A new video released Tuesday lists 140 unfulfilled promises Obama has made in seven previous State of the Union addresses.
Some have been mentioned in consecutive years’ speeches, including the closing Guantanamo Bay (2009-2015) and passing comprehensive immigration reform (2010-2014).
Others, noted only once or twice, have gone uncompleted and appear to have been forgotten. In 2011, Obama said he would freeze government spending for three years. Two years later, he promised to freeze federal spending for five years.
The president has also made more obscure promises: inventing a “material thinner than paper but stronger than steel” (2014) and converting sunlight into liquid fuel (2015).
Among the 20 most notable broken promises:
2009
The stimulus bill will create 3.5 million jobs over the next few years, 90 percent of which will be in the private sector.
Cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term in office.
2010
The health-reform law will bring down the deficit $1 trillion over the next 20 years.
Starting in 2011, government spending “will be frozen for three years.”
Create a website that publishes every lawmakers’ earmark requests.
2011
Within the next three years, enable 98 percent of Americans to receive high-speed wireless Internet.
ObamaCare will slow rising costs of health-insurance premiums.
Create website that lists all federal spending.
2012
Force all high schools to require students to stay in school until they graduate or turn 18.
2013
Eliminate the marriage penalty for low-income couples.
Encourage fatherhood through tax policy adjustments.
2014
Close Guantanamo Bay Prison in 2014.
End the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Reform Veterans Affairs so that vets no longer have to deal with backlogs and instead receive the health care that they need.
2015
Make two years of community college “as free and universal” as high school.
Destroy the Islamic State.
Seek out Republican ideas to make America strong.
