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Obama regrets you-didn't-build-that 'syntax' (He didn't mean what we think he meant)
Politico ^ | 09/06/2012 | Byron Tau

Posted on 09/06/2012 7:57:56 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

President Obama walked back his infamous "you didn't build that" line in an interview that aired Wednesday with NBC 12 in Richmond, Va.

"Obviously, I have regrets for my syntax," Obama replied. "But not for the point, because everyone who was there watching knows exactly what I was saying."

Republicans built their entire Tampa convention, and in some ways, their entire case against the president around the line — spoken off hand at a campaign event in Roanoke.

Obama also said without hesitation that Americans were better off than four years ago.

"We are absolutely better off than we were when I was sworn in and we were losing 800,000 jobs in a month," Obama said.

Last weekend, two Obama surrogates hesitated to say that the country was better off after four years of Obama. The campaign later walked those remarks back.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: business; economy; obama
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1 posted on 09/06/2012 7:58:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

The context was as bad, if not worse, than the single statement, showing scorn for hard work and intelligence and praising government involvement instead.

But that’s beside the point. Even if we allow “you didn’t build that” as out of context, it resonates because it still tells the fundamental truth of what he actually believes and practices.


2 posted on 09/06/2012 8:01:28 AM PDT by kevkrom (Those in a rush to trample the Constitution seem to forget that it is the source of their authority.)
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To: SeekAndFind

He said exactly what he meant.


3 posted on 09/06/2012 8:01:58 AM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: SeekAndFind

I didn’t say what I said. If you think I said what I said, you’re stupid.


4 posted on 09/06/2012 8:02:53 AM PDT by Steely Tom (If the Constitution can be a living document, I guess a corporation can be a person.)
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To: SeekAndFind

he meant that government provided the infrastructure for businesses to use. this is true, but take it one step further to discover that government gets it’s money from taxes, and guess who pays more in taxes: individuals or businesses? so government takes money from businesses and uses it to provide an infrastructure foe businesses to succeed. and when businesses do well, the government takes it all back in taxes.

ain’t it kinda like a model and only giving credit to the wardrobe?


5 posted on 09/06/2012 8:03:00 AM PDT by camle (keep an open mind and someone will fill it full of something for you)
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To: SeekAndFind

Really, BamBam? I guess Elizabeth Warren didn’t mean it either.

Mmm hmmmm. Sounds like you both were quite ‘on message’ to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOyDR2b71ag


6 posted on 09/06/2012 8:04:13 AM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Bocephus hits a home run! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt_vjPqAVzI)
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To: SeekAndFind

Give it up, Politico. We all know what the communist meant.


7 posted on 09/06/2012 8:05:51 AM PDT by skeeter
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: SeekAndFind

Yeah, well, Obama...a LOT of people are regretting voting for you.


9 posted on 09/06/2012 8:07:33 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: grundle
When a person has to explain what they said because they don't like the way people interpreted it when they first heard it, I usually believe that what they meant was exactly what people thought when they first heard it. It's always fun watching a politician trying to pretend they never said what everyone knows they said.

As I saw someone else point out today, if you're explaining yourself, you're losing.

10 posted on 09/06/2012 8:07:54 AM PDT by kevkrom (Those in a rush to trample the Constitution seem to forget that it is the source of their authority.)
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To: SeekAndFind

He meant that you do not own it and the government can take control of it.


11 posted on 09/06/2012 8:08:16 AM PDT by bmwcyle (Corollary - Electing the same person over and over and expecting a different outcome is insanity)
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To: grundle
When a person has to explain what they said because they don't like the way people interpreted it when they first heard it, I usually believe that what they meant was exactly what people thought when they first heard it. It's always fun watching a politician trying to pretend they never said what everyone knows they said.

.....And let's not forget that famous line:

"It depends on what the mean of "is" is.....

You're right on!

12 posted on 09/06/2012 8:09:02 AM PDT by thingumbob (I'm a bitter clinger...I dare you to take my gun)
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To: kevkrom
Even if we allow “you didn’t build that” as out of context, it resonates because it still tells the fundamental truth of what he actually believes and practices.

Sorry, but he can't get away with an after the fact out-of-context claim. After talking about "roads and bridges" he then said if you own a business, you didn't build THAT. If he was referring to not building roads and bridges, he would have said: "If you own a business, you didn't build THEM" (referring to the roads and bridges). He didn't, he said you didn't built THAT (referring to the business)

13 posted on 09/06/2012 8:10:04 AM PDT by Go Gordon (It's barack hussein obama - because he doesn't believe in capitalism.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Of course it is what he meant to say. It's the same type of attitude that thinks a cradle-to-grave government leech, like the fictional Julia, is a good idea. Obviously, they think the only way women can make it is with the help of the government.

14 posted on 09/06/2012 8:10:50 AM PDT by BookmanTheJanitor
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To: SeekAndFind

The fact that the Dems are still trying to cover Zero’s ass six weeks after that statement speaks volumes. He wrecked his chances.


15 posted on 09/06/2012 8:10:50 AM PDT by NRA1995 (I'll cling to my religion, cigars and guns till they're pried from my cold dead fingers!)
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To: kevkrom
Just like the “spread the wealth” comment to Joe the plumber, he said exactly what he meant.

He only regrets saying it after it's a problem for him, if he would've said he regretted it on his own it might have been more sincere but sincerity is above his pay grade.

16 posted on 09/06/2012 8:11:26 AM PDT by V_TWIN (obama=where there's smoke, there's mirrors)
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To: camle
he meant that government provided the infrastructure for businesses to use.

No he didn't. See post #13.

17 posted on 09/06/2012 8:11:49 AM PDT by Go Gordon (It's barack hussein obama - because he doesn't believe in capitalism.)
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To: thingumbob
I never liked playing that one up too much. As a conservative Christian, I know that the Church has been arguing over what the meaning of "is" is for over a millennium. They get pretty intense about it, too.

"This is my body..."

There are plenty more ways to pick on Democrats.

18 posted on 09/06/2012 8:12:47 AM PDT by ArGee (Reality - what a concept.)
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To: SeekAndFind
you-didn't-build-that

Hey Zippy, you have the right idea, we didn't vote you in there either.

19 posted on 09/06/2012 8:13:12 AM PDT by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

If Julia is still in college at age 26, she has a problem.


20 posted on 09/06/2012 8:13:32 AM PDT by Go Gordon (It's barack hussein obama - because he doesn't believe in capitalism.)
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