Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Wreck-It Barack Column: Unscripted Moments Damage Obama’s Carefully Built Image
Freebeacon ^ | July 27, 2012 5:00 am | Matthew Continetti

Posted on 07/28/2012 11:08:26 AM PDT by parisa

One cannot help noticing the struggle between Barack Obama’s natural instincts and the serene and benevolent persona he projects to the world. Beneath the visage of a cosmetically populist, post-racial, post-partisan reformer who wants to “perfect” America and to have “millionaires and billionaires” “pay their fair share” is just another condescending, self-important, sarcastic, academic liberal Democrat, who believes in false consciousness and in scholastic theories that success in life can be attributed to birth or luck or community but not to individual effort and grit. Obama may be talented at self-fashioning, but he cannot maintain his public face constantly. The mask sometimes slips.

The real Obama emerges. He lets loose in the self-consciously ironic and pretentiously omniscient argot of the American ruling class, lecturing audiences in what he, Elizabeth Warren, and the segment producers at MSNBC treat as the new catechism. The reaction to these gaffes is always the same. His remarks spark justified criticism. There is a frenetic effort to paper over his comments and restore the impression that he is just another dad who wants to take care of one big American family. He and his lieutenants and other members of the “truth” posse indulge in mock outrage. They say the president’s words have been distorted, that he did not really say what he said, that he meant something else entirely. The activity is convulsive and furious because David Axelrod and David Plouffe understand that an unplugged Obama will damage his brand. He is not actually likable at all. And he is liable to wreck years of hard work and mythmaking the moment he goes off script.

That is the “context” behind the president’s July 13 outburst in Roanoke, Virginia:

There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me—because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t—look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something—there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. (Applause.)

If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

The focus has been on Obama’s words in the second paragraph: “If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.” But this misses the point. Whether or not “you didn’t build that” refers to the “roads and bridges” of the previous sentence is irrelevant.


TOPICS: Editorial; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: 2012campaign; bho2012; blunders; gaffe; kenyanbornmuzzie; noteleprompter; obama; obamablunders; obamacampaign; obamagaffes; obamalies; roanoke; teleprompter; totus; virginia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last
One of the best editorials I have read recently on obama's real persona. Please pass it along after reading to family and friends, conservative and liberal. There is a lot of truth without being tediously over-partisan ..
1 posted on 07/28/2012 11:08:38 AM PDT by parisa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: parisa
(Government gone wild)
2 posted on 07/28/2012 11:13:31 AM PDT by yoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: parisa
Obama believes in absolute rule by an elite Marxist group who think they represent the good side of human nature. Obama believes this elite ruling group can do anything they want to America because their their good ends justify their means. Thus, Obama and his gang can lie, cheat, steal and oppress America, inorder to impose their concept of good self centered human nature on the masses. Obama brings us slavery and destruction.
3 posted on 07/28/2012 11:29:03 AM PDT by Armaggedon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: parisa

Not flagged as excerpted, but it is. Click the link and read the rest of the article.


4 posted on 07/28/2012 11:34:02 AM PDT by upchuck ("Definition of 'racist:' someone that is winning an argument with a liberal." ~ Peter Brimelow)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: parisa
Anyone who read his book can put Obama's comment "You didn't build that," together with his obvious disgust of our Capitalistic system that he revealed years ago. His philosophy has always been that the government should be in complete control of citizens' lives and to whom we should all be subservient and appreciative. His agenda to destroy our economic stability and disdain for commercial business enterprise has always been obvious. Just recall: In 'Dreams of my father', he refers to his VERY brief time working in the private sector as "working behind enemy lines." People who didn't read his book will also protest that those words were "taken out of context," or that he never said them.

These are people who are so blinded by their own egos and simply cannot admit they made such a bad choice that they will continue to ignore what they can see and hear with their own eyes and ears. When the elephant is in the room, it is wise to find a way to get him out...or move! Staying in the room only means you will get trampled.

5 posted on 07/28/2012 11:45:06 AM PDT by CitizenM (Obama - The architect of the decline of the U.S.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: upchuck

Yes, thank you! Please read the rest at the link. It is a good article.


