WSJ's Moore falsely claimed Obama "never used the word 'entrepreneur' " in speech
Please upgrade your flash player. The video for this item requires a newer version of Flash Player. If you are unable to install flash you can download a QuickTime version of the video.
SUMMARY: On CNBC, Stephen Moore falsely claimed that President Obama "never used the word 'entrepreneur' " in an April 14 speech. In fact, during the speech Obama said, "If businesses and entrepreneurs know today that we are closing this carbon pollution loophole, they'll start investing in clean energy now."
During the April 14 edition of CNBC's The Kudlow Report, Wall Street Journal senior economics writer Stephen Moore falsely claimed that President Obama "never used the word 'entrepreneur' " in his April 14 speech at Georgetown University. Moore added: "[I]f you look at a new study by the Kauffman Foundation, it shows that in the last five recessions, it was the entrepreneur who led us out of those recessions. ... You know, he says the government's going to be doing the investing in energy and health care and all these -- education -- that you're talking about, Robert Reich. What about the private sector? What about the entrepreneur?" However, Obama did in fact mention "entrepreneurs" during his speech, saying:
If businesses and entrepreneurs know today that we are closing this carbon pollution loophole, they'll start investing in clean energy now. And pretty soon, we'll see more companies constructing solar panels and workers building wind turbines and car companies manufacturing fuel-efficient cars.
Investors will put some money into a new-energy technology, and a small business will open to start selling it. That's how we can grow this economy, enhance our security, and protect our planet at the same time.
From the April 14 edition of CNBC's The Kudlow Report:
LARRY KUDLOW (host): Steve Moore, look it. Here's the deal. I don't understand. Nothing in there for capital. Nothing in that speech for investors. Nothing for business, Steve. Now, this troubles me enormously because President Obama rarely talks about business and the importance of business in job creation and the importance of investors to fund job-creating businesses.
MOORE: It is interesting, Larry. He never used the word "entrepreneur." And, you know, if you look at a new study by the Kauffman Foundation, it shows that in the last five recessions, it was the entrepreneur who led us out of those recessions. And, you know, the -- what really troubles me about this speech and this kind of philosophy, John [Harwood, CNBC and New York Times reporter] and Robert [Reich, labor secretary under President Clinton], is that basically, Obama really does see the government as the catalyst. You know, he says the government's going to be doing the investing in energy and health care and all these -- education -- that you're talking about, Robert Reich. What about the private sector? What about the entrepreneur?
REICH: Well, eventually, the private sector is coming back, Steve, but right now, the private sector's gone to sleep. I mean, consumers and businesses are not investing, they're not buying. Government is where the action is, and it's got to be at least in the interim.
From Obama's April 14 speech at Georgetown University:
OBAMA: Transitioning to a clean-energy economy will not be easy. But we can no longer delay putting a framework for a clean-energy economy in place. That needs to be done now. If businesses --
[applause]
If businesses and entrepreneurs know today that we are closing this carbon pollution loophole, they'll start investing in clean energy now. And pretty soon, we'll see more companies constructing solar panels and workers building wind turbines and car companies manufacturing fuel-efficient cars.
Investors will put some money into a new-energy technology, and a small business will open to start selling it. That's how we can grow this economy, enhance our security, and protect our planet at the same time.
Now, the fourth pillar of our new foundation is a 21st century health care system where families, businesses, and government budgets aren't dragged down by skyrocketing insurance premiums.
"Barack Obama has never ONCE acknowledged the absolutely vital, nay CENTRAL role Entrepreneurs play in keeping our economy strong, our shores safe, and our children parasite-free!"
"I know, it's like he doesn't recognize that Free Market Capitalism and Small Businessmen are the only things standing between us and an Economic Armageddon!"
"Don't forget another 9/11."
"Right, which George Bush protected us from for more than seven years. The Fact That We Were Not Attacked For Seven Years Was Not A Coincidence TM"
"But Democrats hate small businesses, they hate entrepreneurs."
"Nanny Government..."
"Yep, its all about Big Government Doing Everything Socialism France."
"When all we really need is an end to the Death Tax and a big tax cut for the top 1%"
"We'll continue this exact same conversation after the break..."
He also did not use the word "Smorgasbord." Not. One. Time. (!)
We NEED to get to the bottom of this!!!
What an idiot.
Just when you think they can't get any pettier they strike again and prove you wrong.
I thought the word "frappucino" was conspicuously absent from Obama's speech as well.
Why does Obama hate caffeine?
Mr Moore is a joke. He used to be the head of a wacko organization called The Club for Growth. I never thought I would be able to say this about anyone, but Mr Moore is actually dumber than Sarah Palin.
So... where's the joke, huh? It's ain't out sense of humor, pal. Conservatives just aren't funny.
"Conservatives just aren't funny."
Um... I have to dispute you on this on NGE...
The whole concept of conservativism and right-wing (non) thinking is by itself... FUNNY as heck! It just happens to be a very dangerous funny!
Well... OKaaaaay... Let me rephrase...
Conservatioves just aren't INTENTIONALY funny.
Is that better? ;)
OK, there's the loophole. Obama did not use the word "entrepreneur." He used the word "entrepreneurs." See? Mr Moore is vindicated! Hooray!
Exactly.
Signed, Doc Savage
O/T, Doc, but since I find your presence on this radical far-left smear site, I just had to take this opportunity to let you know how much I resent your line of adult toys - specifically your waterproof falafel. That - along with the phone and modern recording equipment - cost me a BUNDLE. $%$#$%-IN' THING SUCKS.
Bill O'Reilly.
