Obama spokesman: His dollar bill comment wasn’t about race; Update: Full quote added; Update: Obama camp backpedals
posted at 12:48 pm on July 31, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Yesterday in Missouri, Obama predicted McCain and the GOP would use racially-tinged attacks against him.
“What they’re going to try to do is make you scared of me,” Obama said. “You know, he doesn’t look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills.”
An Obama spokesman denied that the line about “dollar bills” was related to the Democrat’s race.
That comes from Jonathan Martin at Politico, who’s properly skeptical that the Lamb didn’t mean to insinuate what he clearly meant to insinuate. I e-mailed Martin with the link to Ed’s post from last month noting that Obama’s language then was almost identical to his language last night, with the notable exception that the race charge was made much more explicitly. We’ll see if Martin updates. Flashback to June 21:
“We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run. They’re going to try to make you afraid.
“They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?”
Here’s a clip from yesterday. Judge for yourself from the audience’s encouragement whether they took his meaning.
Update: The quote from Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs. Unadulterated crap:
Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said the senator was not referring to race.
“What Barack Obama was talking about was that he didn’t get here after spending decades in Washington,” Gibbs said Thursday. “There is nothing more to this than the fact that he was describing that he was new to the political scene. He was referring to the fact that he didn’t come into the race with the history of others. It is not about race.”
Update: More crap, slightly adulterated this time, as Team Barry tries desperately to undo a very stupid mistake.
“This is a race about big challenges—a slumping economy, a broken foreign policy, and an energy crisis for everyone but the oil companies. Barack Obama in no way believes that the McCain campaign is using race as an issue, but he does believe they’re using the same old low-road politics to distract voters from the real issues in this campaign, and those are the issues he’ll continue to talk about.”
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The reaction to the “Dollar Bill” comment isn’t about race, either. It is about arrogance.
coldwarrior on July 31, 2008 at 12:51 PM
He must mean the ears. Gotta be the ears. Is it the ears?
- The Cat
MirCat on July 31, 2008 at 12:51 PM
It was about…um…hair color. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
MadisonConservative on July 31, 2008 at 12:52 PM
In essence, the audience is applauding the fact that Obama doesn’t look like George Washington or Abe Lincoln. This qualifies him to be president?
warrenmr on July 31, 2008 at 12:52 PM
What else could he have meant? His hair is the shortest? He’s the youngest? He doesn’t wear a wig?
Esthier on July 31, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Maybe he wasn’t talking about race..
Maybe he was referring to the fact that none of the “other presidents” on dollar bills had islamic names”?
SaintOlaf on July 31, 2008 at 12:53 PM
I think he was talking about not having a powdered wig like Washington. He certainly does not wear a wig.
In public.
Dead Hand Control on July 31, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Jedi Mind Trick.
lorien1973 on July 31, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Aww…
Dead Hand Control on July 31, 2008 at 12:54 PM
He’s sh*tting us, right? How many decades in Washington did George Washington spend? Abraham Lincoln?
amerpundit on July 31, 2008 at 12:56 PM
When is it going to come down that no one cares about what pigment someone is?
You could be purple, with blue and pink star birthmarks… as long as you have common sense and do what the people ask in a conservative manner, I do not care what you look like or your age.
Obama grow up.
upinak on July 31, 2008 at 12:56 PM
It’s mind boggling that this lowlife and the scum that surround him will be in the White House.
Thank you, george soros.
peacenprosperity on July 31, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Who was his audience? THEY certainly sounded like they thought it referred to race.
How stoopid does he think typical white people are?
ctmom on July 31, 2008 at 12:57 PM
McCain doesn’t have a thick beard or a powdered wig, either.
…
Is that why Richardson stopped shaving?
jgapinoy on July 31, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Why did he suggest the currency thing anyway?
Is Obama already suggesting he is going to be put on a bill? Why didn’t he say, ‘I don’t look like any previous presidents.’?
