Broken Promises

I think we should hold a contest. To win the prize an individual must list all of the campaign promises Obama has made and has broken. In the spirit of adventure, here is my list.

1. Obama promised to reform the earmark process. One of the first bill he signed contained more than 9,000 earmarks.
2. Obama promised not to sign any bill that is not an emergency “without giving the public an opportunity or review and comment on the White House Website for five days.” Obama has signed every bill immediately.
3. Obama promised that no lobbyist would work in the White House – but take a look at all of the Cabinet and other positions he has filled with Lobbyists. Here is a partial list from Hotair.com.
Eric Holder, attorney general nominee, was registered to lobby until 2004 on behalf of clients including Global Crossing, a bankrupt telecommunications firm [now confirmed].
Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year on behalf of the National Education Association.
William Lynn, deputy defense secretary nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for defense contractor Raytheon, where he was a top executive.
William Corr, deputy health and human services secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until last year for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a non-profit that pushes to limit tobacco use.
David Hayes, deputy interior secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until 2006 for clients, including the regional utility San Diego Gas & Electric.
Mark Patterson, chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for financial giant Goldman Sachs.
Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, was registered to lobby until 2005 for clients, including the Coalition for Asbestos Resolution, U.S. Airways, Airborne Express and drug-maker ImClone.
Mona Sutphen, deputy White House chief of staff, was registered to lobby for clients, including Angliss International in 2003.
Melody Barnes, domestic policy council director, lobbied in 2003 and 2004 for liberal advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the American Constitution Society and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Cecilia Munoz, White House director of intergovernmental affairs, was a lobbyist as recently as last year for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group.
Patrick Gaspard, White House political affairs director, was a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union.
Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to the president’s assistant for intergovernmental relations, lobbied for the American Association of Justice from 2001 until 2005.
4. According to his comprehensive tax plan released during his campaign, Obama promised to “eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses.” We are still waiting for that one.
5. 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. He had the opportunity to do this in his stimulus package – but guess what? Another broken promise.
6. In October 2008, Obama 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. Still another broken promise.
7. 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.” What he did not say was that he would redeploy the troops to Afghanistan. In any event, the timetable for withdrawal has not been met or even started.
8. During the campaign, Obama criticized President Bush for issuing “signing statements,"”attached letters to congressionally-passed bills that add interpretation and instruction on how to carry out the law. Obama said that this was not part of the President’s power. However, in March Obama attached his first signing statement to a $410 billion government spending bill and later said he would continue to use signing statements.
9. During the campaign Obama said he would “renegotiate” NAFTA. That hasn’t happened.
10. Remember when Obama promised no new taxes on anyone making less than $200,000 a year. His exact words in New Hampshire were: “Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.” But less than a month after taking office, Obama signed an expansion of child healthcare financed by 62-cent tax increase on each pack of cigarettes.
Written by Jim Pirretti