2012 Tuesday: When Barry met Big Bird
Barack Obama leapt to Big Bird’s defense. Big Bird said, no thanks.
If the first debate between Obama and Mitt Romney winds up being a turning point in the election, the episode involving American children’s tallest, yellowest feathered-est friend may prove to be a symbol of what went wrong for the incumbent.
During the Oct. 3 debate, moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS NewsHour asked the candidates for specifics about how they’d tackle the federal debt and deficit. Romney reiterated the test he said he’d use to decide which spending to cut: “Is the program so critical it’s worth borrowing money from China to pay for it?” For examples, he named Obamacare and then said:
I’m sorry, Jim. I’m going to stop the subsidy to PBS. I’m going to stop other things. I like PBS. I love Big Bird. I actually like you too. But I’m not going to — I’m not going to keep on spending money on things to borrow money from China to pay for it.
Obama did not address this remark during the debate, but within days his campaign released a short video ad mocking Romney’s position on PBS by comparing Big Bird to Bernie Madoff and saying, “Mitt Romney knows it’s not Wall Street you have to worry about, it’s Sesame Street.”
Never mind that Romney, during the same debate, said the banking industry needs regulation and accurately described the Dodd-Frank financial “reform” bill as the cementing of Too Big To Fail in federal law and thus an enormous sop to the biggest banks. Never mind that Obama’s response to the same question about debt and deficits included a mention of “18 government programs for education” that he’d cut (cutting education funds? but it’s for teh kidz!). Or that Sesame Street is such a merchandising powerhouse that it easily could survive on its own (take it from a dad whose kids have Elmo on their pajamas and Cookie Monster on their diapers, in addition to probably a dozen or more toys, stuffed animals and books with the furry characters on them).
Never mind all that. The Obama campaign decided to make an issue, albeit a fairly minor one, out of saving Big Bird.
Which probably wouldn’t have been a big deal if the Sesame Street Workshop hadn’t issued this response:
Sesame Workshop is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and we do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns. We have approved no campaign ads, and as is our general practice, have requested that the ad be taken down.
As the kids on Twitter would say: Obama campaign #FAIL.
Now, normally anything that keeps the Obama campaign from having to talk about the economy can be seen as a good thing for the incumbent. But getting rejected by Big Bird?
Mockery of mockery aside, this strikes me as a pretty apt summary of why the 70 million people who watched last week’s debate overwhelmingly thought Romney came out as the winner. Here was Romney, on a night when Obama attacked him for not being specific about his plans, making a specific statement about a spending cut he’d make — and one not likely to be popular with his intended audience that night, which very clearly was the small but critical group of undecided moderates in the electorate.
The Obama campaign’s response? Ham-fisted pandering that drew a rebuke from the very cause meant to be championed.
The talk throughout this general-election campaign about likeability has been overplayed because it misses the point. If the electorate wanted the most likeable guy available in the White House, Obama would have been running circles around Romney instead of never, for even a single day, leading the Real Clear Politics average of polls by even 6 percentage points (never by even 5 points since Romney effectively clinched the GOP nomination).
The voters aren’t looking for the guy they’d most like to attend a beer summit with. They’re looking for the guy who can run the country more effectively. Muppet panders, from a candidate who has presided over four consecutive $1,000,000,000,000-plus deficits and the surpassing of the $16,000,000,000,000 mark in federal debt, are not likely to resonate with them.
The race is not over by a long shot, but Obama suddenly has to do more than tread water if he’s going to win.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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481 comments Add your comment
Linda
October 9th, 2012
7:42 pm
Beyond@6:36, Please read my comment @4:14. It was a setup.
md
October 9th, 2012
7:44 pm
It’s ok Am, I didn’t expect you to agree that we need to cut spending……..
@@
October 9th, 2012
7:52 pm
AmVet:
Did you know that David Duke’s is a big OWS supporter?
How did THAT happen?
Wasn’t he some big shot in the KKK?
Imagine that…you and David Duke on the same side.
md
October 9th, 2012
7:56 pm
Big Bird was merely an easy example thrown out knowing that the masses may be able to figure it out. When Romney started explaining the unintended consequences of Dodd-Frank, even Obama’s head started spinning and evidently spun all night as all he took away from the entire evening was Big Bird.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 9th, 2012
7:59 pm
AmVet
Gov subsidy for a entity that does not need it, is the first thing you should cut. The Sesame Street enterprise is worth billions. Oscar, Elmo and the Bird could easily find a home most anywhere on the dial if they chose.
