Krauthammer Schools WaPo's King on Obama: He'd Be a Good Professor But He Can't Run the Country
Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer and the Washington Post's Colby King got into a heated debate about Barack Obama on Friday's "Inside Washington."
After King compared the current White House resident to Harry Truman, Krauthammer struck back with a list of Obama's shortcomings concluding, "He would be a good professor...He can do a lot of things, but run the United States he can't" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
COLBY KING, WASHINGTON POST: I think he’s laid the predicate for it with this jobs bill because he really did serve up to his base with this proposal in kind of talking about the jobs. But look, let's not get too far away from the reality here. Let’s look at what happened in 1946, Harry Truman. He found himself with a Republican Congress for, that surprised him. His approval rating was down around 32 percent. And he fought back against the do nothing Congress. He turned it around. I think it is possible for Obama to turn it around.
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Colby, I knew Harry Truman. Harry Truman was a friend of mine. Barack Obama is no Harry Truman. It’s not that complicated. Obama is over his head. He is a great orator. He came out of nowhere. He dazzled America. He’d never run anything. He never actually enacted anything even in the legislature. He hadn’t run a state. He hadn’t run a city. He hadn’t run a business. He is running the biggest enterprise in the world and he has not succeeded. And that is why all of these independents, all of those who believed, who believed in the soaring rhetoric, including I would probably add a couple who swooned in the aisles as he spoke in 2008, are now waking up and realizing he’s a mortal who is over his head.
KING: I think your dislike for Obama is getting in the way of any sound analysis of the situation. I mean week after week after week it’s a personalized attack. And now you’re saying he’s stupid.
KRAUTHAMMER: I’m saying…
KING: You’re saying he’s in over his head…
KRAUTHAMMER: I’m not saying he’s stupid. He’s a great orator. He’s a very smart man and he would be a good professor. He argues extremely well.
KING: I think…
KRAUTHAMMER: He can do a lot of things, but run the United States he can't. That’s analysis, Colby, and I’d like to hear, I’d like to hear an argument which actually answers the analysis and not an ad hominem on your part.
Sadly, that's not an argument we're likely to get from Obama's fans in the media until possibly November 7th if the nation free of his oratorical ether votes him out of office.
At that point, so-called journalists might finally have to admit that the former junior senator from Illinois was never qualified for the position they dishonestly helped him attain.
Of course, it's more likely they'll blame his defeat on racism.
As we've seen in recent years, that's always the fallback position for these shills.
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Comments
On this, I disagree with the Hammer
Submitted by bkeyser on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 10:45am.
Obama is not a very smart man (though that might make him a good professor...). He obviously has no command of political history.
PBS can literally be charged with re-writing history by this debacle.
Nice find!
Submitted by GregE on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 4:07pm.
I wish I could say it's unbelievable, but in today's American media, it's not.
Nice find. Thanks for posting.
I see they've updated the transcript now.
Liberals are well-known for revisionist history
Submitted by TheHistorian on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 7:36am.
Ohio had land-grant colleges as early as 1809 (Miami University). Maybe the WH should also change this part of his speech?
Libs are still stuck on Wilson being the great leader and FDR as leading us out of the Depression. In FDR's case, he was an orator who was in over his head also. In Wilson's case, Obama would have been fired from his civil service job in the Federal government for being black.
Dennis Prager
Exactly right, Dr. K. with one exception.
Submitted by UpNorth on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 10:46am.
Obama would be, at best, a mediocre professor. He's only "qualified" to teach constitutional law, and he doesn't know his subject.
And, Colby, "week after week it's a personalized attack"? Really, now, when one points out the fact that Obama isn't qualified it's a "personalized attack"? How about being called a terrorist, a barbarian, or a son of a bitch, incessantly? Would that qualify as a "personalized attack"?
Generosity
Submitted by pockets64 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:25am.
The Hammer was being generous.
even if
Submitted by jimtrees on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 10:00pm.
What is so wrong about stating the obvious? Charles had this guy on the robes, and the bell rung.
I got the feeling Colby King
Submitted by deerjerkydave on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 10:58am.
I got the feeling Colby King was restraining himself from saying that racism was the root Krauthammer's dislike of Obama. Why else would he make this attack against Krauthammer? Is it impossible for someone to think Obama has failed just based upon his record?
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"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State Governments are numerous and indefinite. -James MadisonYup
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 4:21pm.
If you disagree with any Oby policy, you're a racist. Didn't you get the memo?
