Right-Wing Media Attack Obama For Proposing To Improve On Our "Great Country"
Right-wing media have attacked President Obama by seizing on his comment that America "had gotten a little soft." But Obama said that the United States is a "great country" and that he "wouldn't trade our position with any other country on Earth" because "[w]e still have the best universities, the best scientists, and best workers in the world. We still have the most dynamic economic system in the world."
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Obama: U.S. Is "A Great, Great Country That Had Gotten A Little Soft" But Still Has "The Best" Schools, Workers
WSJ Blog: Obama Tells WESH-TV, "This Is A Great, Great Country That Had Gotten A Little Soft." In a September 29 post, The Wall Street Journal blog Washington Wire wrote that during a recent interview, President Obama said that the U.S. is a "great country that had gotten a little soft." The post also noted that Obama later said, "We still have the best universities, the best scientists, best workers in the world; the most dynamic economic system in the world." From the post:
President Barack Obama on Thursday said the U.S. has lost some of its competitive edge and gotten a "little soft."
Mr. Obama, in an interview with WESH-TV in Orlando, said his administration has been tough on the country's trading partners and tried to strengthen U.S. manufacturing.
"This is a great great country that had gotten a little soft and we didn't have that same competitive edge that we needed over the last couple of decades," Mr. Obama said in response to a question about the country's economic future. "We need to get back on track."
Mr. Obama has faced heavy criticism for his handling of the economy, and the high unemployment rate -- 9.1% -- is threatening his re-election bid.
Despite his concern, Mr. Obama said he wouldn't trade positions with any country on Earth. "We still have the best universities, the best scientists, best workers in the world; the most dynamic economic system in the world," he said. "We just need to bring all those things together." [The Wall Street Journal, Washington Wire, 9/29/11]
"Jerk": Right-Wing Media Attack Obama Over Remarks, Compare Them To Carter's "Malaise" Speech
Erickson Calls Obama "A Jerk" For Saying U.S. Has Gotten "Soft." In a September 29 Twitter post, CNN contributor and blogger Erick Erickson linked to the Journal blog post, writing:
[Twitter, 9/29/11]
Erickson: "Does Barack Obama Think America Needs Viagra? His 'Malaise' Moment Arrives." In a September 30 RedState post titled, "Does Barack Obama Think America Needs Viagra? His 'Malaise' Moment Arrives," Erickson wrote:
It's not Barack Obama's policies. It is not the economic uncertainty over regulations and taxes. It is not the National Labor Relations Board and Department of Labor pushing aggressively pro-union agendas that hamper competition.
No, according to Barack Obama, our nation has grown soft. That's our problem. Jimmy Carter said America was in a "malaise." This is Barack Obama's "malaise" moment.
It can't be about him. It cannot be about his polices. On the same day Joe Biden declares the economy belongs to Barack Obama, Obama passes the buck. This time it is directly to the American people and American businesses.
It's not him, you see. It's us.
"This is a great great country that had gotten a little soft and we didn't have that same competitive edge that we needed over the last couple of decades," Mr. Obama said in response to a question about the country's economic future. "We need to get back on track."
[...]
[T]he American people have not gone soft. They've gone out of business thanks to Barack Obama and his failed economic policies. [RedState, 9/30/11]
Fox's Van Susteren: Obama Is "Making Americans Feel Lousy -- That They're Soft, They're Lazy." Van Susteren added that Obama's comments were "insulting" to the American people, asking, "Does he ever do anything wrong?":
VAN SUSTEREN: What I find so unusual about this one with the president is that the one sort of great strength he has -- he had running for office was his inspiration. He made people feel great. Now he's making Americans feel lousy -- that they're soft, they're lazy, they're not doing his agenda. And it's just so different from his political strategy in '08.
[...]
VAN SUSTEREN: Does he ever do anything wrong? I mean, I don't know if we should demand it of someone, but I mean, it's sort of like, at some point, you know, it's a little too perfect. [Fox News, On The Record with Greta Van Susteren, 9/30/11]
Hannity: Obama "Blamed The American People" For "His Complete And Utter Failure To Turn Around The American Economy." Fox News' Sean Hannity said Obama "blamed the American people" for his "complete and utter failure" to fix the economy:
HANNITY: The anointed one is frantically trying to explain his complete and utter failure to turn around the American economy. As the Dow today dropped over 240 points, the biggest quarterly drop since the financial crisis of late 2008. But according to the president, the problem lies with you, the American people. Not with any of his policy proposals.
