With my tongue firmly in-cheek, I wonder whether Peter Wehner isn’t being a little bit harsh in his assessment of President Obama’s handling of the economy. After all, while it is true 2.5 million fewer Americans are employed than when Obama was sworn in, Obama promised both to create and save jobs. Shouldn’t the promise to save jobs count for anything?

Certainly, tens of millions Americans remain employed despite greater debt and more onerous regulation. If only one American retains his job despite onerous government regulation, poorly timed government intervention, and the uncertainty created by an ever more complicated tax code, then we must applaud Obama.  Further, Peter unfairly judges Obama on his record in just 50 states.  He conveniently ignores the fact Obama has promised to be president for all 57 states. The economy in those other seven states—the ones without socialized health care, lower tax rates, and less stimulus spending—is probably much better.  All you have to do is consider the chart on which Obama campaigned.

Peter also castigates the president for a record $1.65 trillion deficit this year and a record $14.3 trillion debt. But during his campaign, Obama told Joe the Plumber, “I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” The press simply failed to pick up on the fact Obama was using “everybody” as a term of affection for China. And, even if we must pay more taxes than we can afford, and impede the American economy in the process, raising any concern is simply “selfish,” as Vice President Joe Biden explained.

So what if the government is encroaching on whole industries in a manner which deleteriously impacts both the health and the finances of ordinary Americans?  In the words of the president, “UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? It’s the Post Office that’s always having problems.”  Well, let’s not think about the implication of that statement too much.

By judging Obama on his record rather than on his rhetoric and by providing a factual basis to the frustration that comes from seeing the American treasury and American taxpayers pillaged, J’accuse Peter: Perhaps he is one of those Americans who, in the words of our president, “cling to guns or religion” more than worship at the idol of the president. If only we had more of them–although, I suspect we will come 2012.