President Obama took office during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. During George W. Bush’s presidency, we had some of the slowest private-sector job growth since World War II. American workers’ income stalled and, yet, productivity grew. The richest 1 percent’s income exploded.
That was the situation facing Obama. Despite every obstruction Congressional Republicans could invent, Obama got Congress to finally pass the Recovery Act, which funded one of the largest investments in education since President Johnson; made the largest investment in infrastructure since President Eisenhower; and made the largest investment in clean energy ever.
These specific investments saved jobs for our teachers, police officers, nurses, and firefighters. It ensured that we rebuild our country’s roads and bridges. It made possible the purchase of American-made iron, steel and manufactured goods. American manufacturers are creating jobs for the first time since the 1990s.
Additionally, President Obama and the Democrats saved the American auto industry over the protests of the Republicans, including Mitt Romney. That saved over one million jobs.
