Former President Barack Obama shot back at Donald Trump on Monday for taking credit for an economy that he did nothing to create.
During a rally for Nevada Democratic Senate candidate Jacky Rosen, the 44th president reminded voters that the country was in a financial crisis when he took office. Not only did Obama put a floor under the sinking economy, but he laid the groundwork for the strong economic environment we are seeing today – from falling unemployment and poverty to rising wages and health insurance coverage.
“When you hear all this talk about economic miracles right now, remember who started it,” Obama said to a roaring standing ovation.
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Former President @BarackObama: “When you hear all this talk about economic miracles right now, remember who started it.”
Full video here: https://t.co/UKtPQDlkQR pic.twitter.com/vYDuJIhF5z
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 22, 2018
The former president destroyed Trump’s victory lap over the economy:
When I walked into office ten years ago, we were in the middle of the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. That was the last time that the other party was in charge of things. I do think it’s interesting. I just hope people kind of notice that everything there’s a pattern where they run things into the ground and we have to come back and clean things up. … But because of the work we did … we got the economy growing again. We started the longest streak of job creation on record. We covered another 20 million on health insurance. We brought housing back here in Nevada. We cut our deficits by more than half, partly by making sure the wealthiest Americans – folks like me – paid their fair share of taxes. By the time I left office, wages were rising, uninsurance rate was falling, poverty was falling, and that’s what I handed off to the next guy. So when you hear all this talk about economic miracles right now, remember who started it. Remember who started it! Come on!
Donald Trump started his presidency on third base
Like in his personal life, Donald Trump started his presidency on third base. He was handed something good by somebody else, and he just slapped his name on it.
But outside of the insulated bubble of a MAGA rally, people understand that for two terms, Barack Obama worked to bring our country back from the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression – and he succeeded.
Not only did the 44th president prevent a complete economic collapse, but he implemented policies to help reignite the American economy.
All the economic streaks Trump is bragging about today began well before he signed a single piece of legislation or executive order. In fact, they started before he even took the infamous ride down his tacky escalator to announce his candidacy for president.
While Donald Trump was hosting a game show on NBC, then-President Barack Obama was saving the U.S. economy. Now he’s trying to claim credit for it.
The 44th president didn’t let him get away with it on Monday, and voters shouldn’t let him get away with it on Nov. 6.
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Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
