It's Not Easy Being A Lousy President - FACTS

Dependency Index Surges 23% Under President Obama

By JOHN MERLINE, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY

The American public's dependence on the federal government shot up 23% in just two years under President Obama, with 67 million now relying on some federal program, according to a newly released study by the Heritage Foundation.


The conservative think tank's annual Index of Dependence on Government tracks money spent on housing, health, welfare, education subsidies and other federal programs that were "traditionally provided to needy people by local organizations and families."  READ MORE

Obama's approval below reelection standards:  Gallup Poll

Gallup released a memo earlier this week titled, "Where the U.S. Election Stands Now," comparing past presidential approval ratings with each candidates reelection results. Gallup concluded:

This historical pattern suggests that Obama would need to see his job approval rating climb to 50% to be in a comfortable position for re-election. History shows that by March of the election year, all winning presidents in the modern era, including George W. Bush, had job approval ratings above 50%, and all losing presidents had job approval ratings below 50%. This suggests that where Obama stands by next month may be an important indicator of his ultimate re-election chances.  READ MORE

Report: Obama doubles down on new contraception rule at Democratic retreat

by Allahpundit

President Obama “reinforced” his stance on the controversial contraception mandate while speaking at the Democrats’ annual retreat at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. today, Senate Democrats said.

The retreat was closed to media.

Following President Obama’s speech at the retreat, a small group of Senate Democrats, mostly women, left the retreat early in order to hold a news conference on Capitol Hill to counter the Republicans’ news conference today at which they called for the mandate to be overturned…

“The power to decide whether or not to use contraception lies with a woman – not her boss,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. “What is more intrusive than trying to allow an employer to make medical decisions for someone who works for them?”  READ MORE

Rasmussen: Majority opposes Obama contraception mandate on religious organizations

by Ed Morrissey

Half of voters do not agree with the Obama administration’s action forcing Catholic institutions to pay for birth control measures that they morally oppose.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the government should require a church or religious organization to provide contraceptives for women even if it violates their deeply held beliefs. Fifty percent (50%) disagree and oppose such a requirement that runs contrary to strong beliefs, while 10% more are undecided.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of male voters are against the government requiring contraceptive coverage in a case like this. Female voters are almost evenly divided on the question. Sixty-five percent (65%) of Catholic voters oppose this requirement, as do 62% of Evangelical Christians, and 50% of other Protestants. Most non-Christians (56%) support the Obama Administration ruling.  READ MORE

ObamaExport Adviser Exports Jobs

By Neil Munro

A firm overseen by one of President Barack Obama’s trade advisers has just announced plans to export 149 white-collar jobs — including numerous high-tech jobs — to an India-based info-tech firm.

The outsourcing announcement came during an election campaign in which Obama’s allies frequently lash former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for supposedly exporting jobs, and only two weeks after Obama showed he had little understanding of outsourcing in the high-tech sector.
“I don’t know your husband’s specialty, but I can tell you there’s a huge demand around the country for engineers,” he told the wife of a laid-off engineer in Fort Worth, Texas. Obama then volunteered himself to find a job for the engineer, who was laid off three years ago.  READ MORE