You're watching...
Washington Examiner writer Michael Barone offers his take on Obama’s jobs plan and what the President’s next move should be.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Well thanks for dornin is there's what -- have the top of the stack it it seems like one of those topics that we all agree on let's get the economy moving.
So we can get millions of our fellow citizens families neighbors back to work.
We also know the government cannot read jobs -- can assist the private sector.
And if it does how has the best way to do it.
But with a presidential election about a year away our President Obama and congress really trying to help or they just caught up in gaining a political advantage over each other.
Joining me -- Washington examiner senior political analyst Fox News contributor Michael Barone Michael.
That this is it seems so transparent to me that this is political set up.
By the president his jobs bill did that the Republicans vote for it we increase our debt we increase taxes we -- the economy.
If they don't -- vote for it.
Then there obstructionists.
Well I think that's the argument the president mystery to me it is -- speed access session of congress and subsequent campaigns like.
Appearances.
That he's made doors intending to make room country.
I don't think it's gonna go very far with the American people mean basically what president Obama's advocated -- amounts to stimulus to.
We're talking about more aid to state and local governments of course there are many who believe that's just -- political pay off to the public employee unions who.
-- among these gave Democrats 400 million dollars in 2008.
We were told we're gonna have more infrastructure and this time it's really going to be shovel ready well the president Davis we'll talk about what's really shovel ready not long ago impromptu moment.
And the fact is you don't really have much that shovel ready we are talking about infrastructure talking about jobs 235 years hence not now.
Even threw in fast trains his favorite proposal for high speed rail.
Well the governors of Wisconsin.
Ohio and and Florida have put the kibosh on so called high speed rail I say.
So called because you would be -- there any faster that you put on the parallel interstate highways.
And you're talking about spending billions of dollars in California which is broke.
On a project to build a hundred mile line in the central valley.
That's pretty strange so.
I think that the president really doesn't have great credibility.
Is people told us the stimulus package.
I know nine would hold unemployment below 8%.
It has even been close to 80% has been much higher almost all the time since its current projections are it's not gonna go -- a lot.
Is this is just one of those points that we've reached in Washington and politics where.
More speeches and more policy agenda is.
Don't matter any more people are just -- just should just give me result this make this economy work.
Well voters typically want results they don't -- -- pretty rhetoric or.
Good intentions.
Was politicians can you -- -- rhetoric if arrogant speech record most politicians of both parties have good intentions.
Look I think what we saw President Obama do in that joint session of congress is likely that it goes it drives up to his garage door presses the garage door but the garage doors open.
Now we're told by many mr.
Obama's admirers including many who style themselves as conservatives that he's up.
Pragmatist He believes nodded theology but what works.
Well a pragmatist when that -- pushing the button doesn't open the garage door usually gets out of the parent tries to see what's going on what's wrong.
In contrast we really -- -- the president just keeps pushing them that garage door bond.
And he's hoping that pushing that button is gonna produce results that.
Previous -- -- that but did produce Campbell that's pretty lame.
Public policy in my in my view.
Call call me cynical but it but it's if you and I disagree about something and I'm not gonna come back to you after we've just had a Donnybrook.
And I know what your position as I'm not gonna come back and try and present the exact same position again if I'm really serious about trying to find -- -- program.
Well I think that's right -- -- the president's had many opportunities find middle ground which He has not followed up on at all.
On health care He had the bipartisan plan of Democrat Ron -- Republican Bob Bennett to.
Eliminate the reference tax preference for employer provided health insurance He wanted no part of it.
Last winter He had the Erskine Bowles Alan Simpson bipartisan panel which you've waited some members -- That proposed a tax reform that would lower rates and eliminate tax preferences there are things in that kind of proposal.
That appeal to both Republicans and Democrats is the kind of bipartisan.
Tax reform that we had in 1986 under President Reagan with the democratic House of Representatives -- President Obama showed zero interest in that.
I don't see him as a pragmatist Acxiom is an ideologues who believes that the answer is always big government -- who wants to.
Increase taxes on high earners and others.
In order to quote paid for it.
Is no idea is that you may import or is it wealth redistribution.
I mean He did say well I think it.
Well in his speech to congress He said it's all paid for and I'm going to tell you a week from Monday how it's all paid for well.
When He came round to telling us how was paid for it was by all by higher taxes that are supposed to be imposed.
Everybody knows from John Maynard -- found that higher taxes is not -- way to stimulate the economy.
In effect I think when the president was speaking before congress He was adopting the posture of saying the guy in the -- who says look.
I'm gonna stand drinks for of the whole house -- -- house.
Those guys over there are gonna pay for.
In.
That's.
You know that's really the antithesis of responsible government it's the antithesis of pragmatism -- it's the antithesis of seeking bipartisan solution all right.
You pay attention to this I pay attention to it the audience most likely pays attention to this is the general public.
Paying attention because he's very gifted it -- getting out there and smiling and and getting people who think he's a good guy.
Well initial polling suggests that the president if anything -- -- slightly worse shape on economic issues with most voters that He was going in to that speech.
Will see as time goes on what that that's confirmed by continuing reactions that by responses to.
Other events decisions by other policy makers as time goes on but.
My sense is that when the guy is just pushing the garage door button even though the garage door doesn't come open when He does it.
And He pushes it again people tend to lose interest and they also tend to lose faith in the good sense of pragmatists.
Of the guidance try to get that -- or open Michael Barone thank you very much for your insulin thank you sir.
