Obama’s a hypocrite, but a slick hypocrite
Freddy Gray 2:32pm
As Pete says, Obama fired some well-aimed arrows in the direction of Mitt Romney in his State of
the Union address. But it was also a clear attempt to outline Obama’s re-election message, which would, I think, be the same no matter who he faces in November.
The idea is to stress that Obama, unlike the corrupt Republicans who nearly bankrupted America, is a ‘fair shake’ candidate, who stands for hard work and responsibility. It is hypocritical rubbish, as I tried to point out last month. The idea of Obama as the straight-shooting, anti-corruption candidate is absurd. President Obama has proved to be a very different politician to the progressive champion whom liberals had fantasised about. His administration has simply shovelled federal billions towards the lobbyists and pressure groups who happen to be more sympatico towards the Democrats, instead of the lobbyists who cosied up the to the Bush II-era Republican party.
But, here’s the depressing bit for the American right, no matter how hammy and false Obama’s message, it’s infinitely better presented — and more impressively delivered — than anything Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich can muster. Compare and contrast last night’s speech with Romney’s last weekend. ‘I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that’s the America millions of Americans believe in,’ said Romney on Saturday. ‘That’s the America I love.’
It’s not hard to better that.
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and I'll go to bed at noon
January 25th, 2012 2:51pm Report this comment"I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that’s the America millions of Americans believe in."
I assumed this must be a joke when I first read it, but no, he really said that. It's the kind of thing The Thick of It might put in the mouth of a desperate, pandering politician, which I think sums up Mitt Romney to a tee.
Patricia Shaw
January 25th, 2012 3:14pm Report this commentFreddy, Obama IS "the good guy and it is only the filthy Republicans and the corrupt Washington system holding him back".
If he's a hypocrite, its only because at times he has no choice but to pander to dominant lobbies like AIPAC whose warmongering race hate is so keenly lapped up by US right wing media.
Craig Strachan
January 25th, 2012 3:24pm Report this commentThe Republicans problem goes beyond Mitt and Newt - Mitch Daniels came off like chicken little in his downbeat and negative response last night. If the "Republican establishment" are looking at him as a late draft, they need to look again.
and I'll go to bed at noon
January 25th, 2012 3:33pm Report this comment@Patricia
"[D]ominant lobbies like AIPAC" is a lovely touch. Sounds so much better than "the Jews made him do it", don't you think?
john gerard
January 25th, 2012 3:45pm Report this commentThe Republicans don't stand a snowball's chance in hell. They may as well concede now. Obama will walk it without even trying. Him and his machine are far too slick, like all good con-men. Four more years of "fairness". Sorry, did I say fairness? I meant "doctrinaire marxism". Old Uncle George Soros and his front-groups will be sending people out on to the streets to riot just in time for the election. You watch. Who said being a multi-billionaire and a commie-pinko were incompatible? The two go hand-in-hand.
Austin Barry
January 25th, 2012 3:56pm Report this commentSurely that strutting, preening self-regard would dissuade any sentient person from voting for the self-proclaimed, fourth best ever POTUS. He is a Potemkin village of a man.
RMH
January 25th, 2012 4:31pm Report this commentI think the pork barrel of Obama is anorexic compared to that of the GOP.
See Keystone XL, payroll taxes, etc etc.
Jupiter
January 25th, 2012 5:03pm Report this commentWait until Barry's real birth certificate turns up, that will stop him winning a second term.
Augustus
January 25th, 2012 5:24pm Report this comment"I'm a Democrat. But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed: That Government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more". Said he. Yeah, and Abe also said:
"You may fool all of the people some of the time, you may even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time".
Holly ......
January 25th, 2012 8:32pm Report this commentAnyone here read 'Aftershock' yet?
Patricia Shaw
January 26th, 2012 11:40am Report this commentAnd you ll go to bed at noon - Depends - Most Jews keenly support Obama's attempts to stop building illegal settlements on other peoples' lands.
They also dislike the warmongering and race hate that pews forth from AIPAC and its backers.
Then there are the extremists for whom Newt Gingrich holds such rounded appeal.
Which Jew are you?
and I'll go to bed at noon
January 26th, 2012 6:11pm Report this comment@Patricia
No kind of Jew, merely a gentile enemy of antisemitism. The fact that my Jewishness or lack thereof is all you want to know is very telling.
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