George Will: Sentences That Begin 'The President Says' Are Not As Impressive As They Used To Be

George Will: Sentences That Begin 'The President Says' Are Not As Impressive As They Used To Be

By Noel Sheppard (Bio | Archive)
October 18, 2009 - 18:44 ET

"Sentences that begin 'The president says' are not as impressive as they used to be."

So marvelously stated ABC's George Will on Sunday's installment of "This Week."

But Will wasn't the only "Roundtable" panelist to utter something clever and/or revealing.

Quite the contrary, host George Stephanopoulos, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, and the Washington Post's E.J. Dionne also made statements on Sunday guaranteed to raise some eyebrows.

First up was Stephanopoulos who made a rather startling admission concerning exactly why the White House decided to give every senior citizen $250 (video embedded below the fold with transcribed highlights, relevant section at 19:12):

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

GEORGE WILL, ABC: I am the only one of the six of us -- I'm about to get $250 from the government as part of this super entitlement. I'm entitled...
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HOST: That's the -- the Social Security.
WILL: ... to a cost-of-living adjustment to Social Security. You're entitled to that when the cost of living goes up, and you're entitled to this entitlement when you're not entitled to it. It's the ultimate expression of our culture.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And that -- and that, Paul, I think the president believed that there's no way he could get health care through if he didn't do that.

Wow. Did Stephanopoulos so cavalierly admit that the $250 payment to seniors was a bribe to get them behind healthcare reform?

Imagine that.

Next up on the "Did He REALLY Just Say That?" hit parade was Paul Krugman who actually said the press blew their coverage of last week's announcement concerning the $1.4 trillion budget deficit. According to this Nobel Prize winner, media should have been cheering because it was -- wait for it!!! -- less than predicted (relevant section at 15:38):

PAUL KRUGMAN, NEW YORK TIMES: Let me say something. There's -- there's something that -- there was, I think, a little bit of bad reporting. When we got that $1.4 trillion deficit number, that was terrible, but it was actually $400 billion below what people were forecasting just a few months ago. The deficits are actually -- the surprises on the deficit are actually...

(CROSSTALK)
KRUGMAN: ... on the downside.
STEPHANOPOULOS: ... world-record deficit.
(CROSSTALK)
KRUGMAN: I know. I know, but the fact of the matter is that...
PEGGY NOONAN, WALL STREET JOURNAL: Three times bigger than ever.
KRUGMAN: ... that -- that if we were sort of, you know, dealing with, relaxed with the prospect of a $1.8 trillion deficit a few months ago, we should not be panicking, pulling back on stimulus, pulling back on support for the economy, when the actual deficit comes in $400 billion less than you were thinking it was.

You thought I was kidding, didn't you? But wait -- it gets better, for when the conversation turned to how we were going to pay for healthcare reform if it passes, Dionne told the dirty little secret that if every media member did the same, this bill would have been DOA months ago (relevant section at 11:20):

E.J. DIONNE, WASHINGTON POST: Do you know what the problem is, is that it's perfectly -- just to go back to the economy -- it's extremely rational to run big deficits when we need the stimulus from the government. What they can't do is to say, look, we're going to do that now and then we're going to pay for it later, and here are some tax proposals that will kick in down the road. And politically right now, it's poisonous to say we're going to spend money now and have tax increases later, but that is how we're going to do it in the end, even though I don't think they're going to say so.

No, I don't think they're going to say so either, E.J. But you did, and we thank you.

Finally, though not in order, the Best Line of the Day award has to go to George Will. Once again, the discussion was about paying for healthcare reform (relevant section at 13:45):

WILL: I'm very puzzled by the argument about how we're going to pay for this, which seems to be the big problem right now. This is a government that right now is borrowing 43 cents of every dollar it spends. We're going to pay for this the way we pay for everything. We're going to borrow the money from the Chinese.

STEPHANOPOULOS: The president says we're not. He says if it increases the deficit, he's not going to sign it.
WILL: I know...
(CROSSTALK)
WILL: ... sentences that begin "The president says" are not as impressive as they used to be.

Bravo! Encore! Author, author!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.

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A $250 tax deduction

October 18, 2009 - 18:55 ET by Norto

makes a lot more sense. O Is just currying favor for votes and cares nothing about an economic recovery. In fact, the recovery is abhorrent to him. He must really sense his "health reform"(the new tag) is in trouble and will do anything to stave off failure.

How come "The President

October 18, 2009 - 18:58 ET by G. May

How come "The President says..." never flew when Bush was in office? That line is an excellent way to encapsulate just how biased the media is.

