In a 60 Minutes interview that included Obama passing the buck for his botched reaction to the growing ISIS terrorist threat, it was another remark that caught the attention of retired Army Lt. Col. Allen West.
The former Republican congressman explained on his blog Thursday that Obama cavalierly asserted the nation is better off than it was prior to his 2008 election. In response, West pointed out several empirical facts he feels disprove that contention.
“We are at an all-time low for the workforce participation rate,” he wrote. “Poverty has increased and food stamp recipients are up from 31 million to 47 million. Home ownership is down and gas prices are still high compared to the $1.89 when he came into office.”
West also criticized the increased role of the Federal Reserve during Obama’s tenure, noting the nation’s debt has jumped by nearly $7 trillion since his inauguration. To combat this runaway spending, he wrote, the Fed continues to print more money and, in turn, usher in inflation.
As Obama prepared for a speech at Northwestern University being billed as a discussion of the U.S. economy, West contrasted what the president likely would say with what the American people deserve to hear.
“The discussion has to be about tax, regulatory, government, and monetary reforms that reignite a free market economic explosion,” he wrote “—instead we have a government spending-driven economy. Instead of Obama attacking private sector businesses with increased taxation and regulations, forcing more to escape his economic tyranny, he should advance reforms that enable the captains of industry to produce and manufacture more right here.”
West lambasted Obama’s energy policy, which he said includes preventing private entities from exploring new resources. Furthermore, he cited healthcare failures, the spread of disease throughout the U.S., the border crisis, and the rise in terrorist threats around the world.
“No B. Hussein,” West concluded, “we’re not better off than we were six years ago – and sadly we still have two more years of you. Go ahead and make your speech at Northwestern University, because everyone other than your kool-aid drinking progressive socialist acolytes ain’t listening to your lies anymore.”