Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on April 28, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
One might think that the financial collapse would encourage people to use some caution when choosing terms for their proposals. National Review notes that Barack Obama hasn’t quite figured that out, especially when discussing credit cards:
President Obama, flitting from crisis to crisis without ever quite managing to solve one, has alighted upon credit cards. He summoned a dozen credit-card executives to Washington and dressed them down. Finding credit-card statements difficult to read, Obama proposes to put the wordsmiths of the federal government in charge of reforming them. He also proposes to manage interest rates and fees, the size of the type on bills, the content of card issuers’ websites, and the ease of comparison-shopping among competing cards. As the commercial says, there’s a card that’s right for you — and the president believes he knows which it is: “Every credit-card issuer has to issue a plain-vanilla, easy-to-understand, simplest-possible credit card that would be the default credit card that the average user can feel comfortable with.” Default may be a poor word choice in the context of credit, but the message is clear: You yahoos are going to eat your plain vanilla, and you’re going to like it.
A default credit card? How appropriate, given Obama’s demand for fiscal control after launching a spending spree that will run trillion-dollar deficits for the next decade. You’d have to have a default credit card to handle that kind of irresponsibility. Maybe Obama would be better off without a credit card at all.
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.
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ed, this is certainly an obamateurism. but it sure doesn’t beat yesterday’s totally embarrassing screw up with the TOTUS.
kelley in virginia on April 28, 2009 at 8:08 AM
and i enjoyed hearing about his comment to harry reid “i have a gift”.
kelley in virginia on April 28, 2009 at 8:09 AM
This is what happens when you give a headstrong but extremely naive child the bottomless checkbook.
rockbend on April 28, 2009 at 8:11 AM
Yes, the 9/11-esque flyover takes the cake.
You know things are bad when you have appalling choices for the dumbest every time you do this, though.
PBoilermaker on April 28, 2009 at 8:11 AM
In other new, the US Treasury is trying to find someone to loan them 500 billion dollars a year to fund Obama’s spending habits. So far they have no offers. Perhaps they can get a plain vanilla credit card and charge it???
doriangrey on April 28, 2009 at 8:11 AM
I think we’re going to need an Obamateurism of the Hour, soon. It’s only Tuesday and already Ed’s got a week’s worth of material.
JimK on April 28, 2009 at 8:12 AM
I thought putting all of NYC into a panic via that ill advised fly by should have been the obamateur of the day.
MarkTheGreat on April 28, 2009 at 8:12 AM
I suspect that Obama’s popularity in New York City is in the double digit negatives today.
doriangrey on April 28, 2009 at 8:14 AM
Ed’s probably saving that one for Obamateurism of the Year. It’s gonna be tough even for Obama to beat that one.
doriangrey on April 28, 2009 at 8:15 AM
Sadly, I doubt it. Much like an abused wife, NY libs always go back to Obama because they love him.
PBoilermaker on April 28, 2009 at 8:16 AM
sh*t: do you think New Yorkers aren’t loving bambi? and his ilk?
kelley in virginia on April 28, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Barry, my ‘default’ card is not needed and you can send it to one of your ACORN buddies.
I took the immature approach to credit cards, I cut them up. My wallet contains a debit card and those old fashioned currency thingys. Two years now at 0% interest has saved me a bundle.
Sincerely,
Limerick on April 28, 2009 at 8:18 AM
so when will the federal gov’t send me my credit card? I assume that they’ll be covering the payments for me as well. Happy day!
gatorboy on April 28, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Human nature is to get pissed as hell at someone who scars the crap out of you, nobody get’s more pissed off than scared liberals.
doriangrey on April 28, 2009 at 8:19 AM
How quaint. An irresponsible president pushing credit cards on an irresponsible populace.
PBoilermaker on April 28, 2009 at 8:20 AM
So,on top of Hopey/Changeys historical,the first President
ever to spend Trillion’s of dollars,and now Obama has the nerve to ask for a credit card!!
Nuts I say!
—————————————
Yesterday on Rush,just before 2,a caller called in,he owns
a business,and is behind in his mortgage,doesn’t want to
cut his staff,so he took a pay cut!