Affirmative Action Politics

October 19, 2009 - 06:54 ET by GeneralAl

Please explain something to me! When Bush was President, he had around a 450 billion dollar defecit and the press was up in arms over our children's future. Obama keeps saying he inherited this mess and inflates it to 1.4 Trillion dollars. This idiot trumpets the fact that its 400 billion less than was expected therefore thats a good thing.If thats the case, Bush's mess is gone and this is all Obama's mess. Since the money to pay for this mess was appropriated during Bush's Presidency, he effectively eliminated his own defecit! Therefore, this is all OBAMA'S RECESSION! Why isn't Bush getting the credit as he got all the blame for the mess?

Answer: Affirmative Action Politics! Brcause Obama can't measure up to previous Presidents, the playing field has been shorten [If this were a football game!] from 100 to 50 yards in order to make it easier for the Messiah to score a touchdown. Furthermore, as long as he appears to be trying, he gets a automatic first down no matter how little he advances the ball. The big cry is "At least hes trying!" Tell that to a heart specialist!

Anyway, no matter how much he fails the press will find something positive to herald in order to make this loser a winner. If this were football, they would award him a victory just because he tried! Welcome to Affirmative Action Politics!

Obama's 15-minutes of fame

October 18, 2009 - 19:02 ET by ThisnThat

Obama's 15-minutes of fame are up.

Problem is, it will take decades to clean up the mess he's made.

__________
"mmm, mmm, mm. Barrack-Hussain-Øbama↓." - The liberals coolaid drinking song

Bi-Partisan Mess

October 19, 2009 - 13:22 ET by dlitwin

Yes, the president's on the ropes.

But he's not the only one responsible for the mess. Both parties have ignored limits on federal authority for nearly a century.

Reagan ballooned the national debt, trying to trick us into thinking he had reduced government by lowering tax rates, even though the spending went on overdrive.

Reagan paved a path to Obama.

Humans can't handle unlimited power.

The problem is much bigger than conservatives seem willing to admit.

It didn't start with Reagan

October 19, 2009 - 14:12 ET by CobraMan

It didn't start with Reagan. You, yourself, mention that this has been going on for over a century. Why, then, do you place the majority of blame on Reagan? Obama is operation more like FDR (prior to WWII) than Reagan.

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution

Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court

Not what I meant

October 19, 2009 - 16:05 ET by dlitwin

I didn't mean to put the bulk of blame on Reagan, just to note that he helped us get where we are.

Many liberals continue to blame Reagan for everything. Maybe that's what you heard in my comment. You've certainly had to hear that crap over and over from some.

But many conservatives still hold Reagan up as the ideal - now blaming Obama for everything. And to both of those, I say "hardly". That's all I meant to say, and all I think I said.

I hope that clears it up, thanks.

My goodness. You believe

October 20, 2009 - 22:13 ET by Noel Sheppard

My goodness. You believe deficit spending started with Reagan?

Honestly, there are times when I think we should require prospective members take a history test before we give them privileges to post comments here. It would radically improve the quality of the discussion while reducing how much time is wasted reading factually-challenged nonsense.

Noel,

October 22, 2009 - 12:40 ET by R D Helm

Honestly, there are times when I think we should require prospective members take a history testbefore we give them privileges to post comments here.

LOL - Can I, along with unsane, write the test?

-Dave

Our elected representatives have failed us.

It wouldn't have to be much

October 22, 2009 - 19:28 ET by ThisnThat

It wouldn't have to be much of a test these days, given the state of our education system.

1. How many states are there? (whoops, there goes the President with his "57" answer. Sorry, obama -- you can't join Newsbusters).

2. Who was President during the 1929 stock market crash (shucks, just lost Biden who claimed FDR was on TV at that time).

3. Who won the cold war? (there go our liberals -- no, it wasn't Mikhail Gorbachev, it was your enemy Ronald Reagan).

4. Which President said this: "Tax rates are too high today, and tax revenues are too low and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the tax rates"? (now the trolls are gone -- because President Kennedy said that, and afterwards proposed legislation to cut all rates by 30%).

__________
"mmm, mmm, mm. Barrack-Hussain-Øbama↓." - The liberals coolaid drinking song

Ever notice how the

October 18, 2009 - 19:21 ET by BKeyser

Ever notice how the impossibly and aggrivatingly uber-conservative Shep Smith begins every argument with "The president says," or "the CDC says," or "government-run does not mean a government-takeover; it pays for itself..."?

Oh wait, this thread isn't about Fox, the EvilDoer?

