Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on April 7, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Today’s Obamateurism comes from the speech Barack Obama made to the joint session of Congress, in which he demonstrated a curious mathematics on bankruptcies and health care. Pajamas Media columnist AWR Hawkins did the research that the Obama administration apparently found beyond its reach — and the math that no one in the White House bothered to do:
For example, on February 24, 2009, while speaking to a joint session of Congress, Obama said: “The crushing cost of health care … now causes a bankruptcy in America every thirty seconds.” Upon hearing this I grabbed my calculator and ascertained that that means roughly 1,036,800 American families a year are filing bankruptcy because of healthcare expenses.
This is quite amazing when you consider that the New York Times reported there were only 826,732 bankruptcies in America in 2007, with approximately 1.2 million estimated for 2008. Either Obama is right and nearly every bankruptcy in this country is a result of healthcare expenses, or the numbers are purposely being exaggerated in order to create a crisis great enough to justify implementing his healthcare plan.
Needless to say, not every bankruptcy comes from health-care expenses. In fact, the DoJ still argues at the futility of assigning bankruptcies to any one cause, but the biggest factor may not be health costs but divorce.
No doubt that Obama purposefully misrepresented the number and nature of American bankruptcies in order to demagogue for his vision of national health-care reform. The amateur moment was in assuming that everyone was as bad at math as his White House.
Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at obamaisms@edmorrissey.com with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.
Illustrations by Chris Muir of Day by Day. Be sure to read the adventures of Sam, Zed, Damon, and Jan every day!
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Love reading these daily, Ed. Keep up the great work!
rightside on April 7, 2009 at 8:11 AM
BO is the perpetual campaigner who speaks with numbers for shock value. He doesn’t have to be concerned by the drones in the media or even his own supporters doing the math. In the last 5 years, you have to judge his actions not his words.
The worst president evah…
jbh45 on April 7, 2009 at 8:12 AM
That’s not amatuer. That’s arrogant.
bluelightbrigade on April 7, 2009 at 8:12 AM
Good morning rightside… ;)
doriangrey on April 7, 2009 at 8:13 AM
This is a good one, Ed, but The Precedent just had another America-hating town hall in Turkey. You could have pulled something out of there. It was a “turkey shoot” for Obamateurisms, and had accompanying video.
progressoverpeace on April 7, 2009 at 8:14 AM
He needs a new TOTUS with a calculator function.
Disturb the Universe on April 7, 2009 at 8:14 AM
Amateurism is sending 50,000 dollars as earthquake relief to Italy.
promachus on April 7, 2009 at 8:16 AM
“[the utter lack of health care in America] now causes a bankruptcy in America every thirty seconds.”
… file it along with the rest of the Left wing Big Lies.
1. 200,000 Women are Murdered by their male companions on Super Bowl Sunday!
2. The respectable [sic] Lancet journal article established as scientific fact that the USA murdered 400,000 Iraqis in cold blood!
3. [Any statement by John F. Kerry -- they cut off penises, etc, Jenjis Khan, etc.]
4. There are 20 million homeless in America, and growing!
5. Over a million slaves died in transport to America, why the sharks still feed on their blood in the Atlantic!
jeff_from_mpls on April 7, 2009 at 8:16 AM
Hey hey, ho ho Western Civ has got to go.
Democrats don’t like white folks. It’s the dirty secret. Shhh!
jeff_from_mpls on April 7, 2009 at 8:17 AM
dorian! You read the rants in the last thread?
rightside on April 7, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Maybe Obama means,that when he’s done,raising taxes,
and his policies,thats the number he came up with!
Which means any thing Obama does,and his Administration,
will only put more Americans in dire straights!!
canopfor on April 7, 2009 at 8:19 AM
Sad part is some folks buy this crap hook, line, and sinker.
boomer on April 7, 2009 at 8:19 AM
“No doubt that Obama purposefully misrepresented the number…”
He didn’t misrepresent anything on purpose – he just read what was on that darned telepromoter.
