‘Somebody else’ and Obama’s concept of how the world works
A pair of four-word phrases are proving unshakable for the Obama campaign.
The first is a line Obama actually spoke last month in Virginia: “You didn’t build that.” The second is the implication in a new advertisement by Obama’s super PAC that attacks Mitt Romney’s corporate past: Romney killed a lady.
Taken together, they reflect the president’s apparent belief that the good things as well as the bad things in our lives — success and failure, joy and tragedy, growth and death — are the products of forces beyond our control that only government can bring to heel. Unless you’re rich, in which case you didn’t do the good things in your life, just the bad things in others’.
“You didn’t build that” has been making the rounds for weeks now. The full line — “If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that” — came amid a laundry list of ways in which, according to Obama, the successful should play down their own success. It wasn’t because you were smart or hard-working; Obama said “a lot of smart people,” a “whole bunch of hard-working people” weren’t so rewarded. Chalk it up to “a great teacher … this unbelievable American system … roads and bridges … government research [that] created the Internet.”
In short: “Somebody else made that happen.”
The speech resonated with the public, but not the way Obama intended. It resonated negatively, and not because successful people don’t acknowledge those who helped them along the way. Of course they do.
It resonated negatively because Obama focused exclusively on the collective. No acknowledgments of the ways successful people differentiate themselves, much less the government-imposed obstacles many of them overcome. Just a brief nod to “individual initiative” while bowing to the greater number of things “we do … together.”
It resonated negatively with a public that has become accustomed to hearing Obama talk about success almost always in the passive voice: It happens to people “who’ve been most fortunate” and who “have been incredibly blessed.” By, one can only guess, “somebody else.”
The attack on Romney is fresher. It arose in a video ad by Obama’s super PAC, in which a man who once worked for a company bought by Romney’s Bain Capital essentially blames Romney for his wife’s death from cancer.
The man, Joe Soptic, worked for GST Steel in Kansas City, which Bain bought in 1993. In 1999, Romney left Bain. In 2001, GST Steel closed its doors and Soptic lost his job and his health insurance. “A short time ater that,” Soptic says in the video, his wife was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. She died within weeks.
It’s a tragic story, but the ad omits a few details. First, that Soptic’s wife still had a job and health insurance until 2002 or 2003. Second, that her diagnosis and death were in 2006, five years after Soptic lost his job.
Amazingly, the ad isn’t even an attempt to justify Obamacare. It’s just a crude attempt to put blood on Romney’s hands.
Although an Obama spokeswoman initially denied knowing Soptic’s story, claiming the campaign is insulated from the super PAC, a recording of a conference call from this spring reveals the very same spokeswoman talking with Soptic about his story. The Obama campaign has also run its own ad with Soptic, depicting him wearing the very same shirt (see photos on left).
But maybe we shouldn’t blame her or the campaign for that little fib. After all, in Obama’s America, only the super-successful could be responsible for something bad. Somebody else, I’m sure, made that happen.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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419 comments Add your comment
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
9:14 pm
Romney needs to hire..Bortz, Cain, and Newt to help him run his campaign…his managers lack for sight and passion
Old Timer–I think that anyone could run a better campaign than Romney’s current staff……
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
9:15 pm
Alright, Reporter, time for some tunes from you……Let’s get this place rocking.
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:16 pm
Good one I report,
I am on the low end now and saving the good stuff for when I need it later on in life.
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
9:18 pm
Sure will be great when we don’t need that crummy Saudi oil anymore.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics–saudi-arabia-media-ignore-historic-olympic-games-of-women-athletes-sarah-attar-and-wojdan-shaherkani.html
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:21 pm
Judging from what you think of obozo, getalife, maybe you need to eat a few more of those pills.
Rocket your ass into the real world.
tomnsuwanee
August 10th, 2012
9:22 pm
Kyle, Thank you again for giving our local nutcases the chance to show just how illogical a peabrain can be when confronted with the true facts. I wonder how some of these people hold a job- maybe I am giving them too much credit !
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
9:22 pm
PB was wondering the other day how I recognized “Little Fugue in G” by Bach:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9YF64svUFw
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:22 pm
No matter how high I get, it’ll never make me into a democrat, but it will make me laugh harder at them.
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:26 pm
I report,
I think you bought the hype on our President.
He is just another politician and my expectation of him was just one hope.
I hoped he could save our country from the w disaster and he did.
Not Blind
August 10th, 2012
9:27 pm
Soptic, like all liberals, hasn’t a shred of self respect.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:28 pm
When I see the Harris Bank commercial where the dimwit kid trades his bike for a popsicle and then a big ass sign flashes does your kid know the value of money, I immediately think of you, getalife.
j/k
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:29 pm
Even freakin Spike Lee is on my side now.