Fox News
New York, NY
Thank You...Vermin
Nice Guy...Neon >>>just sarcasm
I thought Vermin was your signature.
Glad you cleared that up.
It's hard to tell sometimes.
So... everone is losing there jobs... so whatever we do, we'd better not got and try to create any new venutures, new industries, new development or new jobs for them.
Conservative problem soliving in a nutshell. Relaxe dude, ONLY GOOD CAN COME OF THIS.
So your theory is that we should only invest in new energy technology when the price of oil is very high.
And when the price of oil drops, we should stop investing.
And when the price of oil goes up again, we should start investing again.
Please explain to us the incentive oil companies have to invest in new energy technologies when the price of oil is up and they are raking in billions in profits as a result.
So they aren't to be expected to invest in new technology when the price of oil is up, OR when it is down. Got it.
I think you and niceguyeddie both misunderstand what I am saying.
MY theory is that companies will not invest while their current product is cheap. When their product is expensive and the demand goes down, then they will look to invest in new energy. That is the whole premise behind cap and trade. Right now, it is probably, from a buysiness perspective, cheaper to continuing to import oil and burn coal as that is proven technology and relatively cheap. Oil companies are still raking in billions regardless of the price of oil. When the markert is like it currently is, the government can step in and provide seed money for new technology. That is what is being done in the stimulus bill. I am not saying there is no private capital invested, but I am saying without the government promoting it with seed money, you won't get a whole lot of private capital, especially in today's economy.
Why no new drilling off the Atlantic Coast or anywhere else in this country? Thats what the repubs want. At 40 - 50 bucks a barrel, it's not worth the expense to the oil company. Will take to long to get their start up costs back. Right now it's cheaper and more profitable to import. Simple economics, which is why the government steps in to offer financial assistance. R&D costs go down when using government funding and financial gains can then be realized faster. For an example, go to NASA.gov and search on Commercial Orbital Transportation System (COTS).
President Bush remains the best: "The French don't have a word for 'entrepreneur'."
HA! That sounds vaguely familar but I can't remember if he actually said that or it was just a joke someone made.
Indeed it was just a joke
Clean energy is great. There are wood flooring plants in Sweden that use the saw dust and other wood waste to fuel a wood burning energy plant that fuels their entire operation. This type of enterprising energy solution was fueled by a desire to create a better product at a lower cost. The initiative created the added benefit of a more environmentally friendly way to fuel their plant. Do you think the government is capable of helping American business innovate and re-energize their plants and facilities? Or are they going to legislate without thinking about all of the consequences? Why not slowly, at the pace of the technology, introduce incentives and tax credits to companies that become more environmentally friendly? This will stoke the flames without creating a burden to business. We are competing on a global scale--it's the reason Clinton did not sign the Kyoto Accord--and we cannot further hurt industry by placing recklessly stringent environmental controls on our factories. If for nothing else think of all the cuts in labor that could be forced upon our factories if they were forced to jump up to environmental standards too quickly.
There's not too much trick about geothermal energy. Solar sources are good today and several inprovements are already in the product pipeline. A local tidal project just got a major thumbs up, after a review. GE has been building windmills for a few years now.
We do need to develope an infrastucture to support H2 comsumption. A goodly number of jobs can come from this.
There's a fair sized number of alt energy systems that are ready to go today.
Intelligent and thoughtful planning is always good.
Business hurts the envirenment and passes the cost of that damage onto you and me. Sounds like a bad form of socialism.
The whole premise of this segment is wrong. If the President doesn't acknowledge the importance of private enterprise what was the stimulus bill all about? What were the bank and auto bailouts all about?
Writing as an inventor and serial entrepreneur, if you are expecting Stephen Moore to be the poster boy promoting innovation and entrepreneurship you're delusional. Moore is but a hired doofus on part with Doug Feith.
Back when the "Bush tax cuts" (sic) were being promoted in early 2001, I had several email exchanges with Moore who was the shill for monied interest seeking to literally kill small, nimble, innovative competitors in our garages.
I'm in Silicon Valley, and Moore has no clue about how we innovate here in semiconductors, software, networking, computer systems, apps, medical devices, green tech or even electric cars. The only think Moore knows is "Tax Cuts."
Startups DON'T PAY TAXES for years! Our investors aren't looking for tax cuts today, they want long term growth. So tax cuts are as useful as chicken beaks.
Happy days are here again!! Solar panels and a windmill in every pot. Those two critical technologies worked so well in the days of Jemma Carter that right now as we comment teentsy weentsy amounts of electricity are generated, on sunny windy days, by massive wind farms and acres of solar panels that crowd out the local flora and fauna (that's plants and animals). Teddy Kennedy said NIMBY to the giant pinwheels off the coast near his crib and Ted Turner don't want no stinking solar panels on the 2 million acres he owns. I have a great idea; we can genetically create GIANT hamsters and put em in really big hamster wheels if PETA don't mind. After all, they would be doing it for children and the poor. When the over sized rodents give up the ghost from such beastly (pardon the pun) drudgery, they would make an excellent source of protein and cool furry hats. Wait a minute. What about coal? It's cheap and abundant. Sorry, according to our Fuhrer coal is verboten and must be eliminated, thereby raising the cost of electricity to the end users (that's us) by an average of $2000 to $3000 space bucks a year, but what the heck, once all that new green technology kicks in, in say, 20 or 30 years the few of us cannibals that are left will be living in a green ever mother earth lovin UTOPIA. Jeepers, I've got my bone saw, and knife and fork just a rarin ta go. Please pass the salt!!