I guess, maybe a penny. It’s essentially worthless, you can Flip and Flop one all day long, and it costs more to put into the system than it is worth.
cntrlfrk on July 31, 2008 at 12:57 PM
WHAT?!?! How can you see, on a dollar bill, that Obama is any different than George Washington or Jefferson other than… the blackiness? Hair style? Grooming habits?
Give me a fuggin break, Obama. This is just pathetic.
Seixon on July 31, 2008 at 12:57 PM
An inexperienced, unqualified, arrogant, elite, far left, liberal/socialist charlatan with radical political and racial associations wants us to know that if we oppose him it’s because we’re racists.
That’s the flip side of the Obama coin. One side is for his witless supporters, the hopenchange side, the other is for his opponents, the racism side.
That’s his election strategy. Let’s make that strategy crystal clear. It really ‘aint much.
JiangxiDad on July 31, 2008 at 12:57 PM
/$3 bill
Akzed on July 31, 2008 at 12:57 PM
yes
trailortrash on July 31, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Keep alienating non-racists. Expose yourself for the typical dishonest, race-baiting, political hack that you are. Stay the course Obama.
marklmail on July 31, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Am I the only one who is sickup and fed with being constantly lied to by Politicians? Right to my face. We know they’re lying. They know they’re lying. They know we know they are lying. Don’t care.
ronsfi on July 31, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Of course its not about race. The Obamessiah only meant that he wasn’t made of paper.
Darksean on July 31, 2008 at 12:58 PM
It was about intelligence. It was true.
progressoverpeace on July 31, 2008 at 12:58 PM
The contrast Obama was obviously trying to draw is that all of those other men are famous for their courageous accomplishments, integrity, and love of country. I agree, barry, you are quite a contrast.
drunyan8315 on July 31, 2008 at 12:58 PM
That’s funny because Washington, Jefferson, etc. didn’t spend years in Washington D.C. before running for president either.
Dead Hand Control on July 31, 2008 at 12:59 PM
“Other presidents”?
Akzed on July 31, 2008 at 12:59 PM
He is SUCH a liar. He doesn’t just spin, and nuance his words either, he is a bold faced unashamed LIAR. But then he wrote about it in his book, how proud he is of how well he can manipulate white people. Smooth, slick and slimy, that’s Barry.
JustTruth101 on July 31, 2008 at 12:59 PM
So Gibbs is telling us that Obama wasn’t saying that he doesn’t look white like those presidents… What he meant to say was that he is “new to the political scene” and has no experience?
What if Gibbs is telling the truth? What if Obama is really that much of a moron?
Lehosh on July 31, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Nice.
Dead Hand Control on July 31, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Unfortunately it’s working.
He’s got virginia in the tank.
SaintOlaf on July 31, 2008 at 1:00 PM
I think you’re the first
mymanpotsandpans on July 31, 2008 at 1:01 PM
McCain can’t let himself get suckered into this crap. He has to stay on his own agenda and initiatives.
pedestrian on July 31, 2008 at 1:02 PM
It’s so obvious. Obama was only referring to the fact that he does not have wooden teeth.
Cicero43 on July 31, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Does anyone else wish it was November already?
I know I am tired of hearing this, over and over and over and over….
upinak on July 31, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Did he say this with a straight face???
So now this guy is saying that Obams really doesn’t have any experience?
This campaign is a total wreck…Obama is so lucky to have the MSM on his side.
Not about race?…no one is that gullible, are they?
right2bright on July 31, 2008 at 1:04 PM
What do you expect, this is ‘Obama- the musical’. We are watching a production, not choosing a President. It’s all about image. . . move along, there isn’t a black President to see here.
ThackerAgency on July 31, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Maybe so many were slave owners?
right2bright on July 31, 2008 at 1:05 PM
He was referring to the fact that he didn’t come into the race with the history of others.
So the explanation is that he has a light resume, unlike those white guys currently on US currency.