1/2 :-)
KS Rex on April 7, 2009 at 8:22 AM
Next thing you know Barry will give Geithner permission to rewrite the rules of math as well.
anniekc on April 7, 2009 at 8:24 AM
Yes, and found those regarding Charles rather disheartening. In spite of my own bannage at LGF I hope those comments represent sour grapes and not an accurate reflection on Charles. Our own difference aside I left LGF with a great respect for him and would be considerably saddened to learn that those assertion had any genuine validity to them.
doriangrey on April 7, 2009 at 8:24 AM
How are things out on the left coast? I miss that weather bad…
Mouth better now?
rightside on April 7, 2009 at 8:26 AM
purposefully misrepresented=lying thru his teeth
becki51758 on April 7, 2009 at 8:26 AM
Big time. Initially, he wanted to send a great gross of Ipods, to help people pass the time in the rubble, but TOTUS talked him out of it.
progressoverpeace on April 7, 2009 at 8:26 AM
Adults are doing the math.
loudmouth883 on April 7, 2009 at 8:27 AM
OT: This morning on CNBC news that Barney Frank was proposing legislation that would prevent people who couldn’t afford a mortgage from getting one scrolled across the bottom of the screen. I giggled.
BadgerHawk on April 7, 2009 at 8:29 AM
The weather has been a bit chilly, but otherwise nice and we are starting to really love Tea, especially Tea Parties… ;)
doriangrey on April 7, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Did I hear that institutions who loaned money to people who could not pay it back were going to be investigated and possible charged? umm..wasnt that the law? CRA made that possible.
becki51758 on April 7, 2009 at 8:32 AM
So,according to Obama,on his watch,
there will be an extra 400,000 that
will be bankrupt under him!!
Now that, is Change and Hope in action!!
And,whats Obama’s snafu count now,it must
be well over a hundred!!
canopfor on April 7, 2009 at 8:33 AM
Very True. I doubt that will get any traction.
rightside on April 7, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Oh and I should add that the days of The Governuter Benedict Arnold Schwarzen-renegger San Fran Nan, Barbra Boxedherslfin and Dianne Financedherhusbandstien look like they are numbered…
doriangrey on April 7, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Exactly. Barney Frank is one of the culprits, one of the politicians who manipulated sound lending practices for the sake of ‘fairness’, and now he’s trying to cover his tracks for the history books.
BadgerHawk on April 7, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Part of me is glad it’s only 50,000.
Europeans always criticizing us, hating on us. Bemoaning us, lamenting us, looking down upon us.
Plus, in this tough economic time, why should we be throwing boat loads of money to a continent that thinks we’re all mullet sportin’ moron cowboys?
blatantblue on April 7, 2009 at 8:36 AM
What, no region 1 DVD set of The Godfather saga (1, 2 and 3)?
Cause you know, Italians just love Americans’ associating them with the mafia all the time.
As to these bankruptcy figures, I’ve seen it debunked elsewhere and one of the things is, if you have any healthcare related debt, it gets counted, even if it’s 1% of your total debt. There are lies, damn lies and statistics.
rbj on April 7, 2009 at 8:37 AM
Let’s hope it doesnt get any traction. These days nothing surprises me.
becki51758 on April 7, 2009 at 8:37 AM
Very good news, indeed. Who’s waiting in the wings though?
rightside on April 7, 2009 at 8:37 AM
A lot of that is the big difference between playing politics and practicing statesmanship.
backwoods conservative on April 7, 2009 at 8:38 AM
Reminds me of the line during the Clinton years that “3,000 kids take up smoking every day.”
Sloan Morganstern on April 7, 2009 at 8:39 AM
To paraphrase Stalin… One hundred snafus is a tragedy, an
GoogolObamanation of Snafus is just a statistic.doriangrey on April 7, 2009 at 8:39 AM
Just wait until we get the reasons to justify a domestic security force.