[...]
HANNITY: You know, the anointed one's starting to sound more and more like Jimmy Carter. He also blamed the American people for his political failures. [Fox News, Hannity, 9/30/11]
Fox's Guilfoyle: "Don't Call Us Soft." On Fox News' The Five, Kimberly Guilfoyle said:
GUILFOYLE: It really bothers me that he says that. Don't call us soft. Really?
BECKEL: Why?
GUILFOYLE: Because, I think it's not true. You're going to put down the American people? Aren't we the people that's supposed to he's trying to be getting our votes? I don't think that was a good statement at all. [Fox News, The Five, 9/30/11]
NRO: "Wait, Is Malaise French For 'Soft'?" In a September 29 post titled, "Wait, Is Malaise French for 'Soft'?" National Review Online editor-at-large Jonah Goldberg linked to the Journal blog post and wrote:
Obama in an interview with an Orlando TV station*:
"This is a great great country that had gotten a little soft and we didn't have that same competitive edge that we needed over the last couple of decades," Mr. Obama said in response to a question about the country's economic future. "We need to get back on track."
Interesting perspective. I wonder where America could have lost its competitive edge. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with a government that blows billions on green energy boondoggles while making it harder to drill for oil while trying to make electricity rates "skyrocket." [NRO, 9/29/11]
Goldberg: Obama Was "Blaming The American People, Blaming The Country ... For The Economic Problems That We Have Today." Goldberg later appeared on Fox News' Special Report and repeated his "malaise" comment:
GOLDBERG: Who is running the White House communications shop? I mean, at best, he just misspoke. But it is a bizarre sort of Jimmy Carter malaise kind of thing to say -- blaming the American people, blaming the country under two different administrations for the economic problems that we have today. Meanwhile, his own administration is pushing policies that are making us less competitive. It's just a weird, strange thing for him to say. [Fox News, Speical Report with Bret Baier, 9/30/11]
Krauthammer: Obama "Compound[ed] Condescension, Incompetence, And Narcissism All Into One Sentence." On Special Report, syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer said the president had compounded "condescension, incompetence and narcissism all into one sentence":
KRAUTHAMMER: This is a huge error. He's having trouble governing. The country's in trouble. He's seen as not having good stewardship or ability to govern, and then he blames America? If he does that, he's seen as somebody who's compounding condescension, incompetence, and narcissism all into one sentence. That's really hard to do. I think he's done it right here." [Fox News, Special Report with Bret Baier, 9/30/11]
The Blaze: "Obama Sees Malaise: President Says America Has 'Gotten A Little Soft.' " In a September 29 post titled, "Obama Sees Malaise: President Says America Has 'Gotten A Little Soft,' " Glenn Beck's The Blaze highlighted Obama's remarks and linked to the Journal blog post. [The Blaze, 9/29/11]
Fox Nation Hypes Obama's Comments. In a September 29 post, Fox Nation linked to Goldberg's National Review Online post under the headline, "Obama Says America's Grown 'Soft.' " [Fox Nation, 9/29/11]
Hoft Promotes WSJ Post On Obama's Remarks. In a September 29 Gateway Pundit post, Jim Hoft linked to the Journal blog post under the headline, "Obama: The US Has 'Gotten a Little Soft.' " [Gateway Pundit, 9/29/11]
Drudge Hypes Obama: "America's Gotten A Little Soft." On September 29 and 30, The Drudge Report linked to a Weekly Standard story about Obama's remarks, featuring this text and image as its top story:
[Drudge Report Archives, 9/29/11]
Or stupid like Rush Limbaugh does
Or, how did your bimbo guest put it? "People With Absolutely No Purpose Or Focus In Life" There To Just "Dirty The Streets"
You're not only a hypocritical liar, Hamster, you're downright mean-spirited and, for lack of a better term, just plain evil
Day after day, they constantly pound home how much America sucks because Obama is president. Then Obama dares to say America can be better, and... surprise! America is suddenly awesome and perfect again, and Obama is the one who hates America!
that's cool!
