Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on September 1, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
At one time, Barack Obama was a big advocate of reading bills before talking about them, one way or the other. In 2004, Obama debated a fellow state Senator over, coincidentally, another health-care bill in Illinois. With disdain dripping from his voice, Obama scolded his opponent for not having read the bill before debating it (via Michael Goldfarb at the Weekly Standard):
And I have to say by the way, just to pick up on something that was raised earlier, that this is a different bill number than the original bill, it has gone through a complete restructuring from the original bill, but that initial concern that Senator Ryder said, that original cloud continued over it, because industry, and industry lobbyists, insurance lobbyists here in Springfield had been engaging in such fear-mongering among its agents, suggesting that this was a single-payer bill that in fact a lot of concerns were raised that had nothing to do with the bill that was before the body today. And what I was, what I would strongly suggest is people take the time to look at the three-page bill that is before them as opposed to some of the mischaracterizations (of) this legislation that have been raised by others.
So does Obama feel that anyone who hasn’t actually read a bill should remain uninvolved in it? Apparently not, as John McCormack discovered at the beginning of Obama’s vacation:
TWS: At some point in the legislative process, will the president read the entire health-care bill?
GIBBS: I assume the president will study the details of the proposal and will be–he’s a highly informed individual.
TWS: But he won’t take the time to read it front to back at some point when this thing is firmed up?
GIBBS: I don’t know what his vacation plans are currently.
Isn’t this the bill that Obama demanded that Congress complete in just a few days? What happened to reading the bill? Did reading stop being fun-damental in the Obama administration?
Yid with Lid has more.
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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Maybe if they loaded into the telepromter and left him alone with it for a week or two….
anniekc on September 1, 2009 at 8:10 AM
well er uh uh I was against um sneaking things through then…what?!?!
Damn you TotUS you are not supposed to out me like that….
sven10077 on September 1, 2009 at 8:11 AM
This man can not tell the truth to save his life. I think he wants to keep his distance from this bill, so that he deny he knew about what was in it. That way when things come crashing down, as I know they will, he will be able to say that he did not author or know of certain provisions.
TXMomof3 on September 1, 2009 at 8:12 AM
One
Big
Ass
Mistake
America
SHARPTOOTH on September 1, 2009 at 8:13 AM
when they broke the news to obama that he was impotent as a leader he thought they said he was omnipotent – silly words; reading is for peasants.
Ris4victory on September 1, 2009 at 8:13 AM
the president might get away with saying “i didn’t know” alot of things: he isn’t told many things just so he can have that plausible deniability.
however, unless Congress passes a deathcare bill in the wee hours of the a.m. (which they certainly might do), bambi will have no excuse on this one.
kelley in virginia on September 1, 2009 at 8:14 AM
That is what he will try to do. But healthcare reform is his signature issue. I’m not sure he will be able to completely separate himself from the crash and burn.
Of course, if they rename the bill after Kennedy, well then it will sure make it easier on Obama to distance himself.
ladyingray on September 1, 2009 at 8:14 AM
Best
President
Ever
blatantblue on September 1, 2009 at 8:14 AM
sorry, “wee wee” hours of the a.m.
kelley in virginia on September 1, 2009 at 8:14 AM
A 3 page bill?? wow Obama couldnt tell the truth if he was being tortured! Liar liar!
Anyone hear that obama is leaving for Camp David on Wednesday? Another vacation already? geesh
becki51758 on September 1, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Reading bills is now racist.
rbj on September 1, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Ed, didn’t someone profoundly say that all of Obama’s statements and positions come with expiration dates.
Oh yeah, it was you.
TXUS on September 1, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Barry, Barry, quite contrary,
How does your infamy grow?
With avarice and hypocrisy,
And lie after lie in a row.
Loxodonta on September 1, 2009 at 8:18 AM
If they don’t pass this, Cap & Trade is warming up in the bull pen. Wait until the tea party troops get their teeth around THAT smoldering pile of dung.
Jeff from WI on September 1, 2009 at 8:18 AM
That explains it. It was only 3 pages.
