Today's (Feb. 3, 2012) jobs report was seen as unexpectedly good news for the economy, but it's always interesting to see how different news sources report the information and how they use their headlines and lead paragraphs shape public opinion.
Not only was Fox News the only major source to lead with the negatives on what is clearly very good economic news, but nowhere in their headline or their opening paragraphs did they disclose the impressive number of new jobs created -- 243,000 -- something which every other major news source put right up front.
Note that most major media provided the same or similar cautionary information that Fox did, but they focused on the positive news at the head of the article, unlike Fox which mitigated the good news with negatives right up front. Studies show that most readers "skim" articles and read only the headlines and, maybe, the opening paragraph or two. Once you know that, Fox News' bias becomes more apparent.
Here are the headlines and first paragraphs from news sources you know and trust(?):
FOX NEWS:
Unemployment rate falls to 8.3 percent in January after hiring burst
WASHINGTON – The unemployment rate dropped to 8.3 percent in January, marking the fifth straight month of decline thanks in part to a hiring spree in the private sector.
The Labor Department report suggests the job market is improving, though longer-term economic projections remain dim. The Congressional Budget Office reported earlier this week that its analysts predict the rate will creep toward 9 percent again before the end of the year.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/03/unemployment-rate-falls-to-83-percent-in-january-after-hiring-burst/
REUTERS:
Job growth surges, jobless rate drops to 8.3 percent
The economy created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months in January and the unemployment rate dropped to a near three-year low of 8.3 percent, providing some measure of comfort for President Barack Obama who faces re-election in November.
Nonfarm payrolls jumped 243,000, the Labor Department said on Friday, as factory jobs grew by the most in a year. The gain in overall employment was the largest since April and outpaced economists' expectations for a rise of only 150,000.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/03/us-usa-economy-idUSTRE7BM0AB20120203
LOS ANGELES TIMES:
Unemployment rate falls to 8.3%; fifth straight monthly decline
The U.S. job market strengthened at the start of the year as employers added an unexpectedly large number of new jobs and the unemployment rate in January dropped for the fifth straight month to 8.3%--the lowest in nearly three years.
The Labor Department said Friday that employers nationwide added 243,000 net new jobs in January – about 100,000 more than what analysts were forecasting. Job gains were broad-based, powered by increases in manufacturing, professional and business services such as accounting and engineering, and in leisure and healthcare industries.
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-unemployment-january-report-20120203,0,6620355.story
BLOOMBERG:
Unemployment Rate Drops to 8.3%; Payrolls Jump
Employment climbed more than forecast in January and the U.S. jobless rate unexpectedly fell to the lowest in three years, casting doubt on the Federal Reserve’s pledge to keep interest rates low until late 2014.
The 243,000 increase in payrolls was the most since April and exceeded all forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey, Labor Department figures showed in Washington. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.3 percent, the lowest since February 2009.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-03/payrolls-in-u-s-jumped-243-000-in-january-unemployment-rate-drops-to-8-3-.html
THE WASHINGTON POST:
U.S. adds 243K jobs in January; unemployment rate drops to 8.3%
The nation’s unemployment rate dropped for the fifth straight month to 8.3 percent, its lowest level in three years, the Labor Department reported Friday, with widespread hiring across the economy.
The number of jobs grew by 243,000, the government said.
The Labor Department recorded gains in many parts of the economy including the restaurant business, accounting, health care and retail stores.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/us-adds-243k-jobs-in-january-unemployment-rate-drops-to-83percent/2012/02/03/gIQAhV3mmQ_story.html
THE NEW YORK TIMES:
U.S. Jobless Rate Falls to 8.3 Percent, a 3-Year Low
The United States economy gained momentum in January, adding 243,000 jobs, the second straight month of better-than-expected gains.
The unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent, giving a cause for optimism as the economy shapes up as the central issue in the presidential election. The Labor Department’s monthly snapshot of the jobs market uses a different survey, of households rather than employers, to calculate the unemployment rate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/business/economy/us-economy-added-243000-jobs-in-january-unemployment-rate-is-8-3.html?hp
CNN:
January jobs report: Hiring ramps up, unemployment falls
American employers substantially stepped up their hiring in January, bringing the unemployment rate down for the fifth month in a row.
Employers added 243,000 jobs in January, the Labor Department reported Friday, marking a pick-up in hiring from December, when the economy added 203,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 8.3%. That is the lowest since February 2009.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/03/news/economy/jobs_report_unemployment/index.htm
Then, there's this that just showed up minutes later
FOX NEWS:
The bad news behind the January jobs report
Three years after Obama became president, even the official unemployment rate still remains high. The newly released 8.3 percent unemployment rate is still a half a percentage point higher than when he took office.
