Post by Jerry OkamuraPost by Reverend Billy BobPost by Jerry OkamuraAre you kidding me? Are you saying that you don't mind it when
someone who is running for the office lies to you and that is not
such a big deal? How can anyone of us, regardless of who lies to us,
say that it is okay, because that is what they all do? If someone
lies to you, and you know that they lied to you, can you trust that
person to not lie to you again, just because he becomes the President?
You loved Reagan/Bush's lies.
http://bush-lies.blogspot.com/
Oh, we are going to play that silly game again are we. Okay, I am
prepared for that. I am making up a list for Obama, and it is getting
longer and bigger by the day
Would accept public financing. Went back on his word and did not accept
public financing. Public financing Obama replied "yes" in September
2007 when asked if he would agree to public financing of the
presidential election if his GOP opponent did the same.
The Cuba embargo In January 2004, Obama said it was time "to end the
embargo with Cuba" because it had "utterly failed in the effort to
overthrow Castro." Speaking to a Cuban American audience in Miami in
August 2007, he said he would not "take off the embargo" as president
because it is "an important inducement for change."
Decriminalization of Marijuana: While running for the U.S. Senate in
January 2004, Obama told Illinois college students that he supported
eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use. In the Oct. 30, 2007,
presidential debate, he joined other Democratic candidates in opposing
the decriminalization of marijuana.
Illegal immigration In a March 2004 questionnaire, Obama was asked if
the government should "crack down on businesses that hire illegal
immigrants." He replied "Oppose." In a Jan. 31, 2008, televised debate,
he said that "we do have to crack down on those employers that are
taking advantage of the situation."
Running for President or Vice President of the United States: On the
January 22nd edition of “Meet the Press,” Tim Russert and Obama had the
following exchange:Russert: “When we talked back in November of ‘04
after your election, I said, ‘There’s been enormous speculation about
your political future. Will you serve your six-year term as United
States senator from Illinois?’”Obama: “I will serve out my full six-year
term. You know, Tim, if you get asked enough, sooner or later you get
weary and you start looking for new ways of saying things. But my
thinking has not changed.”Russert: “So you will not run for president or
vice president in 2008?” Obama: “I will not.”
Single-Payer Healthcare: On January 22nd, the Hillary Clinton Campaign
releases a video that proves that Obama lied about his position on
“single-payer healthcare.”The video compares statements Obama made
during the January 21st Democratic debate with those he made to an
AFL-CIO conference in June 2003 while campaigning for the Senate.
Contradicting what Obama said at the debate, the old footage shows the
senator saying, “I happen to be a proponent of single-payer universal
healthcare coverage. That’s what I’d like to see.”At the debate, Obama
stated: “I never said that we should try to go ahead and get
single-payer (healthcare).”Single-payer healthcare is an euphemism for
socialized medicine.
Donations from Lobbyists and Special Interest PACS: Obama say he doesn’t
take money from DC lobbyists and special interest PACS. This is the type
of double-talk “politics of the past” rhetoric Obama rails against.While
his claim is technically true, what he does do is take money from state
lobbyists and other big money contributors who have substantial lobbyist
machines in DC, like law firms and corporations.In April 2007, the LA
Times quoted the Campaign Finance Institute’s Stephen Weissman as
pointing out that the distinction Obama makes on lobbyist money is
meaningless: “He gets an asterisk that says he is trying to be
different. … But overall, the same wealthy interests are funding his
campaign as are funding other candidates, whether or not they are
lobbyists.”The Capital Eye reported that “[a]ccording to the Center for
Responsive Politics, 14 of Obama’s top 20 contributors employed
lobbyists this year, spending a total of $16.2 million to influence the
federal government in the first six months of 2007.”
Rev. Jeremiah Wright: Barack Obama repudiated what he called
“inflammatory and appalling remarks” made by his Chicago pastor.Obama
said he had not been present during the sermons in question.Obama told
MSNBC, “Had I heard them in church I would have expressed that concern
directly to Rev. Wright.”Please note, he says that he would have
expressed concern, not repudiate, the words. (Source: Audacity of
Hypocrisy) Previously Obama had said "I can no more disown him than I
can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my
white grandmother — a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed
again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves
anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black
men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion
has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."
