Obama called the GOP budget “a Trojan horse. Disguised as a deficit reduction plan, it’s really an attempt to impose a radical vision on our country. It’s nothing but thinly veiled social Darwinism.”
“It’s antithetical to our entire history as a land of opportunity and upward mobility for everyone who’s willing to work for it– a place where prosperity doesn’t trickle down from the top, but grows outward from the heart of the middle class.”
It’s also antithetical for a president who portrayed himself as the antidote to “worn-out dogmas,” “worn-out ideas” and “stale political arguments” – who doesn’t subscribe to an “old, discredited philosophy” and would do away with “childish things”– to employ stale, worn-out, discredited, dogmatic, and uncreative arguments in order to advance his re-election chances.
It turns out it is Obama, not Republicans, whose policies are a “Trojan horse”– in this case, by using the uninsured as an excuse to promote an unconstitutional health care plan that confers upon the federal government unlimited powers. (See this post by Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Gordon Gray.)
It is Obama’s policies that are crushing opportunity and upward mobility in America. And what’s really radical is a president who submits multiple budgets with trillion-dollar deficits and doesn’t appear to give a damn about it.
As for “thinly veiled social Darwinism”: Only a politician who is (a) deeply dishonest; (b) deeply cynical; and/or (c) a product of the hard left could make such a preposterous claim. The most vulnerable members of society will sustain the greatest damage when the fiscal crisis that Obama has done so much to contribute to — and nothing to mitigate — arrives on our shores. For a preview of coming attractions, see Greece and other European nations.
The GOP, to its credit, is presenting a budget that is equal to this moment. It is bold, reasonable, and courageous — everything Obama is not. Unable to defend his record and seemingly unable to articulate a governing vision, the president has become desperate and demagogic, an unusually small man in an unusually small party. And it’s only just begun.
The demogogic part, maybe. The desperate part? I'm not so sure he's anything more than competitive. His view against the view that was popular at one time. Maybe it could become popular again. He's going to run hard and fearlessly against it. n nThis will be a great competition between two types of intellect. Governor Romney just needs that break-away moment when the electorate gets the sense he can lead the Country to safer but still verdant ground. He could also use a Sister Souljah moment. n nYou’re not going to be able to convince the women of the US that Ryan’s budget, outside of defense, isn’t "governs best, governs, least; governs best, governs least." n nThe reason that’s significant, IMV, is that women run households. Their sons, recent graduates, can’t get jobs easily and they certainly can’t afford health care. And while the young man may not worry about this, his mother can’t help but worry. n nA much fuller and better case than those charged with making it have thus far presented must be made. n nUnless your offense becomes more carrot than stick, you’ll continue to bleed women.
Not enough years separate present administration from the one you served. The one in which our President could not even look up from the page he was reading from to advise his people of collapse. He could do nothing but claim that he would disable the free-market in order to save it. He had lost the confidence of 80% of the American people. n nHanging the GSEs out to dry alone will not avail. n nPresident Obama is unlikely to see an 80% disapproval rating. n nThe Republican ad/vid with high-stepping Ruskies and Minnie-me shows an opposition wavering on whether to present a sitting President as evil or stupid. That may not be desperate but I think it's ineffective.
Obama just sealed his re-election victory. American households are hurting economically. The Ryan budget is a dirty money-grubbing grab for more money by the rich. And, with Romney selling it – it's doomed.
Are we certain Obama's speech wasn't written my Michael Gerson?
I have hope that if Obama pursues this kind of rhetoric, some reporter might forget him-or-herself and ask Obama, "How?" and then he'd be stuck. Or, maybe, some reporter will get so caught up in Obama rapture he/she will shout out, "Tell us more!" and Obama will be stuck explaining his own policies. I'm really beginning to think Obama is the best friend the Romney campaign has. Obama didn't open his mouth near as much in 2008 (and he's sure not the kind to think he's better off not spouting off to his worshippers).
Nothing Obama says can be taken seriously. Obama is a liar. End of story.
Fact: n nThe Ryan budget represents a direct transfer of wealth from the 99% to the 1%. I hope Wehner is rich, because if not, he's speaking against his won best interests.