SHOT: Obama Said His New Chief Of Staff, Denis McDonough, Taught Him How To Pass A Bill. OBAMA: “I am pleased to announce my next chief of staff, and a great friend to me and everybody who works here at the White House, Mr. Denis McDonough. Now I have been counting on Denis for nearly a decade. Since I first came to Washington, when he helped set up my Senate office, along with Pete Rouse, he was able to show me where the restrooms where, you know, how you passed a bill.” (President Barack Obama, Personnel Announcement, Washington, DC, 1/25/13)

CHASER: Obama Only Passed Two Bills While In The Senate.

During His Brief Senate Career, Obama Was The Lead Sponsor Of 122 Bills.

Only Two Of Obama’s Lead Sponsored Bills Became Law:

• S.906: Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008
• S.2125: Democratic Republic Of The Congo Relief, Security, And Democracy Promotion Act Of 2006

When Obama suggests you never saw Democrats vote against raising the debt ceiling, he apparently forgot his own vote against raising the debt ceiling. The Obama who doesn’t want to negotiate today over the debt limit wanted to vote against it in 2006.

SHOT: Obama Argued That Republicans Must Support A Debt Ceiling Increase Because Democrats Did So When There Was A Republican President. OBAMA: “Democrats don’t like voting for the debt ceiling when a Republican’s president. And yet, you, but you never saw a situation in which Democrats suggested somehow that we would go ahead and default if we didn’t get 100 percent of our way. That’s just not how it’s supposed to work.” (President Barack Obama, Press Conference, 1/14/13)

CHASER: But In 2006, As A Senator, Obama Voted Against The Senate Resolution to Increase The Debt Ceiling. (H.J. Res 47: Adopted 52-48: R 51-3; D 1-43; I 0-1, 3/16/06, Obama Voted Nay)

• Then-Sen. Obama Said “America Has A Debt Problem And A Failure Of Leadership. Americans Deserve Better. I Therefore Intend To Oppose The Effort To Increase America’s Debt Limit.” SEN. BARACK OBAMA:”Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ‘the buck stops here.’ Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Congressional Record, 3/16/06, p. S2237)

In 2008, Obama Promised He Would Not Use Signing Statements “As A Way Of Doing An End Run Around Congress.” QUESTION: “When Congress offers you a bill, do you promise not to use presidential signage to get your way?” OBAMA: “Yes. Let me just explain for those who are unfamiliar with this issue. You know, we’ve got a government designed by the founders so that there’d be checks and balances. You don’t want a President who’s too powerful or a Congress who’s too powerful or courts that are too powerful. Everybody’s got their own role. Congress’ job is to pass legislation. The President can veto it, or he can sign it. But what George Bush has been trying to do is part of his effort to accumulate more power in the Presidency, is, he’s been saying, “Well, I can basically change what Congress passed by attaching a letter sayin’ ‘I don’t agree with this part’ or ‘I don’t agree with that part.’ I’m going to choose to interpret it this way or that way.” Uh, that’s not part of his power. But this is part of the whole theory of George Bush that he can make laws as he’s going along. I disagree with that. I taught the Constitution for ten years, I believe in the Constitution, and I will obey the Constitution of the United States. We’re not going to use signing statements as a way of doing an end run around Congress.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Campaign Event At Billings West High School, Billings, MT, 5/19/08)