But that still might be looking at the bright side. If we include those who have given up looking for work and those who could only find part time work, the unemployment rate stands at almost an entire percentage point higher than when Obama entered office.
http://nation.foxnews.com/jobs/2012/02/03/bad-news-behind-january-jobs-report
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Sunday, February 5, 2012
Monday, November 1, 2010
60-Second Recap - 9 truths
1) America was already losing over 600,000 jobs per month, months before Obama became President
2) Despite those job loses, Republicans worked in lock-step to block the Stimulus Bill – with zero House Republicans and only 3 Senate Republicans voting for the Stimulus
3) Within 6 months of passage of the Stimulus Bill, monthly job losses decreased by over two-thirds
4) Despite that quick reversal, Republicans continued to oppose virtually every job creation bill, business development bill, and economic stimulus bill right though September 2010 – based, ostensibly, on “philosophical” issues*
5) The Recovery is not a philosophical issue – it is an economic one
6) As Republicans blocked bill . . . after bill . . . after bill – The Recovery began to lose steam
7) Republicans, as the ones most responsible for the economic crash, deliberately blocked The Recovery – knowing that economic recovery credited to the Democrats would spell political devastation for the Republican Party for years to come
8) If Republicans focused their efforts on making America succeed, instead of spending their time trying to make President Obama fail, Americans would be well on their way to an economic recovery by now
9) It’s been said that those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it. You can vote to put those who tanked our economy and blocked The Recovery back in charge . . . or you can entrust it to those who tried to speed The Recovery and help tens of millions of Americans regain their independence and dignity
But you've got less than 24 hours to decide.
*Here’s a link to 31 Bills Republicans Blocked in 2010:
http://johnsvor.blogspot.com/2010/10/31-bills-republicans-have-blocked-in.html
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Where is the Outrage?
Where is the Outrage that those whose policies and actions were most responsible for America’s worst economic collapse since the Great Depression, have spent the past 20 months blocking virtually every job creation bill, business development bill, and economic stimulus bill intended to speed The Recovery?
Where is the Outrage that they repeatedly said: “No”, “No”, “No” – while over 10,000,000 Americans lost their homes, their jobs, their life savings?
Where is the Outrage that they chose to spend their time trying to make America’s President fail, instead of spending their time trying to make America succeed?
Where is the Outrage that instead of using their influence to help Americans get out from beneath the crushing weight of the economic collapse, they used it to block The Recovery – for fear that a recovery credited to the Democrats would spell political devastation for the Republican Party for years to come?
Where is the Outrage that they deliberately lied, distorted the truth and misrepresented the facts on issue after issue – for the benefit of their own political interests – and the detriment of ordinary Americans?
Where is the Outrage that their leaders promoted fear . . . anger . . . hatred . . . and divisiveness – instead of offering solutions?
Where is the Outrage that in a time of severe economic crisis for the American people, they decided that it was better to rip this country in two – turning neighbor against neighbor; sister against brother; American against American – rather than bring us together?
Where is the Outrage that they played politics with people’s lives?
Unlike their attempts to hijack public forums by encouraging followers to shout, scream and brandish weapons to intimidate those with opposing viewpoints – there is only one suitable way for you and I to express OUR outrage – and that’s at the voting booth on Tuesday, November 2nd.
Tell them how outraged you are that they chose to ignore the pleas and cries of their fellow Americans in order to further their own political goals.
Tell them with your vote.
Pass it on . . .
Where is the Outrage that they repeatedly said: “No”, “No”, “No” – while over 10,000,000 Americans lost their homes, their jobs, their life savings?
Where is the Outrage that they chose to spend their time trying to make America’s President fail, instead of spending their time trying to make America succeed?
Where is the Outrage that instead of using their influence to help Americans get out from beneath the crushing weight of the economic collapse, they used it to block The Recovery – for fear that a recovery credited to the Democrats would spell political devastation for the Republican Party for years to come?
Where is the Outrage that they deliberately lied, distorted the truth and misrepresented the facts on issue after issue – for the benefit of their own political interests – and the detriment of ordinary Americans?
Where is the Outrage that their leaders promoted fear . . . anger . . . hatred . . . and divisiveness – instead of offering solutions?
Where is the Outrage that in a time of severe economic crisis for the American people, they decided that it was better to rip this country in two – turning neighbor against neighbor; sister against brother; American against American – rather than bring us together?
Where is the Outrage that they played politics with people’s lives?
Unlike their attempts to hijack public forums by encouraging followers to shout, scream and brandish weapons to intimidate those with opposing viewpoints – there is only one suitable way for you and I to express OUR outrage – and that’s at the voting booth on Tuesday, November 2nd.
Tell them how outraged you are that they chose to ignore the pleas and cries of their fellow Americans in order to further their own political goals.
Tell them with your vote.
Pass it on . . .
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Godspeed
For anyone who still believes the claim that Republican obstructionism these past 2 years has been based solely on “fundamental, philosophical differences” – that lie was put to rest this week when Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell stated that, after next Tuesday’s mid-term elections “the single most important thing (Republicans) want to achieve is for Obama to be a one-term President”.
Doesn't it strike you as odd that McConnell did NOT say the Republicans top goal was to “fix the economy” or “help hard-working Americans get back on their feet” or even “create an environment that’s conducive to creating good, new jobs for American workers”?
I'm not making this up. Here’s the news link: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-mcconnell-20101027,0,4005860.story
Perhaps this explains why they blocked virtually every job creation bill, every business development bill, and every stimulus bill since Obama’s election. If that sounds like partisan blabber to you, just Google the terms “GOP blocks” or “Republicans block” and read what comes up on your screen. Or click here for direct links to 31 Bills Republicans have blocked in 2010: http://johnsvor.blogspot.com/2010/10/31-bills-republicans-have-blocked-in.html
After spending the past 2 years doing everything in their power to “make Obama fail”, their new goal for the next 2 years is to “make sure Obama is a one-term President.”
