"It's not our fault" says Obama regarding Solyndra

[FCTP]

SAY WHAT????

Obama Plays Blame Game on Solyndra – “But Understand: This Was Not Our Program, Per Se”

While on Four State Energy Excuses Tour, President Gets it Backward on Solyndra and Keystone, Claiming Credit for Approval of Southern Portion of Keystone Pipeline While Blaming Others for Solyndra – Washington Post Calls Out Obama for Solyndra Remarks

 

During a four state public relations blitz this week, President Obama sat down for an interview with American Public Media’s Marketplace and gave a stunning response when asked about Solyndra, stating, “Obviously, we wish Solyndra hadn't gone bankrupt. Part of the reason they did was because the Chinese were subsidizing their solar industry and flooding the market in ways that Solyndra couldn't compete. But understand: This was not our program, per se.”

While the president claims he’s not responsible for Solyndra, the facts say otherwise. After the Solyndra loan guarantee was rejected in the waning days of the Bush administration, it was quickly placed back on the fast track shortly after President Obama’s inauguration. Despite repeated warnings from OMB and DOE experts, Solyndra’s loan guarantee approval was rushed through. When the warnings of failure by the DOE and OMB experts came true and Solyndra was out of cash in the autumn of 2010, the Obama administration doubled down on their bad bet, restructuring Solyndra’s loan in early 2011 and putting wealthy investors at the front of the line ahead of taxpayers. As they say, the rest is history, and taxpayers are now on the hook for half a billion dollars.

Obama could not fool ABC News, which reported Thursday, “Obama mischaracterizes congressional support for the program, however. The loan to Solyndra was not part of a program developed by both Republicans and Democrats. Rather, it was entirely funded through the 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which did not receive any GOP votes.”

ABC News also reminded the public that the president took credit for Solyndra’s success when visiting the plant, reporting, “During a May 2010 visit to Solyndra, Obama explicitly credited the Recovery Act with supporting the company’s early success. ‘Less than a year ago, we were standing on what was an empty lot,’ Obama said at the time. ‘But through the Recovery Act, this company received a loan to expand its operations. This new factory is the result of those loans.’”

The Washington Post Fact Checker weighed in on Friday, writing, “We find it hard to believe that any reasonable person could interpret Obama’s remarks this week as anything but a distinct effort to put the blame for Solyndra in some one else’s pocket. The president should accept responsibility, not shirk it.”

President Obama's revisionist history did not stop with Solyndra. While trying to shift blame away from himself on Solyndra, he was simultaneously attempting to secure undue credit for the popular Keystone XL pipeline. Just hours after making the comments to American Public Media, President Obama made public remarks that sought credit for approving and expediting the southern leg of the Keystone Pipeline during a visit to Cushing, Oklahoma. Conveniently, the president did not emphasize to the crowd that he delayed and eventually rejected the necessary permit for the entire Keystone XL pipeline to be constructed. The truth is, the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline is being constructed in spite of President Obama – not because of him.

Republican Solutions: The American Energy Initiative
In contrast to the president’s efforts to divert blame and claim credit, House Republicans have put forward real solutions – pursuing a comprehensive all-of-the-above energy plan that includes increased production here at home balanced with imports from our northern friends in Canada. Under the American Energy Initiative, the House has passed a number of legislative solutions to strengthen America’s energy security; to date, Senate Democrats have refused to approve any of these bills.

This ongoing effort embraces a true all-of-the-above approach and is focused on solutions to increase all forms of American energy and stop harmful government policies that are driving up prices.

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Energy & Commerce Online | Press Release Permalink

[Steven D.Upshaw]

That is right Pat but you have got to take in the thoughts of the spoon fed.

[Patricia M. McBride]

Amanda, I agree with you that they are probably thinking come November, we will have someone who is at least more interested in creating jobs and getting the economy moving again, and the pipeline would be high on my list for doing that as it creates many really good jobs and could be the beginning of lowering gas prices.  Nice if they would finish the short stretch of line between Alaska as well for natural gas.  Don't you believe sending the folks in the middle east a message that we are actually getting serious about energy independence, would lower prices and then, we would need to do exactly that including alternate sources (in a serious and meaningful way while using our own oil and natural gas to bridge the gap between the 2).

[Steven D.Upshaw]

Sorry Patricia I screwed that up.

[Patricia M. McBride]

Steven, himself may have to do something because his numbers are in the tank and heaven only knows, since this is and always was all about him, he may be forced to do something about the pipeline to save his butt (but he will be very angry if he has to back down on his beliefs and ideology).  There is a rumor he will open up the reserves about October which would give a very short period of lowering gas prices which he would of course use to further or improve his political stand just before the election (but that would be fool hardy since the reserves are there in case of an emergency and Obama getting re-elected could not exactly be called that.......). 

[Steven D.Upshaw]

Pat, I hope you do not that Irefer to you as Pat. That is my point exactly.

[Steven D.Upshaw]

Amanda, My thoughts are if the Canadians start building the northern leg of that pipeline through Canada to their coast then we have lost it. What strikes me as kind of fishy is that the southern part of this pipeline was approved buy the powers that be. It cost alot of money to build a pipeline of that size and without a need the investors would not attempt it. What I am saying is that there maybe political implications. It is an election year and the President needs to create jobs which is good unless he promised grants and subsidies that would relieve the investors of any cost. That would put the cost of building that pipeline in the laps of the tax payers. What also strikes me as odd is the fact that they refused the northern leg for environmental reasons yet the longest leg of that pipeline is from Ok. to the Texas gulf coast. That means that the largest chance of enviromental impact is from Ok. to the gulf. Do you get my drift?

[Patricia M. McBride]

Yes Stephen, it as pretty obvious those who were there in person for his speech weren't impressed, and sadly, I don't think Obama cared.  He was there to speak to those who were watching him on TV and didn't know he had nothing to do with it and wasn't needed for the pipeline to finish going through.  He really is the biggest phony I think we have ever had.  And it is daily these days and there are some folks who are holding him accountable, but it sure isn't the national media!

[amanda choate]

Steven, so there must be some certainty that the northern portion will be built,right? They wouldn't spend all that money if not.

[Steven D.Upshaw]

That is correct Amanda, and there are existing piplines that run from those tank farms to the gulf coast now. Without the additional supply of oil comming from the Canadian reserve there is no need for another pipeline.

[amanda choate]

The pipeline goes from Cushing, Ok. to refineries on the Texas Gulf coast. Cushing is where oil purchased on the futures market is stored. Huge tank farms.