Obama uses WH press corps as threat against Chrysler investors; Update: Tapper reports, WH denies
posted at 11:15 am on May 2, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
An attorney representing several Chrysler bondholders accused the Obama administration of intimidating his clients by issuing threats of public humiliation if they opposed their brokered deal to resolve the automaker’s debts. Speaking to WJR, Thomas Lauria said that the White House called the bondholders “vultures” for insisting on their rights as senior creditors and told them that the Obama administration would use the White House press corps to attack them in the media. Corky Boyd has the transcript (also via HA reader Geoff A):
Lauria: Let me tell you it’s no fun standing on this side of the fence opposing the President of the United States. In fact, let me just say, people have asked me who I represent. That’s a moving target. I can tell you for sure that I represent one less investor today than I represented yesterday. One of my clients was directly threatened by the White House and in essence compelled to withdraw its opposition to the deal under the threat that the full force of the White House Press Corps would destroy its reputation if it continued to fight. That’s how hard it is to stand on this side of the fence.
Beckman: Was that Perella Weinberg?
Lauria: That was Perella Weinberg.
Glenn Reynolds wonders how the White House press corps will feel about being used as an arm of the administration to beat its opposition into submission. My guess? Enchanted, with just a couple of exceptions. He also wonders whether they will show the slightest inclination to ask about these allegations. So far, it looks like the Sounds of Silence on the WHPC dial rather than We’re Not Gonna Take It.
Bear in mind that this is one attorney operating in his client’s interest, and attorneys do like to make media waves by fighting cases on the evening news and the front page before they fight them in court. However, the WHPC should be asking whether they’re getting played by the Obama administration — and consider the strong possibility that they’ve allowed themselves to be put in that position.
Update: Jake Tapper reports the allegations and wants an answer from the White House:
A leading bankruptcy attorney representing hedge funds and money managers told ABC News Saturday that Steve Rattner, the leader of the Obama administration’s Auto Industry Task Force, threatened one of the firms, an investment bank, that if it continued to oppose the administration’s Chrysler bankruptcy plan, the White House would use the White House press corps to destroy its reputation.
Thomas Lauria, Global Practice Head of the Financial Restructuring and Insolvency Group at White & Case, told ABC News that Rattner suggested to an official of the boutique investment bank Perella Weinberg Partners that officials of the Obama White House would embarrass the firm for opposing the Obama administration plan, which President Obama announced Thursday, and which requires creditors to accept roughly 29 cents on the dollar for an estimated $6.8 billion owed by Chrysler.
Lauria first told the story, without naming Rattner, to Frank Beckmann on Detroit’s WJR-AM radio.
The White House now denies the allegations, claiming that there’s no evidence of it (via Geoff A):
The White House said the story was false.
“The charge is completely untrue,” said White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton, “and there’s obviously no evidence to suggest that this happened in any way.”
No evidence? What about Lauria’s personal testimony?
Meanwhile, Tommy Christopher — who actually reports from the White House — dismisses the charge:
As far as the “threat” Lauria alleges, it sounds an awful lot like someone told his client that public opinion would not likely be favorable to people who would obstruct a fair deal to save Chrysler. That’s not a threat, it is a reality. It’s no more a “threat” than John McCain’s campaign promise to make earmarkers “famous.”
Apples and oranges. McCain threatened to make public officials “famous” for wasting taxpayer money. The Obama administration allegedly threatened to use the WHPC to destroy the reputations of private citizens as a punishment for not relinquishing their contractual rights for having helped float Chrysler. There’s a huge difference between the two.
Blowback
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This bum is outright treasonous. Check out the Congressional & Presidential action on Palestinian immigrants!
http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-04-E9-2488
Cybergeezer on May 3, 2009 at 9:10 AM
I am disappointed that this isn’t getting much play in the news. Maybe it’s just too early. You know how the media likes to verify stuff. /sarc on last line.
Cindy Munford on May 3, 2009 at 9:11 AM
The only way to stop this thug is to stand up to him and resist everything he tries to do.
BottomLine5 on May 3, 2009 at 9:13 AM
The Chicago way!