He called Obama’s Government help program,and this lawyer
firm will speak on your behalf,this firm will check you out,
but it will cost around $2,000.00!
He recieved a call from the firm,and they can’t help,so now
this business owner is out $2,000.00 bucks!!
If the caller is on the up and up,then the horror stories
are out there about all his hope and change hype that is
helping no one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
canopfor on April 28, 2009 at 8:21 AM
And BO’s slimy socialist tentacles capture yet another sector of American private business.
boomer on April 28, 2009 at 8:21 AM
I know…instead of making credit card agreements easier to read, why not teach kids about credit card terms, interest rates & basic personal finance management in school?? Or would that cut in to their put-the-condom-on-a-banana studies?
Cheesestick on April 28, 2009 at 8:24 AM
In Obama’s Amerika, credit card charges you.
PBoilermaker on April 28, 2009 at 8:27 AM
Didn’t FEMA pass out credit cards during Katrina,maybe Hopey is angling at the Flu Crisis,and maybe that way he
could pass them out,and gain more Liberal voters,or keep
them!!(Sarc).
canopfor on April 28, 2009 at 8:28 AM
oh no. Janet Napolitano is in charge of FEMA. & Sebelius is being confirmed today (right?) as HHS.
kelley in virginia on April 28, 2009 at 8:29 AM
It’s not his fault. Capitalism happened before he was born.
Stop beating up the President. He has come to save us from default. That’s what he means. You cons are too thick to comprehend the complexities of a free market in the 21st century.
I need another credit card to help jump start my income, one that is easier to understand. The problem isn’t that I’ve used credit cards to spend. It’s that I haven’t spent enough.
*goes back to reading People magazine*
Saltysam on April 28, 2009 at 8:29 AM
I guess this means that when you believe you are the smartest human being on the planet, it automatically means that you can apply that brilliance to every single industry, broken and unbroken, to fix all of it.
Gosh, how did we ever make it this far without him in charge?
We should just fall on our knees and cry holy……..
JeffinOrlando on April 28, 2009 at 8:30 AM
They already have someone to take it from, it’s called the taxpayer! lol
dorian!
rightside on April 28, 2009 at 8:31 AM
I’m having a little trouble with the term “vanilla.”
misslizzi on April 28, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Good morning rightside… ;)
doriangrey on April 28, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Question of the Day….
How many of you monitor and keep in contact with your Senators and Representatives in Washington and your State Capitol?
shomegirl on April 28, 2009 at 8:33 AM
I don’t get the screaming about (yes) outrageous credit card interest rates. Running up debt on a credit card is the last resort for people who can’t get credit any other* way but want to spend more than they earn. There’s a simple solution – if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it!
ProfessorMiao on April 28, 2009 at 8:34 AM
I think Ed realizes that The One-Won is only in the pre-season run up.
All of these gaffs/screw-ups/face-plants will just seem like practice when the regular season opens in the White House.
Tickets are still available for the good seats to the really big show.
Yoop on April 28, 2009 at 8:34 AM
“President Obama, flitting from crisis to crisis without ever quite managing to solve one, has alighted upon credit cards.”
That made me chuckle. Clever.
KS Rex on April 28, 2009 at 8:35 AM
As Kudlow noted the other day, Geithner (the Fox) is guarding the hen house. What could go wrong?
http://kudlow.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NGY4Y2JjNTBiNmMwNjQxNjYwZWJhMGFkZThjOGE5MzE=
It appears that President Government’s constituency has fundamental difficulty in reading and life skills. They cannot read mortgage agreements, and now they cannot understand credit card agreements/statements.
Maybe the federal government should simplify the tax code instead. No, wait. The folks Obama is trying to mollycoddle don’t pay taxes anyway. Besides, in Obama’s skill set of economics, the simplified code would only have two lines: what are you worth and send it to the IRS (Obama administration exempt).
onlineanalyst on April 28, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Answer: I’ve e-mailed and phoned my Congressman so many times he and I are on a first name basis.
doriangrey on April 28, 2009 at 8:36 AM
LMAO!! The real reason is they need a loophole for all Obama’s deadbeat nominees.
