Changes

The day after [[Barack Obama]] was sworn in, on January 21, 2009, an [[economist]] and [[television]] host of ''Mad Money'', Jim Cramer, created a stock index to track the new president's progress. Cramer chose companies that operated in the very sectors that needed the most help, and he suggested their performance would tell [[Americans]] how effective Obama had been and whether or not his plans to save the economy had worked. Solely based on the performance of the [[stock market]], Cramer created the "Obama Accountability Index."<ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/id/28753120 Cramer's 'State of the Market' Address], CNBC's ''Mad Money'', Jan. 21, 2009.</ref> It consisted of six stocks: Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Caterpillar (CAT), [[General Electric]] (GE), [[General Motors]] (GM) and JPMorgan chase (JPM). It’s an equal-weighted index that starts at 100, using closing prices on the day the index was created as a baseline. Cramer said, "This index will grade Obama’s success as president. If he fails, so does the stock market."<ref>[http://derekerwin.blogspot.com/2009/02/obama-lied-our-economy-died.html Obama Lied, Our Economy Died], A 1-In-100 Blogger, February 2009.</ref>  

The day after [[Barack Obama]] was sworn in, on January 21, 2009, an [[economist]] and [[television]] host of ''Mad Money'', Jim Cramer, created a stock index to track the new president's progress. Cramer chose companies that operated in the very sectors that needed the most help, and he suggested their performance would tell [[Americans]] how effective Obama had been and whether or not his plans to save the economy had worked. Solely based on the performance of the [[stock market]], Cramer created the "Obama Accountability Index."<ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/id/28753120 Cramer's 'State of the Market' Address], CNBC's ''Mad Money'', Jan. 21, 2009.</ref> It consisted of six stocks: Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Caterpillar (CAT), [[General Electric]] (GE), [[General Motors]] (GM) and JPMorgan chase (JPM). It’s an equal-weighted index that starts at 100, using closing prices on the day the index was created as a baseline. Cramer said, "This index will grade Obama’s success as president. If he fails, so does the stock market."<ref>[http://derekerwin.blogspot.com/2009/02/obama-lied-our-economy-died.html Obama Lied, Our Economy Died], A 1-In-100 Blogger, February 2009.</ref>  

On February 20, 2009, Jim Cramer graded the president's ability to rejuvenate the economy, based on the ''Obama Accountability Index''. Reviewing Obama's 30-Day Report Card, Cramer said, "Well, the index is down 35% since January 21, the day it was created. The S&P 500 over that same period has declined just 8%."<ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/id/29308202/ Obama's 30-Day Report Card], CNBC, Feb. 20, 2009.</ref> So Obama, at least according to Cramer’s portfolio, wasn't doing too well.

On February 20, 2009, Jim Cramer graded the president's ability to rejuvenate the economy, based on the ''Obama Accountability Index''. Reviewing Obama's 30-Day Report Card, Cramer said, "Well, the index is down 35% since January 21, the day it was created. The S&P 500 over that same period has declined just 8%."<ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/id/29308202/ Obama's 30-Day Report Card], CNBC, Feb. 20, 2009.</ref> So Obama, at least according to Cramer’s portfolio, wasn't doing too well.<ref>Jim Cramer. [http://www.madmoneyrecap.com/madmoney_nightlyrecap_022009_3.htm Opening Segment #3: 'Make The Grade'], February 20, 2009.</ref>

On July 8, 2009, Jim Cramer on ''Mad Money'' again graded the performance of Obama's administration and economic policies against the performance of the stock market. He commented, "The same force that so hurt the markets this [[winter]] has yet again reared its ugly head: the [[White House|White House’s]] anti-business rhetoric. [...] Investors don’t seem to trust President Obama to create jobs and stimulate the economy, not when he prioritizes [[global warming|climate change]] and [[ObamaCare|health care]]." Moreover, the ''Mad Money Obama Accountability Index'' score had dropped to 96.1 from its starting point of 100.<ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/id/31802202/site/14081545 Cramer: Obama Hurting the Economy], CNBC, July 8, 2009.</ref> He urged Obama to postpone his agenda in favor of boosting the economy. "Without more job creation," Cramer said, "the president’s agenda and his tone will continue to slowly and inexorably squeeze the life out of this stock market."<ref>Rush Limbaugh. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031009/content/01125108.guest.html The Founders Wanted Presidents to Fail If They Deserved To Fail], RushLimbaugh.com, March 10, 2009.</ref>

On July 8, 2009, Jim Cramer on ''Mad Money'' again graded the performance of Obama's administration and economic policies against the performance of the stock market. He commented, "The same force that so hurt the markets this [[winter]] has yet again reared its ugly head: the [[White House|White House’s]] anti-business rhetoric. [...] Investors don’t seem to trust President Obama to create jobs and stimulate the economy, not when he prioritizes [[global warming|climate change]] and [[ObamaCare|health care]]." Moreover, the ''Mad Money Obama Accountability Index'' score had dropped to 96.1 from its starting point of 100.<ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/id/31802202/site/14081545 Cramer: Obama Hurting the Economy], CNBC, July 8, 2009.</ref> He urged Obama to postpone his agenda in favor of boosting the economy. "Without more job creation," Cramer said, "the president’s agenda and his tone will continue to slowly and inexorably squeeze the life out of this stock market."<ref>Rush Limbaugh. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031009/content/01125108.guest.html The Founders Wanted Presidents to Fail If They Deserved To Fail], RushLimbaugh.com, March 10, 2009.</ref>

As the stock market roared ahead over the summer, Cramer did not congratulate Obama but instead quietly dropped his index; when it went above 100 it proved how wrong he was.

Since July, 2009, the S&P 500 increased back to levels that the stock market was at approximately around the time of Obama's inauguration; however, only five of the six stocks in the Obama Accountability Index increased, G.M.'s stock now represents the company's bankruptcy estate, and has thrashed the OAI. Because so much time has passed since Cramer's previous update on Obama's stock index, it has been argued that he quietly dropped the OAI. Others contend it may resurface during a segment on ''Mad Money'' around the time of Obama's 1-year mark as [[President of the United States]].

 

== Criticism ==

== Criticism ==

=== Wachovia ===

=== Wachovia ===