Beaglemom on September 1, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Remember this is the same guy who voted “not present” for much of the legislation especially if it was in the least bit controversial. He’s been driving that bus for many a year!
justonevictory on September 1, 2009 at 8:19 AM
Some things don’t change:
The whole blame others and claim that dissent is fear-mongering and mischaracterizations is consistent between then and the bill the filthy liar refuses to discuss with the public like an adult conversing with other adults.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 8:19 AM
It seems to me like President Obama supports shorter, less insane bills. I fully agree.
BadgerHawk on September 1, 2009 at 8:20 AM
George F. Will’s article says it all.
yoda on September 1, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Hey Hey
Ho Ho
Filthy Liars got to go.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Alinsky 101.
TXUS on September 1, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Yeh but,
he has a nice sharp crease in his pant leg… The sign of a true intellectual.
And, don’t you forget it.
franksalterego on September 1, 2009 at 8:25 AM
Are you going to chant that with me in DC?
TXMomof3 on September 1, 2009 at 8:27 AM
I’m gonna be looking for you on the news!
ladyingray on September 1, 2009 at 8:28 AM
But he is older, and in real power now.
darktood on September 1, 2009 at 8:29 AM
yoda on September 1, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Agreed re George Will’s column. That “audible wallpaper” line is a sizzling snarkish rebuke. But Obama will probably never read it.
jwolf on September 1, 2009 at 8:29 AM
No Passing Zone.
Lincoln Cadillac on September 1, 2009 at 8:29 AM
My brother said that with my hot rhetoric and attitude that we might just see rubber bullets and tear gas. He knows me.
TXMomof3 on September 1, 2009 at 8:31 AM
becki51758
The Won is leaving for Camp David just in time to miss the 9-12 project “love-in”. TOTUS says he’s so sorry to miss all the fun but he will use the time to read the health care bill./
missouriyankee on September 1, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Barack Obama is a liar. The trolls and the libs have no way of spinning that as anything other than he is a liar, period. He has provided too much proof.
Obama has lied so much throughout his life that it has become impossible for him to keep anything straight for more than a few minutes. (Hm-m-m, is even that too long a time span?)
Dems and liberals are obviously quite willing to accept his lies. It’s the way they live. I would like to see just one provide an alternate explanation for Obama’s habitual lying.
Not. Holding. My. Breath.
Yoop on September 1, 2009 at 8:37 AM
oops!
rightside on September 1, 2009 at 8:38 AM
Too many
pageswords for the President to read and doubt he would get the jab.yoda on September 1, 2009 at 8:41 AM
He was for reading bills before he was against it.
kingsjester on September 1, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Yes and those tactics are not successful now that everybody knows what strategies are being employed. Dismissing dissent as fear-mongering or “evil-mongering” (to quote Harry Reid) is just being laughed at because the fear-mongerers are little old retirees upset with the administrations out-of-control spending.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 8:42 AM
He managed to find time to go golfing the day after he got back from vacation, tonight has a Ramadan dinner at the WH, then goes on vacation again tomorrow.
But no time to read the legislation he’s forcing upon us.
And the moron wonders why his approval ratings are cratering.
JammieWearingFool on September 1, 2009 at 8:42 AM
If the opportunity presents itself! :-0
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 8:43 AM
I’ve said from the beginning that the filthy liar in the White House likes all the trappings of the Presidency but not the hard work that goes with it. He’s perfectly content to go on a trip to the Grand Canyon and talk up healthcare reform at staged town halls but he is uninterested or unable to stay in DC, work with the Congress, and put together a piece of legislation that has a reasonable chance of passing.
The country is being led by children. Spoiled arrogant children.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 8:46 AM
“Line by line” campaign promise, water under the bridge, sold down the river.
Hey, glad to see others using the ol’ Reading is Fundamental jab against this crop of elected officials. Everyone use it when contacting your legislators and criticizing this administration.
How bad can things be when no one will even admit to having written the bill, let alone to having read the bill?
Trickle down stupidity; trickle up foolishness.
maverick muse on September 1, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Elevator music! Thanks George Will!
