Obama Press Conference Statement:
We’ve created 4.3 million jobs over the past 27 months. The private sector is doing fine. Where we’re seeing problems is with state and local government, often with cuts initiated by governors or mayors who are not getting the kind of help they’re accustomed to from the federal government.
Obama later the same day:
It is absolutely clear that the economy is not doing fine. That's the reason I had a press conference. That's why I spent yesterday, the day before yesterday, this past week, this past month and this past year talking about how we can make the economy stronger. There are too many people out of work, the housing market is still weak and too many homes underwater, and that's precisely why I asked Congress to start taking some steps that can make a difference.
Who knew, until Obama told us, that
- Press conferences fix the economy and
- Talk makes the economy stronger?
His Misfiring Guns, Sticking To
The second statement is not a walk-back. Obama didn't retract his statement about the private sector. His focus remains growing the number of government employees … since their union dues become political contributions that help Democrats. This despite the fact that the rate of decline in private sector job numbers nationally is 4.4 times higher than the government job drop.
Campaign cash explains why Obama wants to repeat part of his failed stimulus. Public sector unions spent $18.7 million in Colorado in the last four elections (state level only). Add in their share of labor's $19.5 Million to so-called 527 or SuperPAC cash [source: here and here] and $5.3 Million in labor's Congressional giving.
As to our state's economy, Mr. President, you are full of prunes.
Colorado's Economy: What's Really Happening
- A top-notch chef started her own restaurant just before the economy began to tumble. Even a broken ankle didn't stop her. She kept on working, with her knee resting on a special walker, throughout her recovery. Her employees still have jobs. Real women do this, Mr. President; they're nothing like your fictional “Julia” (Julia's life here).
- A three-decade boss of a small natural resources company (not energy) had his operation on the edge of Denver. Since the economy tanked, he's moved it briefly to several places in rural Colorado, and he's now looking up in the Dakotas – where energy extraction (you're trying to regulate to death) has buoyed the local economy. He sees his family irregularly, but the mortgage gets paid.
- Last night, commenting on your crazy statement, one 30-something small business guy said, “It wouldn't be so hard for us if the government would just let us alone.” I'd never met the fellow, we didn't talk politics, it just came out of his mouth when he talked about what you said.
By the Numbers, You're Wrong
For Colorado your private sector-public sector factoids are just bogus. Here's the truth, comparing the last good year in our state's economy, 2007 to 2012 (BLS CES May data, not seasonally adjusted, in 1,000s).
- Private sector jobs: 2007 = 1,934.6; 2012 = 1,879.7 for a loss of 54,900 jobs
- Public sector jobs: 2007 = 378.5; 2012 = 400.2 for a gain of 21,700 jobs.
Mr. President, the 88,000 kids dumped from their homes in Colorado due to foreclosures need a commonsense fix to our nation's problems. The one out of four working-aged Colorado adults who aren't working need the dignity of a job. Rebuilding an economy for these people won't happen merely by more government and more government spending.
We'd be better off if you packed up your bags, left DC, and spent most of your time hobnobbing with the glitterati. Oh, wait. You're already doing that.