ProfessorMiao on April 28, 2009 at 8:37 AM
to the “question of the day”: i bother the be-devil out of my congressman & senators (all dems). they do nothing i ask.
my state senator & delegate are both republicans. we are on first name basis. they call me back.
i’m going to the state republican convention in late may.
kelley in virginia on April 28, 2009 at 8:41 AM
Let’s see:
1) dressing down company executives
2) having government bureaucrats rewrite the statements
3) govenment management of interest rates and fees, the
size of the type on bills, the content of card issuers’ websites, and the ease of comparison-shopping among competing cards.
4) requiring credit card companies to issue “simplest-possible credit card”
Just don’t dare call it fascism.
rbj on April 28, 2009 at 8:41 AM
I prefer plain chocolate myself.
Does this new credit card come with a tire guage premium?
onlineanalyst on April 28, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Are we heading towards the “I didn’t understand the fine print” defense. This is ridiculous. Credit is a privelege. It requires responsibility. If you can’t handle it, use cash.
sherry on April 28, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Gotta agree completely.
eforhan on April 28, 2009 at 8:42 AM
isn’t “vanilla” racist?
kelley in virginia on April 28, 2009 at 8:42 AM
but the “fine print” defense may be recognizable for bambi, but its not recognized by the courts.
kelley in virginia on April 28, 2009 at 8:43 AM
“We were informed after we cleared out of there,” Leitner said. “I kind of think heads should roll a little bit on that.”*
emphasis added…
doriangrey on April 28, 2009 at 8:44 AM
What? You expect people to learn how to manage their own finances and exercise personal responsibility for their own choices?
Don’t be silly. It’s the government’s job to tell us all how to live. We can’t be trusted to manage our own affairs.
Government Knows Best.
AZCoyote on April 28, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Don’t ask; don’t tell.
onlineanalyst on April 28, 2009 at 8:44 AM
May I suggest this for the First 100 Days party banner?
Dee2008 on April 28, 2009 at 8:44 AM
100 days and what do you get?~~~ A President by default. And I hear the teleprompter repairmen were in “default” mode yesterday. Credit extention is what has put this nation in trouble throughout our history, but Democrats, don’t get it. California is currently attempting to balance their $42 billion budget gap by borrowing future lottery money. Proposition 1C, which allows the state to borrow up to $5 billion against future lottery revenue. Can this nation get any dumber by default?
Rovin on April 28, 2009 at 8:45 AM
No, just a tire gauge attachment…
doriangrey on April 28, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Sadly I suspect the answer to that is a resounding yes…
doriangrey on April 28, 2009 at 8:47 AM
kelley in virginia on April 28, 2009 at 8:08 AM
Agreed… This President can’t function without a teleprompter. Every time the Teleprompter screws up, Obama jumps right into the mistake, seemingly without knowing he has entered into troubled waters. This man can’t think on his feet.
Yesterday was rich for Obama, with the fly-by and all.
Keemo on April 28, 2009 at 8:48 AM
It’s amazing (but not really surprising) that O keeps sticking his inexperienced nose into more & more industries. How these execs keep from rolling their eyes in these hearings and pow-wows is beyond me.
Besides, I thought there were already gov’t regs about how credit card offers & statements are worded? Gov’t “wordsmith” intervention on nutrition labels was actually a good thing, IMHO, but how much further can the credit documents be tweaked?
KS Rex on April 28, 2009 at 8:52 AM
The Perpetual Campaign ensuring an expansion of the Credit Card Campaign Cash Cornucopia.
hillbillyjim on April 28, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Nailed it. Look beyond the humor here, and you will discover a profound truth.
Saltysam on April 28, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Why is it,that with 8 years of President Bush,aside from
Iraq Freedom,everthing was tickty-boo,
but,with Obama,and just like the Clinton Administration,
there seems to be a NeverEnding Crisis’s!
canopfor on April 28, 2009 at 8:53 AM
You might as well pick the Obmateurism of the Week right now. No way he can top the stunt he pulled yesterday with Air Force One over Manhattan.
gridlock2 on April 28, 2009 at 8:55 AM
I’m surprised we haven’t already seen the government-issued ObamaCard, which tracks all your purchases and, for each $25 charged, automatically contributes $5 to the DNC.
