On March 6, in response to New York Times reporters' questions, President Barack Obama told the paper that he is not a socialist. He or his advisers were apparently so bothered by the questions that Obama later called the Times reporters involved in an attempt to .... well, I'm not sure, because he had already supposedly denied the charge.
The best guess is that Obama and his peeps felt he needed to get in some gratuitous digs at former president George W. Bush.
Part of Obama's phone call back to the Times including the following relative to the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) under then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson:
I did think it might be useful to point out that it wasn’t under me that we started buying a bunch of shares of banks.
..... I just think it’s clear by the time we got here, there already had been an enormous infusion of taxpayer money into the financial system.
That's great, except for one "little" thing: John Kerry, clearly speaking for the Obama campaign, told Chris Wallace on Fox News on September 28 of last year (HT to BizzyBlog commenter Joe C) that at the time of the first TARP deal that the bailout followed his template:
..... the four principal components of this deal, Chris, represent the exact four principles that Senator Obama laid out two weeks ago. They represent the exact principles that we put forward and almost agreed on last Thursday before politics entered into this.
..... But those principles are number one. We wanted to protect the taxpayers.
We were not going to turn billions of dollars over to any institution connected with Wall Street, given the experience of what had happened without protecting taxpayers. We have done that in this.Secondly, we were going to limit executive compensation. We weren't going to turn money over and have millions of dollars paid out to executives. That's been done.
Thirdly, there's a very important concept here about helping homeowners. There had been no talk about the homeowners. We want to keep people in their homes. This specifically helps to keep them there.
And finally, oversight. The administration came and said, "Just give us $800 billion." And we said, "No, not given this experience," so we're going to give first the 250. There'll then be a letter from the president requesting another 100, and then there's another 350, depending on how it goes.
So I think we have accountability. We have the principles that Senator Obama offered leadership on.
Perhaps this four-principled template matched that of George W. Bush, but that's the point. If it's true, Bush and Obama signed on to the same thing, and he can't possibly claim to be less socialist than Bush on the TARP topic as he explicitly did to the Times.
Maybe someone in the establishment media might notice and report not only Obama's frequent blame-shift to Bush, but also in this case its falsehood.
That's probably hoping for a bit much.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
—Tom Blumer is president of a training and development company in Mason, Ohio, and is a contributing editor to NewsBusters




















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Comments Policy
this isn't even newsworthy.
March 13, 2009 - 23:17 ET by puredmashiehe is a socialist. he campaigned as a socialist and was elected.
of course if we had a news media that actually reported this, the voting outcome might have been different.
swing hard in case you hit it.
It's bias-noteworthy
March 13, 2009 - 23:31 ET by Tom BlumerIf the NYT reporters has any interest in follow-up, they would have found something like my e-mailer found.
Obama fully supported TARP
March 14, 2009 - 00:14 ET by SouthernRootsBut, did he vote for it? If he voted for it, he is in it just as deep as Bush. If he voted no, well what can you say. If he didn't vote at all, then I guess that counts as a "present" vote, which doesn't say much for his ability to take a stand.
But Obama owns the stimulus and since he was in the Senate for two years during the time they were putting together the omnibus, and he signed it with nary a peep - it's his too. In less than two months, he signed into law over a trillion dollars worth of spending. He can't pin these on Bush - he signed them.
I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them. - J.B. Books (John Wayne)
Yes
March 14, 2009 - 04:28 ET by motherbeltHe did vote for it
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
A!
March 13, 2009 - 23:25 ET by MotherBush was NEVER a socialist!
He overspent? YES. -BUT, it was for the safety of our country after 911.
Bush wasn't prepared for the 9-11 attacks. He spent on tactical responses and low and f*ckin' behold...we WON!
-Our man boobed TWATTY, faggly, skinny douche in office is spending like he's a pimp with a bunch of ho's willing to keep ho'in' out the bucks.
FU, Barack, you scum! You lying skanky SOB!
Your TRUE motives are INSANITY... YOU DON'T knows wtf you're even doing you mental midget!
RESIGN!
At the risk of nagging ....
March 13, 2009 - 23:37 ET by Tom Blumer.... I hope you don't mind a suggestion that you clean your act up a bit.
As to Bush, I generally agree with your assessment on the sending front -- until about 2005.
In this post, I'm using "socialist" as an adjective to describe certain of his actions. His giving in to TARP was a socialist action, however one tries to defend it as based on fear and/or gullibility and/or blackmail. His more proactive move to aid GM and Chrysler was also socialist.