FireBlogger on May 3, 2009 at 9:16 AM
I hope that those being affected by this were Obama voters. You know that a bunch of stupid-rich voted for The Muslim, and now they’re feeling the effects of their bad judgement. Then there are the so-called Obamacans and their moronic Liberal offspring.
I know that a lot of innocent people who didn’t vote for The Muslim are being affected, too. They are political collateral damage. But the ones who really need to feel the damaging effects of Obama are those who voted for him.
Obama is just a POS Chicago hack who duped a lot of dupables into unleashing his horrendous policies. He’s simply an animal that does what it does. The problem is the people who put him in power–not Soros, Pelosi, or Reid, but the well-intentioned dupes who are now scratching their heads. The 69% of Catholics who think he’s doing a good job; the idiots who are deciding to become community organizers because there is some cachet in doing something that will one day be characterized as misspent youth; the African-Americans who slavishly chase after the pennies from Liberalism, instead of earning their own dollars; the hordes of idiot high school graduates steeped in the useless knowledge from leftie teachers who couldn’t get a job elsewhere.
All of you need to feel the full effect of releasing The Muslim into our shining city on the hill.
EMD on May 3, 2009 at 9:30 AM
Welcome to HotAir, Sec of State Clinton!
peacenprosperity on May 3, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Private citizenship will be over soon. We will have the two options of being a slave to the state, or an enemy of the state.
When that time comes, I will choose the latter.
That’s right Janet, I said it. One more veteran that you will have to take a harder look at.
JeffinOrlando on May 3, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Frank Marshall Davis, the bisexual dad mentioned as father in his book taught him communism and using unions when he was a lad in Hawaaii.
read about him and it will explain what we observe.
seven on May 3, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Is that anymore treasonous than Bush quietly helping and allowing the Bin Laden family members leave the states on 911? While American airspace was closed?
9:11am UK, Wednesday September 03, 2003
Members of Osama bin Laden’s family were allowed to fly out of the US shortly after the September 11 terror attacks, a senior official has said.
180 osama bin laden H&S
‘Bush government sanctioned bin Laden family repatriation’
Even though American airspace had been shut down, the Bush administration alloweda jet to fly around the US picking up family members from 10 cities, including Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston and Houston.
Some 140 high ranking Saudi officials were also on the plane.
The revelations come from former White House counter-terrorism chief Richard Clarke.
He said the Bush administration sanctioned the repatriation of the family in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.
Bush was downright treasonous as well, I think we all can agree on that.
True_King on May 3, 2009 at 9:51 AM
How many of these people are feeling the same way as you? The state has to be concerned. GOOD!!!
“USA Buys Enough Guns in 3 Months to Outfit the Entire Chinese and Indian Army
Law abiding US citizens bought on average 3,177,256 guns every 3 months in 2008.”
“EveryTown, USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- In just 3 months Americans bought enough guns to outfit the entire Chinese and Indian army’s combined.”
“You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.” – Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto WWII
“You also bought 1,529,635,000 rounds of ammunition in just the month of December 2008. Yeah that is right, that is Billion with a “B”. This number takes no accounting of reloading or reloaded ammunition.”
Yoop on May 3, 2009 at 9:58 AM
OK, I know this is vague, but can the GOP explore hiring attorneys to investigate the legalities of the GE/MSNBC/Obama connection. They are clearly conspiring in a pay for propaganda scheme. You know there are internal emails about this. It can’t be legal, right?
marklmail on May 3, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Another “Obama is a Muslim” fanatic up there?
blatantblue on May 3, 2009 at 10:16 AM
True king, the national flight ban was eased on September 13th.
And Clarke was the highest official that dealt with that decision.
Alex Jones is a dangerous man.
blatantblue on May 3, 2009 at 10:22 AM
CNN laughingly called all the love Obama gets from the networks pressure. (as you many know he has received 4x the coverage as Bush and 2x as much as Clinton). The fact is the media continues to be his lapdog and cheerleader. This is truly becoming silly.