Agreed
Submitted by Galvanic on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 7:38pm.
He wanted to thow the Race Card, but he knows Krauthammer too well, and held back.
Exactly what we don't need
Submitted by Anneke9 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:03am.
I have to disagree with Charles on this one. Obama is exactly what we DON'T need more of on college campuses: a partisan, ego-inflated, elitist hack.
A typical college professor
Submitted by pockets64 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:27am.
Anneke9: You are right. We don't need _MORE_ of this ilk on campus.
But The Hammer is right: Obama is just like the typical college professor. He didn't say that it would be a good place for _us_ to have him. Just a place more fitting Obama.
Too right on that note Anne.
Submitted by Bhaal on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:45am.
I just started a Geography class with the "Professor" starting the class off with how ignorant Americans are, citing the people Americans consider illiterate around the world, may speak several languages but most Americans can't even speak and write one language correctly. He then rolled into all kinds of leftist talking points on immigration and anti-war, anti-Bush. I didn't realize that the Iraq war was waged solely by the U.S. I was under the impression that there were some other troops involved in the 2003 invasion of Iraq like UK, Australian, and a dash of Polish, but what do I know, I'm just an ignorant American.
Sounds like the "perfesser"
Submitted by celator on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 5:35pm.
Sounds like the "perfesser" is ripe for some schooling. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. You're up for it!
I am a son of a bitch, and ...
Submitted by Newsbubba on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:03am.
... Barack Hussein Obama is a Fascist pig. He is also a moron. Unfortunately, he is "personally" in a position to literally destroy this economy!
I hope that's not getting too personal.
Obama was a " professor" and
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:08am.
Obama was a " professor" and failed at that. He is a lazy, shiftless moron.
You are wrong.
Submitted by pockets64 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:29am.
Obama is NOT shiftless. No lazy moron can become President and be shiftless.
http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+shiftless&qpvt=define+shi...
I agree, pockets.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:42am.
Bambi is not shiftless. He is shifting our ass right down the crapper!
"I'm going to fundamentally transform this country."
As I recall, Obama's appointment was adjunct.
Submitted by drsamherman on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:16am.
As I recall the reporting, his teaching position was created for him due to the university's politics. His position was part-time/adjunct and his colleagues felt he was unprepared and his lectures of questionable quality. Adjunct faculty, for the most part, is courtesy faculty who want to contribute but either are unable or unwilling to do a full-time tenure stream effort. In health professions, we have "clinical" faculty who often have little or no teaching responsibilities except for instruction at the office, clinic, hospital or other facility where they might practice. I hold a full-professor of neurology and psychiatry appointment with all four medical schools whose students I teach on their clinical rotations, but I am not obligated to deliver lectures in specific courses. Instead, I provide instruction to them during the diagnostic, treatment and prognostic phases. Weekly, I may discuss a topic, but it is not in a formalized lecture.
Saying he was a "law professor" is misleading in the least. He was a part-time teacher who seems to have little respect from his full-time colleagues according to the accounts I read of his law school past. Funny how both he and Moochelle gave up their law licenses too.
Wonder if any student remembers him?
Submitted by Newsbubba on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:38am.
They seem to have a lot of trouble finding anyone who:
Remembers where He was born.
Remembers ever being a fellow student in any school.
Remembers what His grades were.
Remembers what His SSN is, or was, or still might be.
Remembers where He traveled or lived, and with whom.
Remembers who His friends were, and on and on.
Does any student even remember having Bambi lecture? I mean He lectures all of us sons of bitches all the time, but did He really ever lecture in law school? I'm guessing that His lecture notes are a lot like His economic plan; just a lot of hot air He didn't ever bother to actually write down on paper.
I've thought about that many
Submitted by celator on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:42am.
I've thought about that many times. He seems like a guy that went through his entire life without leaving an impression on anyone, talking to anyone we can find. Nobody remembers him as a student, as a "professor", as a friend, as a golf partner, as a neighbor, as an acquaintance. At least anyone we can find. Maybe he's from another planet. It's one of the oddest things about Obama, among many, many odd things.
I see possibilities for all but one.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:45am.
He could be easy to forget except in one area. If anyone ever played golf with that Hacker, they would never forget how damned bad He is!
That's for sure!
Submitted by celator on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 1:37pm.
That's for sure!
...
Submitted by kata on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 1:33pm.
