For someone who by his book title claims the mantle of "audacity," Barack Obama is a mighty timid guy. Will the MSM look beyond his rhetoric of inclusion and consider his actual positions? If so, they'll find that nowhere has he had the courage to break from the most doctrinaire, predictable brand of liberalism.For my sins, I went through the text of his announcement speech of yesterday, ignoring the high-flown appeals, focusing instead on the policy implications. Here are annotated excerpts.
- Of his time in the Illinois legislature, he spoke of "mak[ing] the tax system more fair and just for working families." Liberal code for making taxes more steeply progressive, with "working families" thrown in for good class-warfare measure.
- Of the founding event of our country, the Revolution, he said "in the face of tyranny, a band of patriots brought an Empire to its knees." Beyond the factual error -- far from being brought to its knees the British Empire survived very nicely for more than another 150 years -- note how he casts the Revolution first and foremost as a struggle against imperialism rather than as a quest for individual liberty.
- Of the great Depression, he said "we put people back to work and lifted millions out of poverty." That's a vote for the welfare-statism of FDR's New Deal.
- He made an undisguised pitch to the teachers' unions: "Let's set high standards for our schools and give them the resources they need to succeed. Let's recruit a new army of teachers, and give them better pay and more support in exchange for more accountability." Anyone want to bet that when you get down to the specifics, the higher teacher pay would be real and the accountability illusory?
- Next, an appeal to academia and a proposal for more middle-class welfare: "Let's make college more affordable, and let's invest in scientific research."
- Do you want government playing a big role in the internet? Obama does: "Let's lay down broadband lines through the heart of inner cities and rural towns all across America."
- Next, some good-old fashioned income redistribution: "Let's be the generation that ensures our nation's workers are sharing in our prosperity."
- No liberal's speech would be complete without some pandering to Big Labor: "Let's allow our unions and their organizers to lift up this country's middle-class again." Translation: strip the ability of workers who oppose unionization of their shops to remain anonymous.
- Obama then invoked the worst of LBJ's welfare spending of the '60s: "Let's be the generation that ends poverty in America. Every single person willing to work should be able to get job training that leads to a job, and earn a living wage that can pay the bills, and afford child care so their kids have a safe place to go when they work. Let's do this." How many trillions have we already spent on "ending poverty" and with what results? "A living wage"? That's far-lefty stuff that makes proponents of the current minimum wage hike look like pikers. Oh, and government-subsidized child care -- another liberal staple.
- "Let's be the generation that says right here, right now, that we will have universal health care in America by the end of the next president's first term." ObamaCare by 2012 or bust!
- "Let's be the generation that finally frees America from the tyranny of oil. We can harness homegrown, alternative fuels like ethanol and spur the production of more fuel-efficient cars. We can set up a system for capping greenhouse gases. We can turn this crisis of global warming into a moment of opportunity for innovation." Al Gore would be so very pleased.
- Note that Obama didn't say a word about national security and the war on terrorism until well into his speech, and not before he exhausted his big-government to-do list. Yes, he wants to "work together to track terrorists down," but there was a but: "But let us also understand that ultimate victory against our enemies will come only by rebuilding our alliances and exporting those ideals that bring hope and opportunity to millions around the globe." Let's hear it for the French. And wait a second, isn't exporting our ideals to Iraq exactly what the Bush administration has been trying to do and what he wants to end?
- Another but: "But all of this cannot come to pass until we bring an end to this war in Iraq. Most of you know I opposed this war from the start. . . That's why I have a plan that will bring our combat troops home by March of 2008." That is a radical call not merely to "redeploy" combat troops within the region, but to "bring them home" within 13 months. There is no way to accomplish that without cutting off funding for the troops. We're talking Dennis Kucinich territory, here.
Story Continues Below Ad ↓
Will the MSM take notice?
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Barrack Obama is Satan ... bu
February 11, 2007 - 09:49 ET by jonathanandersonBarrack Obama is Satan ... but he's a better Satan than Hillary Clinton.