Jamson64 on May 3, 2009 at 10:22 AM
The Leftie trolls offer such a weak defense of their Master. They ought to go work for the new and improved Pentagon, or the CIA. The only possible advantage that I can see to the Islamofascists going nuclear is that they will wipe out a lot of libs when they nuke NYC. Honestly, red staters would inwardly breathe a sigh of relief as we nuke the crap out of Iran.
EMD on May 3, 2009 at 10:22 AM
You’re a sick person.
blatantblue on May 3, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I wish that guy had been wearing a wire so we had the threat on tape. That would be sweet.
It’s nice to see the lack of Trolls around here. Have secret Ban Hammers been dropped? Or they just can’t defend Obama in all of these situations?
kingsjester on May 3, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Thoroughly debunked by 9/11 Commission.
It wouldn’t meet the definition of “treason” in any case.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Word
blatantblue on May 3, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Thugger and his cronies in the WHPC can pressure, threaten, twist, and screw over all the bond holders and peripheral resisters all they want. Go for it, knuckleheads. Have a grand time.
It will all go for naught due to one simple reality that few are discussing:
Disgust and anger felt by many toward Thugger and his tactics will fall upon GM and Chrysler, which will translate into many, many would-be buyers taking great pleasure in not buying a vehicle from either company.
Hey, UAW and your new toy, Chrysler… suck on that.
Dion on May 3, 2009 at 11:17 AM
It might just be treason in the new Republic of Texas to talk about Bush that way. Just kidding.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 11:28 AM
The UAW will really have a big problem now. In the past the management made the choices about what cars their were going to make. The UAW just bolts the pieces together. Even Mercedes could not get Chrysler going. If the UAW will now be in charge it will be real interesting to see what they come up with. The government will also be mandating new standards that will be impossible to meet. The UAW at Chrysler will probably get a pass on those standards so it will be “fair” for them to compete again. Guess what? The rest of the auto industry – (foreign care makers) will be held to the strict standards, making them less competitive. But remember – it’a all about fairness. The result will be foreign car markers selling US plants and leaving workers to either join the UAW or take a hike. The only way to stop this is to derail the Obama express, a daunting task but not impossible.
izoneguy on May 3, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Do not really understand this. Apparently the UAW pension funds and employees stock options were not secured? Surely I must have this wrong? I thought the almighty gov decreed that pension funds had to be a separate entity. Perhaps someone can make this clear? Also, the hedge and designer funds will not be scared of ‘demonization’. Their game is to make money for their investors and if successful, no amount of negative publicity can discourage investors who can afford these funds. I fully expect they will fight to the end if necessary since their survival depends on it.
jeanie on May 3, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Thank you for the response.
N4646W on May 3, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I just love this picture.
Bambi, you got a pretty mouth.
OkieDoc on May 3, 2009 at 12:05 PM
What are you basing this wild speculation on? I don’t see Obama exempting Chrysler (or G.M.) from his green mandates, or the mandates decreed by Congressional Motors.
Chrysler is a drop in the bucket compared to GM anyway. If (hypothetically) Chrysler was given exemptions then GM would receive them also.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 12:11 PM
I agree, In Obama’s twisted mind he thinks he’s going to be able to manufacture these “green” vehicles and the masses are going to buy them up. I’m sure when people bring it up to him that nobody is going to buy a 1.2 liter shitbox he dismisses it with his condescending grin thinking how stupid that guy is. When the reality is, it’s he and his government auto building team that are absolutely blind to their own folly.
lowandslow on May 3, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Could it be that some of them just might have a retirement fund or two that is tied up in these bonds?
When there is a personal involvement in an Obama decision to redistribute some specific wealth things may become a “Ya-but-that’s-different” moment. I would imagine that there are liberals that suddenly lose the spin cycle when they are about to get laundered.
Hence, no spin, no troll. :-)
Yoop on May 3, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Jake Tapper, the only honest journalist in DC.
JohnBissell on May 3, 2009 at 12:42 PM
What does John McCain have to do with this? You know you’ve got them in a lie when they bring out what John McCain said last year. Pathetic.
moonsbreath on May 3, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Now synonymous with Chicago Thugs.