With Carter it was the rabid rabbit that did him in, will the big yellow bird serve the same purpose with Obama.
td
October 9th, 2012
8:04 pm
Here is something for all you libs to think about when you go to the ballot box.
“Now, the economy is falling apart and people like me who made all the right decisions and invested in themselves are being forced to bail out all the people who didn’t. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed 42 years of my life for. Yes, business ownership has its benefits, but the price I’ve paid is steep and not without wounds. Unfortunately, the costs of running a business have gotten out of control, and let me tell you why: We are being taxed to death and the government thinks we don’t pay enough. We pay state taxes, federal taxes, property taxes, sales and use taxes, payroll taxes, workers compensation taxes and unemployment taxes. I even have to hire an entire department to manage all these taxes. The question I have is this: Who is really stimulating the economy? Is it the Government that wants to take money from those who have earned it and give it to those who have not, or is it people like me who built a company out of his garage and directly employs over 7000 people and hosts over 3 million people per year with a great vacation?
Obviously, our present government believes that taking my money is the right economic stimulus for this country. The fact is, if I deducted 50% of your paycheck you’d quit and you wouldn’t work here. I mean, why should you? Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, that’s what happens to me. [...]”
“Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate business, not kill it. However, the power brokers in Washington believe redistributing wealth is the essential driver of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change they want.
So where am I going with all this? It’s quite simple. If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, as our current President plans, I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company. Rather than grow this company I will be forced to cut back. This means fewer jobs, less benefits and certainly less opportunity for everyone.
So, when you make your decision to vote, ask yourself, which candidate understands the economics of business ownership and who doesn’t? Whose policies will endanger your job? Answer those questions and you should know who might be the one capable of protecting and saving your job. While the media wants to tell you to believe the “1 percenters” are bad, I’m telling you they are not. They create most of the jobs. If you lose your job, it won’t be at the hands of the “1%”; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country.
You see, I can no longer support a system that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, so will your opportunities. If that happens, you can find me in the Caribbean sitting on the beach, under a palm tree, retired, and with no employees to worry about.
Signed, your boss,
David Siegel
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2012/10/09/ceo-threatens-fire-employees-if-obama-reelected-and-raises-taxes#ixzz28qkXKPZ8
ODD OWL
October 9th, 2012
8:05 pm
The Republican pollsters are manipulating and skewing the polls in favor of the Romney/Rand/Ryan Republicans…
JamVet
October 9th, 2012
8:07 pm
David Duke, now there was a guy you Republirubes could LOVE!
A KKK background and a rabid McCarthy “I see commies everywhere!” nutjob to boot. Oh and did mention that he went to prison?
The perfect Republican!
And what a segue…
Kyle, speaking of the anti-intellectual wing of the GOP, when are we going to have a thread on global cooling. You know, to take your mind off of the impending reelection of the Uppity Muslim?
(I bet you guys didn’t know that we have a sunspot/climatologist expert in our midst!)
@@
October 9th, 2012
8:08 pm
’scuse me!
Please omit the word “is” after Duke’s.
“Is” is not necessary.
ODD OWL
October 9th, 2012
8:08 pm
The CNN news media people have been relegated to the “belief” system… They don’t seem to know anything factual…. They just believe in stuff…
JamVet
October 9th, 2012
8:09 pm
The Sesame Street enterprise is worth billions. Oscar, Elmo and the Bird could easily find a home most anywhere on the dial if they chose.
Do tell, Rafe Red Herring?
Cite please?
(You never learn, do you?)
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
October 9th, 2012
8:14 pm
See B.S. “news” hasn’t polled a Republican in years, so how far is obozo really in the hole?
Linda
October 9th, 2012
8:14 pm
The problem with Obama is that is doesn’t want to BE the president. He likes to campaign to BE the president & likes to pretend to BE the president.
Obama is a great delegater, getting other people to do the work. He hates meetings, even the daily natl. security briefings. He doesn’t meet with his jobs council or his cabinet members, or members of congress, even the Dem. leadership. He hates making tough decisions & taking tough questions. He hates meeting with the press, except for controlled one-on-on interviews.
Obama loves campaigning, giving speeches with his teleprompter to screaming fans in a controlled crowd, spreading propaganda, dining with the rich Hollywood crowd paying $50,000 per plate to watch him eat.
Obama loves to pretend to be the president. He loves the perks, the White House, the plane, the helicopter, the motorcade, the Secret Service, the trips abroad, the state dinners, the cameras, the lights, the action.
We need a president who actually wants to BE the president.
@@
October 9th, 2012
8:15 pm
Mitt Romney continues to enjoy a post-debate bounce, with not only nationwide polls showing a tightening race, but Romney taking advantage of President Obama losing support among women.
