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Ben Stein To O’Reilly: Obama Not A Smart Man, Not In ‘Same League Of Presidential Genius’ As Nixon
Mediaite ^ | May 16, 2012 | Meenal Vamburkar

Posted on 05/16/2012 8:30:17 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Bill O’Reilly spoke to economist Ben Stein about a potential Mitt Romney presidency, as well as what Stein thinks of President Barack Obama. Going beyond wanting Romney to win, Stein said Obama isn’t particularly smart. Smarter than “the average bear,” but not of the likes of President Richard Nixon.

Stein began by speaking about he riots in Greece, warning those who think it can’t happen in America. Young people without jobs who are angry, and have nothing better to do, may riot, he said. It’s “fun for them. They can be provoked into doing it at a drop of a hat.”

O’Reilly then pivoted to the question of a Romney White House, saying it’s inevitable that he would make huge cuts in government spending. Stein responded saying he would like Romney to win, but doesn’t think he will because Obama will “swamp” him in terms of fundraising. But of course there would be cuts, he said:

And the people will be whipped up by a frenzy by people at MSNBC and elsewhere, at least that’s my prediction. There will be rioting in the streets and they won’t even need MSNBC. They will be whipped up into a frenzy by their local friends and family. They’ll go out and riot and we will see things like we saw in Greece here in America. Then I don’t know what we’ll do.

Finally, O’Reilly asked, “Barack Obama is a smart man, you would say that, right? He is a smart man?” Stein replied, “No, I wouldn’t say that.” He added, “I wouldn’t say is he a smart man. [...] not in the same league of presidential genius as Nixon, for example. But he is smarter than the average bear as they say.”

Take a look, via Fox News:

(VIDEO AT LINK)


TOPICS: Government; History; Politics; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: benstein; bor; europeanunion; france; germany; greece; obama; richardnixon; romney; unitedkingdom
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If Gov. Romney were to sign a pledge to appoint conservative justices and judges, protect the 2nd Amendment and the unborn and cut back entitlements, I'd raise up to a million dollars for him.

Ben is right: President Nixon (and Reagan) were much smarter than this cipher.

1 posted on 05/16/2012 8:30:27 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Just saw this, Ben Stein actually was annying, saying Obama will win because he is a formidable campaigner and will outraise Romney.

Whereas imho BHO is an unctious bore.


2 posted on 05/16/2012 8:34:44 PM PDT by Williams (Nobama)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Why did Al Franken win Ben Stein’s money in his 2008 senate race?


3 posted on 05/16/2012 8:35:14 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I bet BOR didn’t like that statement.


4 posted on 05/16/2012 8:37:01 PM PDT by MNDude
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To: Paleo Conservative

He won Ben’s money as did BHO.

Stein is a moron.


5 posted on 05/16/2012 8:55:02 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (FR: Now, More Than Ever.)
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To: Williams

He may win. He won in 2008. Many are invested in him having a second term: Crony capitalists, radicals, blacks, homosexuals, welfare layabouts, illegals, union members, teachers, etc.


6 posted on 05/16/2012 8:59:34 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Ich habe keinen Konig aber Gott)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Stein took the words right out of my mouth. I don’t think Obama is Patty Murray-dumb, but I’ve not seen one single, solitary thing in the past 3+ years to suggest he’s the “philosopher-king” he was presented as in 2008. I also agree he’s nowhere near Nixon in terms of political genius. Whatever faults Tricky Dick had, that man had an intuitive grasp of politics, especially foreign affairs, that few could hope to match.

I disagree with Stein on the fundraising issue, though. I think Romney will be far more competitive in the fight for campaign cash than Stein thinks.


7 posted on 05/16/2012 9:20:44 PM PDT by DemforBush (A Repo man is *always* intense!)
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To: DemforBush

Especially after you add in Karl Rove’s SuperPAC and all the other outside money.


8 posted on 05/16/2012 9:22:49 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Ich habe keinen Konig aber Gott)
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To: DemforBush

Don’t sell Braky short. I have always thought that he is plenty dumb, maybe even Biden class stupid.


9 posted on 05/16/2012 9:36:56 PM PDT by jospehm20
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If by riot, he means getting together with some musicians and playing some good music and drinking beer all day, then I’m down for that kind of riot.

If he means the type of riot where you break things that people pay money for, trying to fight cops and getting arrested and possibly shot, then I’ll pass every day of the year for the rest of my life. I prefer a different type of riot.


10 posted on 05/16/2012 9:46:45 PM PDT by wastedyears ("God? I didn't know he was signed onto the system.")
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To: Williams

Stein kinda has a point when you have one of Hollywood’s biggest actors host a $10,000 per plate gathering.


11 posted on 05/16/2012 9:55:54 PM PDT by wastedyears ("God? I didn't know he was signed onto the system.")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I think that Obama is a kept man, like a prostitute. As long as he stirs up the simple, and looks good, they let him live a life of perks and pleasure. It doesn’t take tons of brains to be a prostitute, especially one with a teleprompter to speak off from.


12 posted on 05/16/2012 9:57:25 PM PDT by Bellflower (The LORD is Holy, separated from all sin, perfect, righteous, high and lifted up.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
How can anyone call Obama dumb?? If he's dumb, there isn't any hope for the country. He won. How smart are we. How do you think he won the Presidency?? He took advantage of every opportunity that was available at the time along with convincing people with a lot of money to push his candidacy in 2008. He convinced people like Oprah to give him millions. That's stupid???
Don't get me wrong. To me every word he utters is a lie. Every thought that goes through his mind is Anti-American. He is a Muslim without doubt and doesn't get any grief about it. I think he will lose in a landslide and have stated it here before. To me he is despicable as President, but stupid he is not.
13 posted on 05/16/2012 9:59:55 PM PDT by bramps
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

He’s right. BO is not bright at all.


14 posted on 05/16/2012 10:04:35 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: bramps

What’s your opinion of Sarah Palin, Dan Quayle and George W. Bush?


15 posted on 05/16/2012 10:09:02 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Ich habe keinen Konig aber Gott)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
If Gov. Romney were to sign a pledge to appoint conservative justices and judges, protect the 2nd Amendment and the unborn and cut back entitlements, I'd raise up to a million dollars for him.

And what are you going to do when that worthless, back-stabbing flip-flopping liberal goes back on his word?

Don't expect your check back.

16 posted on 05/16/2012 10:19:29 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Windflier

It wouldn’t be “my” check, it’d be money I raised through phone calls. If Mr. Romney, or anyone else had to rely on my checkbook, they couldn’t run for dogcatcher in Bugtussle.


17 posted on 05/16/2012 10:28:05 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (Ich habe keinen Konig aber Gott)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Barack not a smart man? With all that Columbia and Harvard education?

I find that very hard to believe.
18 posted on 05/16/2012 10:33:17 PM PDT by Jay Santos CP ("Idiocracy"... It's no longer just a movie.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It wouldn’t be “my” check, it’d be money I raised through phone calls.

Please don't evade the point. I wouldn't give Romney a bent penny for any campaign promise he makes, signed or otherwise. The man's a weather vane without a moral compass.

19 posted on 05/16/2012 10:33:50 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: jospehm20

Ha! Fair point, FRiend! :-)


20 posted on 05/16/2012 10:37:50 PM PDT by DemforBush (A Repo man is *always* intense!)
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