Zorro on May 3, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Lib radio hostess Wendy Skinner(?)was just on FNC bragging about how her listeners agree that the senior creditors are “vultures” and it’s all their fault that the Chrysler ‘deal’ fell through – which merely proves that her listeners are ignorant sheep.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Did you notice the way she leaned hard on the bankruptcy judge, saying that the whole economy was in his hands? The left likes these strong-arm tactics and are going to be using them for every single thing now. They like the thuggish way their Precedent acts and they are all-in on it.
This country will not be safe until these people are held to account, which means that The Precedent must be prosecuted for treason and a huge part of the left need to be jailed. These people are savages who do not merit the benefits of modern society and are destructive to everything decent they come into contact with.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 1:52 PM
They are the arm of the goverment that protects us from threats outside our country. Obama is doing all he can to reduce that ability. In his speech he clearly says that it is the FBI, the goverment organization that investigates and pursues threat within our country, that will be the force to protect us from terroist, which has been clearly stated to include law abiding citizens that oppose his polices, actions, refuse to give up their personal beliefs, and interfer with his desire to create a socilist state that replaces the constitutional republic.
Franklyn on May 3, 2009 at 2:08 PM
This was always the threat hanging over dissenters from the Democrat orthodoxy. Forget the FBI files, a lawyer can get you out of most of that. But the media is unaccountable, can slur you on Page One, then hide behind the First Amendment until weeks later putting a correction on page E-17 (When there was such a thing. They are not that thick anymore.) The complicity of a sympathetic media was always available to those who believed a certain way. And it seems like it boils down to abortion. Toe the line on the slaughter of innocents and the media will at least give you the benefit of the doubt, even on the right.
But these implied threats were never executed with this much ineptitude. Will open thuggery fly in the US? Remains to be seen. Maybe Obama is a blessing in disguise; his blundering, incompetent, class-free and overwhelmingly bad faith administration may help expose the MSM for what it is and has been since FDR — a bunch of tools.
curved space on May 3, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Based on the wild hunch that Barry is the pure Marxist he is turning out to be.
If Bush was not so naive we would be parting out the Chrysler plants by now.
You think Barry will let his new pet car company die now? If Chrysler is under the thugs wing now then you can bet your ass they will get “special” treatment.
izoneguy on May 3, 2009 at 2:59 PM
I’m waiting to see how this is “incentivized.”
Otis B on May 3, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Apparently all o has to do is mention something and the lib press runs with it. Can only repeat that the big funds will not care what the public thinks. They stand to lose little since their investors have other priorities. Even if they lost a few lib investors, if they are making money others will quickly take their place. I suppose obama ,in his Stalin like approach to having his own way, will have the fund managers demonized if possible. Again, only the general public who simply do not have the cash to buy into these funds will fret and fume. Wealthy investors will take note that the funds looked out for THEM. In the end though, O will most probably have to compromise as will the bond holders. This is a very dangerous WH. I am right tired of hearing about his good intentions. Do y’all think he chuckles himself to sleep at night thinking how he’s pulled the wool over the eyes of all the stupes out here in the USA?
jeanie on May 3, 2009 at 3:06 PM
First paragraph: Yes, she did lean on the bankruptcy judge.
Second paragraph: Waaaaaay over the top. What specific charges do you have in mind, not just for Obama, but for the “huge part of the Left who need to be jailed”?
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Oh God, Please let there be a recording of this threat! Please. If so, please let there be some courageous sole willing to publish it.
SoldiersMom on May 3, 2009 at 3:10 PM
The charges against The Precedent are many, and pretty straight-forward. I’d have to go through a history of his daily actions, but I’ll compile a specific list, eventually. Releasing the CIA memos is clear treason, to me – just to name one instance. It was designed to aid the enemies of America, and nothing else.
