Obama to Designate Ft. Monroe a National Monument
EmailContinuing his executive actions campaign, President Obama will sign a proclamation this afternoon to designate Fort Monroe a national monument.
“Fort Monroe has played a part in some of the darkest and some of the most heroic moments in American history. But today isn’t just about preserving a national landmark — it’s about helping to create jobs and grow the local economy. Steps like these won’t replace the bold action we need from Congress to get our economy moving and strengthen middle-class families, but they will make a difference,” Obama said in a written statement.
According to the White House, the preservation of Fort Monroe will help create nearly 3,000 jobs in Virginia.
“National parks are responsible for $13.3 billion of local, private-sector economic activity nationwide, supporting 267,000 private-sector jobs. There are currently 21 national park units located in Virginia; Fort Monroe would be the 22nd and the 396th nationwide,” the White House notes.
The announcement marks yet another unilateral action by the president that he says are intended to grow the economy and circumvent Republicans in Congress, who are blocking his $447 billion jobs bill.
Fort Monroe is integral to the history of slavery, the Civil War, and the U.S. military. It was the place where Dutch traders first brought enslaved Africans in 1619 and during the Civil War the fort became a place for escaped slaves to find refuge.
In 1861, the fort was the site of Gen. Benjamin Butler’s “Contraband Decision,” which provided a pathway to freedom for thousands of slaves.
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“”"”"”"”According to the White House, the preservation of Fort Monroe will help create nearly 3,000 jobs in Virginia.”"”"”"”" I call BS on this one. If it creates ANY jobs, it would be government jobs not the private sector where we need it. Obama needs to quit lying. 3000 government jobs will only add to the federal and/or state debt. Is this guy for real?
Posted by: commonsenseparty | November 1, 2011, 7:05 am 7:05 am
Hey, Coomonsenseparty: why don’t you bend over and give all your money to the corporations. Let them have their way with your posterior.
Posted by: tom | November 1, 2011, 7:23 am 7:23 am
tom | November 1, 2011, 7:23 am —– I suppose the answer for you is the government. You are part of what I call the 60%ers. The only way out of this whole (if you haven’t figured it out already…and you haven’t) is small business and the free market. The more the government intervenes, the more pain we will feel. Figure it out man! So what is your answer? Please don’t say Obama has all the answers, he doesn’t. BTW, try and prove my post wrong.
Posted by: commonsenseparty | November 1, 2011, 7:58 am 7:58 am
tom | November 1, 2011, 7:23 am —- Also, Obama is getting plenty from those bad corporations. So let’s hear your ideas, or are you only good at bichin and complainin?
Posted by: commonsenseparty | November 1, 2011, 8:00 am 8:00 am
tom | November 1, 2011, 7:23 am —– BTW Tom, if you were smart, you would work to earn money from those evil corporations. Or have you been hired by a poor person? Also, I don’t give one hard earned cent of mine to anyone, much less businesses or political campaigns. You?
Posted by: commonsenseparty | November 1, 2011, 8:06 am 8:06 am
“Fort Monroe has played a part in some of the darkest and some of the most heroic moments in American history. But today isn’t just about preserving a national landmark — it’s about helping to create jobs and grow the local economy. Steps like these won’t replace the bold action we need from Congress to get our economy moving and strengthen middle-class families, but they will make a difference,” Obama said in a written statement.” More B.S. from the campaigner-in-chief. Get ready for another whole year of this politically driven bull.
Posted by: newcountryman | November 1, 2011, 8:38 am 8:38 am
“Steps like these won’t replace the bold action we need from Congress to get our economy moving and strengthen middle-class families, but they will make a difference” – Prez Obama
(sigh)
This president sure has a Knack at demeaning ceremonies with trivial political rhetoric.
He ought to pause for the cause and go read the Gettysburg Address.
That speech was given for the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.
Bama is such a loser.
So unpresidential.
(sigh)
Posted by: Noz | November 1, 2011, 9:19 am 9:19 am
He no doubt has a busy White House staff digging up the next unilateral executive proclamation to spin simply for the good of the country and no other reason…..honest! My God people can be so gullible.
Posted by: newcountryman | November 1, 2011, 9:29 am 9:29 am
Another expansion of government, that simply spends money, for no good reason.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | November 1, 2011, 9:30 am 9:30 am
This isn’t about creating jobs. It’s about maintaining the status quo. This base was slated for decommission back in 2005 and “coincidentally” it was supposed to happen by the end of the year. According to Wikipedia, there are roughly 3,096 people that work at the base daily. This was a life preserver for their jobs to be saved. That’s where the 3K figure he threw out comes from.
Wouldn’t be at all surprised if a Virginia Senator or a Rep. from the Chesapeake Bay area had a lot of influence in the President making this decision.
Posted by: Ken | November 1, 2011, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Ken (10:08 AM); No, ” it’s about helping to create jobs and grow the local economy.” Obama said so and I believe everything he says.
Posted by: newcountryman | November 1, 2011, 10:46 am 10:46 am
“According to the White House, the preservation of Fort Monroe will help create nearly 3,000 jobs in Virginia.”
This statement is blatantly false. How does this preservation create jobs that don’t already exist?? Nothing like saving government jobs at the expense of private citizens!!
Posted by: J.R. | November 1, 2011, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
Posted by: J.R. | November 1, 2011, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
It seems like not many of you have been listening to the jobs reports over the past months. :PRIVATE SECTOR jobs have been growing. The government sector has been LOSING jobs.
Posted by: Bart | November 1, 2011, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
If George W. Bush had announced this EXACT designation of a national monument – preserving important national history – Right Wingers would be signing praises. And so would I.
“National parks are responsible for $13.3 billion of local, private-sector economic activity nationwide, supporting 267,000 private-sector jobs.”
In the alternate Right Wing universe is designating a new national monument some how “bad” simply because it involved this President? By the way, where are the GOP promised jobs jobs jobs?
Posted by: green.goddess | November 1, 2011, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
“By the way, where are the GOP promised jobs jobs jobs?” – green.goddess
According to Bart, the poster right above you,
“PRIVATE SECTOR jobs have been growing. The government sector has been LOSING jobs.” – Bart
Looks like the GOP jobs are already showing up Greenie, you just aren’t paying attention.
Posted by: Noz | November 1, 2011, 11:18 pm 11:18 pm
The author needs to check their history. Ft. Monroe wasn’t built untill the 1800′s so there is no way slaves could have been brought there in the 1600′s. The first slaves were actually brought to Jamestown which is also part of the National Park Service.
Posted by: cg | November 2, 2011, 8:59 am 8:59 am