But of course Obama is far more socialist (adjective) than Bush ever was.
Tom, In September Bush had that deer in the headlights look..
March 14, 2009 - 00:34 ET by upcountrywaterAll he wanted to do was bail out the banks, that's it. As the weeks wore on, other bail-outs plans popped up. To bad he didn't let the FDIC cover it. oh well 20/20 hindsight.
P.R.I.N.T. Money 30 sec YT
You're not nagging, Tom...
March 14, 2009 - 13:41 ET by MotherYou're right. I come here to blow off some steam at times and I need to moderate myself when I fly off the handle.
Consider me tamed. *Meow* Purrrrrr. ;)
~Nice kitty
March 14, 2009 - 13:52 ET by choselife3xPretty kitty...*scratches Angel under chin*. May I touch your hair? *wink*
Hope and Change=
Despair and Socialism
choselife3x, LOL!
March 14, 2009 - 13:57 ET by MotherHonestly, I deserved that reprimand. I've been a baaaaaad, baaaaaad puddy tat.
I'm gonna polish my halo now and try and be a good girl. ;)
All kidding aside...I do have a terrible potty mouth at times. Being married to the construction business can do that to ya [yeah, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it]!
~Landscaping
March 14, 2009 - 14:02 ET by choselife3xWe swear in Spanish. *smirk*
I've got a pile of warm laundry here, wanna hang out in it with me?
Hope and Change=
Despair and Socialism
Sheesh!
March 14, 2009 - 14:57 ET by motherbeltGet a room, you two!
Enough already!
PS motherbelt is in no way related or connected to the poster who calls herself "Mother."
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
~Meow?
March 14, 2009 - 15:12 ET by choselife3xWould the catnip patch be more suitable?
Disclaimer: the 'touching the hair' joke is a reference to a conversation about long hair in an earlier thread.
Second Disclaimer: I can't swear in Spanish, it was a joke (too).
Hope and Change= Despair and Socialism
Get a room?
March 14, 2009 - 15:20 ET by MotherHey, Motherbelt, I'm married! 22 years and surviving. TYVM.
choselife3x, in a week or so I go in to the dentist to replace all of my old silver fillings that are leaking...I could use some REALLY GOOD catnip about now.
lmao!
I'm surprised Obama denied
March 13, 2009 - 23:38 ET by ConservativeRexI'm surprised Obama denied he's a socialist. But that's neither here nor there, of course he's a socialist.
If that empty suit wants to play woulda, shoulda, coulda, I'm all for that. if Bush would've said , "tough, let the banks go under, let Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae go under", the caterwauling from the left would have been deafening. Although, I think Bush should have done just that.
Besides, it was Chuck U Shumer who started the run on the banks..anyone remember IndyMac? And his hero, Rep Frank, who demanded the Federal banks loan money to people he damn well knew couldn't pay it back, just to keep their sorry votes.
So yes, Obama is a socialist. Lying is just as easy to him as breathing, but a fact is a fact.
The Consequences for the American Dissenter.
March 13, 2009 - 23:46 ET by dennisl59“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
This quotation is from a political operative from a country in Europe in the mid 20th century. And who says history can't repeat itself?
Frightening quote especially with Obama the socialist
March 14, 2009 - 00:29 ET by ConservativeFL“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
Joseph Goebbels German Minister of Propaganda, 1933-1945
"Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15." Ronald Reagan
Obama calling Bush a socialist? Right. Next, he'll...
March 14, 2009 - 00:39 ET by CKA in Red State USA. . .he'll be calling the Pope an abortionist and the U.S. military, terrorists.
Obama's so empty and is causing such intentional damage that the only ploy he has it call his enemies what he is -- or what they've suggested he is -- and then lie about what he's doing.
He is a dangerous man.
He and his administration and the coalition of Democrats, liberals and leftists must be driven from power.
Before America becomes the United States of France or Europe. Or the Union of America Socialist States. Or UASS for for short.
It's so easy to make Obama
March 14, 2009 - 01:23 ET by snaggletoothieIt's so easy to make Obama look stupid with your evil ploy of pointing to what he and his people said or did. The great genius of the Obama presidency lies in what he meant to say and what he meant to do. If you really wanted to discover the deepest, most meaningful truth about Obama you could have it clearly explained to you by George Stephanopoulos or Chris Matthews or James Carvelle or Paul Begala or Katie Couric or Matt Lauer or many others. Just ask for help and there are so many, many willing guides.