The standard braggadocio that emanates from the U.S. is mildly objectionable but the over-the-top hubris that comes from the Right Whingers (in particular) smacks of what I call "cardboard-cut-out patriotism" and the quintessential "Ugly American".
As Robert Burns wrote:
O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us
To see oursels as others see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
An' ev'n devotion!
Do you have any idea who he was talking about? Hint: not America.
Try to get a handle on that gag reflex before you throw up on the page again.
But then, you are likely one of those who runs around singing the theme song from Team America, aren't you? Or, at least you did as long as the urban cowboy was in office.
Hint: compare the health of your "greatest country" to a few of us lesser nations. Oh, and by the way, how dare you appropriate two whole continents to your nation. As far as I know we are the only nation continent on the planet and we don't make a big deal about it unless it's relevant.
Burns was a great believer in "pricking the bloated bladder" (to use Nye Bevan's terminology) of self delusion "with the poinard of truth" and somehow, I would suspect, Burns would deem his point in To A Louse, On Seeing One On A Lady's Bonnet At Church to be well applied to the modern day U.S.
Another lesson from Burns' (a leading light in the Scottish Enlightenment, along with Adam Smith) vaste output that would be well applied to the U.S. Right:
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that.
Wingnuts: Malaise moment, Carter! Are you calling me soft? The American people soft? Why do you hate America? Are you blaming others again? Take responsibility for your incompetence. 2012 can't come soon enough.
Obama: You're right, America is not soft. We're solid.
Wingnuts: Solid? Have you looked around lately, Mr. Detached Ivory Tower Elitist? We have 9% unemployment, increasing poverty, and the threat of a double dip recession. Tell that to the guy who's been out of work for ages, you insensitive jerk. You have no idea what it's like for Real Americans. 2012 can't come soon enough.
- Sean Hannity
You couldn't make up a creepier description of America. than that
That doesn't jive with your knee-jerk faux patriotic shtick but that seems to be how superficially you look at patriotism.
Bob Dole did commercials for something that will help with "going soft."
It's good though, it only affects poor and middle class old folks who got screwed out of the retirement they built up in the '70s. Won't affect any of the wealthy "job creators".
These guys are Republicans because they are insecure about their sexuality. They have to kill people in wars and gas chambers, denigrate homosexuals, etc. to prove their manliness. That's the whole game.
'Soft' is the very last thing a Republican wants to be called. So let's keep calling them that - while we advocate for more compassionate policies. That would drive them up a tree.
When we do it, it's treason.
When they do it, it's patriotic, flag-draped, first amendment drenched dissent.
The truth hurts doesn't it?
The right denigrates science, demonizes teachers, wants to destroy the Dept of Education, slashes school budgets and wants to teach our kids that white republican Jesus rode side saddle on dinosaurs.
Then they bemoan the fact that we're falling behind in academic achievement. Gee whodathunk?
Hey, HotWings, what do you do to help make our country great?
And you never answered my question about how to fix the economy. You seem to know about how people make it wrong, but how to we make it right? Do you have answers about how to make America a greater place or do you just whine?
Zero, zip, nada.
Faux outrage at Michelle Obama shopping at Target. Cheney yelling that Obama doesn't use the words "WAR ON TERROR" and must apologize for winning it. Screaming because he 'excoriated' the Ryan Budget for being what it actually was.
I don't really grasp how such blah blah blah can be effective with anyone much longer, especially since they have so OVERDONE IT. Don't people ultimately close their ears to hearing the same old blah blah blah over and over again?
Krauthammer's comments about Obama not being a good 'steward' seem particularly illogical considering this president is trying to bring back manufacturing jobs to America, promote environmentally clean energy, pursue competent and intelligent foreign policy that has actually permitted democracies to flower in the middle east and north Africa where Bush only could blah blah blah about it.
I say let's just call this horse's a** "KRAUT-YAMMER" and be done with him.
If not out and out racism!
Attacks like getting upset over what kind of mustard he preferred on a cheese burger, or referring to him as a "halfrican, and racist songs like "barrack the magic Negro" played by the Neo conservative racist Rush Limbaugh.
And when they were in power we got disasters like Iraq, Katrina and a total financial met down that were still dealing with.
Conservatives Republicans are hypocrites who do not really believe in this country.
Just the power and control to do what they want.
That was evident through the actions of the last administration, leaving a number of large problems that President Obama had to fix when he became president.
rtbj48