As to the lefty scum, they should be dealt with in the same manner that communists were treated in the 50′s, though much more harshly, since they have done so much damage to our nation. They also need to be treated to a healthy dose of street justice.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 3:21 PM
crossed post -
The ‘environment’ (and destroying capitalism through punitive mandates) is a pet cause of Marxists and Obama, so that makes no sense. As for “special treatment” it is the unions who were getting it. Chrysler and the Unions are not the same entity. Chrysler is at fault for not going into Chapter 11 months ago. Although it probably didn’t occur to them that Barack had no respect at all for the rule of law.
A lot of retirement funds for groups like the teachers union were invested in those secured senior bonds so the little people are/were being hurt. And the bond holders had already compromised, giving up 50% of their position. It’s the U.A.W. who need to give up more (which an impartial judge could and hopefully will demand).
Bottom line: I think Barry played a game of chicken and lost.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Believe me, I loathe these people and think they are very poisonous, destructive influence, but they need to be defeated in the arena of ideas, and sounding like a KOS Kid is not how to do it. You can’t go around making wild suggestions that they be rounded up and thrown in jail and expect to be taken seriously.
As for “street justice” what are you going to do – take away their peace signs and their copies of the Communist Manifesto?
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Who is this Yoop person? I like him.
DFCtomm on May 3, 2009 at 3:42 PM
They don’t compete in the arena of ideas.
Huh?
Okay. This is the first US administration that set out to jail the last administration and its supporters. Do you understand the huge break with our traditions that has occurred? But, it’s just life as usual, by your estimate. Okey doke, there.
P.S. They all want to throw me in jail just for my thoughts. Hate-crime law is a bit more sinister and dangerous than you seem to think it is.
Street justice is all the left understands. It is their main weapon. Live by the sword, die by the sword. What the left did after prop 8 in California (just to cite one specific example for you) is what they need to be treated to, except 10 times as harsh, since they are the instigators and aggressors. Or what the Precedent organized for the AIG execs, but much, much harsher.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 4:00 PM
The left has sown the wind and they need to reap the whirlwind. That is fairness.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 3:23
I receive a teacher’s pension and, as I understand, it is separate from Union funds and is secured or insured if you’d rather by the state of issue along with state employees and pols. If the UAW, being a private entity,does not have these protections in place their pensions will be in jeopardy. I was also under the impression that retirement funds had to be kept separate from other union funds and managed by someone different, by law. I find it surprising that the UAW retirement funds would not be in the preferred creditors category. However, in my case if that particular state should go broke–I’m not sure what would happen.
jeanie on May 3, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Yes, I get it! And I am not naive about “hate crime laws” or whatever you seem to think I am clueless about.
But every leftist loon who is walking down the street is not part of the Obama administration, and you can’t just round people up and throw them in jail, no matter how despicable they are.
If, say, there are individuals who can be charged with breaking specific laws for their conduct in response to Prop 8, then they should be charged accordingly. Other than that all you can do is expose them publicly and try to shame them (which assumes they are capable of shame).
Seriously, if you don’t understand that then it is pointless to continue.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 4:25 PM
I’m not accusing you of being clueless about anything (though that KOS kid remark irked me, a bit).
I understand your reluctance to accept the mess that this country is going to have to endure before things are set right, again, but I have no such reluctance.
Once a nation has started going down the path that America is now on, things cannot just be fixed with a minor political alteration. Too much has been trampled and destroyed for it to just quietly fade into the past. That’s just how it is, if history is to be any guide.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I can’t speak to what insurance was in place for the U.A.W. retirement funds.
However, the groups of 20 (now 19) that Obama is calling “vultures” had investments from teachers unions, seniors, and so forth, and those investments were secured loans and by law are meant to be first in line with seniority when there is a bankruptcy situation.
I used the KOS kid analogy because they are unhinged.
I am fully aware of the “mess this country is in”! That does not mean that we get to ignore the rule of law and just start arresting people we don’t like. (I’m not entirely sure who is supposed to do the arresting, but I digress).
If it were to get to the point that Obama became, say, Hugo Chavez, the situation would be different, but what you are calling for is premature and sounds hysterical. At this point the public needs to be made aware of the situation through calm, reasoned arguments.