Bishop on April 7, 2009 at 8:41 AM
To parahrase Stalin…
doriangrey on April 7,2009 at 8:39AM.
doriangrey:Hehe!:)
canopfor on April 7, 2009 at 8:43 AM
How many Americans went bankrupt the second that Congress passed Obama’s budget?
Over 300 million, with bankrupt generations yet to come.
Loxodonta on April 7, 2009 at 8:44 AM
I wouldn’t worry.
Michelle will design the uniforms for them.
You’ll be able to see them coming for miles. By then you’ll already have some hay balls covered in gasoline, lit on fire, and up in the air out the trebuchet.
blatantblue on April 7, 2009 at 8:44 AM
O/T,
Anyone hear about the Canadian,who stole a Cessna 172,
from the airport at Thunder Bay,and made a mad dash
across the American border and was ascorted by 2 F-16
fighter jets!!
canopfor on April 7, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Greta reported this last night, but I havent heard any particulars.
becki51758 on April 7, 2009 at 8:49 AM
I am a bankruptcy attorney. I’m not the biggest around but I handle about 30 cases a month. I have been doing bankruptcies for 18 years and have handled thousands of cases. Not more than 1 of those 30 per month is principally as a result of medical bills. I do see those cases. I have some clients who owe hundreds of thousands in medical bills. They could not afford insurance, and insurance is very expensive. However, most cases, the vast majority, are as a result of poor planning. People spend what they can afford in the good times and when times go bad they find they can’t pay the money back. In other words what is needed is more personal responsibility, not more government.
Ted Torgerson on April 7, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Don’t forget:
* 50 million homeless children in the U.S.
* 90% of Mexico’s illegal guns come from the U.S.
* 47 million uninsured Americans.
All blatant lies. Half of those 47 million uninsured “Americans” are in fact not Americans at all — they’re illegal aliens. Less than 20% of Mexico’s illegal guns come from the U.S.; the majority come from Central and South American countries, the middle east, and China. And the “50 million homeless American children” counted children who were living with their grandparents or other relatives as “homeless.”
Obama tells these whoppers because he knows the MSM is too lazy and/or too in love with him to challenge his stats.
AZCoyote on April 7, 2009 at 8:52 AM
We are all broke. The 2 trillion dollar short term deficit increase means 95% of us are insolvent.
Obama placed thousands upon housands of debt on each household just for his personal pleasure and gain.
seven on April 7, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Speaking Austrian causes a bankruptcy a second.
Seriously, what exactly did this guy DO to get into Harvard and what did he do while “studying” there?
I could run an ad in the classified section and find a better President than this guy, in about 10 minutes.
NoDonkey on April 7, 2009 at 8:55 AM
That’s why I’m against gay marriage!
Seriously though, I’m guessing divorce and reckless credit card spending are the two big ones. Maybe the real culprit is the breakdown of values and personal responsibility? Spending a bunch of money you don’t have might be a bad idea in the long run, right Mr. Obama?
forest on April 7, 2009 at 8:55 AM
To those who criticize for using old (??? a month or two? sheesh) stuff from Ogabe, and not the new stuff: give him time. It’s out there. It’ll come.
As for Charles, I’m disappointed as well. I started getting bad feelings last year when the bannings for simple criticizing began. Kinda like the bad feelings I get on the goings on in the country right now. He went on his jihad…I don’t go there anymore, except to occasionally check the headlines. Can’t imagine how many people have left because he’s ticking them off, without being banned.
bikermailman on April 7, 2009 at 8:56 AM
I’ve been hearing a lot of names, but none that I can put my finger on at the moment. They will however be making appearances at the local tea parties.
doriangrey on April 7, 2009 at 8:57 AM
That is a very depressing thought, LGF was a shining beacon in the dark for quite a few years. Hopefully if what I am hearing is true Charles will come to his senses and regain his sense of direction.
doriangrey on April 7, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Meanwhile the New York Times brags about how 39% of the country believe we are going in the right direction, (up from 15%) and “20 percent now think the economy is getting better, compared with 7 percent in mid-January”
Now this is what I call confidence!