A BETTER Satan? Get Real!
February 11, 2007 - 09:57 ET by rimskyA BETTER Satan? Get Real!
You mean Beealzebub versus Lu
February 12, 2007 - 10:18 ET by donsalesYou mean Beealzebub versus Lucifer in a Saturday night rumble???? LOL
As reported by Novak:
The buzz in Democratic circles for the past two weeks has been over the decision to raise money for Sen. Barack Obama by two or three multimillionaire liberals from Hollywood who were thought to be supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president. An explanation that this is the movie industry's delayed reaction to some of President Bill Clinton's policies is not credible. The real reason for the defection is more troubling for Clinton's campaign.
In fact, the Hollywood defections have the same root as resistance to Clinton's candidacy among less glittering Democratic activists throughout the country. A substantial number of them do not want to participate in a coronation of the former first lady because they still doubt her viability as a presidential candidate. They question both her positions on the issues and her skills on the campaign trail.
Nowhere to Run....Nowhere To Hide.....
He sure aint no Abraham Lin
February 11, 2007 - 10:36 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsHe sure aint no Abraham Lincoln!
D
Want your elected reps to know what you think? Go to Congress.org, it's real easy.
You can also send faxes to your reps for free from NumbersUSA<
more..
February 11, 2007 - 19:33 ET by gxa99Have you guys seen this?
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Colbert_questions_Obamas_blackness_0209.html
Off topic: Does Newsbusters
February 11, 2007 - 09:51 ET by Christopher FotosOff topic: Does Newsbusters know there still may be technical problems at this site when people hit "read more"? I can see the additional material only by logging in,a and sometimes not even that. I thought it was just me, but a poster at Just One Minute was having similar problems.
Christopher Fotos/
PostWatch
Thanks for bringing that to
February 11, 2007 - 09:52 ET by Mark FinkelsteinThanks for bringing that to my attention. Didn't know that, though the editors are aware of some technical gremlins on which they're working. I will bring let them know about this one.
I haven't heard a better argu
February 11, 2007 - 09:54 ET by ucI haven't heard a better arguement for the Operation Iraqi Freedom or for Bush's arguements for war time spending. I didn't know Obama was such a closeted Bush supporter, says he is against war but then says we should be much more like Lincoln??? Complains about war spending but reminds us of 9/11 and that Bush's arguements have been that the alternatives might be rubble in more of our streets and $100 a barrel oil with France maybe helping Saddam restart his Nuclear Program thus furthering Shiite unrest in the area and also letting the French hike up their wine and cheese prices while maybe profiting from close oil ties to Saddam's regime. Obama have you listened to yourself in a while?
Hillary >> how many psychiatrist do you have in your war room? and how absurd for you to state "that if you were one" you might.... Surely you don't make a move without your (Bill's old) staff vetting even the medical and mental side science. Why does the red,white and blue banner,bunting on your site, above Join Team Billary, even look termlimited?
Vote Democratic and "unflatten" the world playing field.
He/she that doesn't learn from Clinton History is doomed to repeat it.
Obama stays comfortable. The taxpayer and anti-terrorist squirm
February 11, 2007 - 09:58 ET by acaiguanaObama stays comfortable. The taxpayer and anti-terrorist squirm.
This guy will make a tremendous Commander in Chief. Um... "Let's cut and run." Um... "Let's work together."
Ok, together...
First, take all my profits. Second, spend them in the inner city where drug dealers and crime lords run roughshod over decent people and guns are like candy, illegal, but like candy. Let's bring back FDR and the Great Society.
I missed the memo. When did it ever leave? I've heard estimates of up to $7 Trillion being spent on failed Great Society programs. Now what do we have? We have LA, that La La Land of Paradise talking about an international task force to fight gangs. We have prisons in California full of gangs. We have children being recruited, raped and pillaged by...gangs.