“The things that make law school politics fractious are different from the things that make American politics fractious,” said Ron Klain, who preceded Mr. Obama at the law review and later served as Vice President Al Gore’s chief of staff. Mr. Klain has watched the senator’s rise.
“The interesting caveat,” he said, “is that is a style of leadership more effective running a law review than running a country.”
NY Times - January 8, 2007.
Funny too is how he could buy a 1.65 million dollar home...
Submitted by Red Jeep on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:35am.
...in 2005. It is claimed that he was able to buy this house in part was his royalties from his best selling books,1.2 million. That best selling book thing is odd too. He had best selling books that no one heard about until he ran for the presidency.
Maybe they were best sellers because those who wanted to funnel money to Obama bought them in bulk. Wish someone would research that.
Guess the Obamas don't like that home much because they never seem to go back there.
Krauthammer is right
Submitted by kata on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 1:24pm.
I'd read that his title was "Senior Lecturer" which gave him adjunct status. I have a relative who teaches at the local university under adjunct status. I get the impression it pays less and has considerably less status since he says that it means he gets the "s**tty schedule" for classes. Seems that's the case?
Michelle Obama voluntarily surrendered her license in '93 and Pr. Obama voluntarily retired his. I have no idea what that implies. I am sure someone will come along and tell us. lol... but this is all just water under the bridge. It's been a very long time since I've been in college but somehow I am sure Obama would be quite at home in front of a classroom since he seems to think the Chambers of Congress is one.
But Krauthammer is right. There's nothing he states in that short criticism that's isn't factual. It's deeply annoying that making a factual account of someone's resume is somehow "just not liking the man".
I was an adjunct lecturer
Submitted by celator on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 1:51pm.
I was an adjunct lecturer (summers) for several years way back when and you are right--there is no status, lousy pay and the courses I taught were considered "beneath" the rest of the faculty. But I enjoyed it a lot, anyway. ;+}. You were considered an outsider and about two levels above the groundskeeper.
celator
Submitted by hydrodynDM on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 4:45am.
Apparently, you worked for a bunch of a-holes.
We have adjuncts in our department and considering that every one of them has a Ph.D. in physics - just like the rest of the permanent faculty - nobody looks at them as being "beneath" anything. They are folks who choose to participate in our department's endeavors in a limited capacity and we appreciate their help. And apparently they consider the pay OK for their efforts - otherwise they would do something else.
Maybe if you worked for us, you would have a different view about adjuncts.
"Several times during his 12
Submitted by GregE on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 4:13pm.
"Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined."
But the offer likely still stands and he'll be there.
U Chicago is also where he
Submitted by celator on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 1:45pm.
U Chicago is also where he met up with the infamous Valerie Jarrett who tried to convince him to stay on as full time faculty when she was Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees. For sure he was never a tenured professor, as he and his hapless sycophants never tire of suggesting.
If
Submitted by Brad90956 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:26am.
Obama loses the election (to early to say right now) I guarantee a good amount of liberal journalists (especially most at MSNBC) will say it is because of racism.
My two fears
Submitted by pockets64 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:32am.
1) that Obama will deny the election saying it was corrupt and stay in office,
2) that upon Obama's defeat, the shiftless multitudes will rise up under the banner of being against the majority's "racism" and cause riots coast to coast.
I'm not saying one particular race is shiftless. I'm saying that the type of person who would support Obama, especially at this stage in the game, is shiftless.
Hmmmmmm.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:40am.
If those are my choices, I'll take door number 2!
OK, impeach now.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 11:49am.
Why wait?
Can you even imagine........
Submitted by GregE on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 4:17pm.
............the chaos and likey probable violence that would ensue if 2012 was undecided for weeks, hung on one 50-50 state election, as in 2000? And then if the outcome turned out to go Republican? Good grief. Rodney King all over again, in cities across America.
If we thought 2000 was bad, it would look like kindergarten nap time in comparison.
They got a CD full of the
Submitted by celator on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 1:47pm.
They've got a CD full of the pre-written racist stories all ready to go, I guarantee you.
Probably they're(ACORN SEIU) keeping a box of those CDs
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 4:34pm.
in their car trunks which they're busily stuffing with absentee votes from dead people for 2012.
Yes, and they've got the
Submitted by celator on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 5:40pm.
Yes, and they've got the "Vote Early And Vote Often" signs all done up to!
And who doesn't believe that the Black Panthers and SEIU gangsters have been "training" for months to disrupt the poll booths on election day? They know Holder will look the other way.