Look, everybody (except Shep) knows that taxes are going to have to skyrocket to pay down the (happily, quite managable) $1.4T debt Barry's run up in only 9 months on the job. And we know that "the president says" is code for "and next up, the falsehood du jour." We also know that the $250 coupon to be used toward your purchase of an AARP lobby half-hour is nothing but an overt misuse of public funds for the purpose of fostering the democratic agenda.

What we don't know is which foreign leader charged with genocide, or which country attempting to pursue nuclear weapons will be feeding from the US Taxpayer trough next.

And here's a quick exit question: Why is Andersen Cooper on 60 minutes tonight?

ABC's day in the 'fair and balanced sunshine'

October 18, 2009 - 19:25 ET by katainkent

Gotta look good when you roll out the Fox is a 'perspective' strategy. It will be business and usual in a week or so.

I am disgusted with the

October 18, 2009 - 19:25 ET by snaggletoothie

I am disgusted with the manner in which this collection of scumbags have blithely adopted the word 'teabagger.' Not a one of them will speak up for civility unless they can gore a conservative while doing it. Noonan's sickening need to suck up to the liberals is beyond indecent. And poor, social climbing Peggy will never understand that stabbing her former allies in the back will not be sufficient motivation for libs in large numbers to buy her books. A sad performance all around the table.

And a traitor is never

October 18, 2009 - 21:18 ET by Dan Diego

And a traitor is never trusted to sit at the table of their new masters.

Qualifying for an NFL ownership slot

October 18, 2009 - 21:59 ET by CO2Maker

Yeah, I noticed that, too, and posted a message before I read your comment. I think you're a little hard on the Pegster, although she was a bit uncharitable to Sarah Palin. I can't get past her breathy voice. It sounds like she's taken diction lessons from Diane "Romper Room voice" Sawyer.

the Pegster

October 18, 2009 - 23:24 ET by snaggletoothie

A decent person would not allow the use of the indecent word to go unnoticed or unprotested. Therefore she . . .

Positive Perspective on a Negative

October 18, 2009 - 19:45 ET by Chattychito

KRUGMAN: ... that -- that if we were sort of, you know, dealing
with, relaxed with the prospect of a $1.8 trillion deficit a few months
ago, we should not be panicking, pulling back on stimulus, pulling back
on support for the economy, when the actual deficit comes in $400
billion less than you were thinking it was.

Paul the years not over yet. the $400billion will be there by civil year end.

you see Obama can not see negatives if he does he loses his positive self image. So the Media, his staff, his Czars are all promoting a positive perspective of all negatives of Obama's actions, words and his administration. This is what they want from Fox only print the positives. they may be able to get most of the MSM to play this game but all it is is proping up a weak minded individual who is afraid of negatives. maybe it is because his mother dies while he was growing up.

Self Help guru James Ray would be so proud of Obama. but it is not reality. this is all fantasy. it is like getting everyone to tell the King his new clothes are so beautiful when in fact he is wearing none. Ability to focus on Positives, change negatives into positives and eliminate all Negatives from his life so he can be successful. is not a normal way to handle negatives.

Here's a fact that's worth the knowing, So treasure and mark it well. When the mind is through with growing, the the head begins to swell. Sir Nosmo King

The primary reason that "the President says" has lost meaning

October 18, 2009 - 20:05 ET by Army Brat

is that he lies nearly every time he opens his mouth.

The President says...the US is not a Christian nation but an islamic one.

The list of BS from the Prez could fill volumes at this point. And we're only talking the lies he's told since taking office. Include statements made out of pure ignorance during the last 9 months and you have yet another tome.

islam is a lie and Truth is killing it.

The phrase that pays

October 18, 2009 - 20:52 ET by Reaver

“Less than expected”, I just never get tired of hearing that one. Unemployment went up again last month but “less than expected”. The deficit is at record levels but “less than expected”. I can’t wait for them to apply the same spin to Afghanistan. Casualties increased this month but “less than expected”.

I wouldn't recommend sex, drugs or insanity for everyone, but they've always worked for me. - Hunter S. Thompson

Obama has never said anything I found impressive

October 18, 2009 - 20:11 ET by R D Helm

Then again, I did my homework on the guy, and thus knew what was coming.

-Dave

Agree

October 18, 2009 - 20:40 ET by justbob223

I, too, knew what was coming, so I am never surprised by this pack of dissemblers.

justbob, and it was so blatantly obvious, too.

October 18, 2009 - 23:30 ET by R D Helm

-Dave

Want to know why Obama is

October 18, 2009 - 21:48 ET by bse5150

Want to know why Obama is losing his ability to impress?

Let's have a look at what we've gotten from the Obama Administration so far...

