During a roundtable speech to business leaders, President Obama told them the economy was actually doing well under his leadership – in spite of the gloomy portrait painted by presidential candidates.
“You wouldn’t know any of this if you were listening to the folks that were seeking this office that I occupy,” he said wryly. “In the echo chamber that is presidential politics, everything is dark and everything is terrible.”
Obama criticized presidential candidates for not offering solutions to economic problems, choosing instead to blame his presidency. Obama appeared to address political candidates of both parties, as he did not specifically single out Republicans.
“I’m here to say that there is nothing particularly patriotic or American about talking down America,” he said, citing the United States economy as a source of economic strength in the world.
He explained that although the improving economy is a “testament” to American businesses and employees, he wanted some of the credit.
“I’m going to take a little credit too, it’s a testament to some good policy decisions,” he said pointing to the economic stimulus and him bailing out the auto industry instead of those who tried to “cut their way out of recession.”
Obama pointed out that under his presidency, manufacturing was growing, corporate profits were rising, and a growing energy boom took place.
He warned that Republicans were threatening a government shutdown simply because they opposed Planned Parenthood.
“You recall that two years ago Republicans shut down the government because they don’t like Obamacare,” he said. “Today some are suggesting that the government should be shutdown because they don’t like Planned Parenthood. That’s not good sense, that’s not good business.”
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