Shovel-ready jobs
Submitted by pockets64 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 8:34pm.
Plenty of shovel-ready jobs digging up the vote.
Krauthammer is wrong. Obama
Submitted by moderncommentaries83 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 12:06pm.
Krauthammer is wrong.
Obama wouldn't make a good professor, either.
He probably knows that
Submitted by GregE on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 4:18pm.
I think he was just tossing out an inconsequential bone.
Exactly
Submitted by pockets64 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 8:35pm.
Kinda obvious at that.
Not a good professor, but...
Submitted by pockets64 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 8:32pm.
Not a good professor, but a typical professor.
For pre-meds, he would make a perfect professor.
Submitted by drsamherman on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 10:56pm.
You need to maintain a high GPA. Ear Leader would be one of those professors to whom you regurgitate all of their own crap and add in a few miscellaneous anti-American points of rhetoric and instant A+ in an otherwise useless, throwaway class. Get an B+ in organic chem? Take Professor O'batears class, swipe a few of Noam Chomsky's more horse-cookie lines back at him and instant A+ to restore to a 4.0.
It's not like anyone could ever take his scripted, teleprompter nonsense for anything other than hot air and psychosis.
pockets64
Submitted by hydrodynDM on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 4:22am.
Um, I'm a professor.
Tell me how I'm "typical".
Smack Down!
Submitted by Radical Reductionist on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 12:11pm.
Man, what a smack down! King never has analysis, only talking points and superficial anecdotal musings. Charles put the heat on him, only thing for King to do is tap out!
Charles Krauthammer had this list in his head.
Submitted by upcountrywater on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 12:38pm.
10. “bell hooks” 9. Amiri Baraka 8. Tom Hayden 7. Joseph Massad 6. Jose Angel Gutierrez 5. Armando Navarro 4. Gayle Rubin 3. Angela Davis 2. Bill Ayers 1. Bernardine Dohrn
I'd assumed that anti-American-phony-Indian Ward Churchill would make the list, but I see these professors are even worse.
You Didn't Build That.
Obama can run the country...
Submitted by Dave. on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 1:25pm.
...right into the ground.
Because that is what he is currently doing, and to this point the congress, which is supposed to be a check on presidents with dictatorial leanings, cannot seem to bring itself to even try and stop him.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Obama - intelligent?
Submitted by lgeubank on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 1:36pm.
I think he's sort of middle-management intelligent. He could run a regional office of a national corporation, maybe (if he had an assistant to do the actual work). He makes a good figurehead.
He always seems to me sort of like Mussolini's dumber younger brother.
I've had managers like him
Submitted by pockets64 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 8:41pm.
I've had managers like him.
Not really knowing the job, relying on those working for them to carry the water while at the same time doing everything possible to make the task of carrying the water as difficult as possible with the stupid yet clever-sounding noise coming from the hole under their noses.
It is more important to "show well" than to do well. Say what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. Just like this bum.
Sorry for that long sentence.
I am amazed that Colby could
Submitted by Ryan Mc. on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 2:47pm.
I am amazed that Colby could actually complete a sentence. I was betting against it for the first 30 seconds of his rambling incoherence.
I'm surprised that the Hammer
Submitted by killa37 on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 3:02pm.
I'm surprised that the Hammer said this to a 'black' man............you KNOW that King was wanting to go to the 'race' issue. But I disagree with Charles on a few points - as many others have here on this thread. I don't consider Boy BlahBlah to be a 'great orater', because he can't come up with any of it himself. I guess that you could say he 'argues well'...........if, by that, you mean that he is incapable of seeing any view but his own. And being a 'good professor' is a nebulous statement - I went to college for a couple of years...............and I ran into a number of professors who were tedious, boring, uninteresting, and un-engaging - I guess Barry could be one of those types.
At least the Hammer admitted to being 'punk'd' by the biggest punk to ever ruin (whoops......run) this country!!! Most of the MSM is still loathe to admit that they were in on the scam.
He is too kind to these people
Submitted by BigKAD on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 3:56pm.
Charles is too nice to these drones. There is no reasoning with the indoctronated. They worship at the feet of the fresh prince of Bill Ayers.
Obama
Submitted by Robersire on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 5:08pm.
When you listen carefully to what Obama says you know he is a liar. Body language, words and his eyes.
Prove Obama is smart. We know he is not qualified.
Submitted by ohio granny on Sat, 09/10/2011 - 8:37pm.
