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
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:17 pm
party.
i
the secret
October 9th, 2012
11:17 pm
How is Willard going to cut taxes, keep social spending the same and increase spending on the military – all things he says he’s going to do. You can’t balance the budget by simply cutting PBS – only an idiot would think that.
Gimme Gimme Gimme
October 9th, 2012
11:17 pm
Did debbie wasserman schultz speak today? If she did she lied, she always does.
@@
October 9th, 2012
11:17 pm
Getalife:
Busted.
Everything I’ve read indicates Congress asked a simple question. “How will it be spent?”
According to the State Department, the fund was meant to support emerging democracies in places like Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya…nothing about security.
A serious discussion never materialized.
I’m outta here.
Gimme Gimme Gimme
October 9th, 2012
11:18 pm
Democrat’s war on truth.
Hillbilly D
October 9th, 2012
11:18 pm
The First State, land of DuPont, broiler chickens and,
Have to cry fowl on that one. Everybody knows that Gainesville is the Broiler Capitol of the World.
md
October 9th, 2012
11:20 pm
“He said that Deputy Assistant Secretary (for international programs) Lamb believed the Benghazi post did not need any Diplomatic Security Special Agents because there was a residential safe haven to fall back to in an emergency, but that she thought the best course of action was to assign three agents,” the memo said.”
Must be comforting to our diplomats in these hotspots to know that they have a nice room they can hide/die in when their building is being pummeled by mortars and rpg’s………..
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:20 pm
Tell you reps to cut big oil welfare they don’t need.
Man up, get serious.
Cutting PBS is weak, lets cut billions.
Raising defense 2 trillion is not cutting cons.
You party is not serious and laughing at you.
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:21 pm
md,
It was peaceful. The war was over and daffy is dead. Facts.
Old Timer
October 9th, 2012
11:22 pm
Without a teleprompter, with words written by someone else Obama is lost while thinking his Muslim bubble is going to bust. The guy does not have the United States at heart. He is following the 1930’s Roosevelt doctrine that was failing right and left, including trying to stack the supreme court until World War II came long. I was there and the current erepopulation does not know what hardship is. There were no food stamps, no unemployment checks or social security checks. We lived by the railraod tracks and I watched my grandmother feed alot of hobo’s with our food scraps. Our country needs an attitude adjustment. Give Romney a chance, we have seen what Obama could do in the past four years. Without the teleprompter he is lost.
Cutty
October 9th, 2012
11:23 pm
Although I rarely agree with your views, I always tried to respect you and your forum.
When Barry met Big Bird? Really? At least respect the office the man holds. Wingfield, you’ve become a real arrogant, d*bag since you’ve been here. You’re prime example #1 of how far right your party has become. What a jerk.
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:23 pm
“A serious discussion never materialized.”
In Congress?
Probably back in the 70’s.
md
October 9th, 2012
11:25 pm
Get…..funny, that isn’t what our boots on the ground are saying…….I guess we’ll find out a bit more in the am after the hearing. I’m guessing the men/women over there in harms way will sing like canaries……..
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:26 pm
md,
Where is Libyan government located?
iggy
October 9th, 2012
11:29 pm
“He is following the 1930’s Roosevelt doctrine that was failing right and left,”
Agreed. If I recall correctly, and I think I do, Obama stated in so many words, he wants to institute more programs such as those instituted by FDR.
@@
October 9th, 2012
11:29 pm
Let’s see how Biden did in his 2008 debate with Sarah Palin.
Not too well.
The Wanker vs The Wonk.
Now I’m out.
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:31 pm
md,
Do you know the difference between a embassy and a consulate?
Do you have any idea about the Libyan government?
Linda
October 9th, 2012
11:32 pm
Odd Owl@10:34, You keep trying to engage us when you refused to comment on my comment to you @7:32.
So, now, it’s not just FOX, but CNN who is trying to report on fair & balanced news, & the liberals are beside themselves because they want Americans to stay in the dark on the issues, both sides of the issues & not be allowed to Google the issues to be informed.
