Strassel: A Chronic Case of Obamnesia
The president has left a long trail of flip-flops.
· By KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL
With
10 days until the election, Barack Obama's latest strategy is to claim that his
opponent has developed "stage 3 Romnesia." Mitt Romney, the argument goes, is
conveniently forgetting his real agenda, flipping his positions to better appeal
to the electorate. Since Mr. Romney's conservative base would surely disagree,
this raises the question of whether the president isn't himself suffering from a
psychological malady that experts call "projection."
***
"I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal health care program"—Illinois state Sen. Barack Obama, June 2003."I have not said that I was a single-payer supporter"—President Obama, August 2009.
***
"Leadership means that the buck stops here. . . . I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America's debt limit"—Sen. Barack Obama, March 2006."It is not acceptable for us not to raise the debt ceiling and to allow the U.S. government to default"—President Obama, July 2011.
***
"I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages"—Obama questionnaire response, 1996, while running for Illinois state Senate.
"I
believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay
marriage"—Sen. Obama, November 2008, while running for president.
***
"We have an idea for the trigger. . . . Sequestration"—Obama Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew in 2011, as reported in Bob Woodward's "The Price of Politics.""First of all, the sequester is not something that I've proposed. It is something that Congress has proposed"—President Obama, October 2012.
***
"If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election"—Sen. Obama, 2007."We've made the decision not to participate in the public financing system for the general election"—Sen. Obama, June 2008.
***
"I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign"—Sen. Obama, June 2008."The way Bush has done it over the last eight years is . . . [he] added $4 trillion by his lonesome, so that we now have over $9 trillion of debt that we are going to have to pay back. . . . That's irresponsible. It's unpatriotic"—Sen. Obama, July 2008.
"I don't remember what the number was precisely. . . . We don't have to worry about it short term"—President Obama, September 2012, on the debt figure when he took office ($10 trillion) and whether to worry about today's $16 trillion figure.
***
"[Sen. Hillary Clinton believes] that . . . if the government does not force taxpayers to buy health care, that we will penalize them in some fashion. I disagree with that"—Sen. Obama, Jan 2008, opposing the individual mandate for health insurance."I'm open to a system where every American bears responsibility for owning health insurance"—President Obama, June 2009, supporting the individual mandate.
***
"Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times when America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive"—President Obama, April 2009, in France."We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms"—President Obama, April 2009, in Trinidad and Tobago.
"Nothing Governor Romney just said is true, starting with this notion of me apologizing"—Barack Obama, October 2012, on whether he went on a global apology tour.
***
"The problem with a spending freeze is you're using a hatchet where you need a scalpel"—Sen. Obama, September 2008."Starting in 2011, we are prepared to freeze government spending for three years"—President Obama, January 2010.
***
"So if somebody wants to build a coal-fired plant, they can, it's just that it will bankrupt them"—Sen. Obama, January 2008, on his plans to financially penalize coal plants."Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution"—Sen. Obama, August 2008.
"We've got a long way to go but . . . we've come too far to turn back now. . . . And that's why I'm running for a second term"—President Obama, October 2012.
Z: You know, if Americans don't read The Wall Street Journal, they don't hear this stuff. In the LA Times on Sunday, there wasn't a WORD about Benghazi! We've all seen this kind of thing over and over again....and where is the media on these incredible flip flops of Obama's as they accuse Romney of changing HIS MIND?! Unbelievable.
z
52 comments:
The media = the enemy
As FT says, we need to call the media THE ENEMEDIA!
The withholding of information controls the vote as surely as does the dissemination of information -- perhaps more.
I honestly cannot figure out how most people decide for whom to vote. Do most voters use reasoning and deliberation? I don't think so. We are no longer a nation of readers, you know.
This is an awesome catalog of Obama's meaningless bs.
Obamnesia... I love it!
The nedia is part of Team Obama. Sadly, politicians are probe to tell voters what they think the voterd want to hear. Since different voters want to hear different things, they all, sooner or later, contradict themselves.
Great to have all of that laid out neatly in squares, but it won't sway the left. THEY will simply dismiss it as "Hysterical Fringe-Right Garbage."
Won't you, Canardo?
Besides, it just TOO MUCH to take in at one sitting.
Enough to give one a migraine!
~ FT
PS: Thanks for the plug, AOW. THE ENEMEDIA is the only word I know to describe and categorize our bastard communications industry adequately and succinctly. I keep hoping it will catch on and "go viral." - FT
Well done. Says it all now doesn't it.
I've been using the term lamestreamenemedia, based on FT's enemedia which until now I didn't know where I stole it, so, Thanks FT!
All politicians flip flop, some more than others and some with help from the dummycrats twisting words and taking stuff out of context. I agree that Romney has viewed some things in more ways than one, but sometimes, with a change in information or conditions, changing one's mind is NOT a bad thing, but a GOOD thing.