Nice call Mother
March 14, 2009 - 01:39 ET by RD Kingand maobama deserved every bit of it, no sense holding back he is what he is. I would have to say he's more than on board, he's an overboard full fledged commie usurper and yes all the destruction he has done has been with full intent. He was not alone but at the top of this economic meltdown with the democrat party and affiliates such as acorn.
Bush let himself be forced into doing what he was told was best for the economy and country by a democrat hack named Paulson who was lying thru his teeth and playing pay to play with Chuck U, maobama, Bawney, Dodd etc. GW should have vetoed it.
Statist...yes. But is he eligible?
March 14, 2009 - 02:00 ET by DJEddleI think we've gotten the whole "Obama is a statist" thing down. Can we now focus on whether he is eligible to be a statist president?
Thoughts on United States Citizenship
I understand that claiming Obama is not a natural born citizen is not a popular position to take, but why are so many people so adamant about either ignoring it or ridiculing those who question it when they have very little comprehension of our citizenship laws?
Rational Liberty: Where Reason and Government Collide - The best website ever!
Becuase IT IS NOT GOING
March 14, 2009 - 06:15 ET by Jack BauerBecuase IT IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
Seriously why waste time and energy on an issue that will not result in Obama being removed from the Presidency. It's a distraction -- unless an actual KENYAN birth cetificate turns up.
Spend your time organizing, agitiating and dissenting against the Marxist-in-Chief. It'll prove more productive.
Birth Certificate Not Required
March 14, 2009 - 11:14 ET by DJEddleThis has nothing to do with a birth certificate. His foreign citizenship at birth has already been admitted and acknowledged, yet nobody seems to care. Why is that?
And since when has upholding the Constitution become a "distraction"? That's a line I'd expect from a "liberal" - not from someone like you.
Rational Liberty: Where Reason and Government Collide - The best website ever!
I'll Figure Out How to Sell it
March 14, 2009 - 02:09 ET by rightwingidiotNot only did Barkey support and vote for TARP, his used car salesman tactics promoting it got told on by none other than Bill Clinton.
After the vote on TARP, Bill Clinton was stumping for Barkey in Florida at a rally. And, while the crowd of Koolaid drinkers probably thought Billy boy was heaping praise on his new best bud Barkey, I think Clinton was taking a jab at him for kicking Hillary's ass (with no less than the shadiest tactics during the primary) for the nomination, said something that is so telling about BHO's inabilty to do anything but sell whatever crap he can to whomever will buy it.
Clinton got up before Barkey came on and said (not a direct quote but close enough), "Barack didn't approve what I'm gonna say but here's the kinda guy that he is. He got a bunch of us together to advise him on what to do about the TARP proposal (I think he named a bunch of names including himself). He asked us to tell him what to do. He said don't tell me what's politically correct but what's best for the country. Tell me what to do and I'll figure out to sell it."
It couldn't be more obvious from that statement what we're getting with Barkey at the helm. He is the master used car salesman (no offense to used car salesmen). Give him any old pile of crap and he'll figure out how to sell it. Crap ideas that never worked anywhere in the world will magically work with Barkey at the controls.
He's a massive liar and he's now having trouble inventing new lies to patch over all the previous lies. I truly beleive he's incapable of telling the truth about anything. He's absolutely the most dishonest man on the face of the earth.
Obama Not A Socialist!
March 14, 2009 - 07:07 ET by GeneralAlCome on guys and gals, lay off from Obama on this Socialist gig! Barack Hussein Obama is not a Socialist. A Socialist believes in some governmental ownership of things normally reserved for private enterprise. Obama does not believe that way! HE WANTS IT ALL!!!!!! HES A COMMUNIST!!! Get it right and quit pussy footing around it! This man is determined to live in the White House for the rest of his life! If he isn't the Anti-Christ, he certainly is a foreshadow of him! If it walks like a Commie, Talks like a Commie, and acts like a Commie, its a Commie!
Obammunism
March 14, 2009 - 07:09 ET by 10ksnookerCan we all agree, it's not socialism, it's Obammunism. A cross between communism and socialism. The collective, as he called it in his book. You did read his book, 'Dreaams of my (MARXIST) Father', didn't you?
Mommy. Bush touched me.
March 14, 2009 - 08:32 ET by JWFMommy. Bush won't stay on his side.
Mommy. Bush spent all our allowance.
Mommy. Bush broke the economy.