Keith_Indy on July 31, 2008 at 1:06 PM
A plan? Obama just makes it up as he goes along.
Cicero43 on July 31, 2008 at 1:07 PM
I think this means the Messiah Camp is getting blow back on this! LOL
ordi on July 31, 2008 at 1:07 PM
My EXACT first thought.
Lily on July 31, 2008 at 1:08 PM
WOW… the amount of lying and denying is just unprecedented coming out of the obama camp.
I have never seen a circus like this election has been.
Corey Wayne on July 31, 2008 at 1:09 PM
So Obama is NOW better than the Founders and others like Lincoln – because he hasn’t been in Washington that long?
Yeah that Jefferson and Washington were real “insiders”…
What is scary isn’t that this guy said what he did, it’s that Obama’s supporters and sycophants will drink it in – DEEP!
catmman on July 31, 2008 at 1:09 PM
A sure indicator of when an Obama campaign aid is lying, when explaining what Obama really meant.
A sure indicator of when Obama is lying, when he says “I have never said that.”
jukin on July 31, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Yeah right, cuz George Washington was elected after “Decades” in Washington too huh? I gotta throw the BS flag on this.
saltydogg14 on July 31, 2008 at 1:09 PM
I said during those ridiculous primary debates that this election will be the American Idolization of the presidency. It’s turning out worse than that.
Brat on July 31, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Context, people… Context.
He said they will try to scare you because he is young and inexperienced, etc, different than the presidents on currency.
Exactly!! Those great presidents (and non-presidents) who are honored by being on currency were not young and inexperienced… precisely why they were great presidents.
AverageJoe on July 31, 2008 at 1:10 PM
I pray this guy loses so he can fall off the face of the earth as a loser…
Tim Burton on July 31, 2008 at 1:10 PM
So the explanation is that he has a light resume, unlike those white guys currently on US currency.
Keith_Indy on July 31, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Compared to those on our currency Obama’s resume is microscopic!
catmman on July 31, 2008 at 1:10 PM
AP,
As with your other post on this today, this is Camp Obama trying to own the enire debate. Words mean only what Camp Obama says they mean.
They may be starting to blow their cred with the MSM with this stuff. The MSM may be skewed Left, but no one likes to have some campaign flunky try to BS them so overtly. And Gibbs is already unpopular with the press, according to TNR.
Karl on July 31, 2008 at 1:11 PM
I’m tempted to ask who is stupid enough to believe this nonsense, but I’m sure we’ll soon see Chris Matthews decrying McCain for having the audacity to suggest Obama was playing the race card.
Slublog on July 31, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Audacity.
benjamin on July 31, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Tim Burton on July 31, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Obama MADE the Heavens and the Earth.
He’ll be fine…
catmman on July 31, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Neither did George Washington unless you count Martha. (sorry)
TooTall on July 31, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Barack Obama is an arrogant bastard.
carbon_footprint on July 31, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Everything that comes from his mouth is nothin but a steamin bowl of bullshit.
becki51758 on July 31, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Ben Franklin is on the $100 bill and he was never in Washington D.C. at all. He died on April 17, 1790. Washington D.C. was founded on July 16th 1790.
Bobbertsan on July 31, 2008 at 1:13 PM
It’s like the Endless Train Wreck of Summer!
JimK on July 31, 2008 at 1:15 PM
The Audacity of Bullsh*t
amerpundit on July 31, 2008 at 1:15 PM
So, you can tell how long someone’s been in Washington just by looking at their picture? Somebody really should test that theory.
Bobbertsan on July 31, 2008 at 1:16 PM
Yeah, count me in, it’s about the ears. If you look at all the US currency, no one has Obama ears.
Obama should stick to blowing up tires.
tarpon on July 31, 2008 at 1:17 PM
I don’t get it, what else could he have meant? Does spending a lot of time in Washington eventually make you white?
