No subtlety, no qualification, no hesitancy - the President is a LIAR! LIAR! It is just standard practice now, and more evidence if it was needed of the continuing disrespect of this POTUS, to casually refer to the President of the Unites States as a liar.
“I think he’s lying about CEOs — they want to invest in a country that has high-speed rail? Really? Tell me what CEO said that, that cares about high-speed rail,” Shuster said when asked for his thoughts on the speech. “Manufacturers want to invest in a country that has roads that are built, they want the infrastructure to be right for the transportation system, but to say one of the reasons they’re going to invest in America and manufacturing plants is because of high-speed rail is crazy.”
Joe "You Lie" Wilson set the precedent of course for breaking all standards of etiquette and common courtesy. Now it is commonplace to refer to the President of the United States as a 'liar". Not, wrong, possibly mistaken, misinformed. No. A liar.
By the way, Bill, how exactly are those roads supposed to get built without federal funds?
Representative Bill Shuster is the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee. So you would think he would have attended this hearing of the, you know, House Transportation Committee, where, you know, actual CEO's testified on the benefits of high speed rail.
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure yesterday heard from state DOT leaders who believe the nation's high-speed rail program has benefited their states, and that the program needs ongoing federal funding.
The hearing, "An Update on the High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program: Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned," began with opening statements from Chair John Mica (R-Fl.) and other committee members, followed by opening remarks from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who argued that, while the rail program is not perfect, it is what Americans want and need. LaHood also asserted that the high-speed rail program would remain a priority of President Obama's administration.
"Americans are already beginning to see significant travel time, frequency, and reliability improvements, in addition to upgraded stations and equipment," LaHood said in his written testimony. "The simple fact is that the transportation challenges that are driving increased demands for rail are not going away."
Following LaHood, two state transportation department CEOs testified on their experiences with high-speed rail.
Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond, who also chairs AASHTO's High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Leadership Group and the States for Passenger Rail Coalition, said that the high-speed rail program will greatly benefit Washington State, although it is not without its issues, like all new programs.
Someone came right to Bill's office, and told him, "what CEO's care about high speed rail". Maybe he should show up to work, and when there, pay attention.
At least he "apologized".
“This type of incendiary rhetoric is not my style," Shuster said at a Chamber of Commerce infrastructure summit after apologizing for his remarks. "I do not think the president is a liar."
Later, when asked what he thought of the "fix it first" portion of the speech, Shuster threw his hands up and said, "I started off saying what I shouldn't have said."
"It's a retread," he continued. "There wasn't much there, and I'll leave it at that."
Sort of.
He did not admit the President is not actually a liar, though.