Mommy. Bush keeps staring at me.
Mommy. Bush did it first.
Mommy. Bush wiped a booger on me.
Mommy. Look at all the idiots that voted for me.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
A Few Links re: Obama's Socialst Ties
March 14, 2009 - 10:27 ET by nofateBarack Obama and the Strategy of Manufactured Crisis
"As a young attorney in the 1990s, Barack Obama represented ACORN in Washington in their successful efforts to expand Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) authority. In addition to making it easier for ACORN groups to force banks into making risky loans, this also paved the way for banks like Superior to package mortgages as investments, and for the Government Sponsored Enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to underwrite them. These changes created the conditions that ultimately lead to the current financial crisis.
Did they not know this would occur? Were these smart people, led by a Harvard graduate, unaware of the Econ 101 concept of moral hazard that would result from the government making implicit guarantees to underwrite private sector financial risk? They should have known that freeing the high-risk mortgage market of risk, calamity was sure to ensue. I think they did.
Barack Obama, the Cloward-Piven candidate, no matter how he describes himself, has been a radical activist for most of his political career. That activism has been in support of organizations and initiatives that at their heart seek to tear the pillars of this nation asunder in order to replace them with their demented socialist vision. Their influence has spread so far and so wide that despite their blatant culpability in the current financial crisis, they are able to manipulate Capital Hill politicians to cut them into $140 billion of the bailout pie!"
Links to All Three Manufactured Crisis Articles
As a nation we have been asleep for years. Lulled by affluence and self-indulgent apathy, our collective awareness has grown dim. This has created an opening for our enemies, one that may ultimately prove fatal. This is the truth and what we do, or don't do, will determine the consequences, for better or worse. It is time to decide.
Archives prove Obama was a New Party member (updated)
The New Party was a radical left organization, established in 1992, to amalgamate far left groups and push the United States into socialism by forcing the Democratic Party to the left. It was an attempt to regroup the forces on the left in a new strategy to take power, burrowing from within. The party only lasted until 1998, when its strategy of "fusion" failed to withstand a Supreme Court ruling. But dissolving the party didn't stop the membership, including Barack Obama, from continuing to move the Democrats leftward with spectacular success.
Barack Obama entered electoral politics as a member of a radical marxist group aimed at gaining control of the Democratic Party in order to implement a hardline version of socialism in America. He signed a contract [with the New Party] promising to maintain a visible relationship.
Web Archives Confirm Barack Obama Was Member Of Socialist 'New Party' In 1996
On Tuesday, I discovered a web page that had been scrubbed from the New Party's website. The web page which was published in October 1996, was an internet newsletter update on that years congressional races. Although the web page was deleted from the New Party's website, the non-profit Internet Archive Organization had archived the page.
From the October 1996 Update of the DSA 'New Party':
"New Party members are busy knocking on doors, hammering down lawn signs, and phoning voters to support NP candidates this fall. Here are some of our key races...
Illinois: Three NP-members won Democratic primaries last Spring and face off against Republican opponents on election day: Danny Davis (U.S. House), Barack Obama (State Senate) and Patricia Martin (Cook County Judiciary)."
Link To The New Party Update
Beyond the archived web page from the Socialist New Party is the recognition by the "Progressive Populist" magazine in November 1996 that Obama was indeed an acknowledged member of the Socialist Party.
"New Party members and supported candidates won 16 of 23 races, including an at-large race for the Little Rock, Ark., City Council, a seat on the county board for Little Rock and the school board for Prince George's County, Md. Chicago is sending the first New Party member to Congress, as Danny Davis, who ran as a Democrat, won an overwhelming 85% victory. New Party member Barack Obama was uncontested for a State Senate seat from Chicago. "
Obama's Alliance with Marxists
Erik Ericson of RedState.com has a very detailed article today on Barack Obama's connection to a neo-Marxist political party called the "New Party." (I wrote about the New Party here.)
Basically, Obama sought out the group as a result of his work with another far left organization ACORN - a "non-partisan" acvitist group whose members have been convicted in several states of vote fraud. And not only did Obama receive their endorsement, he used many of the party's members as campaign workers on his first state senate campaign:
OBAMA’S RADICAL POLITICAL ALLIANCES
Co-founded in 1992 by Daniel Cantor (a former staffer for Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign) and Joel Rogers (a sociology and law professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison), the New Party was a Marxist political coalition whose objective was to endorse and elect leftist public officials—most often Democrats. The New Party’s short-term objective was to move the Democratic Party leftward, thereby setting the stage for the eventual rise of new Marxist third party.
