Poll: What was the Obamateurism of the Week?
posted at 9:00 am on August 9, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
We only have three nominees in this poll for the Obamateurism of the Week, which is good, because some people have trouble counting past that, anyway. Some find math taxing, while others can’t remember the taxes they signed into law. I’d say who that person is, except that I don’t want to run afoul of the White House’s new Snitch Central, so let’s just go to the poll:
Previous “winners”:
- Rushing legislation bad in 2004, essential in 2009
- Obama opines on Gates arrest without “having all the facts”
- Obama salutes the Ghana flag
- Obama jokes about Alaska sale with Russians
- Obama uses union and DNC plants at health-care town hall
- Obama plants a question on Iran with HuffPo
- Change in Iran coming because “Obviously, after the speech I made in Cairo…”
- Flashing his soles to the camera while talking to Netanyahu
- “If you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we’d be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.”
- “We can no longer afford to spend as if deficits do not matter and waste is not our problem.”
- Siccing Tim Geithner and Charlie Rangel on tax cheats
- Phony Churchill quote on torture throws Grandpa under the bus
- Torture probe flip-flop
- Obama covers up IHS while quoting Jesus
- Austrian is a language?
- Obama bows to the Saudi king
- 1908 Model T got better gas mileage than today’s SUVs
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.
Addendum: Normally I’d put a link to Chris Muir’s Day by Day site here, but today I want to do more than that. Chris has a fundraising drive to keep his excellent cartoon alive. Be sure to drop a few dollars in his collection to keep one of the Rightosphere’s most talented warriors in the fight!
Blowback
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Obamateurism n Pointing out POTUS’s lies and stupididy when in was still legal to do so.
Akzed on August 9, 2009 at 9:03 AM
stop snitching
rob verdi on August 9, 2009 at 9:13 AM
I don’t know, but there are so many obnoxious things about Obama that there are too many to list for this week alone. I thought that calling on SEIU members to cause trouble and “get in their faces” at healthcare townhall meetings met the criteria. This just set him and the union up against all Americans, both Dems and Republicans. To me that was HUGE. There were folks injured and one seriously injured. Although not a rooky mistake, it was a Communist mistake. How soon will it be before Obama has blood on his hands?
BetseyRoss on August 9, 2009 at 9:13 AM
This one is obvious to me; setting up a snitch site is simply hard to believe. This man is not deserving of the office of President. This man has made our government the joke being spread around the world. Obama-Pelosi-Reid, the laughing stock of the world brought to us by way of the American Media.
I can only hope CBS, NBC, & ABC will sink along with everybody else on the Obama ship to hell.
Keemo on August 9, 2009 at 9:14 AM
This poll is racist, and I refuse to participate in it. It has now been submitted to the Ministry of Opposition Suppression.
BPD on August 9, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Calling out SEIU attack dogs to question the “blackness” of a Mr. Ken Gladney, then summarily assaulting him.
that’s amateur.
Telling Americans to shut up and get out of the way during a rally in McLean, VA
that’s amateur
update your list.
ted c on August 9, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Nah. He’s a professional thug.
gh on August 9, 2009 at 9:22 AM
SNITCH CENTRAL-Hands down!
the other 2 seem so minor compared to this atrocity
cmsinaz on August 9, 2009 at 9:22 AM
It’s getting so that you just vote for any of the choices because they usually are stupidity or evil. I hope he fails.
thomasaur on August 9, 2009 at 9:23 AM
They do fall nicely into those categories. May I also add outright lies?
sherry on August 9, 2009 at 9:25 AM
“SHUT UP” or we will BEAT YOU UP.
Those would not be Obamateurisms of the week but Obamateurisms of ALL TIME.
This man, in his ignorance, is just dangerous.
Yoop on August 9, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Ditto.
jimmy2shoes on August 9, 2009 at 9:32 AM
He’s not ignorant. He knows what he’s doing. Just call it what it is. EVIL.
Guardian on August 9, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Snitch central, what else?
Unbelievable, this one, really takes the cake.
But then, everything Obama does seem to be all unbelievable anyway in the most negative way.
mz.josephine on August 9, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Exactly right Guardian; pure EVIL.
Keemo on August 9, 2009 at 9:38 AM
O/T: just watched Cornyn on CNN, he couldn’t defend the folks at the town hall mtgs against Durbin…he sidestepped it completely….I worry for us when the (R)s can’t defend us in the media
cmsinaz on August 9, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Signing a tax into law.