But you never hear about how the Federal Government has contributed to the morass of inner city squalor. But Borak (ups..Barack - I'm sorry it's the Teddy Kennedy effect, I just can never get his name right), Barack Obama wants to spend more tax dollars on the inner cities?
Great. Just whoopie. Just fine.
He and Hillary's taking profits ought to just be great for opportunity in America. When they get done stifling any incentive for business and capital starts fleeing the US in droves (and it will) what are they gonna do? Sit in the smouldering ruins of the Gang Riddled inner city and cry?
ACA
...
Hillary Clinton says: "I want to take those profits."
Mark, a great dissection.Than
February 11, 2007 - 09:59 ET by AlgerHissMark, a great dissection.
Thank you.
Rochester, Minnesota: A Fem_Leftist City!
Thanks, Alger. I have to a
February 11, 2007 - 10:06 ET by Mark FinkelsteinThanks, Alger. I have to admit that the prospect of wading through a politician's speech was somewhat daunting, but I thought it was worthwhile to put aside the image and look at what he was really saying. Take away the attractive packaging and it might as well be his liberal Illinois sidekick Dick Durbin running for prez!
Wow. Those must be some rea
February 11, 2007 - 15:58 ET by sarcasmoWow. Those must be some really-fun sins to make up for this, Mark! ;) I'm doing my laundry and it feels like some sort of pennance, but at least I get beer...
JMR
Obama is a lot more liberal
February 11, 2007 - 17:11 ET by Dee BunkObama is a lot more liberal than Durbin. He's more honest than Durbin who has done a complete turn around on issues like abortion for political gain. Obama is consistently as far left as it gets. He believes in pulblic funding of abortion, partial birth abortion, is against parental notification and even supported a bill allowing a baby born alive during a botched abortion to be killed. He does not believe in any restrictions on abortion. He recieved a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood.
He is as liberal as it gets on gun control and crime also. He thinks that people should be punished even if they use a gun in their own home to protect their life from an intruder if the municipality prohibits them having the gun. He believes it is the municipalities right to decide not the state or federal government (unless of course the Fed bans gun ownership then he will probably be okay with it).
He thinks child sex offenders should be able to get out of jail on good behavior and he apposed legislation cracking down on gangs. He supported legislation to expunge criminal records.
He is also as liberal as it gets on taxes, healthcare and everything I can think of. I really don't know how someone could be more liberal than him.
Mark, I said it the other day
February 11, 2007 - 21:46 ET by Chicago RepublicanMark, I said it the other day on another Obama post and I'll say it again. If you were nauseauted by the Media's full court press to get Bill Clinton elected in 1992, quote "you aint seen nothing yet." The Useful Idiots of the MSM will have the knee pads on in full force. I'm going out on a limb right here - he'll get the nomination and the Useful Idiots will act like the Lord is running for President.
Hey FSU,I'm not so sure. I
February 11, 2007 - 21:54 ET by BlondeHey FSU,
I'm not so sure. I actually listened to a bit of an interview with B. Hussein Obama tonight. (Did you know he went to school in Indonesia for four years? But no mention of the fact that it was an islamic school? It was 60 Minutes, after all).
I was not impressed. The media is really trying really hard, but I suspect when people actually hear what comes out of this empty suit's mouth....his numbers will go south fast. He's all shallow talking points and no substance. But he's worth keeping around for a while, if just for the Hillary-annoyance factor.
This will get interesting, sooner rather than later, I hope.
I hope you're right. But th
February 11, 2007 - 22:21 ET by Chicago RepublicanI hope you're right. But then again, Bill Clinton was the Queen Bee of Shallow Power Whores and he was able to pull it off. When the Useful Idiots become star struck with a Democrat seeking high office, it overcomes a lot of strikes the candidate may have against him.
That being said, I hope he does get railroaded by Nurse Ratchet in the Primaries.
