEN
  29. Change federal rules so small businesses owned by people with disabilities can get preferential treatment for federal contracts. – BROKEN
  30. Form international group to help Iraq refugees – BROKEN
  31. Reinstate special envoy for the America – BROKEN
  32. Double the Peace Corps – BROKEN
  33. Double funding for after school programs – BROKEN
  34. Urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws – BROKEN
  35. Allow bankruptcy judges to modify terms of a home mortgage – BROKEN
  36. Restore Superfund program so that polluters pay for clean-ups – BROKEN
  37. Pay for the national service plan without increasing the deficit – BROKEN
  38. Limit term of director of national intelligence – BROKEN
  39. Give annual “State of the World” address – BROKEN
  40. Reduce earmarks to 1994 levels – BROKEN
  41. Enact windfall profits tax for oil companies – BROKEN
  42. Create cap and trade system with interim goals to reduce global warming – BROKEN
  43. Require plug-in fleet at the White House – BROKEN
  44. Allow penalty-free hardship withdrawals from retirement accounts in 2008 and 2009 – BROKEN
  45. Create a public option health plan for a new National Health Insurance Exchange – BROKEN
  46. Provide option for a pre-filled-out tax formBROKEN
  47. Create a mortgage interest tax credit for non-itemizersBROKEN
  48. Require automatic enrollment in 401(k) plansBROKEN
  49. Require automatic enrollment in IRA plansBROKEN
  50. Create a retirement savings tax credit for low incomesBROKEN
  51. Create a $60 billion bank to fund roads and bridgesBROKEN
  52. Lift the payroll tax cap on earnings above $250,000BROKEN
  53. Prevent drug companies from blocking generic drugsBROKEN
  54. Allow Medicare to negotiate for cheaper drug pricesBROKEN
  55. Appoint federal-level coordinator to oversee all federal autism effortsBROKEN
  56. Double federal funding for cancer researchBROKEN
  57. Provide the CDC $50 million in new funding to determine the most effective approaches for cancer patient careBROKEN
  58. Fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)BROKEN
  59. Reduce the threshhold for the Family and Medical Leave Act from companies with 50employees to companies with 25 employeesBROKEN
  60. Provide a $1.5 billion fund to help states launch programs for paid family and medical leaveBROKEN
  61. Require employers to provide seven paid sick days per yearBROKEN
  62. Expand the Family Medical Leave Act to include leave for domestic violence or sexual assaultBROKEN
  63. Work with Russia to move nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alertBROKEN
  64. Develop an alternative to President Bush’s Military Commissions Act on handling detaineesBROKEN
  65. Secure ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)BROKEN
  66. Seek to negotiate a political agreement on CyprusBROKEN
  67. Seek independent watchdog agency to investigate congressional ethics violationsBROKEN
  68. Create a public “Contracts and Influence” databaseBROKEN
  69. Expose Special Interest Tax Breaks to Public ScrutinyBROKEN
  70. Expand the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to include sexual orientation and gender identityBROKEN
  71. Sign the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act into lawBROKEN
  72. Increase the minimum wage to $9.50 an hourBROKEN
  73. Support tax deduction for artistsBROKEN
  74. Reduce the number of middle managers in the federal workforceBROKEN
  75. Strengthen the Age Discrimination in Employment ActBROKEN
  76. Work to ban the permanent replacement of striking workersBROKEN
  77. Use revenue from cap and trade to support clean energy and environmental restorationBROKEN
  78. Require more flex-fuel cars for the federal governmentBROKEN
  79. Mandate flexible fuel vehicles by 2012BROKEN
  80. Double federal program to help “reverse” commuters who go from city to suburbsBROKEN
  81. Require energy conservation in use of transportation dollarsBROKEN
  82. Sign the Freedom of Choice ActBROKEN
  83. Give the White House’s Privacy and Civil Liberties Board subpoena powerBROKEN

Whew! That’s a lot of broken promises! It just might be a record. I don’t know, it’s probably a close race between Obama and Jimmy Carter. No matter, it’s depressing. Just don’t let President Obama tell you that it’s all the Republican’s fault because they block everything he tries to do. The Democrats controlled both houses of Congress for the first two years of his presidency. They could have done virtually anything he wanted them to do. No excuses, Mr. President, you’re a big “promiser” but you’re a lousy deliverer.

So how does he get away with it? First, because his followers want to believe him so much that they don’t bother to check up on him to see if he keeps his promises. Second, because the so-called mainstream media don’t tell you the truth. Here’s another thing to remember: Barack Obama depends on your ignorance. Don’t think so? Then why does he continue to make empty promises? Even worse, there is hardly a day that goes by that he doesn’t say things that are outright lies. I know, you may think I dislike him or his policies or that I am some kind of a right wing nut. Well, you would be wrong—except for not liking his policies. But even if you were right, it would not change the facts. He does have a horrible record of broken promises and he does lie—a lot. Many of his lies are well documented elsewhere on this site and many are videos so you can hear him lie in his own words.