That may make for good (or typical) politics, but what about you and me and 308 million other Americans? Can we afford to wait until the Republicans place another Republican President into the White House before they start doing what is best for us – instead of what is best for them?
There is little argument that it was primarily their policies and actions during the preceding 8 years that led to the greatest economic collapse this country has seen since the Great Depression.
And yet they repeatedly said “No”, “No”, “No” as over 10,000,000 Americans lost their jobs, their homes and their life savings.
Exactly whose best interests are they representing?
Yours? Mine?
It’s time to read between the lines.
Next Tuesday, you get to decide the future of this country for, at least, the next 2 years. Either we have 2 more years of Republican obstructionism and legislative gridlock . . . or . . . we allow President Obama to continue his plan to create jobs and restore the American economy.
You may not like the choice, and it’s yours to make – but one is guaranteed to be a continuation of the last 2 years. The other at least provides hope.
Please vote.
Godspeed.
Doesn't it strike you as odd that McConnell did NOT say the Republicans top goal was to “fix the economy” or “help hard-working Americans get back on their feet” or even “create an environment that’s conducive to creating good, new jobs for American workers”?
I'm not making this up. Here’s the news link: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-mcconnell-20101027,0,4005860.story
Perhaps this explains why they blocked virtually every job creation bill, every business development bill, and every stimulus bill since Obama’s election. If that sounds like partisan blabber to you, just Google the terms “GOP blocks” or “Republicans block” and read what comes up on your screen. Or click here for direct links to 31 Bills Republicans have blocked in 2010: http://johnsvor.blogspot.com/2010/10/31-bills-republicans-have-blocked-in.html
After spending the past 2 years doing everything in their power to “make Obama fail”, their new goal for the next 2 years is to “make sure Obama is a one-term President.”
That may make for good (or typical) politics, but what about you and me and 308 million other Americans? Can we afford to wait until the Republicans place another Republican President into the White House before they start doing what is best for us – instead of what is best for them?
There is little argument that it was primarily their policies and actions during the preceding 8 years that led to the greatest economic collapse this country has seen since the Great Depression.
And yet they repeatedly said “No”, “No”, “No” as over 10,000,000 Americans lost their jobs, their homes and their life savings.
Exactly whose best interests are they representing?
Yours? Mine?
It’s time to read between the lines.
Next Tuesday, you get to decide the future of this country for, at least, the next 2 years. Either we have 2 more years of Republican obstructionism and legislative gridlock . . . or . . . we allow President Obama to continue his plan to create jobs and restore the American economy.
You may not like the choice, and it’s yours to make – but one is guaranteed to be a continuation of the last 2 years. The other at least provides hope.
Please vote.
Godspeed.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Republican TV ad instructs Spanish-speaking Americans NOT to vote
A new television ad created by Republican Political Consultant (Robert DePosada) under the banner of a group calling itself "Latinos for Reform" urges all Spanish-speaking Americans NOT to vote in the upcoming mid-term elections.
It informs viewers that the "only way to send a clear message to Washington is . . . DON'T VOTE"
http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/2010/10/gop_hispanic_front_group_tells.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/10/19/dont-vote-ads-aimed-at-latinos-are-pulled-in-nevada/?mod=google_news_blog
http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk-elections/article/univision-pulls-ads-telling-hispanics-not-to-vote-in-midterms/19680954
Okay, so over the past few weeks we're beginning to get a clearer picture of who the Republicans want to take "their country" back from:
Blacks
Latinos
Hispanics
Asians
Muslims
Jews
Gays and Lesbians
Immigrants (legal and otherwise)
Women
Liberals
Moderates
the poor
the middle-class
Scientists and researchers
did I miss anyone?
It informs viewers that the "only way to send a clear message to Washington is . . . DON'T VOTE"
http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/2010/10/gop_hispanic_front_group_tells.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/10/19/dont-vote-ads-aimed-at-latinos-are-pulled-in-nevada/?mod=google_news_blog
http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk-elections/article/univision-pulls-ads-telling-hispanics-not-to-vote-in-midterms/19680954
Okay, so over the past few weeks we're beginning to get a clearer picture of who the Republicans want to take "their country" back from:
Blacks
Latinos
Hispanics
Asians
Muslims
Jews
Gays and Lesbians
Immigrants (legal and otherwise)
Women
Liberals
Moderates
the poor
the middle-class
Scientists and researchers
did I miss anyone?
Monday, October 18, 2010
Their Country?
They jeered when America’s President was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
They cheered when he failed to win the 2016 Summer Olympics for Chicago.
They sneered when he spoke to students in Cairo – as you and I, and the rest of the world, stood up and applauded.
They urged Americans to keep their kids out of school on the day America’s first minority President spoke to America’s schoolchildren, telling them that if they worked and studied really hard – they, too, could achieve their dreams.
They claimed he was not an American citizen.
They said he was a racist.
They said he was a terrorist – that he wanted to defeat America and turn her over to her enemies.
They said he wanted to kill your grandmother. And kill babies, too.
They said he was a Socialist, or the second coming of Adolph Hitler.
They vowed to do everything in their power to make America’s President fail.
And do you know what they’re saying now?
They’re saying they want “their country” back.