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
9:30 pm
I feel a big Styx roll coming on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnVV9OhRfCw
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:31 pm
I report,
When I see a bank commercial, I think of bailouts.
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
9:33 pm
I’ve been saying it for a while now. This next election will determine our moral character for the next 20 years. Work or welfare. Pride in ourselves or eternal whining. So sad to see so many choosing whining.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:33 pm
How much more obvious could it be that God didn’t intend this life to be a picnic but rather a trial to see if you were willing to follow his Word and enter into the kingdom of Heaven, regardless of your circumstances.
Stewing in envy and self righteous anger means that you didn’t.
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
9:34 pm
For my buddy getalife.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b-i0XknSnM
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
Bruno,
The welfare numbers jumped because we lost 9 million jobs.
They were bad before the collapse and worse now.
How do you cons ignore the collapse like it never happened.
Is there a pill for that?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:36 pm
getalife – Don’t look now but obozo just bailed out another Megabank.
Can you say VA IRRRL?
Dusty
August 10th, 2012
9:36 pm
Bruno,
As usual, you lke to make things complicated so you can figure them out. I make things simple and clear as I can and then figure them out.
The story of the first garden with Adam and Eve tells us that they broke the rules God had given them (don’t eat the apple). They lived but had hard rules to face. Among their losses was eternal life and an easy life before death..
When I wrote a play drawn from the book of Job, the first situation was a talk between Satan and God. God said Job was a good man who would never stop loving and obeying him. Satan said that God just liked Job and Job was just as weak as everybody else. So God offered to put Job to a test.
Thus began the trials of Job, everything from loss of family, health, and all that he owned. Job’s wife and friends told him he had sinned and God was punishing him. But Job would not turn away from God because of all his difficulties. God & Job had great arguments in Job’s distress but Job remained faithful.
Just as God had known, Job never lost his faith in the Almighty and the Devil lost his argument. Job acquired all that he had lost and lived to be a rich old man.
Now that’s the simple version without all the intricate details and the beautiful language. For me, that helps with the understanding. I”m sure it is not enough for you.
As to my “play”. it was an exercise by non-actors in which I hoped to get them interested in a closer study of Job. It was kinda fun in a casual atmosphere. I hope you get great understanding in your study. Reading Job in the Bible gives you the best approach. The pure words are better to follow than someone’s book.
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:37 pm
I report,
Stewing in hate and discrimination will not get you there too.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:38 pm
Oh, and he’s just itching to buy up the entire Student Loan Debt Monster but even China doesn’t have that much money.
G Mare
August 10th, 2012
9:38 pm
Bruno, it has been years since I’ve read it, but the Rabbi wrote it in an attempt to deal with the death of his young son. He talks about how to face the evils that befall us without losing faith in God – the “why me” questions. I thought of the book because of your post about Job’s travails, which I found very interesting. I knew there had to be more to that story than what I read in the bible. I remember thinking, “Seriously?” Anyway, do read it; I used to keep several copies on hand to give to friends in need & I recommended it to Midori when she lost her daughter. If you do read it, I hope you will let me know what you think. I mostly hang out at Jay’s but will check back here. Hmmm, what has to happen for Kyle to give you my email address?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:39 pm
getalife – I do not hate slackers, moochers, deadbeats and the like, I simply wish they’d get a job.
You know, produce something.
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:40 pm
I report,
The only ones they are still bailing out are the gse’s.
Fannie and Freddie.
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:42 pm
I report,
I agree but we do not have the jobs for people that want to work.
Another term will recover the jobs w lost but we are still behind.
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
9:42 pm
While I compose my answer to Dusty, here’s a special song for GMare:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXf2PbEPQ-Y&feature=related
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 10th, 2012
9:44 pm
To support Obozo is to live a lie, and to hate your own country and the beliefs, values, and mores that made it great.
Don’t be a loser.
Vote American.
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:45 pm
I report,
No, they passed the cheaper interest rate to stay but no student bailouts.
One of the few thins the do nothing congress did.
They did spend another 642 billlion on defense.
What happened to the tea party and cutting spending?
Did they surrender?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:46 pm
getalife- You need to look beyond the CNNBabble, obozo’s handing over huge sums of money to the Megabanks by setting all the underwater mortgages back to a 30 year term with a slightly lower interest rate.
Huge sums of money.
Why do you think the stock market soars?
G Mare
August 10th, 2012
9:46 pm
Aw, I couldn’t load it, Bruno. Tell me the name & maybe I remember or can find it elsewhere.
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
9:48 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fPQC4eRJuk&feature=related
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:48 pm
I heard willie latest attack was he was demeaning the office.
I think you cons should start showing our President some respect before he says that.
