Obama’s second inaugural (updated)
There were, I think, three main elements to President Obama’s second inaugural address (other than its brevity at just 19 minutes, which was the only truly surprising thing about the speech):
First, there was his identification of what — or who — is at the root of our problems:
- “The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few …”
- “For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it.”
- “We do not believe that in this country freedom is reserved for the lucky or happiness for the few.”
In case you didn’t catch his drift, I’ve supplied some emphasis. There are just a “few” people who are keeping the rest of us from … what exactly? Does anyone actually believe only a “few” Americans (even granting the president poetic license to mean a “few” as a relative share of a nation of more than 315 million people) are happy? Or enjoy freedom? Or experience financial success?
To understand his exaggeration of the cause of our problems requires the second element of the speech, which is the gross mischaracterization of the positions of the president’s political opponents. Here are two examples:
- “No single person can train all the math and science teachers we’ll need to equip our children for the future, or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores.”
- “… we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future.”
Who, exactly, claims that a “single person can train all the math and science teachers we’ll need,” or that a “single person can … build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores”? Who has claimed that such a solitary trainer of teachers or builder of roads exists?
And who, exactly, believes our nation “must choose between” programs for retirees and, say, education? The GOP presidential nominee who wanted to restore the Medicare spending cut to fund (on paper) Obamacare? The Republican leaders whose proposals for Social Security involve slowing the growth of benefits?
Who are these unreasonable people who hold these radical beliefs?
Figments of Obama’s imagination — that’s who. This is the kind of willful misrepresentation of opposing viewpoints that is the stock-in-trade of Obama’s rhetoric.
Hand-in-hand with this misrepresentation is the projection onto others of the kind of behavior Obama himself regularly displays: “We cannot mistake absolutism for principle” — kind of like saying you won’t extend tax cuts for everyone else unless taxes go up on the “few” — “… or treat name-calling as reasoned debate” — kind of like calling the other side “hostage takers.”
Finally, there were the policy prescriptions to which Obama alluded. This was the element of the speech that made it sound akin to a State of the Union address. There were allusions to, though no detailed proposals for, reforming government, the tax code and schools; addressing climate change via sustainable energy sources; support for gay marriage; attempting comprehensive immigration reform; pursuing the kind of gun control measures he proposed just last week; and, most of the blue, shortening the time it takes to vote on Election Day.
Take these elements together, and it was a speech being received (with some degree of shock) by liberals as a thoroughly liberal speech. And (with far less shock) by conservatives as the same.
Why it took liberals aback, I don’t know. The notion of Obama the Centrist has appealed only to those who believe he really should govern as a socialist. But it does not portend any more of a spirit of cooperation during the next two years than we’ve seen during the past four.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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278 comments Add your comment
Dusty
January 21st, 2013
6:21 pm
Mark V
I mean it does not pay to keep on remembering past hateful words of others. But even if I know that, I still fail in my own expectations. Politics don’t help.
Oh to be perfect! I haven’t reached that status yet. (But almost, of course….!!!)
Off to join some salmon fillets.
MarkV
January 21st, 2013
6:23 pm
Dusty @ 5:39 pm
“But I know there was pure virulence heaped upon President Bush and still is. Even lies are permitted it seems.”
Dusty,
I can only agree with you in this. While I disagreed with many policies and decisions of President G.W. Bush, I was also appalled by some of the virulence of the attacks on him. And for the record, I also believe hid did many things for which he should be praised.
On the other hand, I find very strange the second part of the above comment, “Even lies are permitted it seems,” considering your reproof of my calling untrue statements lies.
Just Saying..
January 21st, 2013
6:26 pm
“jivey”
“jazzy”
Old Timer: No identity issues for you, are there?
Michael
January 21st, 2013
6:27 pm
It’s not like I thought you were going to find anything positive to say about it Kyle, so no surprise by your remarks. But he won the election so you and Rush will have your Fav Fox News will have something to whine about for four more years.
monty
January 21st, 2013
6:29 pm
Haven’t seen any good replies to Kyle’s talking points.
Bruno
January 21st, 2013
6:29 pm
Dusty–Since you’re such a big fan of Burger King, I thought you might like to know that I enjoyed their new chicken-apple-cranberry salad.
Kyle–Thanks for having us here today. I hope that you’re able to deal with the troll problem soon without having to shut the whole blog down every night.