The “lady parts” company with Obama.
schnirt
ODD OWL
October 9th, 2012
8:15 pm
The unemployment rate for White Americans is 6 %… The Unemployment rate for all college graduates is 4 %… There is steady growth across all sectors of the economy… Your complaints about the economy being on the verge of collapse is factually incorrect… Why don’t you state your real reason for being anti Obama, huh ???
Del
October 9th, 2012
8:19 pm
“The Republican pollsters are manipulating and skewing the polls in favor of the Romney/Rand/Ryan Republicans…”
That sounds ODD
@@
October 9th, 2012
8:21 pm
Exactly how much is the “Sesame Street” brand worth? According to Forbes, $515 million.
Now let’s watch AmVet make a big deal out of the millions vs billions.
ODD OWL
October 9th, 2012
8:26 pm
More news from the grapevine… The left wing leaning, liberal, limousine riding, Rockefeller Romney/Ryan Republicans are going to re-re form welfare, medicaid and food stamps… The liberal Romney said that he will not only eliminate the welfare work requirement, but he intends to eliminate all the changes made to welfare system by the Newt Gingrich Republicans and go back to the old, generous Rockefeller welfare system… Mittens Romney also said that he will increase medicaid payments to doctors, hospitals and nursing homes and expand the food stamps program significantly…
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 9th, 2012
8:26 pm
Big Bird has been occupying public television for 43 years, yet he’s definitely part of the 1 percent.
Big Bird is richer than Mitt Romney. Sesame Workshop (successor to Children’s Television Workshop), reported to the IRS a $356-million net worth as of June 30, 2011, compared to Romney’s estimated worth of about $250-million.
Read more on Newsmax.com: Big Bird Is Richer Than Romney
Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama’s Re-Election? Vote Here Now!
getalife
October 9th, 2012
8:27 pm
@@,
So, how much is the subsidy for PBS?
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 9th, 2012
8:29 pm
AmVet
Didn’t know I needed a cite, most intelligent people are aware of whats going on in the news. This has been talked about ad nauseum, thanks to Barry’s Big Bird Brain Dead Relection Strategy.
getalife
October 9th, 2012
8:30 pm
“big deal out of the millions vs billions.”
@@,
You cons are not very good at math.
“See B.S. “news” hasn’t polled a Republican in years”
See.
Hillbilly D
October 9th, 2012
8:30 pm
Isn’t it about time that PETA steps in and demands that Big Bird be set free?
JamVet
October 9th, 2012
8:31 pm
…make a big deal out of the millions vs billions.
Republican math, attention to detail and fiscal conservatism (LOL) on display!!!
You really do make this way too easy…
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 9th, 2012
8:31 pm
The “lady parts” company with Obama.
I guess you need those to really appreciate Obama, or maybe not.
getalife
October 9th, 2012
8:34 pm
“Isn’t it about time that PETA steps in and demands that Big Bird be set free?”
A Pamela Anderson ad giving Big Bird some love would be nice.
JamVet
October 9th, 2012
8:34 pm
You’re right, Rafe. Knowing what you speak of before you write something is so 1970s.
Citations are not necessary when you don’t give a whit about the veracity of your claims.
Or lack thereof…
iggy
October 9th, 2012
8:35 pm
“Your complaints about the economy being on the verge of collapse is factually incorrect…”
Thats precious.
@@
October 9th, 2012
8:39 pm
Getalife:
Are you AmVet?
Sesame Street is the 10th largest marketable bround in the WORLD. I don’t think we need to subsidize THAT!!!!
Have you gathered up my comments yet?
I’m still waiting.
===========================
The problem with Obama is that is doesn’t want to BE the president.
That thought crossed my mind while watching the debates….”Is this guy throwing the match?”
Anyhoo, it would play right into the Democrat Party’s racist game.
They could’ve nominated a more experienced black candidate, but
n-o-o-o-ooo…Obama was “their boy”. Subversively racist, those dems.
Just a thought.
@@
October 9th, 2012
8:39 pm
Oops AGAIN! “bround” should be brand.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 9th, 2012
8:40 pm
Amvet
I have just been listening to Barry too long, he says millionaires and billionaires simultaneously about 50 times a day. To him they are all the same, EVIL, so I guess I fell under his spell. Looks like he might be freeing up some TV bandwidth after Nov 6.
Hillbilly D
October 9th, 2012
8:45 pm
”Is this guy throwing the match?”
Can a baby face turn heel in politics? (See if anybody gets that reference)
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 9th, 2012
8:48 pm
I meant Sesame Street is worth a half billion (Obama style revision). It was the proof readers fault!