Jerusalem: "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must
remain undivided," Obama declared Wednesday, to rousing applause from
the 7,000-plus attendees at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
policy conference.
But a campaign adviser clarified Thursday that Obama believes "Jerusalem
is a final status issue, which means it has to be negotiated between the
two parties" as part of "an agreement that they both can live with."
Meeting with Foreign Leaders: Obama Now Claims That He Will Only Meet
With Foreign Leaders At A Time Of His Choosing If It Will Advance U.S.
Interests, But Previously Said He Would Meet With Rogue Leaders His
In His Remarks To The AIPAC Conference, Obama Claimed That He Would Only
Meet With The "Appropriate Iranian Leaders At A Time And Place" Of His
Choosing. Obama: "Contrary to the claims of some, I have no interest in
sitting down with our adversaries just for the sake of talking. But as
President of the United States, I would be willing to lead tough and
principled diplomacy with the appropriate Iranian leaders at a time and
place of my choosing - if, and only if - it can advance the interests of
the United States." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At The Annual AIPAC
Policy Conference, Arlington, VA, 6/4/08)
But At A July 2007 Debate, Obama Said He Would Meet With Hostile Leaders
During His First Year In Office. Question: "[W]ould you be willing to
meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your
administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of
Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap
that divides our countries?"...Obama: "I would. And the reason is this,
that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to
them - which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this
administration - is ridiculous." (CNN/YouTube Democrat Presidential
Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)
At A September 2007 Press Conference, Obama Confirmed That He Would Meet
"Senator, you've said before that you'd meet with President Ahmadinejad
..." Obama: "Uh huh." Question: "Would you still meet with him today?"
Obama: "Yeah, nothing's changed with respect to my belief that strong
countries and strong presidents talk to their enemies and talk to their
adversaries. I find many of President Ahmadinejad's statements odious
and I've said that repeatedly. And I think that we have to recognize
that there are a lot of rogue nations in the world that don't have
American interests at heart. But what I also believe is that, as John F.
Kennedy said, we should never negotiate out of fear but we should never
fear to negotiate." (Sen. Barack Obama, Press Conference, New York, NY,
9/24/07)
Legislation Labeling Iran's Revolutionary Guard A Terrorist
Organization: Obama Has Been Inconsistent In His Views On Labeling
Iran's Revolutionary Guard A Terrorist Organization. "Obama's campaign
suddenly discovered that their man -despite having spent the last nine
months campaigning on his opposition to Kyl-Lieberman - 'has
consistently urged that Iran's Revolutionary Guard be labeled what it
is: a terrorist organization.' Well, not that consistently. Senator
Obama has been scrupulously careful not to call explicitly for
designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Now, however, with
the Democratic nomination almost in hand, Obama feels comfortable
telling a pro-Israel audience what it wants to hear."(Danielle Pletka,
"Obama's Pander Pivot," Weekly Standard, 6/4/08)
"[T]he Audience At AIPAC Might Ask Why Senator Obama Has Pivoted From
Opposition To 'Lieberman-Kyl' To Support For The IRGC Designation His
Audience Demands. Is This Really Change They Can Believe In?" (Danielle
Pletka, "Obama's Pander Pivot," Weekly Standard, 6/4/08)
"Which Barack Obama Will Be The Democratic Standard-Bearer: The One Who
Vowed To 'Eliminate' The Iranian Nuclear Threat Two Days Ago, Or The One
Who Opposed Designating The Revolutionary Guards A Terrorist
Organization?" (Editorial, "Obama And Iran," The Washington Times, 6/6/08)
Palestinian Elections In 2006: Obama Says That He Opposed Palestinian
Elections In 2006. Obama: "There is no room at the negotiating table for
terrorist organizations. That is why I opposed holding elections in 2006
with Hamas on the ballot. The Israelis and the Palestinian Authority
warned us at the time against holding these elections, but this
administration pressed ahead. And the result is a Gaza controlled by
Hamas, with rockets raining down on Israel." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks
At The Annual AIPAC Policy Conference, Arlington, VA, 6/4/08)
But During His 2006 Trip To The Middle East, Obama Met With Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas And Said The Election Represented An
"Opportunity...To Consolidate Behind A Single Government." "Illinois
Senator Barack Obama's journey to the Middle East took him to the West
Bank Thursday for a meeting with the man elected to replace Yasser