Most New Party members hailed from the Democratic Socialists of America and the militant organization ACORN. The party’s Chicago chapter also included a large contingent from the Committees of Correspondence, a Marxist coalition of former Maoists, Trotskyists, and Communist Party USA members.
The New Party’s modus operandi included the political strategy of “electoral fusion,” where it would nominate, for various political offices, candidates from other parties (usually Democrats), thereby enabling each of those candidates to occupy more than one ballot line in the voting booth. By so doing, the New Party often was able to influence candidates’ platforms.
...About 50 activists attended the Chicago New Party membership meeting in July...Candidates must be approved via a NP political committee. Once approved, candidates must sign a contract with the NP. The contract mandates that they must have a visible and active relationship with the NP...The political entourage included...Barack Obama, chief of staff for State Sen. Alice Palmer. Obama is running for Palmer’s vacant seat.
Barack Obama: Red Diaper Baby
Barack Obama is a "red diaper baby" who has spent his formative years -- literally from the moment of his birth -- interacting with members and sympathizers of the Communist Party, USA. His mother Stanley Ann Dunham has been described by former classmates as a "fellow traveler." His grandfather Stanley Armour Dunham arranged Obama's mentorship by Communist Party member Frank Marshall Davis.
Making the World Safe for Marxism
Obama was essentially a "red diaper baby" who was raised and educated by Marxists to be Marxist. Communists really did spy on us. They had secret meetings. Communism is no longer "strange"; it is taught in our schools, sometimes by Marxists. Obama went to such schools, took such classes and personally sought out Marxists. Bill Ayers calls himself a communist. Barack Obama's run for elective office was kicked off at a meeting in Bill Ayer's house. His voting record was the most liberal in the Senate in 2007, or left of self-avowed socialist Bernie Sanders.
"The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
michaelyon-online.com
Obama
March 14, 2009 - 10:43 ET by jessieHJessie R. Hamby The people didn't elect Obama, the super delegates did. The people wanted an AMERICAN to be president, not a liberal, not a dem., not a republican or a socialist. What we got was a mix of idiots. To give billions of dollars to the banks is just short of treason. The only reason they did was to protect their own asses. They have their grubby little hands in the banks resources. If they failed, the truth would show up. They (the govt.), are all crooks. Look at Barney Frank. He stated there was nothing wrong with Fannie mae & Freddy Mac. We all know what happened then. The bailout. Thanks, washington! Thanks media! Now we have a debt that can not be fixed in our lifetime. Now we have the same crooks raising our taxes to pay for it. Who is going to pay this back? If everyone is unemployed, who is going to pay the taxes? Hey, who cares! I didn't vote for these idiots. I won't be paying the taxes. I grow my own food. I know how to build solar panels & windmills. I can buy my prescription drugs in Canada. WHO IS GOING TO PAY? THE DUMBASSES WHO VOTED FOR TEAM OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's probably juvenille and petty of me...
March 14, 2009 - 11:40 ET by dborschjr68...but I am enjoying watching this "president" squirm, just even a little.
======================
About an hour later, it hit me: Those were the droids I was looking for!
If you really want to see
March 14, 2009 - 11:42 ET by Free StinkerIf you really want to see him squirm, let's take away his teleprompters!
Re teleprompters
March 14, 2009 - 12:09 ET by slickwillie2001It's going to be tough to take away his teleprompters, look at what the IT folks at the White House have come up with for our Maximum Doofus: Teleprompters
Mark II
March 14, 2009 - 12:37 ET by CobraManObama's considering updating to the Mark II Heads Up Display.
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
I was wondering who was
March 14, 2009 - 13:29 ET by BKeyserI was wondering who was going to make the connection. As soon as I saw the first report regarding the Hey, NYT, I'm not the Socialist- this all started under Bush routine, I thought- but wait a minute there skippy, didn't you support the whole thing during the campaign? I realize he wasn't very vocal about it, choosing instead to attack McCain and waiting for the polls to come in before proclaiming his position publically, but putting taxpayer money in the hands of politicians, Socialist or not, is far from this guy's pet peeves...
He even cites French socialists for our budget.
March 14, 2009 - 18:07 ET by mizflame98The infamous page_11. Who are these econimists cited in the graph?
Thomas_Piketty
Emmanuel_Saez
See a connection?
"Not to be a republican at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want of head." - Francois Guisot