In a switch, GOP's Michele Bachmann talks of empathy

Politics Now ^ | June 16, 2011 | James Oliphant

[rob777]

In her first televised interview since declaring her presidential candidacy, Michele Bachmann accused President Obama of having a “shocking" lack of empathy toward Americans victimized by the struggling economy.

“I talk to people. I care about people,” the Minnesota Republican told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity Wednesday evening. “The president has no understanding of what is happening in real people's lives.”

[Gene Eric]

>> In a switch?

Exactly.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks rob777.

James Oliphant:

Google

[Colonel_Flagg]

Geez, no bias in THAT headline or anything.

[cripplecreek]

Conservatives are naturally empathetic to others. Look at Free Republic, every day we see people offering to pray or help others in any number of ways.

Someone saw me mention spending my last few bucks in cash one day and wrote to offer help. I didn’t need it or accept it but I did appreciate it a great deal.

[PapaNew]

Well, she's a political candidate for POTUS and needs to keep her eye on the ball.

Obama's "coldness" can hurt him all by itself. The conservative message is LESS government not more government or POTUS "empathy." We don't need POTUS empathy. Bush showed us POTUS "empathy" with his "compassionate conservatism". It's about B.S., MORE government, and more misery.

[rob777]

"This other stuff starts to sound like RINO-speak."


Only to those who do not understand real conservatism. Our vision of limited government rests partially on the notion that there is a natural human moral sentiment for benevolence. This was the theme behind Adam Smith's "The Theory of Moral Sentiments". Smith was a moral philosopher and this was his main work even though he became better known for his economic treatise on the Wealth of Nations. The notion of a natural sentiment for benevolence was the driving force behind the "invisible hand". Natural empathy among individuals and voluntary associations destroys the case for a welfare state. Liberals have co-opted these notions and conservatives do not understand them well enough to reclaim them. Bachmann is onto something that few conservative see.

[Gene Eric]

Indeed, but the Leftists want the World to believe otherwise.

[PapaNew]

It’s just confusing the issue. America is about freedom and bravery. We need to deal with our problems and keep FEDERAL government within its constitutional limits. The STATES can do whatever its citizens want to deal with what ever each state choose. Decentralized power is more effective and much more “empathetic.”

[rob777]

"Rollins came a Fred Thompson stalking horse candidacy away from getting Huck the bid in 2008 out of nowhere. Don’t underestimate him. He is a sleazeball but he is good at his job."


As much as I opposed Huckabee, I have to admit that you are right. This is most likely why Michele picked him. When it comes to taking an underdog candidate with little name recognition and no establishment support, she could not have chosen a more capable person.

[cripplecreek]

Guess I’m just not easily confused. I know exactly what she’s talking about.

Our jet set party president is living the life of the rich and famous on the taxpayer dime while continuing to push policies that harm Americans.

[DaveTesla]

“Empathy is a good thing. How liberals deal with it is another.”

Empathy: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings,
thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and
experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.

Yup.
Don't see anything in there about redistributing ones hard earned income to others.

Thou shalt not steal.

[PapaNew]

You have to walk that line very carefully and be VERY clear about what you (Bachmann) means. Obama's personal coldness doesn't matter (except to his own popularity I hope).

But we need to keep our eye on the ball and our message clear. It is LIMITED, DECENTRALIZED republican government that allows the freedom and wealth to do what people do best - live their lives and privately help others do so as well. AND NOT because government tells you too. It doesn't matter how personally "warm" the POTUS is. That was Bush's thing - "compassionate conservatism."

Things get very confused when politicians start claiming a need for "empathy" -that's how the liberal's make headway. The candidate must communicate that his/her policies are the most compassionate/empathetic thing they could have. We don't need "personal empathy" from government.

[cripplecreek]

Liberal example of empathy. - Take guns away from everyone for the sake of the children.

Conservative example of empathy. - Teach people to use guns safely so threats can be neutralized for all and punish people who harm children more harshly.

[PapaNew]

I'm sure you're not confused but many are.

Reagan was called the great communicator because he communicated directly with the American people about why his conservative polices would help them and why the liberals were liars who used emotional appeals to gain more power.

We need to be about clear, unmuddled message. Obama's personal coldness should help our cause, but we should not incorporate it into our message - it creates confusion.

[DaveTesla]

Matthew 6.3

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Guess there is a good reason they call themselves the left.

[HwyChile]

“I don't know. That's the liberal’s strong suit - “government empathy.””

I can see where you can read it like that, but one could also argue that we need a leader who has empathy for getting people back to work by empowering the private sector (i.e. tax cuts and repeal regulations). I think of Reagan as a person with empathy, but he believe in the freedom of the people and the free market. As he said, government is not the solution, it is the problem.

[patriot08]

She is smart to go after him on an area where he is vulnerable.
____________

The only way to beat this sob is to expose him.
I mean all of it; the raising and mentoring by Muslims, radicals, Communists and America hating thugs, cheating his way into a senatorship, former membership in a socialist party, using American taxpayer dollars to campaign for the murderous Muslim/ Communist Odinga and violating the Logan Act several times, ad naseum.

.

[Grunthor]

Yeah, I have no love for Rollins. So far that is the only thing that has come up about her that I find.....perplexing, is a good word for it.

[rob777]

"You have to walk that line very carefully and be VERY clear about what you (Bachmann) means."


Agreed. Given Bachmann's record of opposing big government, I have no doubt that she clearly understands the distinction. It also is important to point out that the socialist approach is more about social engineering and turning individuals into mere cogs in a socially constructed utopia than it is about personal empathy. In order to have personal empathy, one must see the other as an individual human person and not as a member of a victim group or an oppressor group. My guess is the part of the reason why Obama lacks empathy is an ideological fixation of seeing people as either members of a victim group or an oppressor group, rather than as individuals.




But we need to keep our eye on the ball and our message clear. It is LIMITED, DECENTRALIZED republican government that allows the freedom and wealth to do what people do best - live their lives and privately help others do so as well.


This is true, but it is also true that a virtuous citizenry that is able to exercise benevolence and empathy toward one another are less likely to turn to "big mama" government to play a role that it was never meant to play.

While we do not need another President who makes a show of "feeling our pain", we do need someone capable of seizing the very powerful bully pulpit that comes wit the Presidency and explaining to the American public the difference. They have to realize that real empathy cannot come for a far off bureaucrat in Washington D.C., but in face to face encounters with their family, friends and fellow citizens. Conservatives need to reclaim the meaning of these terms from the left and show the publec that the conservative agenda IS compassionate.

[ejdrapes]

Yep. And quite honestly I don’t think the general public cares one bit about political consultants.