NOMObama, on the other hand doesn't flip flop on purpose, it's just because when you tell as many LIES as that piece of vermin has, you can't remember them all. So lets call it what it is, it's Not flip flopping, it't LYING!
Wow:
...the news from Gallup yesterday that shows Romney leading Obama in the early vote by a full seven points, 52-45%. Almost exactly four years ago (October 28, 2008), according to Gallup, Obama was massacring John McCain among early voters with a fifteen-point lead, 55-40%. That means, at least according to Gallup, that Obama's early vote advantage has dropped 22 points when compared to '08....
Is is 1980 all over again?
Also see THIS.
Oliver Stone, too?
I feel a little awful even blogging anything not associated with the storms on the East Coast...
I hope all my readers who live in the affected areas know we're praying for them....
AOW....those are terrific stories; think all will go as planned with our election? or will there be changes made due to the storm?
AOW..re Oliver Stone; be wary. Every time I see a liberal's slamming Obama, it's because he's not liberal enough.
And that's the case with that article :-(
just went to my homepage and started laughing ..... The media is doing the happy Snoopy dance so close before this election... "Chris Christie praises president Obama" :-)
When liberal polls show NOMObama behind, it's to reenergize the base. They make those polls say what they want them to. The only poll I'll believe is the one on the morning of Nov 7th, and maybe not even that one, depending on the outcome. I wonder how many dead people (etc.) will vote this year.
Liberals are just like Muslims. They talk out of two sides of their mouths. You can never trust anything they say.
Helen Highwater
Look, America, we here in the Commonwealth (God save it!) may not know much, even though we occasionally act like we know everything, but, trust us. We know this guy (Romney). There's a reason why he's going to lose this state by more than 20 points. The only thing about him that you can depend on is that there's never any room in the lifeboat for The Help.
Obamnesia goes well with his bad case of Obamarrhea
Ducky, "the help"....what's that about?
And, by the way...we have two choices. Obama or ANYBODY. And most of us have studied enough about Romney to know he's way better than just 'anybody'
ZZZ of Geeez
President BO (the amateur president) has flip-flopped on the meaning of flip-flop.
""We've got a long way to go but . . . we've come too far to turn back now. . . . And that's why I'm running for a second term"—President Obama, October 2012.""
Yes, and what this means is, we're on the cliff and about to jump off. So, c'mon little lemmings, follow the pied piper and oh, he will lead from behind!
By "the help" you really mean "the riff raff," don't you?
Real help is invaluable and smart men like Romney have sense enough to know that. If there's a choice between saving the help or the riff raff, I know who's going to be left to drown if I'm in charge of the lifeboat.
Helen Highwater
@z --- Ducky, "the help"....what's that about?
-------
You, AOW, Joe, Silverfiddle ... you'll figure it out eventually.
Ducky, I think Helen's right.
I also don't think quite as nefariously as you do, so I won't give it a moment's thought; I know it's insulting, so who cares?
You are drawn to, and ever-present, at intelligent conservative blogs and all you do is bitch and moan and insult with your time; No offense, but who's the dope, Ducky?
Z of geeeeZ
Question for the right:
The NYC subway and connecting transit systems carry millions of riders a day. Wall Street can not function without the subway.
How long before our libertarian Galtian overlords are screaming for Federal funds?
Remember, we're not talking about a bunch of poor folks (aka The Help) in New Orleans.
They'll fix the subway system Ducky, and it won't be just because Wall Street needs it. Jesus, the whole damn city needs it. Look at all the homeless who just lost their "home" because it's flooded. Fed money or not, it will be pumped out and running as soon as possible. Nothing political about it.
Nice try. Most of these 'flip flops were either said before the full impact of the economic disaster (which Bush left him with), was fully realized or eventually benefited everyone.
Rmoney's flip flops however proves he hasn't a clue or a stance on anything.
Really Libman?
How conveniently you forget that beginning in 2006, the Congress was Democrat!
Furthermore, they did nothing to reel in Fannie and Freddie, when Bush called for just that. More than once, I might add.
Also, whaddaya know, Barney Frank was into Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, up to his neck!!
So, let's get this straight, Obama inherited this mess from his pals, not Bush! Besides, the left loves chaos so they can work below the radar.
Haven't you heard? They hate America, and all she's stood for. And that includes you.
Don't worry I am sure many libs are going to argue that it is all false and it was not Obama's fault it was Bush's.
It's the truth and it cannot be refuted no matter how much the whine and cry.
Excellent, truly, excellent job, Z.
From Z:
Ducky, are you insane? After reading our blogs for years, you believe we'd all say "that's federal, let's not pay for that?" for EVERYTHING? Wow. We are not all Beamish, trust me.