Rovin on April 7, 2009 at 9:03 AM
the NYT lies in print while bambi lies vocally.
kelley in virginia on April 7, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Divorce is a large contributor. Out of each divorce, the lawyers take a huge share on the front end which neither party have now that their overhead can double by reason of 2 residences.
Many bankruptcies come from a single mom and single dad having child support and dual expenses and they were never married. If they were and lived together, one could offset the loss of income of the other. With layoffs, many moms will find interuption in child support. (again many of these were never married)
seven on April 7, 2009 at 9:06 AM
doriangrey on April 7, 2009 at 9:01 AM
I can hope as well, but I don’t give it much chance. He comes from the left, was a ’9/11 conservative’, like many. Again, like many, as the eviiiile Boooosh kept us safe, he trended back to his roots. He’s publicly attacked not just the neo-Nazis (good move) coming to power in Europe, but some of the good sites there too. He’s even gone after Robert Spencer for being one of them.
bikermailman on April 7, 2009 at 9:10 AM
Obama’s error is the result of the underemphasis of simple arithmetic education in the Indonesian school system and his being an inveterate liar, but mostly his being an inveterate liar.
Dusty on April 7, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Okay, but…Obama said this on February 24, 2009, and we’re only figuring this out now?
Maybe Obama’s assumption is not that off the mark!
By the way, does this mean that the Euro-Obamamateurisms are over?
misslizzi on April 7, 2009 at 9:15 AM
So, Obama will come out with an anti-divorce law for the same reason, soon?
hawksruleva on April 7, 2009 at 9:21 AM
why would bambi be anti-divorce? surely he wants to get rid of michelle.
kelley in virginia on April 7, 2009 at 9:23 AM
is the Republican party doing anything?
my sign at the richmond tea party will read “dump Congress”. every damn one of them. (unless yall have a better sign).
kelley in virginia on April 7, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Don’t forget the 200,000 homeless veterans sleeping under bridges. Of course that was John Edwards so it may not count.
Oldnuke on April 7, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Dorian I hope you’re right, but I’m not going to be holding my breath. Boxer is almost a shoe in for reelection as is Pelosi. If either one of them get’s the boot I’ll reconsider my position on the existence of miracles.
Oldnuke on April 7, 2009 at 9:39 AM
OT possibly…… this’ll get the conspirators followers busy( with a rationale that will be hard to argue, I might add). It has been learned that the assassination story out of Saudi Arabia regarding Obama was a hoax…. well duh! Back on topic, then.
MNDavenotPC on April 7, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Statistics arrived at using binary math, perhaps?
oldleprechaun on April 7, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Jimmy Carter redux!
Johan Klaus on April 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM
That new “poll” of theirs has already been busted. Sampled 19 percent more Democrats than Republicans or Independents in order to get the result they wanted.
Del Dolemonte on April 7, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Actually, you could have a whole new daily installment:
“The Deception of the Day.”
.
My fav (so far): “I will cut the deficit in half.” heh.
dont taze me bro on April 7, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Lovin it, Ed. Please continue.
SKYFOX on April 7, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Funny, I still can’t find any book that will let me learn the Austrian language. Perhaps I should contact the White House.
SC.Charlie on April 7, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Sorta like the math Nancy Pelosi used to come up with 500,000 a month were losing their jobs.
GarandFan on April 7, 2009 at 11:02 AM
I call bullshit. Bankruptsies are a combination of the times (ie…unemployment) vs irresponsible borrowing and using credit cards too much. Yeah medical expenses can pretty much eat you, they are not the majority reason that people file bankruptcy.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on April 7, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Funny, I still can’t find any book that will let me learn the Austrian language. Perhaps I should contact the White House.
SC.Charlie on April 7, 2009 at 11:00 AM
What you mean Oostereich! Yes that is Austrian for their country.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on April 7, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Obambi needs to learn German.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on April 7, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Well, like Grandpa used to say: “Exaggeration is for the weak-minded and insecure”….I’d tell Grandpa if he were still here: For the idealogues hell bent on bankrupting this country as well.