Here's just the foreign policy:

European nations have refused to send significant numbers of new troops to aid the U.S.-led war effort in Afghanistan. Few countries have agreed to accept detainees held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Scottish officials ignored Obama’s plea to keep the Lockerbie bomber in prison, and U.S. efforts to head off a coup in Honduras were ineffective. North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons, Iran may be doing so, and Middle East leaders have rebuffed Obama’s efforts at peacemaking.
FROM THE WASHINGTON POST

Then we have...

Gitmo still open

Iraq still on

Afghanistan still on and worsening fast

Secret wiretaps still on

Secret 'snatch and grab' of 'terrorists' still on - this just done recently in Somalia and no one has any idea where these supposed terrorists are now - can you say 'secret prison'?

Economy in shambles

Unemployment at 23 year record high unless you count actual unemployment numbers as reported by the Associated Press - then you get 17% - an all time unemployment record

Businesses failing nationally

As of mid-October, for year 2009, there have been 99 Federally-backed bank failures

Dollar to be replaced as world currency

Deficit under Bush - billions. Under Obama - trillions

Broke promise to make government transparent, that no bill would be signed before it was reviewed for 5 days

Mass demonstrations against a dubious health care plan - in the first 8 months of Obama's Presidency

Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, N. Korea laugh at us because they know we are weak

Backpeddling on Darfur after promising to isolate their leadership during the campaign

Launched investigations into Americans serving on the front lines of the war on terror, while at the same time expanding legal protections for the terrorists that plot to attack this country

First President to snub the Dalai Lama - in order to appease China

Plummeting poll numbers for the Democrats and the President

Obama interferes in NY politics, trying to force a black, blind governor not to run - the governor ignores him.

Scandal after scandal - NEA, ACORN, Van Jones, Charlie Rangel... the list grows each week

Over 25 unelected, unaccountable 'Czars' who seem more and more ready to supplant Congress, not to mention each one of them is riddled with problematic histories and illegal activities

A stimulus bill close to 1 trillion dollars that got us.... what?

With Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, N. Korea, record unemployment, ballooning deficits, an economy in shambles, ACORN, NEA scandals and a healthcare mess on his plate, Obama takes a trip overseas to work a deal for his Chicago machine buddies to get Olympic contracts and FAILS in the first round, making the USA look very bad.

All this with the Democrats running the White House, House, Senate, Supreme Court, most state governorships, and a slobbering media who carry the water for everything Democrats ask

The Left continues to blame their problems on Palin, Limbaugh, Beck, Right Wing Blogs, Bush, Cheney, Halliburton, Nixon, Reagan, Hannity, everyone but themselves

Hope and Change!

True...

October 18, 2009 - 21:59 ET by Dan Diego

but you left out that he won the Nobel Piece of Sh_ prize for all those accomplishments.

Hey, just a minute there bse~~

October 18, 2009 - 22:05 ET by BKeyser

He did take home the emmy for all of this work!

Did I say emmy?

I meant MTV video award. No. Wait. Gold medal. Nope. Damn. What was that thing he got for doing nothing, again?

espy

October 18, 2009 - 22:15 ET by general company

maybe? Think he won it for getting twisted up in knots?

My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful

"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg

gc~~

October 18, 2009 - 22:24 ET by BKeyser

Then there was that 3rd place in Sasha's 2nd grade show-n-tell project. Behind Jimmy's paper airplane and Lil' Mikey's booger.

Don't forget

October 19, 2009 - 11:17 ET by StarAZ

Don't forget--the Constitution is keeping him from speeding up Katrina aid.

yeah right

October 19, 2009 - 12:44 ET by jon_torlin

When I heard that, I wanted to throw my shoe at my TV.

What a load of bovine effluvia!

-Jon

PS What's this about Kal-lee-forn-yah looking to ban big screen TVs??

Wow, great list

October 19, 2009 - 11:51 ET by CarlosS

Can I quote you, bse5150? You nailed this administration good.

Tea ...

October 18, 2009 - 21:55 ET by CO2Maker

baggers

Both Dionne and Stephanopoulos used that term! Geez, it's become second nature. And when Will referred to liberals, Dionne in response called them "progressives."

Hmmmmm.

I noticed that too. So,

October 18, 2009 - 22:31 ET by deerjerkydave

I noticed that too. So, conservatives are "tea baggers" and marxists are "progressives".

These guys reveal themselves and they don't even notice it. I'm reminded why I never watch these shows.

Better than a "tea baggee"

October 19, 2009 - 06:07 ET by raiseya

And the other nice thing is that that the Nobel won by Krugman got vastly devalued by the Oboobi PP. Krugman is a flack; Oboringama is a hack. May they both dwell in in the basement of future 'histories of the free world".