I Admit It: I Was Wrong To Have Supported Barack Obama

Telegraph(UK) ^ | June 15, 2010 | Daniel Hannan

[Steelfish]

I Admit It: I Was Wrong To Have Supported Barack Obama

Daniel Hannan June 14th, 2010

There’s little point, I know, in reminding readers that my support for Barack Obama was qualified; that I simultaneously endorsed GOP Congressional candidates; that I never saw Obama as a messiah and, indeed, was repelled by the millenarian fervour of his supporters. Nor is there much purpose in rehearsing John McCain’s shortcomings. The fact remains that I backed the Democrat.

I was wrong. Not that Obama is without his good points, obviously. His commitment to school choice is unfeigned. His foreign policy has been a jolly sight cheaper than McCain’s would have been. The election of a mixed-race president who opposed the Iraq war has made the USA slightly more popular.

None of these advantages, however, can make up for the single most important fact of Obama’s presidency, namely that the federal government is 30 per cent larger than it was two years ago

This is not entirely Obama’s fault, of course. The credit crunch occurred during the dying days of the Bush administration, and it was the 43rd president who began the baleful policy of bail-outs and pork-barrel stimulus packages. But it was Obama who massively extended that policy against united Republican opposition. It was he who chose, in defiance of public opinion, to establish a state-run healthcare system. It was he who presumed to tell private sector employees what they could earn, he who adopted the asinine cap-and-trade rules, and he who re-federalised social security, thereby reversing the single most beneficial reform of the Clinton years.

These errors are not random. They amount to a comprehensive strategy of Europeanisation: Euro-carbon taxes, Euro-disarmament, Euro-healthcare, Euro-welfare, Euro-spending levels, Euro-tax levels and, inevitably, Euro-unemployment levels.

[chris37]

It is much, much too late for regret.

[Tublecane]

“His commitment to school choice is unfeigned”

This basically amounts to his occasionally saying charter schools are okay. Big deal. If Obama was serious, he’d push for it. Just like Bush pushed in the opposite direction with No Child Blah Blah-blah.

[Retired Greyhound]

Inexcusable.

[Exit148]

I’m surprised that Hannan was a supporter of O in the first place. Glad he couldn’t vote. But am happy he is coming forth. At least I respect that. Can’t say the same for Noonan.

[spokeshave]

His commitment to school choice is unfeigned”

Yeah...like the Chicago schools are the best in the nation....after 0bambi and Ayres got through $140mill that was supposed to boost Chicago schools.

[clamper1797]

I was wrong to help destroy the country ...

way to little ... way too late

[sodpoodle]

****No one denies that Obama was dealt a rotten economic hand; but he has played it ineptly. His policies are serving to make his country poorer, less free and less respected. And that is a problem for all of us.****

He has the cards he wanted - and playing them accordingly.

[jospehm20]

I am sure there are states he could have voted in and probably did. Just sayin’.

[Puppage]

There’s little point, I know, in reminding readers that my support for Barack Obama was qualified

Yeah? Name me ONE accomplishment of Obama either as a state or US Senator, Danny.

Qualified my arse.

[D1X1E]

He says he is sorry for his support of Obama but then goes on to cite several instances in which he seems to be saying saying “well Obama is not that bad”. Obama is sorry and so are his supporters and I do not mean sorry as in apologetic.

[Dryman]

Interesting opinions from a journalist.

Kinda like telling the legitimate citizens of Israel to “get the Hell out”.

I am upset that I wasted part of my life reading the ignorant slut’s rant.

[Mr. K]

Gee, I wonder who TOLD YOU THIS BEFORE THE ELECTION?

[ScottinVA]

The election of a mixed-race president who opposed the Iraq war has made the USA slightly more popular.

Sh*t like this just irritates the hell out of me. I DON'T CARE WHETHER PEOPLE LIKE US!! I WANT THEM TO RESPECT AND FEAR US!!!!!

[Dryman]

So very sorry.

I meant to post on another article.

I like this guy.

Should have been under Is it too late to give Texas Back to Mexico.

[Dryman]

Interesting opinions from a journalist.

Kinda like telling the legitimate citizens of Israel to “get the Hell out”.

I am upset that I wasted part of my life reading the ignorant slut’s rant.

[abigailsmybaby]

His commitment to school choice is unfeigned

What the hell is he talking about? One of the first things Obama did was revoke vouchers for kids in DC to go to the school of their choice.

[FrdmLvr]

He actually defunded a program that allowed inner city children to use vouchers to attend private schools didn’t he? Doesn’t really go along with a philosophy that endorses school choice.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Commitment to school choice?

Obama's School Choice

On Tuesday, Mr. Obama spoke of the "historic investment in education" in the stimulus bill, which included a staggering, few-strings-attached $140 billion to the Department of Education over two years. But he also noted that "our schools don't just need more resources; they need more reform," and he expressed support for charter schools and other policies that "open doors of opportunity for our children."

If he means what he says, Mr. Obama won't let his fellow Democrats consign 1,700 more poor kids to failing schools he'd never dream of letting his own daughters attend.

Senate vote means end of DC Opportunity Scholarship Program

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday opted to kill D.C.’s federally funded school voucher program rather than risk sinking the $410 billion omnibus spending bill that will fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Congress funds $14 million a year in vouchers, which supporters say offer students a way out of a failing public education system. Participants are “thriving,” said Ensign, who accused the program’s critics of buckling to teachers unions.

The effort is worth evaluating and perhaps continuing, but there are too many unsettled questions — student success, school safety and teacher quality among them — to extend it through an appropriations bill, said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. And District leaders, who are being left out of the conversation, ought to have a role in the conversation rather than be used “as our laboratory.”

Once again, Obama is a FAILURE!!! And Durbin would rather keep students in a FAILING PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM than try something like school privitization.

The Public School System is a forewarning to a Public Healthcare System!

[Danae]

Poor baby.

Now get to work, the man you voted for needs your wages schmuck.