They played politics while Americans suffered.
They repeatedly said “No”, “No”, “No” while tens of millions of Americans lost their homes, their jobs, their life savings.
They promoted fear . . . and anger . . . and lies . . . and hatred.
They call themselves the “Real” Americans. The “True” Patriots. Loyalists.
What do you suppose they call you and me?
And at this very moment, they are making plans to take “their country” back.
They pretend it wasn’t their party who failed to prevent the financial collapse in 2008 – the one that tanked our economy and took over 8,000,000 jobs away from American workers and cost nearly 2,000,000 Americans their homes.
They pretend that it wasn’t them who led America into a $740-billion dollar war with Iraq, based entirely on false pretenses.
They pretend it wasn’t them who ran up a $4.9 trillion dollar budget deficit during the 8 Bush/Cheney years.
And they are demanding that you and I give them “their country” back.
They behaved as if President Obama’s election was an error – instead of a mandate.
They believed the majority of voters who overwhelmingly demanded change from 8 years of Bush-Cheney-Republican policies were disloyal and unpatriotic. And since the election, they’ve done everything in their power to prevent change by blocking nearly every one of President Obama’s stimulus, job creation, and business development bills.
They say they are obstructing the President – trying to make him fail – for your sake, not for theirs.
Do you really believe them?
They have lied, obstructed, distorted – and repeatedly put the interests of their own political party ahead of the interests of American citizens.
In a time of severe economic crisis for the American people, they’ve decided that it is better to rip this country in two – turning neighbor against neighbor; sister against brother; American against American – rather than to bring us together. And they’ve done it for no other reason than that it helps their political prospects and helps raise money for their political party.
And, as you are reading this letter, they are gathering to take “their country” back.
They talk amongst themselves of requiring “purity tests” for those who would govern our country and our citizens. And they brand those who disagree with them as “radicals”, “dangerous”, “disloyal”, “unpatriotic” and “un-American.”
They thrive on anger, hatred and divisiveness. It empowers them. And it emboldens them. (And it should scare the living daylights out of all of us who believe in what our forefathers fought and died for.)
And they are already deciding what changes will be made once they get “their country” back.
They vowed to defeat President Obama and anyone who supported him. They vowed to make him meet his “Waterloo”. And they are still trying.
They gambled that by not participating in solutions – by actually blocking them – they would force the President to fail, and they’d win future votes by prolonging America’s economic crisis and the suffering it has caused – until the next election.
They made the inexcusable political calculation that, under this President, it is more important to obstruct than it is to help ordinary citizens out of America’s worst economic disaster in 75 years.
And on Tuesday, November 2nd, they’re coming to take “their country” back.
Only one question remains:
Will you let them?
Will you let them continue to block every attempt at helping Americans recover from the economic meltdown – the one they helped create – the one that occurred on their watch, well before President Obama was even elected?
Will you let them continue to hold The Recovery hostage until they can install another Republican President in the White House?
Will you let them restore the policies that led to the greatest economic collapse this country has seen since the Great Depression?
Will you let them continue to play politics with people’s lives?
For the Republicans, the upcoming mid-term elections are about one thing, and one thing only – preventing President Obama from bringing the change you and the rest of America voted for. It’s about making him fail. And it’s about regaining control of The White House so they can go back to the 8 years of Republican policies that nearly bankrupted this country.
What it’s clearly not about, in their eyes, is you and me and the lives of 308 million other Americans.
If you agree with what they’re saying – with what they’re doing – then you don’t have to do a thing, because on November 2nd they will put a permanent end to the change we all voted for.
But if you think what they’re doing is wrong, then you and I must do everything we can to stop them – and we must act NOW – before it’s too late.
You and I can stop them, but we don’t have much time.
Here’s what we can – and must – do:
1) We must vote to defeat them, and their obstructionist ways, on Tuesday, November 2nd
2) We must talk with our friends, co-workers, family members and neighbors and ensure they vote
3) We must get the message out to others who may have been caught up in the lies, the fear and the distortion tactics propagated by the Republican Party, The Republican-funded Tea Party and The Republican Media
4) We must volunteer our time; donate where we can; knock on doors; write letters to newspapers; anything and everything we can think of
When President Obama was elected by an overwhelming majority, the message seemed pretty clear – America needed and wanted change. But the Republican Party apparently didn’t hear that message – or didn’t want to – because they have spent the past 20 months blocking virtually every economic stimulus bill, job-creation bill, and business development bill that crossed their path. They’ve made it perfectly clear that the only way to get the change America voted for, is to throw the Republican obstructionists out so President Obama can take the steps that are necessary to move the recovery, and America, forward.
And it starts with you and me – and everyone else who voted for change.
As President Obama said not so long ago, “I don’t quit, just because it’s hard”.
We don’t either.
Sincerely,
John P. Epstein
American
P.S. – The Republicans figured that, by working in lock-step to block change, they would break our spirit, crush our convictions, and leave us disillusioned. It almost worked. Now we must show them that America will not be held hostage or brought to her knees simply for their own political gain. And the way to do that is by exposing the Republican Party’s hypocrisy and their self-serving lies, and defeating them in November. Please get this message out to others – while there is still time – and make certain you vote on Tuesday, November 2nd. Bring a friend to the polls with you. If you can, bring a dozen.