Listen, I am not happy about reporting such negative things about my president. But if we really want an honest government we need to accept the truth about our leaders, especially our president. So like it or not, I call them like I see them. And just for the record, how many broken promises does it take before you stop believing someone? Two? Four? How about 83? Would that do it?

  4 Responses to “Obama Broken Promises”

  1. I think your accounting is biased.

    Here’s a group with no axe to grind, and they have a considerably different count from yours:

    http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/

    They say about Obama:

    241 promises kept (45%)
    131 promises partly kept by compromise (25%)
    118 promises broken (18%)
    26 promises “in the works” (5%)
    11 promises “not yet rated” (2%)

    They list 38 MORE broken promises than you do, and that’s still less than half the number of promises kept completely, and even fewer than the promises partially kept.

    Have you ever read David McCullough’s biography of Teddy Roosevelt, or his excellent account of that fateful year, 1776? You should read them. It would be time well spent, in real history study, with the tutelage of an excellent historian.

    • Apparently you missed this: “The following are rated as “Broken Promises” by PolitiFact.com as of April 17, 2013. You can see full explanations at PolitiFact.com.” You will find it immediately before the list. You say, “Here’s a group with no axe to grind, and they have a considerably different count from yours:” But my count is from the same source! Perhaps less zeal and more objectivity would clear the mind a bit. Considering your rather pointed accusation, it was, after all, a significant oversight on your part.

      Note: As of today 118 broken promises is 22%, not 18% as you state. But I am often puzzled by the propensity of avid Obama supporters to actually believe that something like 118 broken promises is a good thing because they are less than the number of promises kept. 118 broken promises is an egregiously high number no matter how one tries to spin it. And the idea that having kept less than half of his promises when well into his second term is a good thing, would be an historical aberration.

      Yet his deplorable record of broken promises hardly begins to describe the dishonest character of this president. Have you read the plethora of other well-documented material, which lists his false statements, many of which are documented by PolitiFact? Or have you watched the videos of him in which his dishonesty is there for anyone to see and hear? If you take issue with any of this, then be rigidly specific and accurate when you reference it.

      Regarding the books you listed and your suggestion that “You should read them.” – I too could give you a list. But I don’t think that was your point. Your condescension is quite apparent: “It would be time well spent, in real history study, with the tutelage of an excellent historian.” I imagine you to be much younger than I or you merely suffer from an inordinately high opinion of yourself.

      • I didn’t say broken promises are a good thing, per se — I merely noted that you didn’t tell the whole story.

        Of course, some “broken promises” would be a good thing, if he’d break some of his promises not to go after Big Coal and Big Oil, or if he’d break his promise to try to play nice with the GOP, the nation would be a lot better off.

        Your count is from the same source, but you don’t use all the information provided. You didn’t provide balance. You assumed that a broken promise — like his promise to close Guantanamo — was all his doing, as if you’d have been happy to have had the trials of the al Quaeda operatives in your town.

        Asking for the truth, sure. But the whole truth, and nothing but. You get props for the first part. Work on the second and third.

        Obama’s record of “broken promises” is no worse than any other, and a lot better than most, including the last five Republicans.

        False statements? Again you ignore the accurate statements. I expect politicians to over talk from time to time, on things they don’t know much about. Obama does that a lot less than Bush, or even Clinton — not much Obama doesn’t know something about.

        Videos that display Obama’s dishonesty? I don’t smoke dope before watching political stuff, so no, I haven’t seen those. I’ll be happy to offer specifics, had you done so.

        In the meantime, you may want to look at this one; it’s accurate:

        [youtube=http://youtu.be/o4KjcuSO-lU]

        • Sorry Ed, I don’t have the time to discuss things like which broken promises would or would not be a good thing. Find a forum somewhere for that. Again, if my facts are inaccurate, provide verifiable evidence from a reputable source. As to balance, once again, my point is that 118 broken promises is egregious and extraordinarily high.

          “Obama’s record of “broken promises” is no worse than any other, and a lot better than most, including the last five Republicans.” Where is your proof? I don’t think that is accurate and I suspect that you can’t prove it. Both the Bush presidents were very honest men, something that many Democrats have always acknowledged. Don’t you know that? And please don’t tell me that George W. Bush lied about WMD in Iraq. I cover that extensively on this site. In any case, I challenge you to document your assertion that “Obama’s record of “broken promises” is no worse than any other, and a lot better than most, including the last five Republicans.”

          “False statements? Again you ignore the accurate statements. I expect politicians to over talk from time to time, on things they don’t know much about. Obama does that a lot less than Bush, or even Clinton — not much Obama doesn’t know something about.”

          Prove that “Obama does that a lot less than Bush, or even Clinton.”

          “Videos that display Obama’s dishonesty? I don’t smoke dope before watching political stuff, so no, I haven’t seen those. I’ll be happy to offer specifics, had you done so.”

          It is obvious that you have spent little time here and it is also clear that you know very little about Barack Obama. Either get up to speed or expect no more responses. I have asked many question and you have failed to answer them. I have asked for proof and you have not provided it. You’re wasting my time.

What do you think? We want to know.