Arafat. ... For a time Thursday in the West Bank there was only the
clatter of cameras as the newly elected president of the Palestinian
authority, Mahmoud Abbas, met with Illinois Senator Barack Obama. At a
meeting with Palestinian students Thursday, Obama said the U.S. will
never recognize winning Hamas candidates unless the group renounces its
fundamental mission to eliminate Israel, and Obama told ABC7 he
delivered that message to the Palestinian president. 'Part of the
opportunity here with this upcoming election is to consolidate behind a
single government with a single authority that can then negotiate as a
reliable partner with Israel,' said Obama." (Chuck Goudie, "Obama Meets
With Arafat's Successor," ABC 7 News, http://obama.senate.gov, 1/12/06)
The Palestinian News Agency WAFA Reported That Obama Was Supportive Of
The Palestinian Elections Being Held At Their Scheduled Time. "President
Mahmoud Abbas met Thursday with the U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), in
the Presidential HQ in Ramallah...President briefed the U.S. Senator
about the latest developments in the Palestinian territories including
the preparations for the legislative elections.... Abbas and Obama
discussed the means of underpinning the American-Palestinian economic
relations...Obama asserted the US supports and eager that the
Palestinian legislative elections on its proposed time (January 25)."
("President Meets U.S. Senator And Armenian Delegation," WAFA,
http://english.wafa.ps, 1/12/06)
Iraq War: “At a time when American casualties are down, at a time when
the violence is down, particularly affecting the Iraqi population, is
that the right time to try and set time tables for withdrawing all
American troops? I mean you talked about…the end of 2009,” Kroft remarked.
“Yeah, absolutely. I think now is precisely the time. I think that it is
very important for us to send a clear signal to the Iraqis that we are
not gonna be here permanently. We’re not gonna set up permanent bases.
That they are going to have to resolve their differences and get their
country functioning,” Obama said.
“And you pull out according to that time table, regardless of the
situation? Even if there’s serious sectarian violence?” Kroft asked.
“No, I always reserve as commander in chief, the right to assess the
situation,” Obama replied.
I mean think about it. Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny
compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us the
way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us....You know, Iran, they spend
one-one hundredth of what we spend on the military. If Iran ever tried
to pose a serious threat to us, they wouldn't stand a chance.And we
should use that position of strength that we have to be bold enough to
go ahead and listen. That doesn't mean we agree with them on everything.
We might not compromise on any issues, but at least we should find out
other areas of potential common interest, and we can reduce some of the
tensions that has caused us so many problems around the world.
Iran is a grave threat. It has an illicit nuclear program. It supports
terrorism across the region and militias in Iraq. It threatens Israel's
existence. It denies the Holocaust...
North Korea: U.S. Democratic presidential frontrunner Senator Barack
Obama has recently indicated he no longer opposes the removal of North
Korea from a U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. Obama in January
2005 came out against the removal of the Stalinist nation from the list
until it gives an account of the kidnapping and death in the North of
the Rev. Kim Dong-shik in 2000.
PATRIOT Act: "Giving law enforcement the tools they need to investigate
suspicious activity is the right thing, and the Senate showed earlier
this year that it can be done with the oversight of our judicial system
so we do not jeopardize the rights of all Americans and the ideals
America stands for. We should not let the PATRIOT Act expire at the end
of this year, but instead extend the current law for three months so
that we can come to an agreement on these critical issues in Congress."
On the Issues FactCheck: Promised to repeal Patriot Act, then voted for it.
Coal: Obama, whose support for coal-to-liquid has been widely criticized
by environmentalists, sent out a press release clarifying his position
Senator Obama supports research into all technologies to help solve our
climate change and energy dependence problems, including shifting our
energy use to renewable fuels and investing in technology that could
make coal a clean-burning source of energy…However, unless and until
this technology is perfected, Senator Obama will not support the
development of any coal-to-liquid fuels unless they emit at least 20%
less life-cycle carbon than conventional fuels.
This “clarification” is an important step for the Obama campaign in
trying to gain support from environmental organizations and voters.