DrStock on September 1, 2009 at 8:48 AM
ohh…well, that explains it. What a sissy.
becki51758 on September 1, 2009 at 8:49 AM
umm…a freakin Ramadan dinner? That is soo offensive to me. Why isnt the left yelling to keep religion out of the WH?
becki51758 on September 1, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Our president is a tool and a liar. You know there are people you run into and people in your life that never sease to amaze you. His guy however always seases to amaze me. Nothing that comes out of this white house shocks me anymore.
milwife88 on September 1, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Hot rhetoric? Attitude? No, not you at all.
Second thought. Bring a BP vest and a gas mask.
TXUS on September 1, 2009 at 8:55 AM
If you’re not Democrat, your RACIST!
Cybergeezer on September 1, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Hide behind hubby…
ladyingray on September 1, 2009 at 8:59 AM
I haven’t read anywhere that rubber bullets and tear gas are breaking any sales records, have you?
bluegrass on September 1, 2009 at 9:03 AM
First, marry large hubby.
Loxodonta on September 1, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Alinsky 101
Though everyone may know about strategies employed, that does not parallel with recognition of such instances. It also does not account for those people recognizing such an instance and intentionally dismissing it out of hand as it makes them feel uncomfortable, joining Alinksy’s politics (not just methods) whether intentionally or not.
Case in point, the smear campaign against legitimate Constitutional lawsuits brought against Obama on the basis of him NOT being “a natural born American” as his father was not an American citizen. (Nor did his father ever seek to become an American citizen. Neither Obama ever admired our Constitutional Government.) It was fearmongers who came up with the rumors/charges for ignorant consumption that begat the “birther” boom, AS IF Obama has no birth certificate, yada yada yada, promoting stupidity in order to castigate the legitimate complaint against the Constitutional usurper, Obama. Weaseling out of defense of the Constitution because one finds it inconvenient or “out-dated” (Rousseau’s Socialism is contemporary with our Constitution) enables Obama via complicit dissolving of Constitutional integrity.
maverick muse on September 1, 2009 at 9:05 AM
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 8:19 AM
Yup, a one trick pony. There is something worse than the shallowness, however.
It shows that his guy was really not prepared to hold a US Senate seat a few years ago. Which was OK, since the MSM never pointed out His invisible and dismal performance there. When questioned hard or challenged in the campaign, He was barely able to handle it.
I don’t think that He is smart enough to know how badly things are going but I think that it is dawning on Him. Look for more stupid or evil ideas ahead. It depends on who is holding the rope.
Gee, the kid who was too cool for school is flunking as class president. The MSM, the Dems and their reps are gonna have to do more spinning than all the storms in this hurricane season.
IlikedAUH2O on September 1, 2009 at 9:06 AM
heh. nothing beyond 3 pages, if that/
maverick muse on September 1, 2009 at 9:11 AM
IlikedAUH2O on September 1, 2009 at 9:06 AM
If America were superstitious, we’d be blaming Obama for the swine flu, wildfires, hurricanes, and all natural disasters.
As it is, he’s beyond mismanaging, as Obama directs man made disasters as well.
maverick muse on September 1, 2009 at 9:16 AM
If he had viewed the Senate as something more than a way station onto higher office, the filthy liar probably would have done OK in the Senate. Hillary Clinton was so unprepared for the job that they literally had to seat her next to Joe Lieberman at her first State of the Union so that she’d know when to clap. The fact of the matter is Senators have 99 other people to hide behind and arcane procedures to keep the number of times that one has to be accountable down to a minimum. Had Obama spent a few years in the Senate, he would have been far more prepared for the Presidency. The ideal strategy would have been to get Clinton elected in 2008 with the understanding that the VP nomination in 2012 would go to Obama to groom him for the 2016 elections.