Obama’s popularity is declining and his unfavorables are rising, so it’s not as if all hope is lost. People are getting the message, but acting like an hysterical loon is not persuasive or productive.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Will have to pay more attention to where my pension funds are invested. Was not aware that they might be in hedge funds(yikes!)or designer funds. Not that I can do anything about it, but do like to be at least marginally informed.
jeanie on May 3, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Speaking of reasoned arguments… this is a devastating critique of Marxism.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 4:52 PM
I think that we have long since passed the point of no return. Whether that is hysterical, or even sounds hysterical, doesn’t bother me. I just know that that is what I think.
Personally, I don’t think the US makes it through this as a whole entity – and I’ve been warning about this since long ago during the campaign.
The public are swept up in a mass hysteria. That is the scariest point of all. And my arguments are calm and reasoned. You just don’t like my conclusions.
Okay. I guess “hysterical loon” is nicer than “KOS kid”. Thanks for the upgrade. I’m used to being called a hysterical loon because of my support for checking The Precedent’s eligibility before allowing him to assume office. Silly me.
If you are waiting for the people to decide that The Precedent is killing us (which has been so obvious that only the densest among us, or the complicit, would not admit to seeing it), then you will have to wait until after our funeral. That’s how those things usually work out.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 5:05 PM
The voice of reason?
This country will not be safe until these people are held to account, which means that The Precedent must be prosecuted for treason and a huge part of the left need to be jailed.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Whatevs.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Oh please. Allow me a small bit of hyperbole (on the bolded part), if you could.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Now, if I were in charge of Homeland Security and wrote that up in a domestic threat assessment, then that might be one thing … That difference is exactly what I am talking about and exactly what you are trying to pretend doesn’t exist.
Tell me, though, do you think that the NYT and WaPo should have had treason charges (or espionage) brought against them (the editors and writers involved, along with the higher ups at the organizations) for their publications of national security secrets, solely to harm US interests and promote their political ideas and bring down conservatives?
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 5:21 PM
You mean THIS WH Press Corp (sic)??
The latest hard-hitting investigative report:
(Hat tip to Drudge)
fred5678 on May 3, 2009 at 5:25 PM
*sniff sniff*
Where’s that stinking stench of troll odor?
Waiting for the media to wipe their runny noses for them, no doubt.
Saltysam on May 3, 2009 at 5:31 PM
I found it at Memeorandum. Any idea what that kite string is doing hanging from Michelle’s shirt? Her position as a fashion icon is very important, so we absolutely must know the answer.
Finally, some specifics about treasonable acts! I don’t know enough about first Amendment law to say for sure, but yes, on the face of it, Dana Priest and James Reisen probably should have been prosecuted, if nothing else, to reveal who in the C.I.A. leaked the damaging info to them. The Bush administration looked into it but did not proceed. I do not know if that was a legal or political decision.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 5:37 PM
What is this strange “past history” concept you speak of? History has been reset for us and Barack Obama is now making our history fresh. Did you not see the reset button in the news? So, it’s disingenuous to use ridiculous examples of old human history from another place on earth. We are unique beings, being guided by a magical President and this is the enchanted history we’ve been waiting for. It’s a time of total unity and global purpose. Those who refuse Obama’s call for a new spirit of patriotism in his honor are the only thing holding us back. Your dissent was monitored and noted as anti-progressivist hatethought.
For more information, please contact dhs.gov. Thank you for your cooperation in this age of transition.
econavenger on May 3, 2009 at 5:39 PM
“If it were to get to the point that Obama became, say, Hugo Chavez, the situation would be different,…”
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Hey Danish, now I’m not attacking you or impugning your motivations but as a Chavez watcher myself I’d be curious to know at what point or under what circumstances you would be able to say Obama has become as big a cancer as Chavez? What would be your trigger?
elduende on May 3, 2009 at 5:46 PM
This is just my opinion, but it was almost surely not a legal decision, since the Bush admin refused to press treason charges against John Walker Lindh, which was a slam-dunk and an absolute must.