Dr. Manhattan on July 31, 2008 at 1:17 PM
Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but Obama will play the race card, And I think it will backfire. Most black politicians in the past had some ideosyncratic tick that turned off regular white people. It was poor speech, or speaking in rymes, or proporting victimhood as the cause of all bad things in the Black Community.
Obama has gotten away from a lot of that stuff on the trail, but inside he is still ate up with it. He slips up and shows it every so often.
It will take a Black economic achiever that is conservative and unbrainwashed by the left to make it as the first Black President.
Until Black candidates get off the usual excuses used to justify failure, the regular whites will be sceptical and the polling will be skewed.
saiga on July 31, 2008 at 1:17 PM
Barry Uhhh..bama, the African-American JF Kerry!
dmh0667 on July 31, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Funny, Mark “Don’t Hold Bush and Kerry Equally Accountable” Halperin has yet to jump on this almost a half-hour later.
amerpundit on July 31, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Well, whatever he is doing, ain’t helping. He is up by only 1 point, after his “massively successful” overseas campaign.
right2bright on July 31, 2008 at 1:18 PM
He sounds like his old pal Jeremiah Wright.
hepcat on July 31, 2008 at 1:18 PM
I think, being the capitalist pig that I am, next election, I am going to offer a vacation package with no access to current radio or TV or internet election coverage.
100 days long.
You return the day before election day so you can still vote.
Lifespans will be extended, divorces will decrease, lives will be spared.
I’ll be damn rich.
cntrlfrk on July 31, 2008 at 1:18 PM
The Audacity of Bull$hit.
thirteen28 on July 31, 2008 at 1:18 PM
The longer this campaign goes on, the more the people see what a light weight this guy is…
right2bright on July 31, 2008 at 1:19 PM
According to Chris Matthews, the meaning of the comment was that those guys on the currency are just nowhere near as leg tingling sexy.
Buddahpundit on July 31, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Whoa! Add pathological liar to Barack “Dollar Bill” Obama’s resume. Now we know what this guy is really made of.
Next he’s going to claim that he was just frustrated that his Presidential Campaign Seal was deep-sixed. So he’s been up late nights unable to sleep working on a draft $1,000 currency note to combat inflation, and that was on his mind.
He hopes to submit the proposal to Congress in his second term after a $500 Clinton note passes in his first term.
econavenger on July 31, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Well maybe a three dollar bill GRIN
Dr Evil on July 31, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Yes, because you can see experience by how someone looks like… Right? Obama doesn’t “look” experienced? How does one look experienced? Does he mean that black people don’t look experienced? I’m seriously trying to make sense of this pretzeled logic.
Seixon on July 31, 2008 at 1:21 PM
I never ceased to be amazed that the spin doctors really think that the people are going to buy their crap.
photom on July 31, 2008 at 1:22 PM
The buffalo nickel…I still think it has something to do with the buffalo nickel. (Other than the organic frisbees the buffalo leave behind.)
Wethal on July 31, 2008 at 1:24 PM
Yeah, I caught that arrogance too. Saying other PRESIDENTS was very presumptuous of Obama. Other people, other men, and btw not all those Founders on our bills were Presidents.
Of course, he was playing the race card. But that tactic only plays in his favor with his base .. it’s going to play against him with those not already in this camp. I’m beginning to get a tingle up my leg that Team Obama is going to implode before Nov 4th.
Texas Gal on July 31, 2008 at 1:25 PM
AverageJoe on July 31, 2008 at 1:25 PM
Well, I for one believe him!
/trying to muffle guffaws
Bob's Kid on July 31, 2008 at 1:25 PM
Oops… ignore the strike font.
That logic is just as “pretzeled” as the semi-official one , “..he was describing that he was new to the political scene. He was referring to the fact that he didn’t come into the race with the history of others.”
AverageJoe on July 31, 2008 at 1:26 PM
I’m still amazed that people actually do buy their crap.