In 2008, Obama Promised He Would Not Use Signing Statements “As A Way Of Doing An End Run Around Congress.” QUESTION: “When Congress offers you a bill, do you promise not to use presidential signage to get your way?” OBAMA: “Yes. Let me just explain for those who are unfamiliar with this issue. You know, we’ve got a government designed by the founders so that there’d be checks and balances. You don’t want a President who’s too powerful or a Congress who’s too powerful or courts that are too powerful. Everybody’s got their own role. Congress’ job is to pass legislation. The President can veto it, or he can sign it. But what George Bush has been trying to do is part of his effort to accumulate more power in the Presidency, is, he’s been saying, ‘Well, I can basically change what Congress passed by attaching a letter saying ‘I don’t agree with this part’ or ‘I don’t agree with that part.’ I’m going to choose to interpret it this way or that way.’ Uh, that’s not part of his power. But this is part of the whole theory of George Bush that he can make laws as he’s going along. I disagree with that. I taught the Constitution for ten years, I believe in the Constitution, and I will obey the Constitution of the United States. We’re not going to use signing statements as a way of doing an end run around Congress.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Campaign Event At Billings West High School, Billings, MT, 5/19/08)

• Click To Watch

This Week, Obama Issued A Signing Statement Explaining His Decision To Approve The 2013 National Defense Authorization Act Despite His Opposition To Several Provisions, Including One Effectively Prohibiting The Closure Of Guantanamo. “President Barack Obama signed a major defense bill Wednesday, notwithstanding public veto threats the White House issued with regard to earlier versions of the legislation. Obama issued a written ‘signing statement’ explaining his decision to approve the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act despite his objections to various aspects of the measure, including provisions that effectively thwart his efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay prison for terror suspects and give military members the right to refuse to take certain actions that violate their conscience.” (Josh Gerstein, “Obama Signs Defense Bill, Notes Regrets,” Politico’s Under The Radar, 1/3/13)

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VIDEO: Obama On Benghazi Over 3 Months Later: “Sloppiness” But “We Have Some Very Good Leads” 

VIDEO: Feinstein: We Knew Something Would Happen In Benghazi But Didn’t Do Anything About It 

VIDEO: Obama Defends Chuck Hagel 

Obama May Nominate Bundler Anna Wintour As The Next Ambassador To The U.K. Or France

Obama Is Considering Top Bundler Anna Wintour As His Next Ambassador To Either The U.K. Or France. “President Barack Obama is considering nominating Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, as his next ambassador to either the U.K. or France as he looks to reward his biggest fundraisers with embassies never out of fashion, according to two people familiar with the matter.” (Hans Nichols, “Vogue Editor Wintour Said To Be Possible Appointee As U.K. Envoy,” Bloomberg, 12/4/12)

• Wintour Is Competing Against Obama’s Finance Chairman, Matthew Barzun, For The London Position. “Wintour, 63, may have some competition for the London posting; Matthew Barzun, finance chairman of Obama’s presidential campaign, also is interested in the job, officially known as ambassador to the Court of St. James’s, said the people, who requested anonymity when discussing possible personnel moves. (Hans Nichols, “Vogue Editor Wintour Said To Be Possible Appointee As U.K. Envoy,” Bloomberg, 12/4/12)
  
• “Both Wintour And Barzun Were Among Obama’s Biggest Bundlers Of Donations In The Campaign, With Each Raising More Than $500,000 To Help Re-Elect The President.” (Hans Nichols, “Vogue Editor Wintour Said To Be Possible Appointee As U.K. Envoy,” Bloomberg, 12/4/12)

Wintour, Who Threw Lavish Fundraisers At The Homes Of Sarah Jessica Parker And Harvey Weinstein, Is “Among Obama’s Top 10 Fundraisers.” “Wintour, born in the U.K. and now a U.S. citizen, is among Obama’s top 10 fundraisers, two of the people said. She co- hosted a $40,000-a-plate event in June at the New York City home of actress Sarah Jessica Parker. Then in August, she hosted a dinner that cost $35,800 per person at the Westport, Connecticut, home of movie executive Harvey Weinstein.” (Hans Nichols, “Vogue Editor Wintour Said To Be Possible Appointee As U.K. Envoy,” Bloomberg, 12/4/12)