If you believe America is YOUR country . . .
. . . get involved . . . and vote on Tuesday, November 2nd
PASS IT ON . . .
They cheered when he failed to win the 2016 Summer Olympics for Chicago.
They sneered when he spoke to students in Cairo – as you and I, and the rest of the world, stood up and applauded.
They urged Americans to keep their kids out of school on the day America’s first minority President spoke to America’s schoolchildren, telling them that if they worked and studied really hard – they, too, could achieve their dreams.
They claimed he was not an American citizen.
They said he was a racist.
They said he was a terrorist – that he wanted to defeat America and turn her over to her enemies.
They said he wanted to kill your grandmother. And kill babies, too.
They said he was a Socialist, or the second coming of Adolph Hitler.
They vowed to do everything in their power to make America’s President fail.
And do you know what they’re saying now?
They’re saying they want “their country” back.
They played politics while Americans suffered.
They repeatedly said “No”, “No”, “No” while tens of millions of Americans lost their homes, their jobs, their life savings.
They promoted fear . . . and anger . . . and lies . . . and hatred.
They call themselves the “Real” Americans. The “True” Patriots. Loyalists.
What do you suppose they call you and me?
And at this very moment, they are making plans to take “their country” back.
They pretend it wasn’t their party who failed to prevent the financial collapse in 2008 – the one that tanked our economy and took over 8,000,000 jobs away from American workers and cost nearly 2,000,000 Americans their homes.
They pretend that it wasn’t them who led America into a $740-billion dollar war with Iraq, based entirely on false pretenses.
They pretend it wasn’t them who ran up a $4.9 trillion dollar budget deficit during the 8 Bush/Cheney years.
And they are demanding that you and I give them “their country” back.
They behaved as if President Obama’s election was an error – instead of a mandate.
They believed the majority of voters who overwhelmingly demanded change from 8 years of Bush-Cheney-Republican policies were disloyal and unpatriotic. And since the election, they’ve done everything in their power to prevent change by blocking nearly every one of President Obama’s stimulus, job creation, and business development bills.
They say they are obstructing the President – trying to make him fail – for your sake, not for theirs.
Do you really believe them?
They have lied, obstructed, distorted – and repeatedly put the interests of their own political party ahead of the interests of American citizens.
In a time of severe economic crisis for the American people, they’ve decided that it is better to rip this country in two – turning neighbor against neighbor; sister against brother; American against American – rather than to bring us together. And they’ve done it for no other reason than that it helps their political prospects and helps raise money for their political party.
And, as you are reading this letter, they are gathering to take “their country” back.
They talk amongst themselves of requiring “purity tests” for those who would govern our country and our citizens. And they brand those who disagree with them as “radicals”, “dangerous”, “disloyal”, “unpatriotic” and “un-American.”
They thrive on anger, hatred and divisiveness. It empowers them. And it emboldens them. (And it should scare the living daylights out of all of us who believe in what our forefathers fought and died for.)
And they are already deciding what changes will be made once they get “their country” back.
They vowed to defeat President Obama and anyone who supported him. They vowed to make him meet his “Waterloo”. And they are still trying.
They gambled that by not participating in solutions – by actually blocking them – they would force the President to fail, and they’d win future votes by prolonging America’s economic crisis and the suffering it has caused – until the next election.
They made the inexcusable political calculation that, under this President, it is more important to obstruct than it is to help ordinary citizens out of America’s worst economic disaster in 75 years.
And on Tuesday, November 2nd, they’re coming to take “their country” back.
Only one question remains:
Will you let them?
Will you let them continue to block every attempt at helping Americans recover from the economic meltdown – the one they helped create – the one that occurred on their watch, well before President Obama was even elected?
Will you let them continue to hold The Recovery hostage until they can install another Republican President in the White House?
Will you let them restore the policies that led to the greatest economic collapse this country has seen since the Great Depression?
Will you let them continue to play politics with people’s lives?
For the Republicans, the upcoming mid-term elections are about one thing, and one thing only – preventing President Obama from bringing the change you and the rest of America voted for. It’s about making him fail. And it’s about regaining control of The White House so they can go back to the 8 years of Republican policies that nearly bankrupted this country.
What it’s clearly not about, in their eyes, is you and me and the lives of 308 million other Americans.
If you agree with what they’re saying – with what they’re doing – then you don’t have to do a thing, because on November 2nd they will put a permanent end to the change we all voted for.
But if you think what they’re doing is wrong, then you and I must do everything we can to stop them – and we must act NOW – before it’s too late.
You and I can stop them, but we don’t have much time.
Here’s what we can – and must – do:
1) We must vote to defeat them, and their obstructionist ways, on Tuesday, November 2nd
2) We must talk with our friends, co-workers, family members and neighbors and ensure they vote
3) We must get the message out to others who may have been caught up in the lies, the fear and the distortion tactics propagated by the Republican Party, The Republican-funded Tea Party and The Republican Media
4) We must volunteer our time; donate where we can; knock on doors; write letters to newspapers; anything and everything we can think of
When President Obama was elected by an overwhelming majority, the message seemed pretty clear – America needed and wanted change. But the Republican Party apparently didn’t hear that message – or didn’t want to – because they have spent the past 20 months blocking virtually every economic stimulus bill, job-creation bill, and business development bill that crossed their path. They’ve made it perfectly clear that the only way to get the change America voted for, is to throw the Republican obstructionists out so President Obama can take the steps that are necessary to move the recovery, and America, forward.