Rogue Traveler on July 31, 2008 at 1:26 PM
Why would anyone think that? Obama ment its because he doesn’t have a big powdered wig, or glasses, or beard, or an old timey suit.
Rbastid on July 31, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Everyone knows Washington and Jefferson were both in the pocket of “Big Flintlock.”
Cicero43 on July 31, 2008 at 1:28 PM
I guess that means he’s throwing the George Washington and Abe Lincoln endorsements under the bus.
SaintOlaf on July 31, 2008 at 1:28 PM
Way to tip PA, MI, MO, VA, FL, and WI into the red…
He was supposed to be “post-racial” rejecting the tactics of Jesse and Al. Not a confronter, not a black guy that tries to leverage white guilt but otherwise receives gratitude for not using race and here he has to ruin it for himself. Will this manifest itself into and ad? Obama has two videos of him making the same arguement. Do it GOP run the ad in every swing state during or close to sports programming, muahahahahah!
Theworldisnotenough on July 31, 2008 at 1:28 PM
Why you gotta bring up race Obama?
Rbastid on July 31, 2008 at 1:29 PM
It’s beginning to look like the surest indication of an Obama lie is to check to see if his mouth is moving. If his mouth is moving and sound is coming out, it’s a lie.
Lily on July 31, 2008 at 1:29 PM
So the dollar bill comment was an effort to talk about energy?
MayBee on July 31, 2008 at 1:32 PM
That’s even crappier crap. He doesn’t want to talk about the issues.
Here’s more words, just words
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D928S7080&show_article=1
Brat on July 31, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Audacity of Dill Weed
sabbott on July 31, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Next RNC ad….
Obama campaign quote: “Barack Obama in no way believes that the McCain campaign is using race as an issue….”
Cue Obama video : “They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?”
AverageJoe on July 31, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Truth is, he does actually fit in with his appearance, as his late night sessions creating Obama currency mock-ups probably proves. He literally has to point out his blackness regularly to get people to remember it. Maybe he feels a lot more like a “strange black guy” than people perceive him to be. I’m sure his wife has a lot to do with his insecurity there. She probably wants him to overly embrace and use his blackness to become the Ron Artest of Presidential politics.
econavenger on July 31, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Brat on July 31, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Hmmm, don’t think a lot of anti-Second Amendment Lefties are gonna like this imagery…
[Will Obama be holding the gun, or bitterly clinging to it???].
coldwarrior on July 31, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Who are they?
(/BHO-supporter)
progressoverpeace on July 31, 2008 at 1:37 PM
He clearly means that we almost never see him in 3/4 profile. And it’s true! (Bad angle for his ears.)
Somebody up his thorazine, the delusions of persecution are getting seriously creepy.
Tanya on July 31, 2008 at 1:37 PM
George Washington on the $1 bill – Never spent decades in Washington.
Thomas Jefferson on the $2 bill – Never spent decades in Washington.
Abraham Lincoln on the $5 bill – Never spent decades in Washington.
Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill – Wasn’t a president
Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill – Never spent decades in Washington.
Ulysses S. Grant on the $50 bill – Never spent decades in Washington.
Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill. – Wasn’t a president
$500 bill with the portrait of William McKinley – Never spent decades in Washington.
$1,000 bill with a portrait of Grover Cleveland – Never spent decades in Washington.
$5,000 bill with a portrait of James Madison – Never spent decades in Washington.
$10,000 bill with a portrait of Salmon P. Chase – Wasn’t a president
$100,000 currency note bearing a portrait of Woodrow Wilson. – Never spent decades in Washington.
Of course, maybe Barry is referring to the failed Democratic candidates that really have spent decades in Washington:
Al Gore, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Joe Biden, Adlai Stevenson, etc.
SouthernRoots on July 31, 2008 at 1:38 PM
I for one am sick and tired of being called a racist by half and half,
Tell me the 95% blacks that will vote for this big earred carricature of a worse than useless politician aren’t!
dhunter on July 31, 2008 at 1:38 PM
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