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Obama’s incredible small business gaffe just won’t go away
The New York Amsterdam News ^ | August 5, 2012 | Richard Carter

Posted on 08/04/2012 11:01:02 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

“Do you think not getting caught in a lie is the same as telling the truth?…”—Robert Redford, “Three Days of the Condor” (1975)

In the long, undistinguished annals of big-time gaffes in American politics, Barack Hussein Obama’s recent shot at small businesspeople ranks near the top. Indeed, this astonishing verbal blunder has taken on a life of its own.

As a result, three weeks after the president’s ill-advised comments during a July 13 campaign speech in Roanoke, Va., much of America is still talking about his unseemly words. And they are still hard to believe. To wit:

“If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that—somebody else made that happen.” Ugh!

What’s the best way to describe what Obama said? Here’s what some pundits are calling it: “botch,” “blunder,” “bungle,” “delusional,” “faux pas,” “fumble,” “gaffe,” “goof,” “loopy,” “misstep,” “stumble” and, quite simply, that he put his foot in his mouth big-time.

In effect, Obama dissed America’s business community in general, and small businesspeople in particular. It’s unconscionable that a president of the United States would do this. His words were stunning and simply unbelievable. And they continue to resonate.

What could Obama have been thinking? Some have speculated that it was due to “going off teleprompter”—that is, speaking off the cuff without reading from the multiple teleprompters that always surround him. Doing so is not his strong suit. Others say this president is simply anti-free market business.

If the former was the case—perhaps surprisingly to his worshippers—Obama is in for a tough time in the upcoming presidential debates against presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney. American political debates are a contact sport and spontaneous.

If it was the latter, Obama truly is out of his depth as president. Doesn’t he understand that the nation’s economy was built by the blood, sweat and tears of hard-working businesspeople—small as well as large? His fixation with the federal government as a panacea is, quite frankly, an embarrassment and reeks of socialism.

Here’s how Romney responded to Obama’s blunder: “To say something like that is not just foolishness, it’s insulting to every entrepreneur, every innovator in America. I don’t think the president, by his comments, understands what makes America a unique nation. If you attack success, you’ll see what we’ve seen over the past few years—less success. I find it extraordinary that a philosophy of that nature would be spoken by a president of the United States.”

In the same vein, Romney took Obama to task for failing to meet with his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness for the last six months. And the explanation by the president’s press secretary, Jay Carney? “He’s got a lot on his plate.” Huh? Can you believe it?

Predictably, Obama’s loopy small business gaffe, which has strongly galvanized Republicans, is reflected in many pointed letters to the editor in big-city newspapers. The writers leave no doubt as to their negative feelings. Following are some excerpts:

“Would the late, great Sylvia Woods, the ‘Queen of Soul Food,’ have agreed with President Obama that someone else made her tremendous success happen?”

“Of all of Obama’s rhetoric in the White House, his attack on the very notion of creativity has been the most destructive, by far. If he had said this in 2008, he would have been unelectable.”

“Beyond the small business community, which suffered a direct insult, Obama has just told each and every American that they cannot expect to succeed without him. I think that comes as a shock to even his most fervent followers.”

“According to Obama’s philosophy, no one builds anything. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller and the rest of the great entrepreneurs in history are merely leeching off the efforts of others.”

“By letting his view slip out, Obama displays a lack of faith in our economic system, diligence and people.”

These sentiments express very clearly why Obama’s classic gaffe could be what millions of Americans will remember in the voting booth on Nov. 6. Prior to the election, his inexplicable diss of small businesspeople may also become a focal point of the three presidential debates in October.

A concrete result of Obama’s small business comments is reflected in a new Gallup poll released July 26. In it, his approval rating among business owners dropped from 59 percent to 35 percent. Meanwhile, the latest Rasmussen tracking poll has Romney leading Obama overall by six points—49 percent to 43 percent.

Finally, Obama’s intemperate remarks of July 13 were exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time. America is a working-class nation whose citizens don’t like anyone telling them they didn’t make it on their own. That’s because most small businesspeople did.

Bottom line: It’s clear the land is rife with political unrest among independents—such as this writer—and Republicans. If you’re a Democrat, you’d better hope Obama gets his act together or, indeed, he’ll be a one-term president. And that’s the name of that tune.

The author


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: business; economy; obama; roanoke; romney; virginia
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Richard Carter nails it.


21 posted on 08/05/2012 4:27:27 AM PDT by Hoodat ("As for God, His way is perfect" - Psalm 18:30)
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To: jocon307
He does seem like he’s a good dad. A narcissist, by definition, can't possibly be a good dad, just the opposite. I think that's why his entire family, except for the little one, looks so miserable.
22 posted on 08/05/2012 4:29:24 AM PDT by Auntie Mame (Fear not tomorrow. God is already there.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Another Joe the Plumber moment for the AnnointedIdiot - one that will haunt him for some time.


23 posted on 08/05/2012 4:43:10 AM PDT by cranked
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

When you begin to see articles in the New York Amsterdam News ( a Black, Liberal Newspaper) such as the one penned by Richard Carter, you begine to see erosion in Black American support for Barack Hussein Obama. Fact is: Obama has really done zilch for American Blacks. They are, as a group, in the worst economic, education and opportunity situation they have ever been in. The family unit is in shambles with single parent families, out-of-wedlock children, failed schools and failed economics and massive unemployment. At least some Black Americans begin to get it. Obama is not their friend, he is not their ally, shucks, other then his skin, heis not one of them. He is actually, their worst enemy!!!