“Snitchgate” is much too coordinated to be an Obamateurism and the fractions thing is just regular stupidity.
The tax thing was definitely an example of a kid playing grown-up.
gopmom on August 9, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Snitch central…
ladyingray on August 9, 2009 at 9:42 AM
I would vote for the snitch program, but that is a truly professional move by a professional community organizer from the Saul Alinski school of organizers.
RedSoxNation on August 9, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Reichsfuhrer Obama vill vant every American to report traitorous activity like protesting zie fuhrers ideas.
Zese traitors must be punished by zie union goons zen dey moost enter zie re-education camps.
Jeff from WI on August 9, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Obama’s latest publication, “My Enemies List”.
Zorro on August 9, 2009 at 9:44 AM
I guess we are all on “The List” now?…..
5u93rm4n on August 9, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Gosh, wouldn’t want to appear rude!!!!
Cindy Munford on August 9, 2009 at 9:44 AM
My choice isn’t listed: “We will punch back twice as hard” *wink wink*.
Bishop on August 9, 2009 at 9:45 AM
good one along with ted c’s picks
cmsinaz on August 9, 2009 at 9:48 AM
I went with snitch, but the “two faces of Obama” in one speech shows how much of an evil, twisted, sociopathic amateur he really is.
Only an amateur would contridict himself in one speech.
That video still haunts me. Especially when viewed with the sound off, watching his body language.
tru2tx on August 9, 2009 at 9:52 AM
The see something fishy tell a brotha program, too funny, what a bunch of wankers in the present administration. They don’t get that not only are all our eyes turned toward them so is the rest of the world…way to look like amateurs fellows, you sure look STRONG and In CONTROL now NOT! Oh and sending in Union Goons to beat up on AMERICAN CITIZENS aka Middle Class Tax payers, wow good move SARC looking desperate much? These people make me miss Bill Clinton in office, at least he was only skrewing us, one at a time LOL!
Dr Evil on August 9, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Definitely, the snitch programs wins my vote this week.
AnninCA on August 9, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Honestly I’ve been way too busy to worry about politics for the past few weeks but I don’t think the line Obama used about seniors over a certain age should just get a pain pill and wait to die has gotten enough outrage!
Since we are treating humans like animals maybe when someone gets sick (too expensive) we can just, “put them down”.
Why are Obama’s poll numbers still so high? How can 54% still approve? How can anyone still approve?
I also think those unemployment numbers have been cooked. Something is up with that.
petunia on August 9, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Snitching for stitches.
It’s more dumb than nefarious (to me).
The most amazing aspect of this is that if you raise the matter at all, the liberals go nuts. For them, there is simply no way – none whatsoever – that any of this information gathered by the White House will be misused. None.
Right, because we don’t have a history of Administrations – Republican and Democratic – going after critics with, for example, the IRS?
SteveMG on August 9, 2009 at 10:08 AM
JiangxiDad on August 9, 2009 at 10:13 AM
This administration is so polluted that its EPA has lowered its standards for Storm Run Off. So pollute if you want to but don’t get caught on camera or by someone you do not trust.
And today, this administration is creating so much distrust the only one you can trust is yourself. Bottom line is that the administration is trying to create a society where you will turn yourself in just for thinking.
MSGTAS on August 9, 2009 at 10:13 AM
This one’s a no-brainer, Ed. Report dissenters to the government? Not in my America!
Rusty Bill on August 9, 2009 at 10:13 AM
It’s Ogabe’s greasy, reptilian smile that bothers me. He smiles with his mouth but not his eyes, when you see someone do that you know they aren’t sincere.
Ogabe would love to throw away pretense, point his finger at the camera and tell all of us to shut the flock up and get out of the way or else. I think it’s coming anyway, through his surrogate masses who will bring more and more force to public gatherings; this is not going to end well.
Bishop on August 9, 2009 at 10:14 AM
guy’s a jerk
blatantblue on August 9, 2009 at 10:16 AM
I’ve noticed that myself. He has beady eyes, and a lizard’s smile. I can’t help but see him as some alien reptile whose human skin is failing him. It’s creepy. Maybe they’ll make a movie about him one day. Funny thing is, he looked like a normal cute baby in his early pics. Now he looks freakish.