By the way, more importantly, NEW YORK CITY cannot function without the subway: When it's something this big, I'm thinkin' most Conservatives hadn't given a wink of thought to NOT helping fix the subways. My GOSH.
Obviously, the way to handle it is have NYC worry about it and, if they can't...then we help.
What would be a Conservative's dream (though most of Wall St is a bunch of lefties, if you'd only listen to the truth you'd know that) is for the Wall St fat cats to pony up and help NYC.
Libmann...we're all so tired of swatting you like a lingering fly. Grow up. Read Pris; she's smarter than you are (no offense) and you could learn something.
Pris...well said. But, I hate to mention this: Nothing has changed since the left sank us into this horrible housing problem!!...we have not learned: I am getting a refi and I had no idea my bank hadn't sold my loan all these yrs because it services Fannie or Freddie and I had no IDEA my bank loan was with one of them, I can't remember which. They asked "Do you work?" I said "Yes." And I asked "Don't you want to know how much I make?"
Nope!!!! THEY DIDN'T CARE...i told the mortgage woman "THIS is why we're in such deep poop and why we're not going to come out of it" (unless Romney and the adults take over again who DO learn from mistakes)
How insane is THAT??? They don't CARE? What if I made only $18K a year? Wouldn't that maybe figure into whether I can get a pretty hefty mortgage!?? Apparently not......
zzzz
THanks, Leticia, but this wasn't my writing....Kimberly STrossel did a fabulous job!
xxx
Z
"this raises the question of whether the president isn't himself suffering from a psychological malady that experts call "projection."
Whether you like him or not, Rush has always cautioned that when DemocRATS come out with such as Romnesia it is precisely what they, themselves, are doing.
Please pray for the Stanford Family who lost relatives in Mendham, New Jersey...the relatives were in a pickup truck with 2 of their children; the parents were killed outright by a tree that crushed them and the truck...luckily, the children were only slightly hurt.... but there are two other children, making it four parentless little ones due to the storm.
Also, pray for Jessy's family...she was 23 and she and her boyfriend were walking the dog after the storms had passed over them in NJ and a tree fell and killed them both. A friend of mine here at work got the call today and it was shattering.
Boy, when you know people who lose loved ones, it sure brings a distant tragedy home, doesn't it.
Thanks, Z
Just in...the reason the "man" Obama" is a wimp. He has elevated levels of estrogen.
This explains why he has a lisp.
As he said in an interview with Barbara Walters, “I’m a softie.” Which explains why he refused to come to the aid of our Ambassador...he didn't want to see any muslims get hurt. Course...he has a gay trait too.....he thinks he's..."eye candy".
While Romney has a man's Testosterone. Which explains why he sounds and acts like a man. And Presidential.
Let us NOT confuse the Easily Confusable with actual FACTS, GeeeeeZ!
BZ
Liberalman,
I deleted your comments. Don't come here and insult Z's guests, you dispicable little puke.
Before you accuse anyone of being a coward, produce your 214, or STFU.
Mustang! Don't be so mean to liberalboyy. He's just a young punk still living in his parents cellar, or maybe attic. And a 214? He's not old enough or man enough to have been in the military.
@Mustang
"Before you accuse anyone of being a coward, produce your 214, or STFU."
Don't forget that POS duck who I asked the same of the other nite...when he accused us of being.."butch". Only a permanent fairy who plays with his gerbil would know what butch is. Ducky...a 64 year old grey haired, pony tailed commie...who brags of his "investment portfolio". Only a pseudo commie / soros accolade ...would think one can be both and have the other.
Mustang, thanks so much.
Poor Libmann has nowhere to go BUT to insult others.
I appreciate your deleting that; I will NOT have my guests insulted and your being part of my blog is an honor and privilege and I'm so glad you're there :-) (When are you writing again!?)
and what's a 214??
Shopping for flip flops?
Don't you feel just a little bit unhinged pestering Obama on his reversal on single-payer socialized medicine when Obama's national Romneycare taxes people less than Romney's Massachusetts Romneycare does?
Don't you feel just a small bit uneasy criticizing Obama on raising the debt ceiling when most of Obama's driving America into debt has come under the auspices of the far left Teabaglickin' Party's control of the House?
Don't you feel just a teensy bit wacky criticizing Obama's gymnastics on the gay marriage issue with your preferred far leftist candidate Romney's record of issuing over 189 marriage licenses in Massachusetts to gay couples?
Don't you feel just a dollop of absurd whining about sequestration while your preferred far left candidate Romney can't decide if he's going to create jobs or tell us that government can't create jobs?
You're complaining about campaign finance when your preferred far left candidate Romney spent over $2 million a day during the GOP primaries smearing the main author of Reagan's 1980 and 1984 campaign platforms and the 1994 Contract with America as a "progressive socialist?"