Obama Has A History Of Rewarding His Big Donors With Ambassadorships

In 2007, Obama Promised To Turn The Page On “Special Interests Who’ve Turned Our Government Into A Game Only They Can Afford To Play.” OBAMA: “The cynics, the lobbyists, the special interests who’ve turned our government into a game only they can afford to play. They write the checks and you get stuck with the bills, they get the access while you get to write a letter, they think they own this government, but we’re here today to take it back. The time for that kind of politics is over. It is through. It’s time to turn the page.” (Senator Barack Obama, Remarks Announcing Campaign For President, Springfield, IL, 2/10/07)

“In His First Term, Obama Nominated 59 Ambassadors, Including 40 Bundlers, Who Lacked Experience In The Diplomatic Corps.” “Rewarding donors with ambassadorships is a staple of the presidency, and Obama’s picks are slightly above the 30 percent average for envoys drawn from outside the career foreign service, said Susan Johnson, the president of the American Foreign Service Association. In his first term, Obama nominated 59 ambassadors, including 40 bundlers, who lacked experience in the diplomatic corps.” (Hans Nichols, “Vogue Editor Wintour Said To Be Possible Appointee As U.K. Envoy,” Bloomberg, 12/4/12)

• Susan Johnson, President Of The American Foreign Service Association: “When He Ran For Election In 2008, On Several Occasions, Obama Declared His Intent To Appoint More Career People, And That Has Not Actually Happened.” “‘When he ran for election in 2008, on several occasions, Obama declared his intent to appoint more career people, and that has not actually happened,’ said Johnson. ‘Our expectations were lifted, only to be dashed by reality.’” (Hans Nichols, “Vogue Editor Wintour Said To Be Possible Appointee As U.K. Envoy,” Bloomberg, 12/4/12)

Obama Awarded His “Fervent Supporters” From 2008 With Diplomatic Appointments. “When President Obama named Hillary Rodham Clinton secretary of state after the 2008 election, he turned a rival into a loyalist. But he also lost Mrs. Clinton as one of the most popular Democratic fund-raisers for his re-election effort, since the nation’s chief diplomat is not allowed to engage in campaigning. The same restriction applies to the State Department’s ambassadors around the world, nearly two dozen of whom were fervent supporters of Mr. Obama in 2008, raising tens of millions of dollars for his first presidential campaign. He rewarded these backers with coveted diplomatic appointments to London, Paris, Tokyo and other capitals. Now, as federal employees, they are legally barred from reopening their gilt-edged contact lists.” (Mark Landler, “Obama Rewarded ‘08 Fund-Raisers, Barring Some From Helping Now,” The New York Times , 7/24/12)

• “More Than A Dozen Current Or Former Ambassadors Were Listed By The 2008 Campaign As Being In The Top Tier Of Bundlers.” “More than a dozen current or former ambassadors were listed by the 2008 campaign as being in the top tier of bundlers - fund-raisers who collected a minimum of $500,000 in checks from other donors and bundled them together. The campaign does not disclose specific figures above $500,000; the total for several of these people most likely ran into the multimillions.” (Mark Landler, “Obama Rewarded ‘08 Fund-Raisers, Barring Some From Helping Now,” The New York Times , 7/24/12)
  
• “Nearly 80 Percent Of Bundlers Who Raised $500,000 Or More For Mr. Obama Were Appointed To Posts In The Administration.” “Nearly 80 percent of bundlers who raised $500,000 or more for Mr. Obama were appointed to posts in the administration, according to a 2011 report by the Center for Public Integrity, which tracks campaign finance issues. While most envoys got perches in coveted capitals like Prague, Brussels, Vienna, Copenhagen or Oslo, a few were sent to commercially or politically delicate posts like Canada and South Africa.” (Mark Landler, “Obama Rewarded ‘08 Fund-Raisers, Barring Some From Helping Now,” The New York Times , 7/24/12)

A New House Report Accuses Obama Bundler Jon Corzine Of Making “Fateful Decisions” Which Resulted In MF Global’s Bankruptcy