JiangxiDad on August 9, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Gotta go with snitch central. That ones gonna bite him in the ass.
conservnut on August 9, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Let’s all skip the e-mail to flag@whithouse.gov and march to the White House on 9/12 and sign ourselves up personally!
If this doesn’t motivate you to do something, what will?
Christian Conservative on August 9, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Very well put. I do think he will snap someday – and I believe by the way he’s been hammered recently and how he responds to being hammered – it will be sooner, than later.
So let’s keep up the pressure.
tru2tx on August 9, 2009 at 10:22 AM
voted for the snitch email…
mrs.douglas is on cnn right now. man she can lie with a straight face better then anyone i ever seen.
trailortrash on August 9, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Snitch central, definitely. Pretty soon, he’ll instruct the NEA to teach children to turn their parents in.
kingsjester on August 9, 2009 at 10:23 AM
The “snitch” phoobah was preceded by Barry’s Secretary of State. It goes hand in hand with his vision of American been put under heel. Mrs Clinton, while in Africa said (ref the U.S. not being a signatory of the International Criminal Court)….
Source
Limerick on August 9, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Yep, they already have their marching orders to turn in parents for not recycling, changing lightbulbs, breathing. Only a matter of time.
tru2tx on August 9, 2009 at 10:25 AM
We know that a year from now or two years from now we’ll find out that the White House used some information from their snitch central program to go after critics.
And the very same defenders who insist that it will never be misused will defend that usage.
We know it…
SteveMG on August 9, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Piling on: Snitch central by a country mile, of course, but in any other week the other two would have been stiff contendahs..
VoyskaPVO on August 9, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Honestly I’ve been way too busy to worry about politics for the past few weeks but I don’t think the line Obama used about seniors over a certain age should just get a pain pill and wait to die has gotten enough outrage!
Since we are treating humans like animals maybe when someone gets sick (too expensive) we can just, “put them down”.
petunia on August 9, 2009 at 10:07 AM
They are being called on it this link is from the above headlines. This end of life counseling provision not so innocuous after all.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/07/AR2009080703043.html
Dr Evil on August 9, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Just as a related item — Linda Douglass just appeared with Howard Kurtz on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” – Is there such a thing as T-ball questions, because some of Howie’s were even too easy to qualify as softballs (as in the final one, where he let Douglass get off with just saying it was OK for her to become an Obama flack, because she had left ABC in 2005. The follow-up obviously would have been aren’t people justified in thinking your beliefs may have clouded your reporting in the 2004 elections and before, but the segment then ran out of time).
jon1979 on August 9, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Anyone else notice how little Obama talks about our soldiers? Not one mention this week………
He may have forgotten – we shouldn’t
http://speakmymindblog.com/2009/08/09/he-gave-us-his-life-and-more-corporal-ben-kopp/
sherryande on August 9, 2009 at 10:27 AM
JiangxiDad
OT—
I’ve been looking for you JD because you know a lot about the DC area. I’ve got reservations for the 9/12 March on Washington at the Washington-Capitol Holiday Inn on C Street. How is that neighborhood? I ask because I ended up at a Howard Johnson’s with hookers and drug dealers when I went down for the Gathering of Eagles—don’t want to repeat that disaster!
IrishEi on August 9, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Snitch was the obvious choice here.
Had HA included the “I don’t want the people who created this mess talking…” crap, it would have been a tough choice. Thanks for making it easy this week.
InTheBellyoftheBeast on August 9, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Bishop I’m with you. The “we’ll punch back twice as hard” pulls the mask down.
I was hoping that this would not get violent but now the first stone has been thrown.
HoustonRight on August 9, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Ed,
Stop the presses!
Here is a late entry that has “Captain Obvious” written all over it.
How can a guy with such big ears be so-o-o-o-o-o-o tone deaf?
VoyskaPVO on August 9, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Holiday Inn is a good location, a few blocks off the Mall, southside, mostly government offices around, few amenities like one would find in Alexandria…restaurants, stores, shops. But an excellent staging area to get to the Mall and other sites from the Lincoln Memorial up to the Capitol. If memory serves, it is near L’Enfant Plaza…easy access to the Metro as well.
