By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Wednesday, President Barack H. Obama cited the location of the Airbus plant in Mobile as proof that his economic polices are working for America. Republicans in Alabama were quick to express shock and outrage at a claim that the Alabama Republican Party said in a written statement, “Can only be described as one of the most self-serving and egotistical claims of his career.”
ALGOP Chairman Bill Armistead said, “The Airbus announcement was brought on by hard work from Governor Bentley and economic development officials to create jobs in Alabama. Airbus, who chose to expand their company to the US, did so in spite of bad economic policies being pushed by President Obama.”
Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead said, “To have President Obama take credit for Airbus is like Al Gore taking credit for the Internet. Neither had anything to do with each of these outcomes. Alabama was able to bring Airbus to Alabama because we are moving our state in the right direction economically. From Obamacare to the his war on coal and energy, President Obama has driven business away and kept private capital on the sidelines.”
Chairman Armistead continued, “The President’s speech today is the height of hypocrisy and just goes to show how out of touch this president is with reality. If President Obama wants to do something to jump-start the economy, he should start by supporting the Republican-led House of Representatives’ full-repeal of Obamacare. In the meantime, he should stop trying to dupe people into thinking he has anything to do with new industry coming to Alabama.” continued Armistead.
In his Thursday speech President Barack Obama claimed responsibility for positive economic signs around the nation and urged Republicans to work with him instead of focusing on “phony scandals.” In 2012, Airbus announced that they were building their first airliner assembly plant in North America in Mobile. The company is making a $600 million investment in the plant that will build the company’s A320 airliner creating an estimated 1000 new jobs.