The House Financial Services Committee Report Offers A “Withering Critique” Of Corzine’s Tenure At MF Global. “In excerpts from a broader MF Global report to be released on Thursday, Republican members of a Congressional panel outlined a withering critique of Mr. Corzine’s 19-month tenure at the firm. The former Democratic senator and governor from New Jersey resigned as MF Global’s chief executive last fall after the firm raided customer accounts during a futile fight for its life.” (Ben Protess, “Congressional Report Blames Corzine For MF Global’s Collapse,” The New York Times’ DealBook, 11/14/12)

While At MF Global, Corzine “Made Several Fateful Decisions, The Cumulative Effects Of Which Caused MF Global’s Bankruptcy And Jeopardized Customer Funds.” “During his nineteen-month tenure as Chairman and CEO of MF Global, Jon Corzine made several fateful decisions, the cumulative effects of which caused MF Global’s bankruptcy and jeopardized customer funds.” (“The Collapse Of MF Global,” House Financial Services Committee, 11/15/12)

Corzine’s Failure At MF Global Represents A “Dereliction Of His Duty.” “However, the responsibility for failing to maintain the systems and controls necessary to protect customer funds rests with Corzine.  This failure represented a dereliction of his duty as MF Global’s Chairman and CEO.” (“The Collapse Of MF Global,” House Financial Services Committee, 11/15/12)

As CEO Of MF Global, “Corzine Missed Warning Signs About MF Global’s Weak Liquidity Position And He Torpedoed An Overhaul Of The Firm’s Risk Controls.” “In a series of potential missteps, the report said, Mr. Corzine missed warning signs about MF Global’s weak liquidity position and he torpedoed an overhaul of the firm’s risk controls. Citing “a dereliction of his duty,” the report claims that the moves arguably left customers vulnerable to the invasion of their accounts.” (Ben Protess, “Congressional Report Blames Corzine For MF Global’s Collapse,” The New York Times’ DealBook, 11/14/12)

Obama Called Corzine His “Wall Street Guy”

Obama: Corzine Is “Our Wall Street Guy.” “The rollout also provided a showcase for Corzine, the former Goldman Sachs CEO whom Obama referred to as ‘our Wall Street guy’ at a meeting of Democratic governors in Chicago on Friday.” (Claire Heininger, “Corzine Profile Rises In Obama Camp,” The Star-Ledger (NJ),6/23/08)

Corzine Bundled Over $500,000 For Obama’s Reelection Campaign. (Center For Responsive Politics, Open Secrets, Accessed 11/15/12)

·        The Obama Campaign Has Not Returned The Bundled Money. “Corzine was one of 41 donors who bundled more than $500,000 this year for Obama’s re-election effort, according to documents released by the campaign Oct. 14. The campaign doesn’t plan to return those bundled donations and will evaluate other contributions from MF Global employees on a case-by-case basis, according to the Democratic official.” (Hans Nichols, “Obama Returns $70,000 In Corzine Donations,” Bloomberg, 12/23/11)

Obama Was “Proud To Stand” With Corzine Who He Called A “Leader…Called To Govern In Some Extraordinary Times.” “I’m proud to stand with a man who wakes up every single day thinking about your future and the future of this state — and that’s your governor, Jon Corzine. Like many of us in public life today, Jon is a leader who’s been called to govern in some extraordinary times. He’s been tested by the worst recession in half a century a recession that was caused by years of recklessness and irresponsibility and a do-nothing attitude.” (President Obama, Remarks By The President At New Jersey Rally For Governor Jon Corzine, Holmdel, NJ, 7/16/09)

Obama: Corzine “Was An Ally With The Obama Administration In Helping Us Develop A National Recovery Plan.” “Jon Corzine wasn’t just the first governor to pass an economic recovery plan for his state; he was an ally with the Obama administration in helping us develop a national recovery plan.” (President Obama, Remarks By The President At New Jersey Rally For Governor Jon Corzine, Holmdel, NJ, 7/16/09)

• Watch Obama’s Comments Here