It’s too early to declare the dumbest headline in 2013 but remember this one when we get to the end of the year.

From the NPR story (emphasis mine):

“For years, Democratic politicians have been shy about talking up the virtues of government. It was all the way back in 1996 that President Bill Clinton declared “the era of big government is over.”

“That may have changed with President Obama’s second inaugural address. Obama declared that only through government and “collective action” can the nation achieve its full promise.”

“The president was willing to make the case for government being one component that helps our economy,” says former Virginia Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello. “That’s something you haven’t heard much over the past generation or so.”

Has NPR and Representative Tom Perriello been asleep for the past 4 years?  Did they forget about Obama’s statement to private business owners that “They didn’t build that?”

Have they forgotten about Obamacare, the NLRB holding businesses hostage until they gave in to Union demands, The FDA shaking down medical device companies or the EEOC forcing companies to hire people without a high school education?

Even the Left leaning Economist magazine had an article last year showing how over regulation was interfering with the Free Market in the US.

Let’s take a look at the Federal Government spending since 1969.

See that upward trend with a step function increase under Obama?  I guess NPR missed that one.

Let’s take a look at the average deficit to GDP ratio since 1980.

See that spike up during Obama’s first term as President?  Did NPR miss this one too?

It’s great that the Leftist media ignored the over regulation and expansion of the Federal Government during Obama’s first term but now they are suddenly realizing that Obama is just a tax and spend Liberal.

Shocker!