Biden's Bedroom-Wall Story, a Screeching Microphone and a Jobs Number Later Cut in Half (July 7, 2023)

President Joe Biden came to the East Room to talk about health care costs and soon took a detour into his childhood. “We lived in a three-bedroom house with four kids and a grandpop, a split-level home,” he said. His sister, “the princess,” had her own room, and the three boys shared bunks [1].

“My parents’ bed, headboard, was against that—where that closet was. And every once in a while, rarely, my—you could hear—you could hear sort of a restlessness going on,” Biden said [1].

The story ended with health insurance. “And one morning, I get up, and I ask—I said, ‘What’s wrong with dad?’ He said that he just got word that his company said they’re no longer going to pay for health insurance; doesn’t know what they’re going to do,” Biden said [1].

The video above shows that part of Biden’s July 7, 2023, remarks. Biden began at 3:48 p.m. and “finished his remarks at 4:06 p.m.,” the White House pool reported [2]. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”Sorry”

The sound system did not cooperate. Early on, the transcript notes, “microphone feedback was heard.” Biden said: “Sorry” [1].

It happened again as he began talking about “Bidenomics.” The transcript records that “As more feedback was heard, the President moved the handheld microphone to a shelf on the podium” [1].

”That’s a Scam”

The event was about short-term insurance plans, which Biden called junk. “As Cory just talked about, junk fee plans are ‘short-term’ health insurances that are supposed to provide a few months of temporary coverage,” he said, referring to Cory Dowd, who introduced him [1].

The pool described Dowd as a “junk insurance enrollee who was left with over $30,000 in medical bills” [2]. Biden blamed his predecessor for the rules. “But the prior administration before me decided to let insurance companies make more money by selling junk plans that are up to 3 years long,” he said. “Under our rule, ‘short-term’ plans would have to be short term. That means 4 months or less, not 3 years” [1].

Partway through, the transcript notes, “The President coughed.” “Excuse me,” Biden said [1].

”Not Since 1960”

Biden touted the job market. “And, folks, the unemployment rate is below 4 percent for 17 straight months. Not since 1960 has that occurred,” he said [1].

It had occurred since 1960. “It was also below 4% for 27 months from November 1967 to January 1970,” PolitiFact reported in June 2023. It found an even longer stretch earlier: “Unemployment was below 4% for 35 straight months, from January 1951 to November 1953” [3].

”I Think 209,000 Jobs”

Biden cited that morning’s jobs report. “We added 200,000 jobs—I think 209,000 jobs last month,” he said [1].

The Bureau of Labor Statistics had reported that “Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 209,000 in June” [4]. Two months later, the number was cut. “The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for June was revised down by 80,000, from +185,000 to +105,000,” the BLS said [5].

”Big Spendin’ Biden”

Biden then defended his spending record. “And I might add: All the talk about I’m ‘Big Spendin’ Biden,’ I lowered the deficit—[ laughter ]—1 trillion 700 billion dollars in the first 2 years. No one has ever done that,” he said [1]. For the pushback on that claim from a reporter months earlier, see HYGO News’ page on the May 30, 2023, briefing.

”He Didn’t Even Patent It”

On insulin, Biden told a story about its inventor. “The guy who invented the insulin—the guy who invented it, he didn’t even patent it because he thought everybody should have access to it. It costs $10 to make,” he said [1]. For the record on the insulin patent, see the page on the Las Vegas speech.

The transcript corrected him twice in this section. He said “we also closed [capped; White House correction]” seniors’ drug costs and referred to “the Centers for Medical [Medicare; White House correction] and Medicaid Services” [1].

”I Don’t Look Like It”

Biden closed on his years in office. “I—know I don’t look like it, but I’ve been around a while. [ Laughter ] But all kidding aside, I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s future than I am today,” he said [1].

”My MAGA Republican Friends”

Biden also told the audience about talks with the other party. “When we were negotiating the issue on whether the Government is going to stay open, I spoke to some of my MAGA Republican friends. It not only—it not only—saves the consumer, it saves every taxpayer. [ Laughter ]” he said [1].

By the Numbers

17: straight months of sub-4% unemployment Biden cited [1].
27: straight months of sub-4% unemployment from 1967 to 1970, per PolitiFact [3].
209,000: June 2023 jobs as first reported [4].
105,000: June 2023 jobs after revision [5].
$1.7 trillion: the deficit cut Biden claimed for his first two years [1].

What Happened Next

The jobs number was halved. By September, the June gain Biden had cited as 209,000 stood at 105,000, according to the BLS [4][5].

Biden kept the unemployment line. Two months later in Largo, Maryland, he claimed “19 straight months of unemployment under 4 percent for the first time in American history” [6]. For that speech, see HYGO News’ page on Largo.