However, the LA Times notes that his position change on this issue is
even more significant because it symbolizes “there’s a race to the top
among the Democratic candidates for the strongest position on how to
solve the climate crisis.”
PAYGO: Obama promised to "restore a law that was in place during the
Clinton presidency—called Paygo—that prohibits money from leaving the
treasury without some way of compensating for the lost revenue." but now
Obama says he's not going to sacrifice his domestic priorities for
deficit reduction. Universal health care, renewable energy, and all he
rest won't be sacrificed on the altar of PAYGO.
willingness to talk to leaders of countries like Iran that are
considered U.S. adversaries but said that does not necessarily mean an
audience with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad." (Caren Bohan,
"Obama Says Won't Guarantee Ahmadinejad A Meeting," Reuters, 5/26/08)
"'There's no reason why we would necessarily meet with Ahmadinejad
before we know he's actually in power. He's not the most powerful person
in Iran,' Obama told reporters while campaigning in New Mexico." (Caren
Bohan, "Obama Says Won't Guarantee Ahmadinejad A Meeting," Reuters,
5/26/08)
But in July 2007, Obama said he would meet with the leaders of hostile
At a July 2007 debate, Obama announced he would personally meet with
leaders Of Iran, North Korea, Syria and other hostile nations "without
precondition."
Question: "[W]ould you be willing to meet separately, without
precondition, during the first year of your administration, in
Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela,
Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our
countries?"
Obama: "I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow
not talking to countries is punishment to them - which has been the
guiding diplomatic principle of this administration - is ridiculous."
(CNN/YouTube Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC,
7/23/07)
Illegal Immigrants and Driver's Licenses: As a state senator in
Illinois, Obama voted to require illegal immigrants to get a driver's
license. The change? In the November 2007 CNN debate, he was asked what
his stand was on that issue and he said, "I am not proposing that's what
we do."
I will provide a tax credit for businesses who hire a new worker.
Monday, February 25, 2008; Page A04
Top Obama Flip-Flops
1. Special interests In January, the Obama campaign described union
contributions to the campaigns of Clinton and John Edwards as "special
interest" money. Obama changed his tune as he began gathering his own
union endorsements. He now refers respectfully to unions as the
representatives of "working people" and says he is "thrilled" by their
support.
This Story
Democrats Equally Adept at Shifting Positions
Top Obama Flip-Flops
2. Public financing Obama replied "yes" in September 2007 when asked if
he would agree to public financing of the presidential election if his
GOP opponent did the same. Obama has now attached several conditions to
such an agreement, including regulating spending by outside groups. His
spokesman says the candidate never committed himself on the matter.
3. The Cuba embargo In January 2004, Obama said it was time "to end the
embargo with Cuba" because it had "utterly failed in the effort to
overthrow Castro." Speaking to a Cuban American audience in Miami in
August 2007, he said he would not "take off the embargo" as president
because it is "an important inducement for change."
4. Illegal immigration In a March 2004 questionnaire, Obama was asked if
the government should "crack down on businesses that hire illegal
immigrants." He replied "Oppose." In a Jan. 31, 2008, televised debate,
he said that "we do have to crack down on those employers that are
taking advantage of the situation."

5. Decriminalization of marijuana While running for the U.S. Senate in
January 2004, Obama told Illinois college students that he supported
eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use. In the Oct. 30, 2007,
presidential debate, he joined other Democratic candidates in opposing
the decriminalization of marijuana.
Is there no issue that Obamarxist flip-flops on. He flip-flips with such
frequency and flurry that I had to launch another site ObamaVsObama.com.
But this one is the mother of all flip-flops… Obama now says he won’t
Obama: Recession could delay rescinding tax cuts
WASHINGTON - Democrat Barack Obama says he would delay rescinding
President Bush’s tax cuts on wealthy Americans if he becomes the next
president and the economy is in a recession, suggesting such an increase
would further hurt the economy. (Continue reading at The Conservative Post)
If the Bush Tax Cuts are good for people during a recession, Obama,
could it be that they are good for Americans all the time? And by the
way Obama, we are NOT in a recession.
