The myth of the "Obama Phone"

[Seedy]

since the woman called it an "obama phone", he gets the credit.

So, because one random person was ignorant of where the Lifeline program came from, you believe Obama was somehow involved with "buying votes" with the "obama phone"?

Just because one ill informed person believes something to be true doesn't make it so...no matter how popular their soundbite gets.

 

[WTJ]

This is an interesting article in Forbes concerning the Obama phones.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyph...crazy-for-obama-phones-but-are-they-for-real/

Sooooo, It's a Clinton Phone?

 

[gaseous maximus]

Abraham Lincoln!!! I vote for Abe Lincoln, as being the originator of the nefarious scheme. Probably tin cans and string back then, but that is exactly how these things start.

 

[dennishoddy]

Sooooo, It's a Clinton Phone?

Correct. That part was kinda left out. Same party though.

 

[inactive]

Sooooo, It's a Clinton Phone?

Correct. That part was kinda left out. Same party though.

No, Reagan Phone:

http://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Reports/FCC-State_Link/Monitor/mr98-2.pdf

In 1984, the FCC, in conjunction with the states and local telephone companies, established a Lifeline program designed to promote universal service by helping low income individuals afford the monthly cost of telephone service.

It was already in existence, and only revised, under Clinton.

 

[TerryMiller]

Since we've been being "schooled" in the history of the "Obama Phone" saga, I thought I would add just a little graphic to give a perspective of how much the program probably helped the Democrats and Obama. This is a chart showing the government funding of the Lifeline program. Below the image of the chart is a link to a Townhall.com site where I found the chart.

So, if Bush was so bad, why didn't the increase in government funding of the Lifeline program make a dramatic upward turn during his 8 years instead of Obama's 3+ years?

Note the dramatic rise in the cost of the program to the taxpayers (i.e. government funding) in the last few years. Since the issue of tax and fees came up earlier, let me remind everyone that "government" whether under Republicans or Democrats has a tendency to not want to use the word "taxes." Instead, they increase the use of "fees" and "penalties." In fact, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was only granted a status of being constitutional because they argued that the mandated "penalty" was actually a tax. That was, of course, after they refused to call it a tax prior to passage and again wanted to call it a penalty even after it was ruled constitutional. Government (whether Democrat or Republican controlled) would rather increase fees than taxes, for obvious reasons.

Townhall story including the above chart.

 

[TurboFinger]

looks like the old gal was right when she called it an "obama phone"......nice hockey stick graph...

 

[HMFIC]

Thanks for posting that Terry.

Now we can get back to the reality of this situation which is that it IN FACT has spiraled completely out of control in recent years and needs to be addressed. I find it humorous that the idea behind this thread is to blame administrations of umpteen years ago in order to absolve blame of the current administration (no offense Seedy).

The Lifeline program now costs taxpayers $1.5 billion annually and subsidizes the cell phone service of 16.5 million Americans - and a survey found that almost ten percent of all enrollees should not even be eligible for the program.

Stop the insanity. We surely won't be able to solve the problems that face us if everyone takes party lines. Do you Democrats really think it's OK to spend $1.5 BILLION dollars to subsidize phone service?

 

[dennishoddy]

Isn't it amazing when facts and figures come into a discussion?
Lets see how the obummer lovers spin this.

 

[inactive]

Do you Democrats really think it's OK to spend $1.5 BILLION dollars to subsidize phone service?

I'm an indy, but hell no. It's ridiculous. 91 bucks a month per person makes it even MORE ridiculous.