And it starts with you and me – and everyone else who voted for change.
As President Obama said not so long ago, “I don’t quit, just because it’s hard”.
We don’t either.
Sincerely,
John P. Epstein
American
P.S. – The Republicans figured that, by working in lock-step to block change, they would break our spirit, crush our convictions, and leave us disillusioned. It almost worked. Now we must show them that America will not be held hostage or brought to her knees simply for their own political gain. And the way to do that is by exposing the Republican Party’s hypocrisy and their self-serving lies, and defeating them in November. Please get this message out to others – while there is still time – and make certain you vote on Tuesday, November 2nd. Bring a friend to the polls with you. If you can, bring a dozen.
If you believe America is YOUR country . . .
. . . get involved . . . and vote on Tuesday, November 2nd
PASS IT ON . . .
Saturday, October 9, 2010
31 Bills Republicans Have Blocked in 2010
By the time President Obama was sworn into office in January 2009, America was losing 600,000 jobs a month. Within 6 months of passing the Economic Stimulus Bill (which was opposed by every single House Republican and all but 3 Senate Republicans), those job losses were reduced by two-thirds.
That was a good start.
Yet, despite the marked improvement, Republicans continued to block dozens of job creation, business and economic development, and consumer protection bills right through September of 2010, stalling the recovery.
You have every right to ask why. Did they want Obama to fail due to philosophical differences? Or was it because, as the ones who were most responsible for the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression, they knew that economic recovery credited to the Democrats would spell political devastation for the Republican Party for years to come?
Why did they choose to spend their time doing everything they could to make the President fail, instead of spending their time trying to make America succeed?
Whose side are they really on?
Here is a partial listing of journalistic news reports from (primarily) mainstream news sources of Bills the Republicans Have Blocked – or attempted to block -- during the past 20 months. These are the actual article headlines. I’ve provided several media links to confirm and verify the accuracy of each article.
It’s an eye-opener.
John
UPDATE: October 2012
Bob Cesca releases article on Huffington Post reiterating, and expanding upon, much of the above.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/republicans-filibuster-ev_b_2018663.html
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/senate-republicans-block-small-business-aid-bill/19572912/
Republicans Block Unemployment Benefits Extension
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/natInt/story.aspx?storyid=109570&catid=288
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/07/gop_brown_vote.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/25/nation/la-na-jobless-vote-20100625
Republicans Block Bank-Reform Bill
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/democrats-reach-deal-on-tough-derivative-law-2010-04-26
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63Q5CR20100427
Republicans Block Campaign Disclosure Bill
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/07/republicans_blo.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66Q65I20100727
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38434903
Republicans Block Jobs Bill in Senate
http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/small-business-jobs-bill-stalls-in-senate/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012485381_congress30.html
GOP Blocks Transparency in Campaign Contributions
http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/gop-blocks-transparency-in-campaign-contributions/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100727/pl_mcclatchy/3578774
Republicans block bill ending tax breaks for US companies sending jobs offshore
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/28/AR2010092802768.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2821013620100928
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20017896-503544.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gjFU-ZOgeJNcMKBh9YdqcUyzXUPQ?docId=CNG.df9e6a188a034ac23300ab0760b91861.ad1
Republicans Block Bill to Raise Oil Spill Liability Cap
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20005333-503544.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/14/nation/la-na-oil-spill-new-20100514
http://thenorthcoast.blogspot.com/2010/06/republicans-block-bill-to-raise-oil.html
Republicans Block Wall Street Reform Bill
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/94485-gop-blocks-wall-st-bill
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8644952.stm
GOP blocks Senate campaign-finance bill – again
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/09/senate-campaign-finance/1
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2323068220100923
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Election-2010/From-the-Wires/2010/0924/Campaign-finance-Republicans-block-bill-to-identify-ad-sponsors
Republicans Block Small Business Lending Bill
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-29/senate-republicans-block-small-business-lending-bill-sought-by-democrats.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38469644/ns/business-small_business/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100729/ap_on_bi_ge/us_small_business_lending
Republicans Block Repeal of Military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/21/republicans-block-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal/
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grHLcTA5VMaxM1KPtvrf3OTOfZuQD9ICK7K00
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-vote-repeal-ban-gays-military/story?id=11685658
Senate Republicans Block Own Amendments on Health Care Bill
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/how-senate-republicans-obstruct-health-care
Republicans Block Energy Legislation…Yet Again
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/08/04/republicans-block-energy-legislation-yet-again/
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66H1BS20100718
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2267599/senate-blocks-energy-bill-yet
G.O.P. Blocks Debate on Financial Oversight Bill
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/g-o-p-blocks-debate-on-financial-oversight-bill/
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/business/27regulate.html
http://worldjewishnews.blogspot.com/2010/04/gop-blocks-debate-on-financial.html
Republicans Kill Measure That Created 240,000 Jobs
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/09/30/republicans-kill-measure-that-created-240000-jobs/
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-09-30/business/24103870_1_jobs-program-summer-jobs-subsidized-employment
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/09/job-99ers-tanf-senate
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/30/if-we-re-serious-about-jobs-don-t-stop-job-creation
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/4/906979/-Republicans-kill-jobs
Senate Republicans block Dems' effort to pass mine safety bill
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/worker-safety/121457-senate-republicans-block-dems-effort-to-pass-mine-safety-bill
GOP Pledges to Block Immigration Reform
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/04/25/GOP-pledges-to-block-immigration-bill-push/UPI-56291272231701/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/01/AR2010070100388.html
Republicans Block Democrats’ Efforts to Hold BP Accountable
http://ynative77.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/republicans-block-democrats-efforts-to-hold-bp-accountable-gop-leaving-taxpayers-on-the-hook-for-bailing-out-bp-may-18-2010/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20007511-503544.html
Senate Republicans Block Two Bills to Spur Renewable Energy Investment
http://www.grist.org/article/no-renewal-for-renewables/
House Republicans Block Medical Help for 9/11 Heroes
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20012217-503544.html
http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/07/30/house-republicans-block-medical-help-for-911-heroes/
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/nyregion/30zadroga.html
GOP blocks small business bill. Who will get the blame?