Abortion: We all know Obama's views on abortion, even killing babies
'born alive' is OK with him. Now he says he was 'too flip' on the
abortion question. He said, ""All I meant to communicate was that I
don’t presume to be able to answer these kinds of theological
questions." (Kentucky Progress)
No Obama, you weren’t. You just don’t have the testicles it sometimes
takes to answer tough questions. It’s a conviction thing — a strong
understanding and belief in something. Not a strong belief in believing
in nothing as is the liberal code of intellect and morality. (The
Partisan Report)
Military Service: He originally claimed that he did not have an
opportunity to join the military because Vietnam was over by the time he
signed up for selective service and that the draft was over, implying
that the only way he would have ever been in the military was if he was
drafted. Now he says he seriously considered military service.
... Following the law of the land and registering for the selective
service is not the same as considering entering the military. There is
no record for Obama so we have to listen to his words. In fact Obama
says listen to his words. I did listen today and his words rang hollow.
Broken promise No. 1: 'Sunlight Before Signing'
When Obama campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in
Manchester, N.H., on June 22, 2007, he announced his "Sunlight Before
Signing" promise.
"When there is a bill that ends up on my desk as the president, you the
public will have five days to look online and find out what's in it
before I sign it," he said.
"Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before
the public has the opportunity to review them. As president, Obama will
not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an
opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five
days."
However, Obama signed his first bill, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay
Restoration Act, on Jan. 20 - only two days after its passage.
He signed a second bill expanding the State Children's Health Insurance
Program just three hours after Congress passed it.
Again, on Feb. 17, Obama signed his 1,000-page $787 billion stimulus
aimed at jolting the declining U.S. economy. He did so only one business
day after it passed through Congress - without allowing for five days of
public comment.
Broken promise No. 2: Capital gains tax elimination
According to his comprehensive tax plan released during his campaign,
Obama promised to "eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses."
Just weeks prior to the election, Obama advisers Austan Goolsbee and
Jason Furman told the Wall Street Journal that Obama planned tax cuts
that included "the elimination of capital gains taxes for small
businesses and start-ups."
People who invest in small businesses have only been allowed to exclude
50 percent of that gain from capital gains taxes. While Obama's $787
billion economic-stimulus package reduces that tax liability - raising
the exclusion to 75 percent - it does not eliminate it.
Broken promise No. 3: New American jobs tax credit
During his transition, Obama's promised to provide a $3,000 refundable
tax credit to existing businesses for every additional full-time U.S.
employee hired in 2009 and 2010.
"If a company that currently has 10 U.S. employees increases its
domestic full time employment to 20 employees, this company would get a
$30,000 tax credit - enough to offset the entire added payroll tax costs
to the company for the first $50,000 of income for the new employees,"
the transition website stated. "The tax credit will benefit all
companies creating net new jobs, even those struggling to make a
profit."
Obama's promise was never included in the stimulus package.
Broken promise No. 4: Hiatus on 401(k) penalties
Many unemployed and financially strapped Americans have considered early
withdrawals on 401(k) and retirement accounts to survive the current
recession. However, the IRS imposes strict penalties of up to 10 percent
plus federal, state and local income taxes on such advances.
Workers who have taken $10,000 in early withdrawals from retirement
plans have lost as much as 40 percent to taxes and penalties, depending
upon tax brackets.
In October 2008, Obama released his "Rescue Plan for the Middle-Class"
in which he promised to allow financially distressed Americans to
withdraw up to $10,000 from their 401(k) accounts and retirement savings
without having to pay penalties. They would only pay income taxes on the
amount.
"Since so many Americans will be struggling to pay the bills over the
next year, I propose that we allow every family to withdraw up to 15%
from their IRA or 401(k) - up to a maximum of $10,000 - without any fine
or penalty throughout 2009," Obama said. "This will help families get
through this crisis without being forced to make painful choices like
selling their homes or not sending their kids to college."
However, Obama's promise was never included in his recent stimulus
package.
(Story continues below)
Broken promise No. 5: 'No jobs for lobbyists'
I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists that their days of
setting the agenda in Washington are over. I have done more than any
other candidate in this race to take on lobbyists - and won. They have
not funded my campaign, they will not run my White House, and they will
not drown out the voices of the American people when I am president.