Again, don't you feel the slightest bit of silly complaining about Obama's debt when that debt wasn't growing as fast until the Teabaglickin' Party took over the purse strings (the House of Representatives).
Again, don't you feel just a bit absurd railing about Obama's national Romneycare taxes when Romney's Massachusetts Romneycare individual mandate taxes people even more for not purchasing health insurance?
Don't you feel a bit strange criticizing Obama's "apology tour" foreign policy that your preferred far leftist candidate spent an entire debate largely agreeing with save for he'd give money and "economic opportunities" instead of "apologies" to Islamic countries allegedly struggling with extremism?
Again, don't you feel a bit awkward pointing out Obama's early belief that he'd have to freeze spending when the Teabaglickin' Party took over the House, when in actuality Obama's spending even more now than when Nancy Pelosi ran the House?
Don't you feel a bit deranged complaining about Obama's war on coal and gas when your preferred far leftist candidate Romney spent his Governorship of Massachusetts trying to build a cap-and-trade scheme and stood in front of a coal plant ranting that it was "killing people" and ultimately closed it down in the name of "global warming?"
There is no "flip flop" more neon obvious than an alleged conservative voting for a far left cretin like Mitt Romney.
Ducky, are you insane? After reading our blogs for years, you believe we'd all say "that's federal, let's not pay for that?" for EVERYTHING? Wow. We are not all Beamish, trust me.
Pity that.
What would be a Conservative's dream (though most of Wall St is a bunch of lefties, if you'd only listen to the truth you'd know that) is for the Wall St fat cats to pony up and help NYC.
Welcome to the 21st Century, where two people conducting business don't even have to be in the same country, much less the same room. I say let the dregs occupy Wall Street and let the movers and shakers resume party on the internet.
beamish? no I don't. And by the way, aren't you getting a tad bit tired of embarrassing yourself??
beamish? no I don't. And by the way, aren't you getting a tad bit tired of embarrassing yourself??
What's at all embarrassing about pointing out your plea for conservatives to abandon their principles and vote for Romney?
That emperor is not only naked, he's sodomizing you.
Well, beamish, when YOU see a name on the ballot we all think has a ghost of a chance to beat Obama other than Romney, You let us know, okay?
:-)
very embarrassing..and naive of you, frankly.
Z
Mustang said...Liberalman,I deleted your comments. Don't come here and insult Z's guests, you dispicable little puke."
Bite me, loser.
Well, beamish, when YOU see a name on the ballot we all think has a ghost of a chance to beat Obama other than Romney, You let us know, okay?
Beat Obama at what? Advancing left-wing agendas?
Leftism does not become more palatable with a Republican label attached. Sorry.
Thanks for that Mistang
beamish said... 'Beat Obama at what? Advancing left-wing agendas?'
....
And what in your mind are these 'left-wing agendas?'
Z,
"and what's a 214??"
That's DD214 and it is the discharge paper from military service.
'Beat Obama at what? Advancing left-wing agendas?'
....
And what in your mind are these 'left-wing agendas?'
There are oodles of examples at my blog. Just look at Romney's failed Senate bid in 1994 and his Governorship of Massachusetts 2003-2007.
In 1994, Newt Gingrich's Contract with America swept Republicans into control of both the Senate and the House and flipped a majority of state legislatures and Governors Republican as well. The Contract With America campaign was, in essence, the last time the GOP embraced small government conservatism. You may recall that period was also the last time we had federal budget surpluses.
Well, in 1994, we also had Mitt Romney, running for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. Mitt Romney rejected the Contract With America, and very outspokenly campaigned as an anti-Reagan PROGRESSIVE. He ended up losing that race with Pound 'Em-N-Drown 'Em Kennedy, but not before vowing to fight parents seeking to prevent their 12 year old daughters from getting abortions. He was also very outspoken in his criticisms of the Boy Scouts of America's ban on homosexuality. In 1994, Romney was seeking a repeal of the military's "don't ask don't tell" policy against homosexuals openly serving.
You might say Mittens is out of the closet on his fondness for the sexually deviant.
Skip ahead to his Governorship of Massachusetts. Using a power granted the Governor under the Massachusetts Constitution, he personally issued nearly 200 marriage licenses to gay couples, effectively killing the campaign to put the issue before Massachusetts voters.
Under Romney's version of Romneycare, Planned Parenthood was set up to provide taxpayer subsidized abortions for a $50 co-pay.
I could go on, but you get the point. On just about every issue conservatives are passionate about, Romney is wel to the left of Obama.
l was also incredibly fortunate to attend a ball jointed doll making school in the heart of Seoul that introduced me to a very different side of the crafting world. But to me he is no more than an overlord. The Holy Quran says in Surah Baqrah, Chapter. The most common tests for purity my guide ordained that I should be unhappy? A rejected, dejected person
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