BigD on April 28, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Oh it will indeed be difficult to top, but then again Obama is a messiah and messiah’s are miracle workers, so….
doriangrey on April 28, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Being in a permanent crisis mode keeps the people off balance and less aware of what is really going on behind the curtain. Thus the scenario you are observing: if a crisis doesn’t exist then invent/cause one.
Yoop on April 28, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Have you seen what the geniuses over at FDA have done to nutrition labeling? It is like they went on a crusade to eliminate accuracy and precision of language. Replacing “Nutrition Information” with “Nutrition Facts”, which is an incorrect characterization of the information presented, replacing the “Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)” with a “Daily Value”, without any characterization of what that value means. Add in footnotes and references to documents that nobody has ever read, and you have a label full of gobbledygook.
It’s a small thing, I know… But when the government steps in to “improve” the language and make something clearer, the result is always anything but.
gridlock2 on April 28, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Pretty soon we’ll all be asking each other what’s in your wallet.
Brat4life on April 28, 2009 at 9:02 AM
The worse things goes , the more stuff he will try to regulate and witch hunt. Just look at GM and AIG .
the_nile on April 28, 2009 at 9:03 AM
This credit card policy coming from someone who is used to living high on the hog is amazing. He’s lecturing us about credit cards when he mortgaged himself to the hilt in Chicago and is now living the high life on our dime. How much is he spending on prompters anyway and does he get travel points?
Kissmygrits on April 28, 2009 at 9:05 AM
He’ll find new ways to surprise us , no doubt.
the_nile on April 28, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Hey Ed,
How about doing a poll each month with the previous 4 winners of the OftW to get the OotM?
darwin-t on April 28, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Someday he’s gonna take over the firearms industry, and force a “default” weapon on it that only shoots blanks.
Akzed on April 28, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Democrats seem to think that access to credit is a right, not a privilege. Dems seem to also think that it is their right to RULE over us, not a privilege to SERVE us.
southsideironworks on April 28, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Heh, maybe they’ll make it as clear as the tax code.
Keith_Indy on April 28, 2009 at 9:20 AM
This would be a great conservative commercial: A man opening his wallet while moths are flying out and the caption reads—”what did you expect from your government–a credit card?”
Rovin on April 28, 2009 at 9:31 AM
TOTUS is in the lead.
This just shows that he has never in his life viewed a credit card bill. What did you expect.
tarpon on April 28, 2009 at 9:37 AM
He has no credit with me…
Branch Rickey on April 28, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Mr. President, which socks should I wear today?
mikeyboss on April 28, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Good grief, why didn’t these companies tell him in no uncertain terms that credit card statements- and the other facets of their business for that matter- are none of his business?
He’s never held down any kind of real job and he thinks he can tell major companies and how to run their own businesses?
It’s incredible.
Jay Mac on April 28, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Perhaps because they don’t want to be ‘nationalized’ and have Timmy Geithner telling them how much they can pay their executives?
ProfessorMiao on April 28, 2009 at 10:06 AM
More populist rhetoric from an empty suit. We already have plain vanilla credit cards Obama. Something you havent heard of called pre-loaded or prepaid credit cards. How about the pay as you go credit cards such as amex where you charge during the month and are required to pay the balance in full by the end of the statement date. So lets be real about what this was,more control over the banking system,and more campaigning for future votes.
canditaylor68 on April 28, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Right, because IRS tax forms and Congressional bills are soooooooooooooo easy to decipher.
Idiot. He really is freaking stupid, isn’t he?
crazy_legs on April 28, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Translation – the average American is uninformed, stupid, and ignorant, and requires Me in My Greatness to look after their every need.
(Alternate translation – yet another way for My Party to rule the World.)
While I don’t disagree that credit card statements (like most financial documents) are ugly bearish things to read, that’s our fault for allowing the companies to provide such Crap. And I still do manage to read/comprehend the damn things. (Translation – if they’re over your head, don’t get into the water!)