You called him every name in the book. Even cried about his birth certificate.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:49 pm
getalife- The biggest challenge for US employers? Make their empty job positions more appealing than the food stamp racket.
Why would anybody work when they can lay in the bed and get paid by obozo?
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:51 pm
That is funny I report.
The mortgage giant President Obama.
Is Morgan Freeman going to narrate the commercials?
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:52 pm
“Why would anybody work when they can lay in the bed and get paid by obozo?”
To make more money.
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
9:52 pm
Now that’s the simple version without all the intricate details and the beautiful language. For me, that helps with the understanding. I”m sure it is not enough for you.
Sister Dusty–You know me too well, and I know you too well.
The story of the first garden with Adam and Eve tells us that they broke the rules God had given them (don’t eat the apple). They lived but had hard rules to face. Among their losses was eternal life and an easy life before death.
Though the story of Adam and Eve is traditionally presented as story of something lost , I prefer to see it as a story of something gained . In a nutshell, God made us in his own image. As such, it was preordained that we share the power of moral discernment with the Creator, i.e. the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Otherwise, we would be no different from a squirrel, which acts strictly upon instinct. Of course, such Knowledge comes with consequences, such as the awareness of our nakedness, of our own mortality. But, the most important point is that the eating of the fruit was pre-ordained. It wasn’t a mistake.
Hillbilly D
August 10th, 2012
9:54 pm
As a Cub fan, a big hat tip to Paul Maholm on his complete game shutout, tonight. Glad to see him doing well.
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:54 pm
I was surprised the gop extended unemployment for so long.
I think they felt guilty after losing all those high paying jobs.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
140 million jobs when Our President Bush took office.
142 million jobs when Obozo took office.
141 million jobs now.
Our President Bush: Superior to Obozo on job creation.
getalife
August 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
Hillbilly D,
A Cubs fan?
Why the Cubs?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
9:57 pm
The signature federal refinancing effort, the Home Affordable Refinancing Program, has helped about 150,000 borrowers with negative equity obtain lower interest rates and lower monthly payments since the beginning of the year, according to data released Tuesday by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Yep and they start all over again at 30 years. Does anybody here know what amortization means?
RC--apoi
August 10th, 2012
9:58 pm
Well, I give up trying to figure out the story of Job a long time ago. I’m more concerned with other mysteries. Like, why are PB and Bruno texting each other? Why ain’t they in the same room getting it on? These are the mysteries that drive me nuts. Heck, I could understand them not getting it on if they was married to each other, but not now.
And with that I’ll just sign off and remind everybody to go to church in the morning. It’ll free you up from all that sin you been piling up all week and give you a fresh start.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 10th, 2012
10:00 pm
Look at this psychobabble-
The administration was pinning its hopes for helping those deepest underwater on Edward J. DeMarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Treasury department offered to cover a portion of the cost if FHFA would allow the two government-sponsored enterprises to cut the debt on loans they own or guarantee.
The Treasury funds FHFA, Fannie and Freddie.
You see why we are 17 Trillion in debt?
Hillbilly D
August 10th, 2012
10:00 pm
getalife
I started following them when Jody Davis was playing there. He’s from Gainesville, GA.
Hillbilly D
August 10th, 2012
10:01 pm
Tomorrow’s Saturday ain’t it?
Bruno
August 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
God said Job was a good man who would never stop loving and obeying him. Satan said that God just liked Job and Job was just as weak as everybody else. So God offered to put Job to a test.
Technically speaking, Dusty, the “test of faith” is not God’s idea, it is “Ha-satan’s” idea, the “Accuser’s” idea. God simply gives permission for “The Accuser” to test Job. A subtle, yet important point. By the middle of the Book, however, the focus changes significantly from the testing of Job by Satan to a questioning of the reason and justification of evil by Job. IMO, this is what makes the Story of Job so fascinating. Just as interestingly, the Buddhist concept of karma figures prominently in the story as well, with Job’s friends theorizing that Job or his children must have sinned to bring such a terrible fate to themselves. In other words, they take Job’s suffering as evidence that he must be guilty of some kind of sin since God only punishes the sinful.
Job acquired all that he had lost and lived to be a rich old man.
Not so sure I completely agree with you here, Dusty. Can one’s dead children ever truly be “replaced”?? I still don’t see the story as simply as you do…..
Thulsa Doom
August 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
Bruno,
You may very well be right on the next election. It could set us on a dangerous path towards Greece-like socialism, or it could free us up and slowly get us back toward individual self reliance and limited govt.
RC--apoi
August 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
Tomorrow’s Saturday ain’t it?
Dang! Lost another day! I got to give up this stuff and start drinking Co-Cola.
Thulsa Doom
August 10th, 2012
10:05 pm
Hillbilly,
Yes. Tomorrow is Saturday which is the Sabbath of course.