Washington Post Calls Out Obama Over Ohio River Bridges

In a fact-check of President Obama's recent speech, The Washington Post scolded the president for using old talking points and incorrectly identifying the Sherman Minton Bridge as closed while lashing out at Republican leaders. On Monday, Mr. Obama once again criticized Speaker John Boehner, R-Oh., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., about the Brent Spence Bridge connecting their states before a conference of union workers. The president visited the span for the symbolism last year to rally for his jobs bill, but as the fact checker noted, the Obama administration has failed to explain how the legislation would pay for fixing the span considering it spends most money in 2013 and the Brent Spence is not slated for construction until 2015. Later in the speech, President Obama alluded to the Sherman Minton Bridge connecting Kentucky and Indiana as another example, saying it is still shut down. But as local commuters are well aware the span has been back open since February. From The Washington Post: But then he upped the ante by mentioning other bridges “between Kentucky and Ohio” that “don’t work.” So what’s he talking about? An administration official said the president was referring to the Sherman Milton Bridge, which actually connects Indiana and Kentucky, near Louisville...The bridge carries Interstate 64, so the bridge’s closure forced drivers to make major changes in their driving routes. Shortly after the shutdown, a Transportation Department blog declared that this bridge was “another example of why this [the president’s jobs bill] is so crucial.” But here’s the rub: While Obama claimed “these bridges don’t work,” the Sherman Milton Bridge has already been repaired, ahead of schedule, and motorists are driving over it again.The newspaper gave Mr. Obama "Four Pinocchios" for using the symbolism of deteriorating bridges over the Ohio River without having many facts to stand on.