6 posted on 07/28/2012 11:53:21 AM PDT by parisa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: parisa

His “didn’t build that” line in the second paragraph gets all the attention but the first paragraph is just as galling, especially when you take his snotty tone into account.


7 posted on 07/28/2012 11:59:03 AM PDT by Yardstick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: parisa
If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.

It is impossible to put those two sentences, those 2 thoughts, together, and not give the impression that you have intentionally left off qualifying words.

You didn't...somebody else did. That is awfully clear. It could have been, "Your business enjoys advantages because of our sytem." I doubt anyone would have even winced at that statement. But, "you didn't and somebody else did" pretty much suggests that the gov't was right there with you putting in 18 hour days in your shop.

8 posted on 07/28/2012 12:04:41 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for their victory!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Armaggedon
“.... his gang can lie, cheat, steal and oppress America....”


Sounds like the Islam-o-fascists. They will even lie to each other.

9 posted on 07/28/2012 12:08:41 PM PDT by hummingbird (Breitbart and Spartacus: here, there, everywhere. Join them. Join us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: parisa
Revised 1st sentence:

One cannot help noticing the differences between Barack 0bama’s natural speech and the serene and benevolent speeches he reads off TOTUS.
10 posted on 07/28/2012 12:24:50 PM PDT by MonicaG (God bless our military! Praying and thanking God for you every day. Thank you!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: parisa

“The” skidmark actually believes what he says because he never lifted a finger to get where he is, nor did Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Louis Farakhan, and many others. Most of his life was “made up” by the media.


11 posted on 07/28/2012 12:40:45 PM PDT by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: parisa

Perhaps it’s just me, but I absolutely cannot stand Obama’s voice. I know to some it’s a very easy voice to listen to. But for myself it gives me an almost instant headache.

I would rather read his speeches than listen to him. At least then I can discern what it was he was trying to say without a headache making listening agony.


12 posted on 07/28/2012 12:44:44 PM PDT by The Working Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks parisa.

And to all, a good day. My plan is, no more FR (other than tomorrow’s APoD) until Monday. Wish me luck.


13 posted on 07/28/2012 1:10:03 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: parisa

I think the debates will be worth watching this time. Obama won’t be going up against a dottering old man that had spent so much time across the isle he didn’t know which side he was on. Romney is fast on his feet, well educated and knows his stuff and with any luck should be able to push Obama’s buttons.


14 posted on 07/28/2012 1:16:13 PM PDT by engrpat (A village in Kenya is missing their idiot...lets send him back)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: parisa
Big BUMP!


15 posted on 07/28/2012 1:26:47 PM PDT by rdb3 (We need Ward Cleaver for President. We already have Eddie Haskell. (ATB))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Working Man

Obama’s earlier measured baritone voice has become that of a Black Pastor, lecturing and preaching.


16 posted on 07/28/2012 1:39:36 PM PDT by yoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: The Working Man

“Let me be clear, folks...”

It is creepy how he parodies people who did actually go to school.


17 posted on 07/28/2012 1:51:10 PM PDT by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic war against white males (and therefore white families).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: parisa

Not only that, but even a worse waffler than Mitt (except Barack virtually always waffles the WRONG way).


18 posted on 07/28/2012 2:24:06 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (let me ABOs run loose, lew (or is that lou?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Even worse, suggesting that the gummit broke its back there while you goofed off or were a minor gofer.

The amount of ego invested in this is so stupendous that people suspend belief. Those who grew up in communist cult of personality regimes can watch this and say “here we go again.” Americans who never heard a president talk like that are just dazed and half hope it’s hyperbole that will go away.


19 posted on 07/28/2012 2:28:03 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (let me ABOs run loose, lew (or is that lou?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: kearnyirish2

This is an overweening ego. No doubt about it. Says let us be clear then says something impenetrably foggy, hoping to intimidate.


20 posted on 07/28/2012 2:30:18 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (let me ABOs run loose, lew (or is that lou?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson