Posted on 07/05/2016 6:56:54 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Toward the end of a fiery speech endorsing Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, President Barack Obama asked his pumped-up audience in North Carolina for permission to speak candidly.
"Let me be blunt. I want to be blunt. Can I be blunt?" Obama said, before appearing to make up his mind. "I'm going to be blunt."
Obama then alluded to Clinton’s struggles on the campaign trail — "you know, Hillary's got her share of critics" — before offering what he previewed as his frank explanation of Clinton’s high unfavorable ratings:
That's what happens when you're somebody who's actually in the arena. That's what happens when you fight for what you believe in. That's what happens when you've dedicated yourself to public service over the course of a lifetime. And what sets Hillary apart from so many others is she never stopped caring, she never stopped trying.
You know, we're a new country, so we like new things. And I've benefited from that culture, let's face it. When I came on the scene in '08, everybody said, ‘Well, he's new.’ They don't say that now because I'm not. But sometimes we take somebody who's been in the trenches and fought the good fight and been steady for granted.
Now, it’s not clear what here exactly amounts to being "blunt." Yes, Obama is implicitly acknowledging that he was somewhat helped to the White House by virtue of being a fresh face. But he’s using that slightly self-deprecating line to ultimately bolster Clinton.
Obama is arguing that Clinton is unpopular simply because she’s been fighting the good fight for a long time — not because of the swirl of scandal around her or her husband, and not because of anything intrinsic about her personality or policy.
That theory is unlikely to be persuasive to Clinton’s Republican critics — not to mention quite a few Bernie Sanders die-hards. But it seems crucial for understanding Obama’s endorsement of Clinton, because it fits naturally with the president’s larger explanation for throwing his support behind her.
Clinton’s biggest vulnerability as the flip side of her biggest strength
In Obama’s telling, Clinton has been hammered unfairly because she’s spent so long in the public eye fighting for what she believes in.
But while the exposure of more than 30 years in politics may be Clinton’s most obvious political vulnerability, the president also maintained it’s one of the best reasons for her candidacy.
At multiple points in his speech, Obama spoke at length about just how impressed he was by the breadth and sweep of Clinton’s knowledge on a range of policy issues. At one point, he said there’s never been a more qualified candidate in US history. Again and again, Obama cited the same range of experiences held by Clinton — as first lady, as US senator, as secretary of state — that were also openings for the attacks against her.
"[Clinton] has seen up close what's involved in making those decisions. She's seen the consequences of things working well and things not working well," Obama said. "And there has never been any man or woman more qualified for this office than Hillary Clinton. And that's the truth. The bottom line is that I know Hillary can do the job."
Here’s Obama:
Sometimes we act as if never having done something and not knowing what you're doing is a virtue. We don't do that, by the way, for airline pilots. We don't do that for surgeons. But for some reason, we think for president of the United States, I don't know, who's that guy? Come on.
So, as a consequence, you know, that means that sometimes Hillary doesn't get the credit she deserves. But the fact is, Hillary is steady and Hillary is true.
In Obama’s explanation, Clinton’s weaknesses as a candidate aren’t divorced from her likely strengths as a president. They’re the other side of the same coin.
Is this before or after Obama turned into a Stuttering mess AGAIN ?
So the plan is for Hillary to ride Obama’s coat tails.
She's a Lying, Criminal B**ch!
...and mush-headed non thinker gigs meats believe this traitorous criminal fraud. Pathetic.
He’s more likely to be caught smoking a blunt.
I saw one minute of this dog and pony show and had to turn it off. The acting was so bad and the low info voters behind them were eating it up, much like a dog takes to eating feces.
And her husband's.
That appearance together today was nothing more than a giant FU to all of us.
Obamas way of saying “God Damn America”
Where I come from, this is called “Damning with faint praise.”
(She’s boring and crooked and everybody hates her; but, that’s just because she’s been boring and crooked and despicable for a long time.)
If Obama thinks all Hillary’s bad points are really good points, then obviously: “He don’t know shit from Shinola.”
Does he seriously think this line of BS is going to win her a single vote? He’s losin’ it, like the pedophile husband. These people are absolute poison, and everyone that touches them is going to see whatever reputation they may have go swirling down the porcelain utensil.
Reading Obama’s quote it strikes me the people who listen to this nonsense are the same people who love really bad movies.
Because after saying “let me be blunt” it seems Obama could have strung together whatever shallow banality he wanted, and let’s just say his audiences are not exactly critical thinkers.
His explanation of Hillary being disliked couldn’t be any less substantive.
Wow. That mental midget can use soooo many words and say nothing!
While she is making sandwiches for both of them. Wonderful feminist optics.
While she is making sandwiches for both of them. Wonderful feminist optics.
Come to think of it, this would make a pretty good political cartoon.
It probably doesn’t help that she’s an unapologetic crook and liar.
I am not going to read the article as I have NO respect for the President’s opinion.
Hillery is evil. The things she pushes for are evil. Good men resist evil.
Simple.
I seem to remember Peggy Noonan’s saying about a year ago that Hillary wasn’t running a campaign, but a “silent movie of a campaign.”
Did it include such Buckley-esque quotes like, “ If-if-if-if-if-if-if-if-if-if-if-if we fall for, you know, a bunch of okey-doke, just because, you know it-it-it. You know, it-it-it-it-it-it,,,,”
Isn’t BO going to Martha’s Vineyard soon. He’s just horrendous. Had to turn it off the minute he came on. Please go away BO and take Hillary with you.
All one ever hears, endlessly, about Hillary and Obama, and any other Democrat, is how smart they are.
Weirdly, one never actually hears them say something smart.
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