But if Obama takes some time away from politicking at the University of Michigan today, the state of Michigan could teach this ex-professor an important lesson.

As Rick Snyder and his Republican colleagues have proven over the last year, it is possible for an elected official to keep his promises. It's possible to balance a budget, turn a deficit into a surplus, and implement pro-growth tax reform. Michigan Republicans have done all of that and more. Compare that to Barack Obama's record -- his record of failed promises.

On the economy, jobs, the debt, the deficit, housing, health care, energy and ethics, the president has failed to keep his promises to Michigan and to America. It's no surprise that 62 percent of Michiganians disapproved of his job performance in a November poll. The contrast between his promises and his record is startling.

Obama promised in 2009 that his $825 billion stimulus would keep the unemployment rate below 8 percent. Not only did unemployment soar past 8 percent, it hasn't been back since. Obama promised that green energy investment would create millions of jobs. But after his administration made a half-billion dollar loan to one "green energy" company, Solyndra, the company went bankrupt and laid off more than a thousand workers.

The president promised to cut the deficit in half by the end of his term. Then he produced three record budget deficits over 1 trillion dollars each. He once called adding $4 trillion to the national debt "unpatriotic," but he's added over $4.6 trillion to the debt in just three years.

With his housing program, Obama promised to save 9 million families from foreclosure. Yet more than 7 million properties have received foreclosure filings since he took office.
Michigan is the final stop on President Obama's cross-country, five-state tour. Setting aside his presidential duties, he's back to what he really loves: campaigning.

He promised Obamacare would cut families' health insurance premiums "by $2,500." Premiums increased by 9 percent last year. It turns out the "Affordable Care Act" wasn't so affordable.

On the campaign trail in 2008, Obama said that now is the time to end our addiction to foreign oil. But last year, he admitted that his energy policy is "just a hodgepodge" and that "we're not where we need to be." And just last week, he blocked the Keystone pipeline project, which would have provided a safe and secure source of affordable energy.

Obama promised to change the way business is done in Washington and issued a ban on lobbyists in his administration. He then promptly broke it. After he vowed lobbyists would not "find a job in my White House," the White House hired nearly 100 of them.