I, for one, hope and pray they come to their senses, for at the moment, they are just adrift at sea with no compass to guide them. If Obama is re-elected, they will still be adrift at sea, with no compass, but.......they will also be out of food and water to exist!!! Go figure!!! They need both a leader/leaders and culture change, big time!!!


24 posted on 08/05/2012 5:10:04 AM PDT by JLAGRAYFOX (My only objective is defeat and destroy Obama & his Democrat Party, politically!!!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Obama’s gaffe was the closest you’ll ever hear Dear Leader state he hates capitalism and free-enterprise. You’re never going to hear him condemn it outright, but we can read between the lines. Does anyone with half a brain think even Carter or Clinton would make such an outrageous statement? Only a real socialist, like Obama, would make a Freudian slip like that.


25 posted on 08/05/2012 5:15:47 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: radpolis

Great work
Says it all


26 posted on 08/05/2012 5:17:58 AM PDT by Leo58 (Those who cheer you today will curse you tomorrow, the only thing that endures is character.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

In the long, undistinguished annals of big-time gaffes in American politics, Barack Hussein Obama’s recent shot at small businesspeople ranks near the top. Indeed, this astonishing verbal blunder has taken on a life of its own.

It wasn’t just the words he said, there was also that unmistakably unpresidential, childish, snotty, mocking tone. When people heart that his meaning is clear. Obozo sorta’ shot himself in the foot with TWO barrels.


27 posted on 08/05/2012 5:24:00 AM PDT by TalBlack
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

-——What’s the best way to describe what Obama said-——

Core belief....


28 posted on 08/05/2012 5:26:03 AM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... Present failure and impending death yield irrational action))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Hey, Richard Carter: you think you’re smart? There’s a lotta smart people out there! You think you wrote an insightful column? A whole lotta people write insightful columns.

You missed the important question: just where would you be without roads and bridges?


29 posted on 08/05/2012 5:27:23 AM PDT by Stosh
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To: cranked

“Another Joe the Plumber moment for the AnnointedIdiot - one that will haunt him for some time.”

Let’s hope it haunts him all the way back to Kenya. Maybe he can get elected to something there, and then some rebels can do what they do best...


30 posted on 08/05/2012 5:30:23 AM PDT by GGpaX4DumpedTea (I am a Tea Party descendant...steeped in the Constitutional Republic given to us by the Founders.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“What’s the best way to describe what Obama said? Here’s what some pundits are calling it: “botch,” “blunder,” “bungle,” “delusional,” “faux pas,” “fumble,” “gaffe,” “goof,” “loopy,” “misstep,” “stumble” and, quite simply, that he put his foot in his mouth big-time”

Methinks “honest” to be the correct word.


31 posted on 08/05/2012 6:11:06 AM PDT by bestintxas (Somewhere in Kenya, a Village is missing its Idiot, thankfully.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“What’s the best way to describe what Obama said?”

The truth, as his perverted, socialist-loving, “mind” sees it.


32 posted on 08/05/2012 6:32:55 AM PDT by Common Sense 101 (Hey libs... If your theories fly in the face of reality, it's not reality that's wrong.)
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To: radpolis
good stuff...
33 posted on 08/05/2012 6:38:33 AM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Eleutheria5

“But puberty is coming.”

Good point! Now I really DO feel bad for Obama and Michelle too.

Teenage girls, oy veh! I was one and I had one. They can be tough.


34 posted on 08/05/2012 6:43:46 AM PDT by jocon307
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Big names in business close wallets to Obama this time
By Paul Merrion August 06, 2012

Read more: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120804/ISSUE01/308049973/big-names-in-business-close-wallets-to-obama-this-time#ixzz22gBmrTXV
Stay on top of Chicago business with our free daily e-newsletters


35 posted on 08/05/2012 6:51:21 AM PDT by KeyLargo
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Some Americans get on “the roads & Bridges” to go to the beach. Others head to their Farms, Warehouses, Research Facilities, Offices...


36 posted on 08/05/2012 6:56:05 AM PDT by 4Liberty (Some get on the 'roads & Bridges' to go to the beach. Others head to their labs, offices, farms. . .)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
>>> Some have speculated that it was due to “going off teleprompter”— ... Others say this president is simply anti-free market business. <<<

The author writes this as though these points are mutually exclusive. They're not.

This president says moronic things when he goes off 'prompter AND he is anti-free market business.

'nuff said.

37 posted on 08/05/2012 8:05:14 AM PDT by mellow velo (Oxymorons: jumbo shrimp, rap music, liberal think-tank)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“By letting his view slip out, Obama displays a lack of faith in our economic system, diligence and people.”


“By letting his view slip out...”

A basic summation of his “view” was that he believes powerful, big government is the root from which all prosperity flows.

Whoever made this quote is saying “By accidentally showing his true beliefs, Obama displays a lack of faith in our economic system, diligence and people”


38 posted on 08/05/2012 8:05:43 AM PDT by Personal Responsibility (Behind enemy lines in the city where it's illegal to buy a Big Gulp)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I think 0bama's 'You didn't build that' and another recent major gaffe of his: 'The private sector is doing fine' reinforce each other.

Taken together, they tell you that he doesn't have a clue how the economy works, and if he did, he wouldn't care to help the private sector anyway.

So, 0bama's using his bully pulpit to get his shots in against the American people. In November, it's time for the American people to get their shots in against him.

39 posted on 08/05/2012 10:05:23 AM PDT by Post Toasties (Leftists give insanity a bad name. 0bama: Four years of failure and fingerpointing.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Boy, you Obama-haters just can’t be satisfied. First you say that the so-called magnificent orator has never said anything memorable, just recycled pap.

And now when he says something memorable, you castigate him for it!


40 posted on 08/05/2012 10:50:10 AM PDT by Colinsky
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