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/07/dems_will_get_blamed_for_gop_o.html?hpid=sec-politics
GOP Blocks Financial Reform As Millions Lose Homes
http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5875/gop_blocks_financial_reform_as_millions_lose_homes/
GOP Blocks Small Biz Bill
http://www.phillytrib.com/tribune/newsheadlines/14208-gop-blocks-small-biz-bill.html
http://wwj.cbslocal.com/2010/07/30/republicans-block-small-biz-lending-bill/
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-09-15/politics/obama.economic.relief_1_tax-cuts-small-business-gop-sens?_s=PM:POLITICS
Senate Republicans Kill Renewable Energy and Job Creation Bill
http://solveclimate.com/blog/20080610/senate-republicans-kill-renewable-energy-and-job-creation-bill-wheres-mccain
http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/09/15/who-killed-the-energy-and-climate-bill.html
Republicans Block US Senate Committees From Holding Hearings
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/03/24/GOP-blocks-Senate-committee-meetings/UPI-88161269468743/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/24/gop-blocks-senate-actions/
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/republicans-block-senate-committees-holding-hearings/
Senate Republicans Promise To Oppose Tax Cuts If Wealthy Aren't Included
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/mcconnell-every-senate-re_n_714739.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/senate-poised-for-highsta_n_714766.html
Senate Republicans Kill Job-Creating Tax Cuts
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=11232
GOP Blocks 20 Judicial Nominees
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Obama-getting-fewest-judges-confirmed-since-Nixon--102306839.html
http://blog.pfaw.org/content/gop-blocks-20-judicial-nominees-rebuffs-goodwin-liu-again
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202471710311
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/opinion/23thu2.html?th&emc=th
GOP Blocks Freeze on Credit Card Interest Rate Hikes
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/gop-blocks-freeze-on-cred_n_362787.html
How Many Jobs Can Republicans Kill This Week?
https://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=326871&
Here’s one they’ve decided to support:
GOP has No Problem Extending Tax Cuts for the Rich
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/13/AR2010071305391.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68B1SH20100913
Is there any question where their allegiances really lay?
That was a good start.
Yet, despite the marked improvement, Republicans continued to block dozens of job creation, business and economic development, and consumer protection bills right through September of 2010, stalling the recovery.
You have every right to ask why. Did they want Obama to fail due to philosophical differences? Or was it because, as the ones who were most responsible for the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression, they knew that economic recovery credited to the Democrats would spell political devastation for the Republican Party for years to come?
Why did they choose to spend their time doing everything they could to make the President fail, instead of spending their time trying to make America succeed?
Whose side are they really on?
Here is a partial listing of journalistic news reports from (primarily) mainstream news sources of Bills the Republicans Have Blocked – or attempted to block -- during the past 20 months. These are the actual article headlines. I’ve provided several media links to confirm and verify the accuracy of each article.
It’s an eye-opener.
John
Republican obstructionism . . . is based on the idea that the failure not just of President Obama but of American society itself is the G.O.P.’s quickest ticket back to power.