Sounds like you stayed at the HoJo’s next to Union Station last time out. :-)
coldwarrior on August 9, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Wonder what’s going to happen when the Liberals and the moderate Democrats finally get it and all of their liberties are taken over by the government? The government (Democrat and Republican) will have control on your every day life. Is this what they/we really want?
I am personally glad that we have people who have never protested and they are the ones who are out there in the line of fire. Townhall mobsters, I am proud of you for your peaceful protesting.
yoda on August 9, 2009 at 10:37 AM
OT:
Politico now has a Presidential poll:
Who do you think is the most likely Republican presidential contender for 2012?
http://www.politico.com/
technopeasant on August 9, 2009 at 10:37 AM
keep up the pressure. don’t forget the Senators. they have the latest version of the healthcare bill from their “gang of 6″ which is apparently so damn long, complicated or something that they can’t print it for us.
do not forget the Senators.
kelley in virginia on August 9, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Fractions for me-either amateur prep work or amateur delivery.
Snitch central is a pro move- he exposed opponents in Illinois by getting the courts to open their divorce paperwork, he sealed his own papers tighter than the titantic, and he is gathering information on his opponents large and small now. He knows how to use personal info- on that he is a pro.
journeyintothewhirlwind on August 9, 2009 at 10:42 AM
That’s the one! What a nightmare.
Thanks for the info, coldwarrior. I feel a lot better now. LOL.
IrishEi on August 9, 2009 at 10:43 AM
What tax did Obama raise his second week?
johnnybgood on August 9, 2009 at 10:47 AM
“STFU,” -Uncle Sam.
Akzed on August 9, 2009 at 10:54 AM
I don’t think Dear Leader is as much an amateur as we think. I think that he is so out of the mainstream that he is shocking to most people.
d1carter on August 9, 2009 at 10:54 AM
So is there anyway to get a copy of all those emails they received at the snitch line? How funny they must be!
Frances on August 9, 2009 at 10:58 AM
And he was going to restore our image around the globe! What a joke.
singer on August 9, 2009 at 11:02 AM
At least the war on terror is over.
Akzed on August 9, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Ed,
Right on cue for this administration. When it hits the fan, prosecute the Bushies. No, the other guys are the EVIL ones! Not us! But they were worse! etc.
singer on August 9, 2009 at 11:05 AM
And the economy’s saved for the abyss! Never seen so much doublespeak.
singer on August 9, 2009 at 11:07 AM
from
singer on August 9, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Ed, I was reading this on Chickaboomer Frank Rich “Is Obama Punking Us” The MSM is wobbling.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/opinion/09rich.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1249830149-0VmHs98o9L1f3Zpyf6QJJg
Obama is the Master of lowering expectations remember what he asked General Patraeus can we leave Iraq a mess – “ghetto” and still call it a success?
I am sure there will be some spin added to the sh1t sandwich (health care reform bill) the house made for us, but Americans refused to eat. I love when people asked their congress person, would you give up your health insurance for this plan? Nope they won’t eat their own cooking :) That’s all we need to know.
Dr Evil on August 9, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Tobacco tax.
IrishEi on August 9, 2009 at 11:17 AM
OT:
They are already resorting to the ultimate distraction — HOLDER TO INVESTIGATE CIA FOR TORTURE
Joe Caps on August 9, 2009 at 11:31 AM
O/T:
Anyone just watch David Brooks on Meet the Depressed? What a tool he is. I checked out his Wikipedia page and was interested to find out that he is a recovering liberal. Mr. Brooks, the cure is nowhere near complete.
Also, I learned he turns 48 on the 11th. Hmm, who else had a 48th birthday, just last week? So, David is exactly one week younger than Obama. Isn’t that cool!? I’m sure Brooks thinks it is.
MarkABinVA on August 9, 2009 at 11:33 AM
But nothing to see in Philly with the Black Panther case. This administration is a complete joke.
MarkABinVA on August 9, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Yes, I did. For some reason, Fox News Sunday was blacked out here (SW Ohio) on the local affiliate. Technical difficulties. As a result, I wandered over to MTP. Brooks and Meacham made me want to puke. Brooks is a douche.
BuckeyeSam on August 9, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Snitching will never go away.
Taxes will show up at re election.
Fractions won’t hurt. People understand politicans are dumb as bricks
What Obama needs is an expanded snitch line. Press one for Health care opponents. Press two for stupid cops. Press three for reporting all other complainers. Press ’0′ for the latest Pew poll
entagor on August 9, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Northwest Ohio too…no FoxNews Sunday from my cable provider.