Is it just me or are we heari
February 11, 2007 - 10:06 ET by rimskyIs it just me or are we hearing more and more unabashed socialistic rhetoric from these demo candidates. I feel like I've time warped back to the 60's, and I'm listening to.. like.. McGovern or somebody. Hillary wants to TAKE profits and now Obama wants to make sure that workers share in the prosperity? What unadulterated Crap!
Thieves
February 12, 2007 - 06:58 ET by Unsanerimsky, I have said it before, and I will cheerfully say it again:
Why should Basset Obama or Hillary Clinton have to earn anything or contribute to the American economy when they can just steal what they want?
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)
A long list of socio-nonsen
February 11, 2007 - 13:50 ET by marvlA long list of socio-nonsense and political jabberwocky. Standard fare for a democratic candidate. Does anyone care what this insignificant little dweeb thinks? I sure don't.
On a more important note, has the contest for the presidency turned into a beauty-queen pageant? Lots of glitter, some amateurish performing, but nothing of substance. What does Obambi bring to the table? Nothing. Why is he getting so much press? Because he looks good in a bathing suit and he's black? It certainly isn't because of his extensive experience actually doing something.
So this qualifies as new and
February 11, 2007 - 13:54 ET by gfrrmanSo this qualifies as new and fresh ideas from the Dims??? This amounts to the definition of insanity. The same playbook from 40+ years ago and what has it gotten us? Just damned insane I say. Liberals!! Blecht!! Same old same old....
Of the founding event of ou
February 11, 2007 - 14:10 ET by Jack BauerOf the founding event of our country, the Revolution, he said "in the face of tyranny, a band of patriots brought an Empire to its knees." Beyond the factual error -- far from being brought to its knees the British Empire survived very nicely for more than another 150 years
Oh that error is even more egregious.
What we know as the British Empire didn't even raelly kick in until the reign of Queen Victoria which began in 1836 - sixty years after the American revolutionary war.
For instance, Britain didn't even start to rule India until 1858, for the previous century it had been run through a private company (believe it or not) the British East India Company.
And Queen Victoria was only made Empress of India in 1877. Only India, note. The first and last British monarch to be declared Emperor of anything.
The British Empire was beginning to dissolve into mainly negotiated self-governments after WW2. That would be 170 years after the Declaration of Independence.
Though King George and his cronies were highly miffed at losing the American "colonies," the "brought to its knees" is hyperbole on Barack's part.
And he might recall that the British did return in 1812 -- burning the White House to the ground.
Oh it's even worse than that.
February 11, 2007 - 22:12 ET by Dave DOh it's even worse than that. Doesn't he remember one of the things he supposed to believe? You know, that those patriots simply had no chance and the only reason they "won" is because of the French. Funny how he "forgot" that, wonder if any of the dems will get mad at him for not crediting them.
Please note Obama's comments
February 11, 2007 - 14:35 ET by CaringwhiteguyPlease note Obama's comments in up-coming interview with 60 Minutes (Yeah, he's getting more free pub from MSM tonight). . . . . . and thanks to Drudge http://www.drudgereport.com/flash2.htm. These are comments about "looking black". My sense is that he looks more Middle Eastern/maybe Lebanese, Turkish or Syrian/ than black. Therefore, according to Obama's own statement to 60 Minutes I should treat him as Middle Eastern, not black.
Clinton/Osama. Whoever does
February 11, 2007 - 15:18 ET by wiwfClinton/Osama. Whoever doesn't get the Democrat nod should act like Lieberman and run as an independent for president.
What I find hilarious is that if you try to argue about not voting for Barack (ie you disagree with his viewpoints), you come across as a racist, and if you argue about not voting for Hitlary, you come across as a sexist.
So then it would be pretty logical to have Condi run, wouldn't it? If you don't vote for her you're racist AND sexist.
But due to the political double standards that unfortunately still exist in politics, she'll only be called an Oreo.
And the media tells us they aren't biased...