Later, tators and gaters.
Dusty
January 21st, 2013
6:31 pm
MarkV
“Lies” in GENERAL can be tolerated. But not” lies” or ” liar” aimed at specific PERSONS.. That is a personal insult..
Must go…. .
md
January 21st, 2013
6:31 pm
As a country, especially one that is having financial problems, why do we pay for all the pom and circumstance in the middle of an 8 year term? It makes no sense……..
And that applies to both parties……
MarkV
January 21st, 2013
6:33 pm
Dusty @ 6:21 pm
I understand now what you meant. Your original comment just sounded like you found it hard to remember what had been said about President Bush.
G’nite and bon appetit.
Dusty
January 21st, 2013
6:34 pm
Bruno,
I even got BK gift cards for Christmas. Glad you liked their salad. I will have to try that one.
Off to try my own salad right now.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
January 21st, 2013
6:36 pm
Well, thank goodness, I had something better to do than witness the festivities and the speech. From Kyle’s analysis, seems the speech was just more redistribution theology.
I am about tired of the redistribution myself, I have had enough with the poverty, don’t hand me anyone else’s share. 40% of us have less net worth and 53% of our recent college graduates are unemployed or under employed. Every child born today owes about $60,000 before they take their first breath. Barry has increased the national debt by 50% and he wants to spend more.
I’m glad everyone is so excited about the replay of the Reign of Error, but for me, it is just mourning in America (thanks Wayne Allen Root).
Serious Robuck
January 21st, 2013
6:37 pm
Kyle, I doubt anyone will ever accuse you of following in the steps of Ralph McGill or Eugene Patterson. It’s quite obvious that you’re a privileged kid who never suffered from discrimination or the lack of opportunity. And unlike McGill and Patterson, you don’t care for those of us who have.
I’m a 62 year old white Georgia Democrat. I thought it was an inspiring speech and a wonderful day. I’m sorry so many of you are so bitter you could find nothing positive about it.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 21st, 2013
6:43 pm
Obozo: “The commitments we make to each other – through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security – these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.”
———————–
Of course, he didn’t mention a host of other parasite maintenance programs that are exploding thanks to his failure to lead.
How in the world did we ever survive as a nation before food stamps, Section 8 housing, SSI, and all the other handouts? I guess folks didn’t take any risks before the 1960’s.
Lap it up, moochers. Your messiah has spoken.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
January 21st, 2013
6:45 pm
Serious Robuck: I’m THE 62 year old white Georgia Democrat.
—————-
FIFY
MarkV
January 21st, 2013
6:45 pm
Dusty @ 6:31 pm: “Lies” in GENERAL can be tolerated. But not” lies” or ” liar” aimed at specific PERSONS.. That is a personal insult..
Dusty,
If you come back after enjoying your salmon fillets, I must tell you that your comment above is about the strangest and most incomprehensible distinction I have ever heard on this subject. When you find the time, please explain, what is meant by a “lie in general.” In my perhaps incomplete understanding, a lie is always something that someone has said or wrote, and is not true. As I already commented before, calling a statement made by somebody a lie is quite different from calling that person a liar, somebody who lies repeatedly a habitually. For the record again, I have never called you a liar, and do not believe that you are. But I also do not believe that calling an untrue statement you make a lie is rude. Would you prefer my saying instead something like “I believe that the truthfulness of your statement could be successfully challenged?”
CC
January 21st, 2013
7:01 pm
“Crowd shrinks by nearly half for 2nd inaugural”
Many of the would-be attendees blew their welfare checks on cheap wine and couldn’t afford to get to D. C.
CC
January 21st, 2013
7:05 pm
“I’m a 62 year old white Georgia Democrat.”
Keep your problems to yourself . . . and I wouldn’t even admit that in mixed company, if I were you.
Lynnie Gal
January 21st, 2013
7:07 pm
Comments like CC made about “inauguration attendees blowing their welfare checks on cheap wine and couldn’t get to D.C.” is the reason nobody likes Republicans anymore. The only Republicans left who aren’t ashamed of their party are bottom feeders who make racist comments like that.
Serious Robuck
January 21st, 2013
7:07 pm
Lil Barrie, you don’t run with my crowd, Sweetie. People like you who cling to Georgia’s racist and ignorant past are still in power, admittedly, but there are MANY of us who think differently than you, in all corners of the state.
FIFY and bless your heart.
