Obama refuses to buy American again

As many Americans lose their homes and put up the house for a second mortgage, Hillary Clinton is spending $5.4 million to buy new crystal stemware for American embassies. But don't expect that money to help boost the American economy.

The contract was given to a tiny Washington, DC, interior designer, which in turn subcontracted the crystal work to a Swedish firm -- snubbing such US companies as the famous manufacturer in Clinton's own back yard, Steuben Crystal of upstate Corning.

The firm didn't even get a chance to bid on the contract, which will outfit embassies and ambassadors' residences with fancy crystal for ritzy functions.

Ironically, under the no-bid contract, some of the crystal is to be custom-crafted to include the seal of the United States, although Swedes will do all of the manufacturing.

This isn't the first time the Obama Administration has refused to buy American with taxpayer money. One of the many "green jobs" programs in the stimulus plan spent $2.1 million funding wind energy and the construction of new windmills. But 80% of the money went to foreign manufacturers and was thus lost to the American economy.