Obama on Earmark Reform

Like he would dare go against the Democratic Congressional leadership! He know has adopted the theory that most earmarks are good, just like it is a signof leadership not to pay your income tax.

Sadly, this is so true, Mario.

You are right, Mario. It doesn't seem like the facts make much of a difference. If you have the right audience you can pretty much get away saying anything you want. Keep on shining the light.

So there isn't any controversy about the fact that Obama told us that: (1) he would ban all earmarks from the stimulus package (from your article); (2) the package was put together "without earmarks OR THE USUAL PORK BARREL SPENDING;" (3) the plan would be implemented with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability; (4) the money would be carefully spent; (5) a team of managers would insure that the "precious dollars" we are spending will be spent wisely and well; and (6) he expected the American people to hold his administration accountable for the results.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfKTfClo5y8

I'm not defending Hannity, but maybe now is not a good time to encourage people to dredge up youtube videos showing exactly what Obama did say.

Kelly is right. I've seen the YouTube videos myself. In one of the campaign videos, he said he would reduce earmarks. In an interview he said he would like to see them eliminated. Then, yes, in January he said, "“We will ban all earmarks in the recovery package and I describe earmarks as the process by which individual members insert pet projects without review.”

He also said he wanted transparency and accountability.

You don't think there were earmarks - as defined as pet projects not reviewed...by whom I wonder? At our Cincinnati Tea Party we were livid to find out that some Democratic idiot begged for and got 1.85 million for a streetcar that will go for 4 blocks in our downtown. Once in place, that stupid streetcar would have to haul 200 people per hour 12 hours per day to break even. Sounds a lot like our subway that was started 80 years ago and never finished...and took 40 years to pay for. Conservatives in the area who really care about the economy don't want such foolishness. And I'll bet the same is true for lots ot the "pet projects" that were dumped into that spending bill that Obama laughingly calls a recovery bill.

Obama needs to learn to go slowly and find out what's what before barging ahead. Kind of like Congress needs to learn the same thing. This AIG thing is their fault and they need to take responsibility for it and get over their stupidness.

Linda, do you have any proof to back those statements? Kelly, the earmarks that were just passed were from last year's budget. Obama has not gone against his statements. It's good to read the news and not listen to Fox lies.

The whole earmark controversy was invented by the Republicans to divert the attention from their abysmal record of financial failure. Remember, the 2005 budget, which was created during a Republican administration with both houses of Congress, contained 18000 earmarks, and George Bush blithely signed it (not that he vetoed any spending measure while Republicans were in control).

And the last budget package, with 9000 earmarks, was created, and should have been signed last year, was created by the Bush administration too.

I agree that there should be more accountablity, and that President Obama should be more circumspect in his evaluation of necessary spending.

So true, Mario. And the conservative machine has a few people working full time here on gather and elsewhere, too. Check the pattern of some of their posts, and you will see they are methodically posting material with the same aim.

Official Republicans are being very quiet on this because very large $$$$$$$ of the earmarks are for Republicans.

If any Republican is complaining, It would be McCain, but every other Arizona Representative and Arizona's other SEnator has no shame about earmarks.

Marilyn is on Social Security Disability or SSI and Medicare. Pure socialists programs according to her.

She cannot and does not actually 'discuss" anything

She posts what ever she deems will generate comments to illegally supplement her income.

An unusually large number of the "Conservative" posters and commentors here on gather are also on SSI, or Social Security Disability and of course government paid medical care.

Yet they rant and on promoting the Republican/Conservative/Capitalist Viewpoint.

Anti-Socialist they say they are.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA