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Obama Stimulus Is Good Politics, Bad Economics

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 2, 2009 12:37 PM CST

(Newser) – Just days ago, President Obama said it was time for “tough choices,” but Obama himself hasn’t made the tough choices on his stimulus package, Robert Samuelson writes in the Washington Post. Obama could have opted to bolster the economy, or he could have tried to pursue a political agenda; instead, he’s done both, in a move that’s “politically shrewd and economically suspect.”

Obama can only get away with such a huge package because the economy is in crisis, so the stimulus ought to be aimed at abruptly stopping the downward spiral. It isn’t. Only 21% of the stimulus would hit the economy this year. An additional 44% would land in 2010; the rest would take even longer, and some may not even work. “There were tough choices to be made,” Samuelson concludes, “and Obama ducked them.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

Republican senators explain their opposition to President Obama's financial stimulus package during a news conference at the Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Obama speaks before signing an executive order dealing with the Middle Class Working Families Taskforce, Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, in the East Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

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The immediate need is for the stimulus package to stimulate—now. It needs to be front-loaded; it isn't. - Robert J. Samuelson

The president's claims of bipartisanship were mostly a sham, as he skillfully maneuvered Republicans into a no-win position: Either support a Democratic program, or seem passive and uncaring. - Robert J. Samuelson

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 3 comments

Guest

Feb 3, 2009 2:36 AM CST

The building is trashed and no one has any experience fixing it. However, we ought to try and not just sit around. We also should not do what the last guy did since the result was the building being trashed.

Guest

Feb 2, 2009 10:19 PM CST

No such thing as bad economics, good politics. If the thing fails, down will go the Dems. Good economics = good politics, and the Dems MUST understand that.

Guest

Feb 2, 2009 7:19 PM CST

If Bush's liberal economic policies got us into this mess, then how will Obama's extreme liberal economic policies make it better? Its like saying that we are poisoned, so lets take more poison to see if we get better...

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Obama Stimulus Is Good Politics, Bad Economics

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

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