Obama Tax Day Speech...Game, Set, Match Against Tea Parties

FR | 4-15-09 | Bob J

[Bob J]

I haven't even attended my local TP yet, but Obama has already pre-empted them with a speech that effectively moves the discussion away from the TP issues to his own, tax breaks (some) to the majority of taxpayers (50% don't pay any taxes at all), taking away tax breaks for the rich (resonates with most voters) and streamlining the tax code (won't happen but sounds good).

Sorry TP organizers, but you only have yourself to blame for framing these rallies based on taxes in general instead of focusing them on 1. the criminal activity that spawned the economic crisis, 2. out of control government borrowing, 3. the deficit and 4. who/how it is going to be paid.

Tea Party participants know what they are about, but those who don't won't have a clue and now Obama's comments will be thrown in the face of every point you try to make. If the purpose of the TP's was team building then that may still get accomplished, but if it was bringing your message to the masses then that might now get a little harder.

I hope I'm wrong, but the Obama Admin was ready for this and might have effectively muted the message and effectiveness of this first volley from the TP'ers.

A pilot has to know the condition of his ship.

[been_lurking]

Anyone who doesn’t think this is media game is fooling themselves.

Anyone who thinks conservative ideas would ever get a fair shake from the media is fooling themselves.

[steve-b]

[wbill]

IMHO, the story here is not the "Tea Party" or "Tax Protests" or "Tantrums" or whatever nomenclature the MSM is currently using. It's the fact that 10's of thousands of conservatives are marching in the street, calling for change. This is no perma-college student Rent-a-Mob. These are people who get things done. People who are employers, taxpayers, voters, campaign-contributors.....

Getting conservatives to agree on anything is like herding cats. However, here are massive bodies of them, more-or-less marching in lockstep on an issue.

Those people have representatives that run for election .....yep. If I was employed by the gov't....especially an elected official....I'd be scared for my job.

[jveritas]

Bob

The liberal media was not going to cover the tea parties in any positive light and in fact they were not going to cover it all with or without Obama speech on taxes, a speech that is full lies.

[jveritas]

Bob

The liberal media was not going to cover the tea parties in any positive light and in fact they were not going to cover it all with or without Obama speech on taxes, a speech that is full of lies.

[Minus_The_Bear]

This isn’t about taxes. Nice talking point. Parrot.

[jveritas]

100% correct. Conservatives should stop hoping for a fair shake from the media. The media is going out of business because they are supporting left wing liberalism and socialism and they still do not give a damn about losing business. They are sacrificing themselves on the altar of socialism and liberalism and yet some conservatives still expect the media to be fair to them.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Is Bob J’s last name Dole?

[NEMDF]

I disagree. I don’t think the liberals care to try to understand what it is about. I think the people who are participating in the tea parties are trying to send a message about government spending, “big government”, etc. I do not think it has been promoted as being just about taxes.

[NEMDF]

Might as well take yourself a frickin’ white flag then. geeez

[RedRover]

Trust the genius of the People.

The times they are a-changing.

[Owl558]

Wow, one speech and you fold like a scared bunnie.

Hopefully, the rest of us who turn out will have a little more fortitude.

Thankfully, our forefathers didn’t have your defeatist attitude.

Buck up, man!

[bfree]

Bob, this is just the beginning. The old silent majority is beginning to awaken to what has happened to the country.
Protesting has now become mainstream, not just reserved for the far left.

[madamemayhem]

nothing oblabo says changes a simple fact.
extreme spending
extreme stupidity
extreme arrogance
we the people want the extremists out of our government.

[Sequoyah101]

I thought he or Glibbs said he didn’t know about Tea Parties or wasn’t paying attention to them.

[fooman]

Bob J is not trying dissuade anyone. He is just trying to help us focus our message. He has been part of movement conservatism for decades...

[gibsosa]

Well, then, let’s all just sit down and shut up....

[Bob J]

Thanks, of course I support the TP’s. My only concern all along has been the diluted message and the organizers having to spend their precious media time defending attacks rather than pushing the message.

I’ve been watching the cable news shows all morning. Cavuto is doing his best to spin them but he is spending too much time addressing the offensive attacks of the left, namely that this is a GOP sponsored action.

Surprisingly, CNN and CNBC are doing a fair job, I haven’t seen any direct attacks. I haven’t seen anything on MSNBC, theyare avoiding it.

[Bob J]

BTW - This is normal. Too often conservatives just want to lash out and they NEVER want to hear any agonizing appraisal or sober analysis of the effectiveness of their actions.

That’s why we keep making the same mistakes over and over.

[B Knotts]

I think even TOTUS would like some tax relief.