Time and time again, we have heard President Obama make “perfectly clear” that his administration had given a particular issue “top priority” status. In fact, we were beginning to wonder which issues had not been made a “top priority” by the President.  Mark Knoller for CBS News is reporting an unofficial list of the top issues.  Fortunately, with 13 items enumerated, it will give David Letterman plenty of content to pick and choose for a a top ten countdown.

FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS: “…that’s something that’s going to be a top priority.” (4/27/10)

ENERGY SECURITY: “And that’s why my energy security plan has been one of the top priorities of my Administration since the day I took office.” (4/28/10)

EDUCATION REFORM: “To train our workers for the jobs of tomorrow, we’ve made education reform a top priority in this Administration.” (2/24/10)

STUDENT LOAN REFORM: “This is something that I’ve made a top priority.” (2/1/10)

EXPORTS BY SMALL BUSINESSES: “This is going to be a top priority.” (12/3/09)

HEALTH ASSISTANCE TO 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS: “I’m not just talking the talk, we’ve been budgeting this as a top priority for this Administration.” (2/3/10)

END HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS: “I’ve also directed (Veterans Affairs) Secretary Shinseki to focus on a top priority: reducing homeless among veterans.” (8/17/09)

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS: “Our top priority is ensuring the public safety. That means appropriate sheltering in place or if necessary, getting as many people as possible out of harm’s way prior to landfall.” (5/29/09)

H1N1 FLU VACCINATIONS: “And throughout this process, my top priority has been the health and the safety of the American people.” (5/1/09)

SUPPORT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES: “These military families are heroes too. And they are a top priority of Michelle and me. And they will always have our support.” (5/30/09)

STRENTHENING TIES WITH CANADA AND MEXICO: “We’re going to make this a top priority…” (10/16/09)

CONSUMER PROTECTION: “During these challenging times, the needs of American consumers are a top priority of my Administration.” (2/11/09)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: “So this is going to be a top priority generally improving our environmental quality.” (11/5/09)

WASHINGTON: Last fall Joe Wilson got in a bit of hot water for being honest. If you witnessed Obama’s address to the joint session of Congress you’ll remember what it was like. The President called conservatives liars, over and over again. Meanwhile he did some fancy prevaricating of his own. It was just too much to take. If you were watching it live you probably stood out of your chair like we did and called him on it.

Well, it was also too much for Joe. For just a moment Wilson thought he was in the House of Commons and just spoke his mind. Out loud. Do you remember the looks on the Grand Dame Pelosi’s face? Or Harry’s scowl? Both of them being partially senile*, they had probably just forgotten how rude this same body was to George W. Bush when the former President addressed them.

Now it’s time to show our support for Congressman Wilson. The Institute sent a formal letter to his office today, notifying him of Obama’s Prevaricator of the Year™ award. Perhaps if Joe had exclaimed, “You prevaricate!” instead of using the “L” word he might not have gotten into so much trouble. Read more…

All Hail Obama

WASHINGTON: It’s official. Congratulations to Barack Hussein Obama, sole recipient of the 2009 Prevaricator of the Year™. There were some very tough competitors. Recently Janet Napolitano threw her hat in the ring in her famous appearance on CNN, “The System Worked.” Who can forget Mary Landrieu’s classic, “I Can’t Be Bought“? Harry Reid, in his last term as Senator, boldly staked his claim as he smeared the entire Republican party when he blamed them for slavery and civil rights obstruction. Our favorite was the nomination of the entire Democratic caucuses of the House and the Senate. Had we been able to award a joint recipient that nomination may have held sway.

Unlike the Nobel commission who depend on the whims of a politically charged committee, we here at the NIP use a state-of-the-art super computer with a sophisticated, proprietary algorithm to make an unbiased decision.

Since the NIP is publicly funded (thanks to the stimulus package), we were very reluctant to criticize our Commander-in-Chief, as loyal readers well know. However, once we put his name into consideration the computer blew the others out of contention.

It’s been a big year for Obama, winning the Nobel Peace Prize and now the 2009 Prevaricator of the Year™, an award he actually deserves. We offer him our  sincere congratulations.

We won’t attempt to elaborate on Obama’s qualifications, we’ll let him explain it in his own words:

WASHINGTON: One bright reader nominated both Democratic caucuses of the Senate and the House as joint recipients for the 2009 Prevaricator of the Year™. This is in acknowledgement for their fine work on Healthcare and Cap and Trade this year.

Our models were showing their nomination in the lead until a White House staffer nominated President Obama and forwarded this video to us. So it is anyone’s guess at this time who will win in the end.

Let us know who you think should receive the prestigious 2009 Prevaricator of the Year™. We have developed a very advanced proprietary algorithm to make the final decision, but our readers’ nominations are assessed heavy weighting. Email, leave comments here, tweet us, contact us, call us, just get your nominations in before it is too late.

WASHINGTON: 2009 is drawing to a close and nominations are coming in fast and furious for 2009 Prevaricator of the Year™. Since the NIP is publicly funded (thanks to the stimulus package), we are very reluctant to criticize our Commander-in-Chief, as loyal readers well know. For that reason we have told countless readers that President Obama is off limits. One reader was not easily dissuaded and sent us the following video.

Apparently Tom Holbrook at The Examiner also agrees that Obama is a master Prevaricator. You be the judge. Let us know who you think should receive the prestigious 2009 Prevaricator of the Year™. We have developed a very advanced proprietary algorithm to make the final decision, but our readers’ nominations are assessed heavy weighting. Email, leave comments here, tweet us, contact us, call us, just get your nominations in before it is too late.

2009 Update: Time is drawing to a close for this year’s Prevaricator of the Year™. This has been a banner year for the prevarication industry. The stimulus funding, bailouts, omnibus spending bills, earmarks, cap and trade, healthcare, FCC regulations, Czars, etc., all have vaulted their proponents to the top of the prevarication charts. It may be recession in many other industries but business is booming here at the NIP.

Some of the leaders in the race for 2009 P.O.T.Y.: Barack Obama. One nomination read, “every time his lips move.” We thought that cute, but maybe be a tad excessive. Other favorites: Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Balloon Boy Richard Heene, a certain unnamed golfer, and a group nomination which shall not be named at this point.

Most folks have used our contact form to nominate their favorite liar. Some have left comments, and surprisingly quite a few tweeted their favorites. Many have asked if we use a straight vote from readers, or whether a panel makes the decision. One reader from Colorado asked if he could be on the panel. The answer is actually none of the above. We have developed a very advanced proprietary algorithm to make the final decision, but our readers’ nominations are assessed heavy weighting.

2010 is looming so get your nominations in. Email, leave comments here, tweet us, contact us, call us, just get your nominations in before it is too late.

WASHINGTON: In a race to nail down a top spot in the NIP Prevaricator of the Year Awards™ the Clinton handlers have contacted the NIP to stake their claim on the 1998 Posthumorous category. We here at the NIP agree with them that 1998 holds a special place in the heart of all prevaricator watchers for his statement, recorded in grand jury testimony leading up to impeachment proceedings:

“It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is. If the–if he–if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not–that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement….Now, if someone had asked me on that day, are you having any kind of sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky, that is, asked me a question in the present tense, I would have said no. And it would have been completely true.” Footnote 1128 in Starr Report

Classic obfuscation. Trivial by modern congressional standards of course, but noteworthy due to the statement’s notoriety. (The NIP wishes today’s Congress would police themselves as well as they policed President Clinton back in 1998.)

So Mr. President, 1998 belongs to you.