Instead a guy with the shallowest of credentials and no substantive legislative experience is trying to run the nation and he is failing quickly. He has never had a clear message and his legislative agenda has been temporarily de-railed. August was supposed to be a rebuilding month but the only thing rebuilding now that we are into September is the public outrage against Congress and the filthy liar in the White House. It will be interesting to see what transpires over the next few months.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Why not? Robert Kennedy blamed GWB for Hurricane Katrina. These wild fires are all Obama’s fault! :-0
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Now wait just a minute… Didn’t Obama make a promise to read the healthcare bill line by line with members of congress?? He said that at a town hall meeting just a few weeks ago. He has to read the bill… He promised (insert whiney voice here).
kringeesmom on September 1, 2009 at 9:39 AM
Maybe a marathon presser where the bill is read aloud by the filthy liar and key members of Congress to a joint session of the whole.
highhopes on September 1, 2009 at 9:42 AM
The post from Yid with Lid has some important information:
If Obama can’t get the public option through Congress now, he’ll probably try to set up a “task force” a la Hillary Clinton ’94 to “study” the situation and write a report advocating socialized medicine without Obama’s name on it.
It might kick the can down the road for a year or two until the “townhalls” and Tea Parties calm down, but Sarah Palin might have a good name for the “task force”…
Steve Z on September 1, 2009 at 9:53 AM
BWAHAHAHA… yet another “Wait.. what’d I say yesterday?” Moment for our wonderful president. Gotta love him!
Don’t read the 1K page bill, just pass it, will ya? versus the You’re an idiot because you didn’t read the bill, you jerk!
Thanks, America. You did us a real good thing voting this guy in. Voter’s remorse? I damned well hope so!
Mad Mad Monica on September 1, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Enough rope to politically hang himself?
Steve Z on September 1, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Hubby is 6’3″ and 250, he’ll save me.
TXMomof3 on September 1, 2009 at 9:59 AM
S-M-A-R-T Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jukin on September 1, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Loxodonta:
Loved the nursery rhyme! Have to admit the entire administration reminds me of those really scary fairy tales they used to tell in Europe—like Hansel and Gretl where the wicked witch is fattening the kids so she can eat them. Think of Obama and Congress fattening us with their lies so they can “eat” our wealth.
texabama on September 1, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Obama is a puppet or as George Strait would say “a dancing chicken”.
Johan Klaus on September 1, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Or, “Hitler and Stalin” or, “Obama and Alinsky”. Oh right, those are not fairy tales.
Johan Klaus on September 1, 2009 at 10:29 AM
3 years and 2 more months to go… Hold on America!
Khun Joe on September 1, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Somebody tried to tell me how eloquent a speaker The One is. Anyone figure out what the h*ll he is saying. 8 lines without a period. And the left complains about Sarah Palin going on and on without a break…
Mallard T. Drake on September 1, 2009 at 11:36 AM
NYT is reporting that Holder is hiring hundreds of civil rights lawyers to prosecute high impact cases previously ignored by the evil Bush administration!! Hold on to your wallets because these Communists intend to redistribute (Extort) your wealth by any and all methods. There is a lot of misdirection by this cunning Kenynan, Communist, Black Liberation, Racist president. While we worry about CIA prosecutions, he unleashes the justice department on virtually any American or business that is acting “stupidly”and are deemed to be Racist(every non black).This bunch is sinister and cynical beyond belief. Don’t take a victory lap until every Obama communist supporter is rooted out of any authority over the rest of America!!
Marco on September 1, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Becki, Ramadan is not a religious event. When you’ve spent most of the year living up to ‘The Verse of the Sword’, you’re going to need a month or so to rest and eat. (But only after dark for some unknown reason).
/SNARK? yes, sarcasm? sadly, no.
Blacksmith8 on September 1, 2009 at 11:53 AM
I would give my tonsils and a foot for some honesty about Obamacare from this administration.
HellCat on September 1, 2009 at 12:06 PM
When it comes to excessive use of the run-on sentence, Obama is on par with Olbermann.
Someone buy these two jackdorks some punctuation!
ynot4tony2 on September 1, 2009 at 12:23 PM
There is justification for blaming Obama for the fires: it is his Liberal extremist/radical enviro-wacko supporters who prevent any reasonable fire protection measures for California residents…by claiming that if you clear brush, you might inconvenience a mouse or a rat, etc. etc.
You can tell they’re Obama supporters because they are aggressively self-destructive and completely immune to logic and facts.
landlines on September 1, 2009 at 2:49 PM