During his campaign, Obama also said, "I have done more to take on
lobbyists than any other candidate in this race. I don't take a dime of
their money, and when I am president, they won't find a job in my White
House."
However, USA Today reported Obama's campaign fundraising team included
38 members of law firms that were paid $138 million in 2007 to lobby the
federal government.
"Those lawyers, including 10 former federal lobbyists, have pledged to
raise at least $3.5 million" for Obama's campaign, the report states.
"Employees of their firms have given Obama's campaign $2.26 million."
It wasn't long before he allowed at least two dozen exceptions and broke
his promise.
Obama's own ethic rules barred officials of his administration from
lobbying their former colleagues "for as long as I am president." He
also said former lobbyists would be prohibited from working for agencies
they had lobbied within the past two years. President Obama later waived
his rules for at least two of his nominees - William J. Lynn III,
undersecretary at the Department of Defense and recent lobbyist for
Raytheon, and William Corr, deputy secretary for the Department of
Health and Human Services and anti-tobacco lobbyist for the Campaign for
Tobacco-Free Kids.
Broken promise No. 6: Earmark reform
As WND reports, at the first presidential debate in Oxford, Miss., Obama
declared, "[W]e need earmark reform. And when I'm president, I will go
line by line to make sure that we are not spending money unwisely."
However, in February, Obama passed his $787 billion stimulus aimed at
jolting the declining U.S. economy. Before a joint session of Congress,
Obama declared: "Now, I'm proud that we passed a recovery plan free of
earmarks."
Some chuckled in amusement when he claimed the bill contained no pork.
"There was just a roar of laughter - because there were earmarks," Sen.
Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., told CNN.
U.S. News & World Report found at least eight earmarks in his stimulus
bill.
Obama also signed a $410 billion omnibus bill for 2009. More than 9,000
earmarks in the spending bill total an estimated $7.7 billion.
Even though the Democrat-controlled Congress crafted the bill after
Obama's election, the administration claims the added pork is just
"unfinished business" from last year.
The White House website states, "Obama and Biden will slash earmarks to
no greater than 1994 levels and ensure all spending decisions are open
to the public." However, watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense
reports that the omnibus pork alone already totals $7.7 billion - just
less than the total of $7.8 billion in earmarks in 1994 - and the figure
does not include $6.6 billion in earmarks contained in three previous
spending bills Congress passed amid the bailout crisis last year.
During his three years in the Senate, Obama requested more than $860
million in earmarks, according to the group. White House Chief of Staff
Rahm Emanuel has 16 earmarks - worth approximately $8.5 million - in the
bill.
Broken promise No. 7: Bring troops home in 16 months
On his campaign website, Obama promised he would "remove one to two
combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of
Iraq within 16 months."
His commitment to bring combat troops home by May 20, 2010, and end the
war gave him an edge among Democrats over candidate Hillary Clinton.
However, on Feb. 27, Obama declared, "Let me say this as plainly as I
can: By Aug. 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end."
If Obama adheres to his plan, combat troops will return home months
later than originally promised. The New York Times reports, Obama will
withdraw only two of the 14 brigades before December.
As part of a "new era of American leadership," he also said he would
leave behind a residual force of 35,000 to 50,000 troops and remove all
U.S. soldiers from Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011 - the same deadline the Bush
administration negotiated with the Iraqi government last year in its
Status of Forces Agreement.
Additionally, some combat units would remain in Iraq beyond Obama's
declared August 2010 withdrawal. Rather than returning home, they would
simply face reassignment as "advisory training brigades."
Even as combat troops are brought home, Pentagon officials have said
fresh units will continue deploying to Iraq.
Broken promise No. 8: Sign 'Freedom of Choice Act'
On July 17, 2007, Obama told the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, "The
first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.
That's the first thing that I'd do."
Obama expressed his support for the sweeping plan that would repeal all
national and state regulations of abortion passed over the last 35
years.
His agenda regarding "reproductive choice" is posted on the White House
website. It states, Obama "has been a consistent champion of
reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v.
Wade a priority in his Administration."