So, bottom line, they should be loaning money to the broke government, instead of holding their hand out for a subsidy.
@@
October 9th, 2012
8:48 pm
Obama can’t even remember how much debt we have. Came right out and said as much on David Letterman.
iggy
October 9th, 2012
8:48 pm
“The problem with Obama is that is doesn’t want to BE the president.
Like the drunken murderer Ted Kennedy, Obama doesnt want to be President, he just doesnt anyone else being President.
Linda
October 9th, 2012
8:48 pm
td@8:04, Unbelievable! Thanks for sharing. Wonder how many other employers are thinking the same thing.
JDW
October 9th, 2012
8:50 pm
@Tiberius…”The difference is the amount that family will save by not buying health care.”
Unless of course they get sick and need health insurance…which is after all the point.
iggy
October 9th, 2012
8:51 pm
td
October 9th, 2012
8:04 pm
Its time for big business to run the Obama FunBus into the ditch. Lets hope more employers will take such a stance.
td
October 9th, 2012
8:53 pm
Linda
October 9th, 2012
8:48 pm
td@8:04, Unbelievable! Thanks for sharing. Wonder how many other employers are thinking the same thing.
According to the DOL last week the country has added nearly 800,000 part time jobs in the last few months. I am wondering if anyone has researched why and now if this has something to do with it?
@@
October 9th, 2012
8:55 pm
Hillbilly:
(See if anybody gets that reference)
Linda McMahon would.
More of a boxing fan myself.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
October 9th, 2012
8:57 pm
This is absolutely funny, we are less than a month away from a pivotal election and we are stuck on discussing the intimate details of Big Bird. You can’t make this stuff up. Next, they will make a movie describing how the election turned. Urkle will be the star and the title………..
PANIC Rides a Big Bird!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111
JDW
October 9th, 2012
8:57 pm
@td…you do realize of course that “Newsbusters” is a pseudo news organization comprised of right wing lunatics and not worthy of serious consideration don’t you…of course not, you watch Faux News for “Fair and Balanced” news.
Linda
October 9th, 2012
9:00 pm
iggy@8:51, When was the last time anyone looked under the Obama FunBus to see who else he has thrown underneath it? Might be too late! Might be roadkill by now, eaten by @@’s dog.
iggy
October 9th, 2012
9:00 pm
I think Obama is beginning to realize that being President requires mass quantities of intelligence along with hard work, common sense, long hours, negotiating skills and that its not all fun, parties and playtime.
This being the case he wants out. Obama knows he is a slacker and that community organizing is his thing. Yes a job with zero accountability would suit him much better.
His pitiful appeal, at the debates, for “your vote” was just plain sad. Well, yes and Stupid…
JamVet
October 9th, 2012
9:04 pm
have just been listening to Barry too long…
That might explain it.
Turn off the corporate stupidvison and read something …
td
October 9th, 2012
9:08 pm
JDW
October 9th, 2012
8:57 pm
@td…you do realize of course that “Newsbusters” is a pseudo news organization comprised of right wing lunatics and not worthy of serious consideration don’t you…of course not, you watch Faux News for “Fair and Balanced” news.
I am pretty sure this one is legit since Bookman is currently running the same story as a blog entry and he works for the reliable left AJC.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 9th, 2012
9:13 pm
“The voters aren’t looking for the guy they’d most like to attend a beer summit with. They’re looking for the guy who can run the country more effectively.”
——————
Well, the intelligent ones are. The ObozoPhone voters less so.
Vote for competence.
Vote American.
JamVet
October 9th, 2012
9:14 pm
But we DO need to subsidize Apple, Kraft, IBM, Google, McDonalds, Microsoft, Coca Cola, AT&T, Verizon, GE and Walmart.
Desperately.
With staggering amounts of annual subsidies that not just dwarfs the $25Million (That is with an M, you fiscal conservatives!) allocated to PBS, it is in the hundreds of billions (That is with a B, you new math cons!) every single year.
You see they are winners!
And PBS is a loser.
And we love picking our winners and losers!
Linda
October 9th, 2012
9:16 pm
JDW@8:57, So, Newsbusters isn’t believable & therefore the letter isn’t believable? Source? Proof?
And the Dems. who appear on FOX News, fair & balanced, aren’t believable & therefore the American people who watch FOX News are not entitled to hear ALL the stories or BOTH SIDES of the stories.
And MSNBC & the rest of the corrupt alphabet media are fair & balanced?
You are fair & balanced?
@@
October 9th, 2012
9:16 pm
I wonder if AmVet has this one in his library.
Big Bird Can Share.