Bush’s kid gloves treatment of the treasonous left is what gave them the confidence to dispense with all restraints and work to bring about the political coup that occurred. Likewise, no one has been punished appropriately (not even in the ballpark) for the abuses of governmental power that took place in Ohio against Joe The Plumber. I could go ona and on with similar instances. The public, unfortunately, couldn’t care less about any of this. And if they don’t see the actual seriousness of the situation being expressed by anyone, then they will never care, until it’s far too late – which is the likely future.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Heh.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 5:49 PM
To paraphrase a Supreme Court Justice – Like pornography, I’ll know it when I see it. He’s not there yet.
He is a narcissist, a Marxist sympathizer, and an authoritarian, but it’s a lot harder to get away with being a Chavez in this country than in a country like Venezuela.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Sandy Burger is the one that I will never understand.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Drudge now has a link up to the Tapper blog on this.
Wethal on May 3, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Yep. Big time. I was fuming at Bush’s reluctance to press serious charges against Burger.
progressoverpeace on May 3, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Apparently Drudge has finally recovered from the Swine Flu :)
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Don’t forget tyrant, which brings us back to the topic at hand. What was it Jefferson said about citizens being afraid of government….tyranny, right?
Dee2008 on May 3, 2009 at 6:25 PM
I am not not afraid. Believe me, I am watching him very closely. But I am not ready to demand he be tried for treason or start rioting in the streets.
I certainly willing to see how the Tea parties go on July 4th, for example, and want to watch his poll numbers on the issues before I panic.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 6:52 PM
I meant to add – and wait for more evidence to accumulate that he is abusing power.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 6:02 PM
That’s my fear. By the time people realize they have a monster on their hands it may well be too late to do anything peacefully. What happens then? In Venezuela where 75% of the nation stands in opposition, nothing short of violence will solve the problem at this point. Is that where we’re going?
You know Chavez’s creeping socialism has been accomplished through the manipulation of legitimate democratic tools but in the face of what had been a hostile media in Venezuela. What I wonder could he have accomplished if he had had a collusive media like Obama has? I think the lesson of Chavez is not being analyzed correctly.
elduende on May 3, 2009 at 7:02 PM
I wasn’t suggesting that you or anyone here at HA was afraid of the government, yet…but the people on the receiving of this threat obviously were afraid. Ergo, Obama is a tyrant.
BTW, elduende, good point about the Chavez analysis.
Dee2008 on May 3, 2009 at 7:36 PM
This is Chicago thuggery coming to the White House. This is what the American people elected. Chrysler (if the creditors give in) will be given to the Unions and told what cars to make. Slowly, President Obama will manage through taxes, etc., to push the gas price up to $5 a gallon. At that point the ‘green cars’ he wants the American car manufacturers to make will become competitive. I just hope we will have enough of a country left in four years to have an honest election and vote this man out of office. I wonder if the people who voted for him have gotten smart enough yet to have second thoughts.
RightWingGranny on May 3, 2009 at 7:36 PM
I just heard a radio ad for Chevy, saying we should all put on our rally caps like baseball fans of the trailing team…and buy their cars! Ha. Oh yeah. Running right out to buy a Cheby, mm hm, with my rally cap on. Who was the superbrain that thought that one up? And you wonder why they’re belly up? They should flush the marketing department first for that. Keep the UAW working for an extra, oh, week or so.
We’ll not only shamelessly exploit your patriotism to sell you these failed products (except the Monte Carlo. Awesome car), we’ll humiliate you too. It’s insanity. Or, as Charlton Heston said in Planet of the Apes. “It’s a madhouse!!”
curved space on May 3, 2009 at 8:23 PM
The haze of 100 Days will fade. Reality will slowly sink in. Putin has sussed your vain/immature/inexperienced candy-ass “leadership”. Prepare to reap the whirlwind Fauxbama.
BHO Jonestown on May 3, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Investors to O “and the press corps”;
Frankly my dears we don’t give a flying crapola. Bring it on.
katy the mean old lady on May 3, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Yeah, they haven’t quite managed to kill the Monte Carlo yet TTBOMK. Got to rent one once & was the best rental I ever had…
RD on May 3, 2009 at 9:35 PM
$$$ :)
“By this time next week he’ll be counting caribou! Counting caribou, I tell you!”