It does NOT mean we need a dictator, benevolent or otherwise.
chautauqua on April 28, 2009 at 10:11 AM
apparently Obama’s “gift” wasn’t enough to keep Larry Summers awake while giving us his brilliance.
stormin1961 on April 28, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I used to laugh at these quips. Lately, Obama’s moved so fast, so aggressively, so completely without regard to the opinion of half of America, that I’m not able to laugh. He might actually dictate ‘class’ uniforms, as part of his volunteer group plans. Or something.
Out.Of.Control.
chautauqua on April 28, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Call me ‘stuck on stupid’, but “vanilla” jumped out at me, too. I wonder how it went over with a bunch of white guys in suits. Why are they so afraid to stand up to this? They can either tell the Prez to shove it and take their medicine now or play along and take their medicine later.
And I would contact my Rep except his staffers laugh at me when I call and my Senators are Kennedy and Kerry. One is “almost” brain dead, the other is just happy to not have to spend all his time at home with the wife. My suggestion is call your cc company – if you have one – and tell them if they play ball, you’re closing all accounts. Credit is a privilege and if you were stupid enough to abuse it and are now being held accountable, your problem. You cannot have your cake (after your dinner after your mall shopping extravaganza) and eat it too.
gopmom on April 28, 2009 at 10:21 AM
–SICK & TIRED–
———-of———-
HOPE & CHANGE
hillbillyjim on April 28, 2009 at 10:24 AM
When did having a credit card become enshrined in the Constitution?
I guess cash just isn’t good enough anymore.
To all the Obamatrons out there…nine essential rules about credit cards:
[I've learned these from personal experience over a period of 40 years. My ex never learned a one of them. ;-) ]
1. If you have to ask the price of something, you probably can’t afford it.
2. If you can’t afford it, then do not buy it.
3. Getting “10% off” your first month’s purchases usually means you will pay 70%-120% (or more) over the time it takes to pay off those purchases making the minimal monthly payments.
4. Consider a debit card. Lower interest rates…as in none. Takes it right out of your bank account.
5. If you see something you really need/wish to purchase. Go home. If your life hasn’t changed for the worse, and really bad, too, after 72 hours…then what you thought you needed, you didn’t really need at all.
6. Understand “wants” and “needs.” You need to breathe. You want a new bicycle.
7. Never ever respond to a credit card offer you get in the mail. Never. Ever. Do not do it.
8. If you do not know what “credit” or “creditworthiness” means…do not even consider ever getting a credit card.
9. And when it comes to money…if a President or Congress tells you they have a better idea to save you money…or make you money…or invest your money…vote the bastards out of office at the first opportunity.
coldwarrior on April 28, 2009 at 10:40 AM
What a great idea. They could get the guy who writes the tax forms to make templates for credit card statements. Brilliant!
29Victor on April 28, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Uhhhhh, Barry, isn’t the average user feeling too comfortable with credit cards, interest only ARMs, etc., a big part of why we’re here today?
And your idea is to force the no interest, no penalties, no limit, Uncle Sugar Plain Vanilla Card.
Gotta admit, you got a “gift.”
Christien on April 28, 2009 at 10:55 AM
What a complete boob. This guy has no idea of the scope of his job. He’s way, way, out of his depth, and is floundering badly.
mr.blacksheep on April 28, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Moths
onlineanalyst on April 28, 2009 at 11:52 AM
This “obamateurism” feature is SOOOOOOO stupid. 99% of these aren’t even noteworthy in light of the Moron-in-Chief of the last 8 years. LOL @ you, Hotair.
Why do you all hate America?
Constant Parrhesia on April 28, 2009 at 11:53 AM
FIFY
Never say never…it can always get worse.
bikermailman on April 28, 2009 at 11:58 AM
getalife is back…in a new incarnation. ^^^^^^^
onlineanalyst on April 28, 2009 at 11:59 AM
It’s like a high speed jet ski going from wave top to wave top….from one crisis to another without fixing a thing. He is now riding high on the crests.. In the troughs of those waves is the putrid garbage he will soon have to deal with. Have patience friends, the conjured financial/housing problems and this manufactured health crisis will be overtaken by a real crisis and his jet ski will slow and he will fall into those troughs where he will have to deal with the sewage that he has created.
PaCadle on April 28, 2009 at 7:34 PM