Until someone proves Obama is smart by releasing his college and law school transcripts, I will assume he is really not that intelligent. I know he is incompetent and lacks common sense.
I don't think he is that smart. Hey Colby can you prove me wrong!!!!
ohio granny.....Do we really require Barack Obama's transcripts
Submitted by Rush Fan on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 10:15am.
to determine how smart he is after almost three years in office? As a NewsBusters poster (me) once said: Action speaks louder than transcripts.
This inexperienced man-child is over his head in the highest office in this great country. The question at this point is: Was he really any good at his previous job of community organizer?
This is the major problem with Liberals Affirmative action policies. It sometimes, perhaps often, forces to the head of the class those, like Barack Obama, who would otherwise be unqualified.
----------------------------------------------
By the way, we have something, other than NewsBusters, in common. I was born and grew up in East Liverpool, a small town in Ohio. I moved to Southern California in my late twenties. That was a long time ago. When I was growing up, we never locked our doors at night. I was taught by terrific and dedicated non-union teachers, Times sure have changed, even for a small town in Ohio. Safety and public education are not what they used to be.
Good morning Rush Fan
Submitted by cocodrie on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 10:28am.
We need 'em
We have all the former presidents' in their respective libraries for posterity.
We need Present Obabble's for the posteriors in the democrat party.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
cocodrie.....Okay. You've persuaded me. But I doubt Obama's
Submitted by Rush Fan on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 10:57am.
transcripts will reveal the true academic credentials and qualifications of our leader. Liberal teachers (are there any other kind?), at the college level may have, due to Affirmative action policies, a tendency to puff up the grades of applicable students such as Obama, to assist in promoting "equal opportunity and fairness." Hence, Barack Obama's legitimate grades may be much lower.
By the way, I thought I would be the oldest poster at NewsBusters, but you beat me by a few years.
regards,
RF
Don't worry , Rush
Submitted by Model850 on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 5:05pm.
When (IF?) his transcripts are released, they will show him to be the "super-smart" guy the media's been claiming him to be.
What? Didn't you know Soros and his minions have been busy all these years doctoring transcripts and creating "brilliant" Law Review articles for their god?
Model850......Of course, your right. I forgot that the media and
Submitted by Rush Fan on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 5:36pm.
the Left are so invested in Obama, that they will ensure he is always presented in the best light, no matter what lengths they must go.to accomplish this. It reminds me of Sandy Berger, President Clinton's National Security Advisor, who stole and destroyed highly classified material related to Al-Queda that was supposedly embarrassing to the Clinton Administration. Lying and stealing is all in a days work for the Left.
Doctoring transcripts?
Submitted by UpNorth on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 8:49pm.
I'm sure the fonts listing the course, then the GPA will match up precisely./s Just like the fonts on Danny boy Rather's expose' of Bush's record in the NG.
The "smart" meme is just a
Submitted by amyshulk on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 12:57am.
The "smart" meme is just a construct of the msm, and they can't deny it - if they admit he's not all that, they lose credibility.
Since those of us who paid attention from the start already knew they were full of it, it's not us they are concerned about finding out the truth - it's those people who vote without knowledge they have to worry about catching on!!!
Ronald Reagan
If Barack Obama were White, would he really qualify for a
Submitted by Rush Fan on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 2:39am.
professorship at a prestigious university such as Harvard or Yale? Or for that matter at any college or university? I don't think so. Affirmative Action and being an articulate and clean Black man have helped Obama climb the ladder of success all his life.
Barack Obama's talent is as a community organizer, where his skills at lying with a straight face and playing the class and race card can be put to good use.
Rush Fan,---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 7:59pm.
true; but I would add that Obama has done an exceptional job with his talents for lying with a straight face and playing the class and race card, as a career politician, nimrod in the Oval Office, and temporary resident of the White House. :o)
MD
MD..Yes, I would agree with your evaluation of Obama's talents.
Submitted by Rush Fan on Sun, 09/11/2011 - 8:32pm.
Early on in the 2008 election campaign, there was no doubt in my mind of two things: 1) RINO John McCain had no chance of winning (on some issues, such as Global Warming, he was as far left as the Democrat candidates) and 2) Hillary Clinton would be our next President due to her and Bill's well-oiled machine, and the fact she was running in the primary against an unknown and unqualified opponent. Barack Obama's skill set obviously won the day.
Yes "temporary" is the operative word. I can't wait.