Obama chose radical pro-abortion Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to serve
as the Health secretary, moved to void job protections for health
workers who oppose abortion and repealed a ban on U.S. taxpayer funding
of foreign abortions. While many pro-life advocates consider it a
blessing that Obama has no fulfilled his promise to sign the Freedom of
Choice Act, he has made no mention of the legislation since he took
office.
Broken promise No. 9: $4,000 college credit
Obama pledged to make college "affordable for all Americans" when he
announced his American Opportunity Tax Credit.
His campaign promise read: "This universal and fully refundable credit
will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely
free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition
at the average public college or university and make community college
tuition completely free for most students. Recipients of the credit will
be required to conduct 100 hours of community service."
While the American Opportunity Tax Credit was included in the recent
stimulus bill, it offers a credit of only $2,500 for up to two years and
requires no commitment to community service.
Broken promise No. 10: Transparency
On the White House website, the Obama administration claims it will be
"the most open and transparent in history.
My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of
openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust
and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and
collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote
efficiency and effectiveness in Government.
Government should be transparent. Transparency promotes
accountability and provides information for citizens about what their
Government is doing. .
However, Congress and the administration hurried the $787 billion,
1,027-page American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to a vote
after allowing lawmakers just a few hours to read the bill. It was also
available online in a form that could not be keyword searched.
While former administrations immediately posted transcripts of
presidential speeches - including some remarks before delivery - the
White House website often waits until days or even weeks after an event
to release transcripts.
Also, some say recent reports of tax evasion by Obama nominees is
evidence that the administration is not as transparent as promised.
Timothy Geithner
Just before Obama named Timothy Geithner to be his treasury secretary,
the president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank quietly paid $26,000
in back taxes and interest due since 2001 and 2002.
Obama characterized the eight-year tax evasion as "an innocent mistake."
But as many as five of his picks defaulted on taxes, including former
nominee for health and human services secretary, Tom Daschle; former
nominee for chief performance officer, Nancy Killefer; U.S. trade
representative nominee Ron Kirk and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.
Furthermore, while the president posted his own weekly "fireside chats"
on YouTube during the campaign, many journalists report that he has a
history of being less than welcoming to the Fourth Estate.
Columbia Journalism Review noted Obama's treatment of the press: "During
the campaign, reporters' access to Obama was severely limited.
On-the-record conversations with the candidate were even more so.
Indeed, Obama's overall treatment of the press - not just in his general
rejection of the day-to-day news cycle, but also in his tendency to shun
his national traveling press corps ... created the impression that its
members were, to him, a buzzing nuisance. Instead of the voice of the
people."
WND's correspondent at the White House, Les Kinsolving, raised the issue
in February that most of the reporters recognized for questions in the
briefing room were among the same handful over and over again. Some of
them had been given four or even five opportunities for questions while
other reporters were not recognized at all.
Kinsolving, a senior journalist in the White House press corps, was not
allowed to voice his questions on issues on which millions of WND
readers have expressed an interest. There were also complaints about the
time of the November election that not only did Obama rely on a few key
reporters for questions, those reporters were chosen ahead of time.
And, finally, WND has reported on dozens of legal challenges to Obama's
status as a "natural born citizen." The Constitution, Article 2, Section
1, states, "No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the
United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall
be eligible to the Office of President."
Obama's alleged Certification of Live Birth is not his original 1961
birth certificate
However, Obama has refused repeated calls to publicly release his
Hawaiian birth certificate, which would include the actual hospital that
performed the delivery. His campaign posted an alleged "Certification of
Live Birth" online, but it is not the same as a Hawaii birth
certificate. COLBs have been issued by Hawaii to parents whose children
are not born in the state.
Instead of providing the documentation to end the lawsuits, a series of
law firms have been hired on Obama's behalf around the nation to prevent
any public access to his birth certificate, passport records, college
records and other documents. - even after more than 320,000 people
signed a petition demanding that he live up to his promise of
transparency by releasing the certificate to the public.
Nonetheless, during his campaign and after he took office, Obama
maintained that his administration would have an unyielding commitment
to transparency.
"The American people want to trust in our government again - we just
need a government that will trust in us," he said in a campaign speech.
"And making government accountable to the people isn't just a cause of
this campaign - it's been a cause of my life for two decades."
RUN AND HIDE LITTLE OBALIBS. RUN AND HIDE.