Buckeye buddy…they know where we live! :-)
coldwarrior on August 9, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Yeah, that one really should be in there. For Kenneth Gladney’s sake. Although in Obama’s defense, he didn’t say anything about the pushing or the kicking.
Jim Treacher on August 9, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Snitch got my vote, because while I’m sure Obama knew what he was doing, he under estimated the anger of the nation for doing it.
The claim of not raising taxes, was just an outright lie.
The fractions? Well, I suck at them too! LOL
capejasmine on August 9, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I’m afraid I don’t see where the “snitching” comes in, they’re not asking for names.
This is the second Obamateurism of the Week that has disappointed me. The “Obama salutes the Ghana flag” was completely unfair and dishonest.
Ortzinator on August 9, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Actually, The major obamatuerism of the week was his calling up the goon squads to attack dissenters at town hall meetings. I know he did not directly engage them to a calt to violence, but when he figuratively said that “we will hit back harder”, that was all the labor unions goons needed. It was like Don Carleone saying he would make that movie producer an offer he could not refuse.
paulsur on August 9, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Easy, asking American’s to spy and inform on each other.
That right to privacy is soooo 2008. Nothing is private anymore…. well except Hussien’s birth certificate… and Hussien’s college records….. and Hussien’s work with Annenberg….
Hog Wild on August 9, 2009 at 1:39 PM
A young man called Hannity this last Friday, I believe. He told Hannity, and all listening, that he called the snitch line. While the person on the other end of the phone made it clear his being anonymous was being protected, they did ask him for a name, address, phone number, and information on activity of the person he was reporting.
This man was not really reporting anyone, but wanted to find out what they do ask if one were to call. And that’s what he got. Very disturbing, if you ask me.
capejasmine on August 9, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Hell all 3 are the worst, how to choose one?
allrsn on August 9, 2009 at 3:03 PM
SNITCH CENTRAL, hands down! Turn in your neighbor, for the Reich!
TeeDee on August 9, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Dear Leader,
I know a real easy way out of this mess that
YouBush cooked up.fronclynne on August 9, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Every outrageous thing he does that is ignored by his slavish, fellating media encourages him to explore ever more outrageous schemes. One wonders if (when) it will reach critical mass.
Simmering.
SKYFOX on August 9, 2009 at 3:22 PM
On 11-4-08 we all became Chicagoans.
Dr. ZhivBlago on August 9, 2009 at 3:40 PM
I hate to think of Snitch Central as an Obamatuerism. It’s so much worse than just a bonehead error. Maybe there should be a new category – infamy of the week. or something.
.
wkgdyw on August 9, 2009 at 5:43 PM
.
And John Kerry’s military records re that trip to Cambodia.
wkgdyw on August 9, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Everything he has ever said is tied for first as far as I’m concerned.
You can take the politician out of Chicago, but you can’t take Chicago out of the politician.
elifino on August 9, 2009 at 6:39 PM
I hope he fails.
bluelightbrigade on August 9, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Snitch Central.
Team Obama & Dems know full well what the opposition is to healthcare reform. They know.
They just want to scare people from attending town halls much like they did leaking the DHS report days before the first Tea Party’s.
Epic Flail (both times).
TEA PARTY On People!
TN Mom on August 9, 2009 at 9:33 PM
laying about raising taxes isn’t Obama being amateur, that’s him being flat-out dishonest – that’s professional chicago pol
golfballs03 on August 9, 2009 at 9:34 PM
Y’know, it’s getting harder and harder to write the ongoing Obama catastrophe off as sheer amateurism or inexperience. It sort of implies that he doesn’t really intend for all these things to be happening, when in truth, the only thing he didn’t plan on was popular opposition.
Cylor on August 9, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Cylor on August 9, 2009
I agree that so much of what the jug-eared freak does falls outside the “amateur” category. I think Ed’s coining of the term “Obamateurism” is meant to convey not just the amateur flubs, but also the consciously-directed evil of this administration. Otherwise, why give it a unique identifier.
Also, I’m sure he knew there’d be opposition. He just figured he’d steamroll right over it.
SKYFOX on August 10, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Exactly.
Mulligan on August 10, 2009 at 9:27 AM