Bob Herbert New York Times 9/10/2010
UPDATE: October 2012
Bob Cesca releases article on Huffington Post reiterating, and expanding upon, much of the above.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/republicans-filibuster-ev_b_2018663.html
Republicans Block Bill to Aid Small Businesses
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/us/politics/30cong.html http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/senate-republicans-block-small-business-aid-bill/19572912/
Republicans Block Unemployment Benefits Extension
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/natInt/story.aspx?storyid=109570&catid=288
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/07/gop_brown_vote.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/25/nation/la-na-jobless-vote-20100625
Republicans Block Bank-Reform Bill
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/democrats-reach-deal-on-tough-derivative-law-2010-04-26
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63Q5CR20100427
Republicans Block Campaign Disclosure Bill
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/07/republicans_blo.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66Q65I20100727
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38434903
Republicans Block Jobs Bill in Senate
http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/small-business-jobs-bill-stalls-in-senate/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012485381_congress30.html
GOP Blocks Transparency in Campaign Contributions
http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/gop-blocks-transparency-in-campaign-contributions/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100727/pl_mcclatchy/3578774
Republicans block bill ending tax breaks for US companies sending jobs offshore
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/28/AR2010092802768.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2821013620100928
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20017896-503544.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gjFU-ZOgeJNcMKBh9YdqcUyzXUPQ?docId=CNG.df9e6a188a034ac23300ab0760b91861.ad1
Republicans Block Bill to Raise Oil Spill Liability Cap
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20005333-503544.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/14/nation/la-na-oil-spill-new-20100514
http://thenorthcoast.blogspot.com/2010/06/republicans-block-bill-to-raise-oil.html
Republicans Block Wall Street Reform Bill
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/94485-gop-blocks-wall-st-bill
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8644952.stm
GOP blocks Senate campaign-finance bill – again
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/09/senate-campaign-finance/1
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2323068220100923
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Election-2010/From-the-Wires/2010/0924/Campaign-finance-Republicans-block-bill-to-identify-ad-sponsors
Republicans Block Small Business Lending Bill
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-29/senate-republicans-block-small-business-lending-bill-sought-by-democrats.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38469644/ns/business-small_business/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100729/ap_on_bi_ge/us_small_business_lending
Republicans Block Repeal of Military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/21/republicans-block-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal/
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grHLcTA5VMaxM1KPtvrf3OTOfZuQD9ICK7K00
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-vote-repeal-ban-gays-military/story?id=11685658
Senate Republicans Block Own Amendments on Health Care Bill
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/how-senate-republicans-obstruct-health-care
Republicans Block Energy Legislation…Yet Again
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/08/04/republicans-block-energy-legislation-yet-again/
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66H1BS20100718
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2267599/senate-blocks-energy-bill-yet
G.O.P. Blocks Debate on Financial Oversight Bill
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/g-o-p-blocks-debate-on-financial-oversight-bill/
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/business/27regulate.html
http://worldjewishnews.blogspot.com/2010/04/gop-blocks-debate-on-financial.html
Republicans Kill Measure That Created 240,000 Jobs
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/09/30/republicans-kill-measure-that-created-240000-jobs/
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-09-30/business/24103870_1_jobs-program-summer-jobs-subsidized-employment
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/09/job-99ers-tanf-senate
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/30/if-we-re-serious-about-jobs-don-t-stop-job-creation
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/4/906979/-Republicans-kill-jobs
Senate Republicans block Dems' effort to pass mine safety bill
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/worker-safety/121457-senate-republicans-block-dems-effort-to-pass-mine-safety-bill
GOP Pledges to Block Immigration Reform
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/04/25/GOP-pledges-to-block-immigration-bill-push/UPI-56291272231701/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/01/AR2010070100388.html
Republicans Block Democrats’ Efforts to Hold BP Accountable
http://ynative77.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/republicans-block-democrats-efforts-to-hold-bp-accountable-gop-leaving-taxpayers-on-the-hook-for-bailing-out-bp-may-18-2010/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20007511-503544.html
Senate Republicans Block Two Bills to Spur Renewable Energy Investment
http://www.grist.org/article/no-renewal-for-renewables/
House Republicans Block Medical Help for 9/11 Heroes
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20012217-503544.html
http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/07/30/house-republicans-block-medical-help-for-911-heroes/
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/nyregion/30zadroga.html
GOP blocks small business bill. Who will get the blame?
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/07/dems_will_get_blamed_for_gop_o.html?hpid=sec-politics
GOP Blocks Financial Reform As Millions Lose Homes
http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5875/gop_blocks_financial_reform_as_millions_lose_homes/
GOP Blocks Small Biz Bill
http://www.phillytrib.com/tribune/newsheadlines/14208-gop-blocks-small-biz-bill.html
http://wwj.cbslocal.com/2010/07/30/republicans-block-small-biz-lending-bill/
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-09-15/politics/obama.economic.relief_1_tax-cuts-small-business-gop-sens?_s=PM:POLITICS
Senate Republicans Kill Renewable Energy and Job Creation Bill
http://solveclimate.com/blog/20080610/senate-republicans-kill-renewable-energy-and-job-creation-bill-wheres-mccain
http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/09/15/who-killed-the-energy-and-climate-bill.html
Republicans Block US Senate Committees From Holding Hearings
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/03/24/GOP-blocks-Senate-committee-meetings/UPI-88161269468743/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/24/gop-blocks-senate-actions/
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/republicans-block-senate-committees-holding-hearings/
Senate Republicans Promise To Oppose Tax Cuts If Wealthy Aren't Included
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/mcconnell-every-senate-re_n_714739.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/senate-poised-for-highsta_n_714766.html
Senate Republicans Kill Job-Creating Tax Cuts
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=11232
GOP Blocks 20 Judicial Nominees
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Obama-getting-fewest-judges-confirmed-since-Nixon--102306839.html
http://blog.pfaw.org/content/gop-blocks-20-judicial-nominees-rebuffs-goodwin-liu-again
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202471710311
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/opinion/23thu2.html?th&emc=th
GOP Blocks Freeze on Credit Card Interest Rate Hikes
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/gop-blocks-freeze-on-cred_n_362787.html
How Many Jobs Can Republicans Kill This Week?
https://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=326871&
Here’s one they’ve decided to support:
GOP has No Problem Extending Tax Cuts for the Rich
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/13/AR2010071305391.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68B1SH20100913
Is there any question where their allegiances really lay?
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