For that reason alone, it wou
February 11, 2007 - 21:33 ET by dahliatraversFor that reason alone, it would be fun if Secretary Rice ran. I suspect there would be much less swooning in the msm. See, being African American or a woman only counts if you are a registered Democrat.
It has dawned on me the furth
February 11, 2007 - 17:36 ET by ucIt has dawned on me the further from this dawn and closer to dusk we all get this day that Junior Senator Obama as well as Junior Senator Clinton seem to be showing signs of Senior Senators playing typical seniority reinforcement (or lack of reinforcement in guise of support) tricks. How else can we explain Obama seeming confident in using Lincoln as an anti-war historical figure and Hillary flip-flopping at every state and congressional district border? You'ld think Hillary would be immune with a past and termlimited persona in her belt and that Obama from Harvard Law would be as well. Can't figure out another plausible excuse for such recent public positions from people able to get elected as junior Senators. I guess if they loose these senior Senators don't want them acting too out of line and are just as tradition has it showing them how misguided junior Senators can be.???
Hillary, you do remember Missouri is the "Show Me State" and that it may be good advise for you to avoid such for awhile?
And, whom might we think will be in control if you do get elected?
I'm tellin' ya, he is the ant
February 11, 2007 - 19:02 ET byI'm tellin' ya, he is the antichrist.
The only real question is w
February 11, 2007 - 19:39 ET by MudhenThe only real question is will anyone in the MSM have the guts to do their job, because if they did Mr. Obama's campain will be short lived. Then again I heard plently of negatives from the locals about Slick Wllie before he became President and we all know what happened there.
Here's a good example: John Kass in the Chicago Tribune
It will be interesting to see if he settle's for Hillary's VP slot.
obama thread, comments expected
February 11, 2007 - 21:14 ET by oorampI think I'm listen to the next Jimmy Carter! please somebody save my sanity, I can't imagine what the terrorist will do when their allied forces take over the white house! I for one will not be going to any large events or big cities or travel by plane or go anywhere were large crowds of people gather. They have tested every president since carter's failure in '79. ?Even the great Reagan failed the test, but that was before they could go nuclear. I predict obama will be impeached over the nuking of L.A, Chicago, N.Y. and D.C. Hey Denver, you are not in the clear either. They know Bush would Nuke'm back. The reason liberals hate George W Bush is because he is a man's man, someone who makes the right decision and sticks to it through thick and thin,(that is why the dims don't cut off the money, they know he is right) used for a lack of a better term. They, the terrorist, are waiting until one of their own is in the white house to nuke us. In 1941, it only took one sneak attack for us to pull together and show them what a free people can really do! This time it is gonna take an unbelievable amount of deaths to do the same thing! Now tell me where I'm wrong! Pleaseeeeeeee...
Mark,Did you catch B. Hussein
February 11, 2007 - 21:37 ET by BlondeMark,
Did you catch B. Hussein Obama on 60 Minutes tonight?
He didn't sound too bloody articulate to me, lots of "uhs". He was even asked some semi-difficult questions....to which he mouthed the typical platitudes.
And he says he's a reformed smoker like a reformed alcoholic.
This is going to get very, very interesting.
The higher they fly, the further they fall.
Hi Blonde: I did watch 60 M
February 12, 2007 - 07:55 ET by Mark FinkelsteinHi Blonde: I did watch 60 Minutes and had the video capture rolling, but nothing really caught my fancy for purposes of an NB item. We'll see if perhaps one of my fellow bloggers here posts something today.
mark, you'll want to read
February 12, 2007 - 15:09 ET by tumbler_2007Dear Mark:
You'll want to see this commentary in London Timesonline (Timesonline.uk) by a Tim Hames; good laughs tying back Obama's large ears by a humorous Brit. Look under Comment-- Title: I've Got The Sauce To Say It.
In their list of columnists we also see another distinguished Finkelstein. Your family name is like mine. -- Everywhere. --Ciao !
TEST
February 25, 2007 - 03:59 ET by FairlightTEST