KHH1

Republicans may be divided over many issues, but they almost universally agree on one point: President Barack Obama’s domestic policy has been a disaster, and America would be far better off under GOP leadership.

But as MSNBC’s Steve Benen has pointed out, there’s a big problem with this declaration: On issue after issue, the president has done exactly what Republicans promised that they would do if elected. In several cases, he’s done it better.

Here are five issues on which the president kept Republicans’ campaign promises for them:

Unemployment


“I can tell you that over a period of four years, by virtue of the policies that we’d put in place, we’d get the unemployment rate down to 6 percent, and perhaps a little lower.”—Mitt Romney, May 23, 2012.

Mitt Romney’s vow to reduce unemployment to 6 percent by the end of his first term in office was almost universally hailed as bold and ambitious. But under President Obama’s stewardship, the economy improved much quicker than Romney promised: The unemployment rate has dropped steadily since the 2012 e******n, and dipped to 5.9 percent in September.

President Obama has also blown Rick Perry’s vague promise to create 1.25 million jobs out of the water.

Medicare

“Mitt Romney and I will protect and strengthen Medicare so that the promises that were made that people organize their retirements around, like my mom, will be promises that are kept.”—Paul Ryan, August 19, 2012

There’s some reason to doubt that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) was sincere when he promised to protect Medicare, given that he has repeatedly proposed plans to end the program as we know it. But if the 2012 vice-p**********l nominee does genuinely want to ensure that Medicare remains strong, then he’ll surely be glad to learn that President Obama’s Affordable Care Act has significantly improved the program’s financial outlook. Since Obamacare became law, Medicare’s Hospital Insurance trust fund’s solvency has been extended by 13 years.

Gas Prices


“I’ve developed a program for American energy so no future president will ever bow to a Saudi king again and so every American can look forward to $2.50-a-gallon gasoline.”—Newt Gingrich, February 22, 2012.

By Gingrich’s standards, President Obama has been stunningly successful: The national average gas price is now $2.32 per gallon, marking the lowest level since May 2009. Of course, gas prices have tumbled due to a wide range of factors, few of which involve Obama — but none of which involved bowing to a Saudi king.

Economic Growth


“Well, if China can have 5 percent growth, and India can have 5 percent growth, and Brazil can have 5 percent growth, the United States of America can have 5 percent growth”—Tim Pawlenty, June 18, 2011

As Politico reported at the time, forgettable 2012 candidate Tim Pawlenty’s pledge to spur 5 percent GDP growth was “mocked by some economists and Republican critics as unachievable in a country this large.” But in the third quarter of 2014, the Obama economy hit Pawlenty’s benchmark (for their part, Republicans greeted the news with as much enthusiasm as they showed toward Pawlenty’s campaign).

Deficit Reduction

“We will curb Washington’s spending habits and promote job creation, bring down the deficit, and build long-term fiscal stability.”—2010 GOP Pledge to America.

When Republicans took control of the House in 2010, they repeatedly stressed that reducing the federal budget deficit was a matter of peak national importance. Which makes their repeated proposals to blow up the deficit by billions rather odd.

But thankfully for the GOP, with President Obama and Democrats blocking budget-busting proposals like Paul Ryan’s tax plan, the deficit has steadily dropped throughout Obama’s presidency.

Wolf counselor Loc: Heart of Texas

Vestri novus est nomen, ignacious............................................Nimrod.

MiamiPhil77

although many of the numbers quoted, some doctored, ar real they have little to do with BHO policy. Smells like Slick Will taking credit for the 90's dot.com boom....he was in office when it happened....that was the only connection....

KHH1

**You lying, lowlife, inbred pink piece of s**t.......I did not write that...**

Vestri novus est nomen, ignacious............................................Nimrod.

KHH1 wrote:
I am Obamas' chief stooge. " Stooge l***s m****r." " Hands up don't shoot the stooge. " " I can't stooge ."

Dave Loc: Upstate New York

I find it interesting to see intellectual gymnastics that maintain that the Republican dominated House has blocked every Obama policy for 4 years while also contending that any positive economic news is attributable to Obama policy.

CowboyMilt

Facts & t***h & lies & statistics can all be quoted "loosely" & can all be manipulated. I don't give any credit to Obama for lower gasoline prices & I don't like his EPA support of dumping Coal nor any other of his energy policies. I did say early in his presidency that he was going to develop his own "army" & dismantle the one we have & he is surely acting on that...He is still capable of other damage to the USA if the Congress doesn't grow some "balls" & STOP him.

L.E. Liesner Loc: New Mexico

Using MSNBC as a source for this article nullifies the credibility of the content of it. Isn't that the outfit that employs Al(Race Baiter) Sharpton? Enough said.

bahmer

Amen

Caboose Loc: South Carolina

Get him Wolf.

KHH1

**Did those 5 areas actually happen under this President as opposed to Bush?** That is the million-dollar question.

KHH1

**Did those 5 areas actually happen under this President as opposed to Bush?** That is the million-dollar question.

Dave Loc: Upstate New York

Perhaps a more pertinent question is did these things happen because of or despite Obama. One clearly was despite -

KHH1

*My question was not made to answer with a question. Did the 5 things occur on President Obama's watch? Yes they did*

Dave Loc: Upstate New York

A more irrelevant statement would be hard to find.

KHH1

*That statement alone lets me know you are basking in denial...you people know the country is better off despite efforts to make it fail* Only the rednecks and klan types are screaming and b***hing...everyone else is moving ahead.....*