I have a degree in economics from one of the largest universities in the US & you are telling us that the problem is demand & that the fed. govt., which has NO MONEY, is the answer to the problem by spending more money that we do not have will lead our way to prosperity.
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:35 pm
“NO MONEY”
Yeah, if you consider 4 trillion a year in revenue no money.
A degree in economics and you wrote that?
JamVet
October 9th, 2012
11:35 pm
Give Romney a chance.
Nope.
After the toxic Bush/Cheney/Rove/Rumsfeld legacy, it’s not going to happen.
For a raft of reasons.
American voters are not going to just put the cowardly neocons right back in power to get their kids killed needlessly again and their money legally stolen by banksters again.
Mitt is unfit to lead.
And he won’t get the chance.
But better luck in 2016.
Or 2020.
Or 2024.
Or…
MarkV
October 9th, 2012
11:35 pm
Linda @7:36 pm: “MarkV@6:36, I listed her credentials. Only a stupid liberal would call her stupid.”
First, I did not HER stupid. I called and do call her arguments stupid. As a matter of fact, I call them incredibly stupid, and for a supposedly educated person, embarrassingly stupid. It also says something about anybody who defends those stupidities.
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:38 pm
If you have a degree in economic and say we are broke, I would have to agree with Mark.
Linda
October 9th, 2012
11:39 pm
Conservatives, PLEASE STOP ENGAGING GOTNOLIFE! Ignore him & he might go away.
iggy
October 9th, 2012
11:39 pm
You are stupid! Nuh uh…you are, NO, you are. You are the stupidiest one…
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:40 pm
I wish I made 4 trillion a year.
getalife
October 9th, 2012
11:42 pm
They would loan me money for zero per cent interest by the trillions.
Linda
October 9th, 2012
11:50 pm
MarkV@11:35, You didn’t “HER stupid.” What is that? You call everyone stupid who doesn’t agree with you. I can vouch for that. You love to beat down your opposition, including Kyle.You used the word stupid in its various forms 5 times within 4 sentences.
Has anyone ever called you a narcissist?
ODD OWL
October 9th, 2012
11:54 pm
I hear that Romney and Ryan had a big fight over gun ownership… Romney want to pass strict gun control laws the way he did when he was Gov. in Mass…. Romney banned hunting on Sunday in Mass… Said it was un-Godly… Ryan agreed with President O’bama that we should not have any gun control laws infringing on our 2nd. amendment rights… President O’bama even expanded the people’s 2nd. amendment rights so we can carry guns in the National parks and on Amtrack trains…I have never seen Romney shoot a gun, have any of you ??? I’ll bet that Romney who is right handed, would shoot a gun left handed… If Romney want my guns, he will have to pry them from my cold dead, Black hands… Vote O’bama and keep gun ownership legal and free…
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 10th, 2012
12:04 am
“You can’t balance the budget by simply cutting PBS – only an idiot would think that.”
Which apparently you do,”the secret”
Fortunately, Romney does not. And he’s the one that will be President.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 10th, 2012
12:06 am
“I hear that Romney and Ryan had a big fight over gun ownership… ”
And I hear that some people think Elvis is still alive.
Neither are true, but it’s fun to say nonsense, isn’t it, ODD OWL?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 10th, 2012
12:08 am
“Mitt is unfit to lead.”
Not even remotely true, as was evidenced last week during the debate, as there was only ONE leader on that stage (and it wasn’t Obama nor Lehrer).
AmVet, however, is unfit to vote.
Linda
October 10th, 2012
12:14 am
Odd@11:54, You are indeed odd. No engagement with commenters. No sites to cite your outlandish claims. If gun control laws are important to you, you should pay attention to Fast & Furious, which seems to have originated with the Obama adm.’s desire to control guns, which resulted in a border agent’s death, as well as hundreds of Mexican citizens.
JamVet
October 10th, 2012
12:17 am
Tibby, getting drunk and then showing up late with more unprovoked insults is so unbecoming.
Tsk, tsk, tsk, you don;t want to get banned yet again, do you?
LOL!
And don’t be so touchy.
Any rube, like you or Mitt can talk a good game.
BFD.
Here’s you and Mitt’s new theme song…
I’ve got my head out the window
And my big feet on the ground
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-iqnLEAHMc
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 10th, 2012
12:23 am
Don’t drink, smoke or use drugs, AmVet.
Your meds need adjusting, however.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 10th, 2012
12:36 am
“Any rube, like you or Mitt can talk a good game.”
Then why can’t you?
Why can’t you make a single point without insulting everyone you disagree with? Why don’t you provide facts instead of opinion? Why do you find the need to label everyone?
Why can’t you actually DEBATE an issue?
Linda
October 10th, 2012
12:49 am
@@ @ 11:17, PLEASE stop the engagement!
Linda
October 10th, 2012
12:56 am
Kyle@11:23, If I was the host on this website, I would ban the commenter @11:23 for not only insulting me but also for using profane language that the rest of us have to endure.
Linda
October 10th, 2012
1:03 am
MarkV@11:35, You didn’t “HER Stupid.” Incoherent. 4 sentences & 5 references to stupidity. See a pattern?
getalife
October 10th, 2012
1:10 am
I would agree the title of this post is offensive.
His name is not Barry Kyle.
His name is President Obama.
ODD OWL
October 10th, 2012
2:56 am
@ Linda 12:14 post…. Fast and Ferious ==> Bush/Cheney gun running and drug running operation… A. G. Alberto Gonzales was in charge of fast and ferious… President Obama and the Democrats were not involved in those criminal activities in any way, shape or form… The Republicans are attempting to scape goat, blame and project their illegal, criminal, immoral behavior onto the POTUS and the Democrats… Linda is one of Romney’s tools…
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
October 10th, 2012
4:40 am
JamVet: Lil BB, if I provide five irrefutable examples of subsidies to major American corporations….
———-
I’m just not that familiar with the subsidies to, say, Apple that you’re talking about. Still waiting your response…
Real Athens
October 10th, 2012
6:26 am
Linda::
Stay out of the sauce. You’re embarrassing yourself. Newsflash: You’re not “the host on this website” and many find your uniformed replies and rehash an insult to intelligent discourse everywhere.
Kyle, an honest question, in reference to getalife’s post: Can you cite an occasion where you referred to President Bush as W.?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
October 10th, 2012
6:47 am
Really? You can’t defend Obama’s record, so now you’re jumping on Kyle for calling him Barry?
Hello! Yesterday’s column was brought to you by the letter “B” – B for Big Bird and B for Barry!
You and getalife really need to ‘Get a life’!
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
October 10th, 2012
7:03 am
Oh, and Real Athens, you might wish to recall a famous movie made in 1989 called “When Harry Met Sally”.
“When Harry / Barry Met Sally / Big Bird” – Get it now?
Sheesh!
md
October 10th, 2012
8:20 am
“Do you know the difference between a embassy and a consulate?”
Yes I do, and I also know that BOTH are protected by the separate marine security battalion. Keep grasping, maybe if you root around long enough you’ll find some half way decent excuse…..
Georgia
October 10th, 2012
8:45 am
Big Bird. Obamaloney. Empty Chair. Trickle Down Government. Voodoo Government.
After Andrea Mitchell chimed in her own objections to using her image in a Obama Campaign spot, I can only say to her, “You’re no Big Bird”.
I think I can write a campaign speech now. Lets see, how can I open this……” I tought I taw a PuttyTat! I did, I did. I did tee a PuttyTat. “
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
October 10th, 2012
9:07 am
U.S. top earners pay larger share of taxes than any other industrialized nation…
Has the left ever told the truth about anything?
World of lies.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
October 10th, 2012
9:38 am
We will be in big trouble if Cheesy Grits wins.
If you thought the recession of 2008 was bad you haven’t seen anything yet.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
October 10th, 2012
9:48 am
If Kyle can call Barack Barry, can we call Kyle Kyleen?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
October 10th, 2012
9:50 am
Can you cite an occasion where you referred to President Bush as W.?
or, Shrub?