RD on May 3, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Obama is Hugo Chavez; you ain’t seen nothing yet!
Dhuka on May 3, 2009 at 9:56 PM
No guilty WHITE liberals can’t see past their prejudice to reconcile the problem.
belad on May 3, 2009 at 9:56 PM
So,,, I guess this is some proof (not that we needed anymore than we have) that the press is the property of Obama’s.
He can point it in any direction he chooses and use it in any way he pleases.
The American media. The watchdog of the people. Guard dog for the government.
JellyToast on May 3, 2009 at 10:09 PM
You’ve been listening to Alex Jones too long. You’ll have to decide for yourself how much to believe him, but bear in mind he sees conspiracies everywhere in government. By the very nature of this approach, he’s going to be right a number of times when the government really is trying to pull a fast one. But he’s going to be wrong even more often, because he doesn’t wait for proof. The danger, of course, is that the times when he gets it right will give him credibility when he’s off in outer space.
I’d be very leery of believing anything Alex Jones says that can’t be independently confirmed.
This particular thing has been thoroughly debunked, except in the mind of Alex Jones.
ThereGoesTheNeighborhood on May 3, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Don’t forget: this is Year Zero. And we are due for a great leap forward.
Dhuka on May 3, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Time for Obama to fire up the message force multipliers and spin this baby.
popularpeoplesfront on May 3, 2009 at 11:15 PM
Interesting, the comments on the Jake Tapper article are, for the most part, anti Obama.
How does this play out? First of all, Jake Tapper puts this out there, does he get fired, commit suicide or end up in some remote place?
Secondly, as brought up on the Jake Tapper site, what happened to Ford when both Chrysler and GM are government motors? When the first contract is negotiated and a sweetheart deal for the unions (part owners) will Ford be forced to honor those terms?
Is the government’s goal to force Ford out of business for not taking bailout money?
ORconservative on May 3, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Big Brother Barry wants to rule the world.
Sven on May 4, 2009 at 1:15 AM
I suspect that Steve Rattner will find himself in the something like the position of Nikolai Yezhov or Remirro de Orco.
Kralizec on May 4, 2009 at 4:33 AM
Obama, more so than any prior single American, POTUS or not, is turning the word “American” into such a filthy dirty word that nobody will ever use it again except as a pejorative. That is change. It is not a change I like at all.
(He is also changing another thing in America. It had been a long time since I heard the N-bomb used as a pejorative by a fellow “whitey” until a couple months ago. Now I am hearing it referring to our current POTUS at least weekly. That change, in itself, is disgusting. But it’s not hard to see why it has happened. The “race card” is sharp all the way around and can cut the wielder as badly as the target.)
{^_^}
herself on May 4, 2009 at 4:51 AM
Koo Koo…Koo Koo…
The Cuckoo Clock just went off…
right2bright on May 4, 2009 at 7:21 AM
Jake Tapper does appear to be a lone oasis of truth in an otherwise barren journalistic desert. Is he contrarian, an aberration, or suicidal?
For now, Ogabe appears to be content with dismissing his detractors and sicking his pit yorkies on targeted individuals. I am not convinced he will be satisfied with this course if public opinion does start to turn. It will be interesting to see what legislative clubs will be brought out against those of us who refuse to protrate ourselves to his greatness.
SKYFOX on May 4, 2009 at 7:47 AM
Both you and progressoverpeace are two of my fav posters, but I think the Hugo test is close to my bottom line too.
Sadly, I’m not at all confident that that time is not close at hand.
petefrt on May 4, 2009 at 7:59 AM
It’s inevitable. Government Motors cars, built to global warming specs, won’t be competitive and won’t sell. To boost lagging sales, gubmit will ‘incentivize’ purchase of Gov Motors cars, forcing Ford belly up.
The left will do for Gov Motors cars what they’ve done for windmills, using tax and reg policies to force prices of more efficient energy sources up so high that even windmills are profitable, their patent economic infeasibility notwithstanding… while shutting down gas, coal, nuclear.
petefrt on May 4, 2009 at 8:12 AM
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