Serious Robuck
January 21st, 2013
7:09 pm
CC, I’m happy to be educated and liberal. Sorry you lost, little buddy. Better luck next time.
Cletus
January 21st, 2013
7:17 pm
“…in this country freedom is reserved for the lucky…”
I really dislike and resent the “lucky” theme. Sure some people are particularly blessed by virtue of birthright or pure luck – as in winning the lottery. But most of us who have attained some level of success in life got here but sheer dint of hard work and personal sacrifice. The “luck” thing is just a gimmick designed to make us feel guilty and appeal to our altruistic instincts.
Kyle Wingfield
January 21st, 2013
7:18 pm
That’s all for tonight. Immediate commenting will be turned back on tomorrow morning.
Kyle Wingfield
January 22nd, 2013
10:49 am
Immediate commenting is back on, and there’s a new post upstairs.
TBone
January 22nd, 2013
10:59 am
To quote Dr. MLK Jr.,”Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity”. Man how things have changed, we are there.
md
January 22nd, 2013
11:34 am
“Bush’s two credit card wars and generous tax cuts for the rich certainly contributed to our past and present financial problems.
Obama inherited Bush’s mess and it will take many years to clean it up.
All your con bluster can’t change facts.”
Did I ever say Bush didn’t contribute to the problem? I think not…..
Add to the mix the democrats that would not for the life of them reform Fannie and Freddie, a few unscrupulous bankers and several million people that bought more than they knew they could afford……..
It was a joint effort, but many here can only say “Bush”…….seems you may be included, are you?
It was a joint effort by many parties
MarkV
January 22nd, 2013
11:51 am
Dusty,
I categorically reject your suggestion that
‘“Lies” in GENERAL can be tolerated. But not” lies” or ” liar” aimed at specific PERSONS.. That is a personal insult.’
What is insulting is to lie, not to point out a lie. One of the most disturbing features of the current political debates is the tolerance of lies, by the commentators, by most everybody. I applaud the organizations checking facts. Even if I sometimes disagree with their conclusions, I appreciate their collecting the facts. But what is the effect of their “false” or even “pants on fire” grades? Just about nothing. The politicians just shrug it off. And the result is the increasing insensitivity to the value of the truth, and tolerance of lies.
This blog showed some prime examples. As you aptly noted, it was an occasion for celebration of the success of our system of government. A joyful one, during which even the President’s congressional opponents behaved with civility and refrained from attacks. But what was the leader of our blog doing? Just waiting for a chance to pounce on something the President would say. And he did. With a lie.
Kyle Wingfield ,January 21st, 2013 @12:01 pm:
“Didn’t take Obama long to get to the idea that it’s all the fault of the rich.”
You can read the transcript. Show me where Obama said that all is the fault of the rich. Where did he say that anything is fault of the rich? Where did he say that anybody is to blame? It is not there. What Kyle said was a spiteful, mean-spirited lie.
And Kyle did not stop there. The President reminded us of what system of government the Founding Fathers have given us,
“The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed.
For more than 200 years, we have.”
How did Kyle “interpret” that? By corrupting the wording and the meaning:
Kyle: “First, there was his identification of what — or who — is at the root of our problems:
•“The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few …”
Find me the “root of problems” in the President’s speech. See how Kyle distorted the meaning.
What is more insulting? Calling it lies, or what Kyle was doing?
melshop
January 22nd, 2013
12:05 pm
getalife
Here’s the link: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001454.html
Cliff, no those are not lies. True enough, more people died under George W, but solely because of 911. 911 occurred when he was in office just over 7 months. While it happened on his watch, the 911 report indicated that security breaches of the 1990s led to the terrorist attack in 911. That would be under Clinton. If the present POTUS can continue to blame Bush for what is going on now, then the responsibility for 911 should rightfully then go to Clinton. U.S. News also has an article about how the number of incidents have worsened every year, although the number of actual deaths has decreased.
wallbanger
January 22nd, 2013
12:53 pm
It is a sad commentary on a once great country that so many people are turning to their neighbors for support, and then complaining that it is not enough. It will never be enough. And in fact, it will be, and is continuing to decline as the so – called wealthy (or in Obama’s terms “lucky”) diminish. I worked hard to get through school, graduate school, and for just about every day of my life from the time I was 14, and yes, I am one of the “few”, and dog gone proud of it. I strongly resent having to support bums.