RepubChica on April 7, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Maybe somebody should do some more math about the Porkulus bill, which spent $787 billion to provide 2.5 million jobs, according to its proponents.
Divide $787 billion by 2.5 million, and our generous Government is spending $314,800 per job, which according to Obama is the salary of a “rich” person that should be taxed more.
If the sheeple knew THAT figure from the MSM, they would be lining up in droves to get a big fat raise from the Gubmint.
Steve Z on April 7, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Great one Ed.
I’m no fan of Obama, but I’m not sure he misrepresented exactly. I think he doesn’t know of what he speaks. I think he is just as clueless as the Left made GWB out to be.
I think your “Obamateurism” is a most excellent description of our least accomplished President ever.
gemchick on April 7, 2009 at 11:29 AM
There were 20 million homeless on January 19, because of that EEEEEVIL greedy George Dubya Bush. By January 21, His Majesty Hussein the First had found mansions for all of them, with the help of Fannie and Fweddie and Bawney Fwank.
On January 21, 2013, they will all be sleeping under bridges newly repaired by Hussein the First.
/sarc
Steve Z on April 7, 2009 at 11:32 AM
TOTUS: “Hey ladies, my height extension is six feet long! Call me.”
Seven Percent Solution on April 7, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Every 30 seconds during normal government office business hours. Taking into consideration government holidays, weekends, other paid time off, FMLA, then BO’s calculation is probably accurate.
TexAz on April 7, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Obamath, Chapter 3.
BobMbx on April 7, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Allow me to finish it: “……right after I quadruple it; now I can say I cut the defict in half AND increased spending at the same time.”
Liberal logic produces liberal math.
BobMbx on April 7, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Just wonder how many bankruptcies are attributable to people who bought houses they could not afford. You know, the ones for whom the Community Investment Act was created? Yeah, THAT act, which was later put on steroids, thus sealing our economic doom (not to mention economic doom for our children and grandchildren).
Sweet_Thang on April 7, 2009 at 12:41 PM
ED:
“The amateur moment was in assuming that everyone was as bad at math as his White House.”
You just don’t get it. They do not give a fig for the facts. They say whatever will make the most impact at the time.
I saw someone from he administration being qustioned about a number that clearly could not be correct (For the same reason that you mention) and her comment was “well there are a lot of….. She smiled as she said it).
If you can get on Tv and lie to the American people (Well the world) and nobody corrects you immediately and everywhere – did you really lie (If a tree falls in a foresest, etc.)
davod on April 7, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Sweet_Thang on April 7, 2009 at 1:00 PM
NOTE: The CRA is still in effect, and there has been no legislation to reign it in.
Dasher on April 7, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Congress holds the purse strings; Bush made a similar faux pas in giving an early number, $100k, for tsunami relief. Obama should have learned from this that the commitment to help, and how we can do so, should be the focus.
Of course that might mean elevating the military he’s in the midst of cutting funding for.
Just as the tsunami relief effort was good PR, on top of being the right thing to do, so some help with search and rescue could make the airbase Aviano more likely to stay welcome.
As far as money, Italy is a G8 economy, and has competent leadership. All the more reason to focus on how we can help, rather than on a meaningless dollar figure.
Alas, the Obama administration has failed to learn from others’ mistakes, and seem intent on adding their own.
raybury on April 7, 2009 at 2:25 PM
BobMbx on April 7, 2009 at 12:19 PM
.
B.I.N.G.O.
dont taze me bro on April 7, 2009 at 3:44 PM
BO is way off, about half of bankruptcies are because of a medical event about 75% of those people HAVE insurance. It isn’t the medical costs creating bankruptcy situations. It’s being out of work and having all the regular expenses of life that get people into trouble. I remember reading the study, I think it’s a harvard study… I found it referenced in a Health Affairs marketwatch article.
drewmesq on April 7, 2009 at 4:28 PM