Obama’s poverty mythology By Stephen Moore

Our class warrior in chief was at it again this week complaining about our “ideological divides that have prevented us from making progress” in solving problems like poverty. Just when you thought you’d heard it all. Our most ideological president perhaps ever is arguing that there is too much ideology in Washington. Wow. Apparently, an ideology is a firmly held belief that is held by other people — especially those on the right.

The president managed to blame the slow-growth economy and stagnant wages on everything from Ayn Rand (who promoted “cold-hearted policies” and classified everyone as a “moocher”) to California’s Proposition 13 (which is responsible for the Golden State’s dreadful schools). Everything has contributed to our current malaise except for his own failed policies.

Here’s a brief truth squad examination of Mr. Obama’s mythologies and misstatements of fact. This was a long speech, so I will just identify as many of the whoppers as space permits.

President Obama: “The stereotype is that you’ve got folks on the left who just want to pour more money into social programs, and don’t care anything about culture or parenting or family structures … .”

After more than $20 trillion spent on the War on Poverty since 1964 (in inflation adjusted dollars), how is it a stereotype to say the left only wants to pour money at programs? Just a few weeks ago, the president blamed the Baltimore riots on Republicans for not spending and borrowing even more money for his social programs. He sounded like a parody of himself.

If the left really wants to preserve family structure and advance cultural values such as work, why do they oppose reforms to a welfare system that pays teenage girls to have babies out of wedlock and disparage conservative proposals that require able-bodied Americans to work for their welfare benefits like food stamps?

Via: Heritage Foundation

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