Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on October 2, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Andrew Malcolm wonders whether the White House has flunked history yet again in Barack Obama’s statement hailing Mohandas K. Gandhi, often given the honorific “Mahatma”, which means “venerated” or “holy.” In this passage, Obama seems to imply that Gandhi personally passed on his lessons of nonviolence to Martin Luther King Jr when he visited India in 1959, which would have been a neat trick, since Gandhi was assassinated in 1948:
On behalf of the American people, I want to express appreciation for the life and lessons of Mahatma Gandhi on the anniversary of his birth. This is an important moment to reflect on his message of non-violence, which continues to inspire people and political movements across the globe. …
Americans owe an enormous measure of gratitude to the Mahatma. His teachings and ideals, shared with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his 1959 pilgrimage to India, transformed American society through our civil rights movement. The America of today has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi and the nonviolent social action movement for Indian independence which he led.
At best, it’s clumsily written. I’m pretty sure that King had been quite aware of Gandhi’s teaching and ideals prior to visiting India in 1959, since he’d been applying them for several years before that. Even if one gives the White House the benefit of the doubt, though, it’s worth pointing out that they fail to use Gandhi’s full and correct name even once in this birthday announcement, appearing to fall into the common error of assuming his first name was “Mahatma”.
Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at obamaisms@edmorrissey.com with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.
Illustrations by Chris Muir of Day by Day. Be sure to read the adventures of Sam, Zed, Damon, and Jan every day!
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Wow, liberal revisionist history??! I’m shocked, shocked I tell you!
Jeff from WI on October 2, 2009 at 8:07 AM
For Obama history is only a prop to make his case, he believes that the end justifies the means and his means is what lie he tells to achieve his end.
doriangrey on October 2, 2009 at 8:09 AM
Are all Columbia and Harvard grads this stupid? He seems to be lacking in math, economics, history, and social skills. What did he learn besides liberal activism?
TXMomof3 on October 2, 2009 at 8:09 AM
What’s funny is people keep saying how intelligent Obama is. He’s never said or done anything that gave me that impression.
darwin on October 2, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Come on, Ed. If Hillary can channel Eleanor, then Barack should be able to dial in Gandhi.
Fletch54 on October 2, 2009 at 8:11 AM
If the unemployment figure tops 10% here in 20 min, then the Obamateurism of the Day ought to be a retroactive one to the time when they predicted that it would get up to 8% if the stimulus didn’t pass.
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:12 AM
Barry’s Time Machine:
It takes a lot of licking, but it can’t keep tricking.
Loxodonta on October 2, 2009 at 8:12 AM
Yeah, but at least Dear Liar pronounces “nuclear” correctly. Even if that’s the only thing he has correct.
rbj on October 2, 2009 at 8:14 AM
++++++
ladyingray on October 2, 2009 at 8:16 AM
the liberal ones are.
blatantblue on October 2, 2009 at 8:16 AM
My little rural, southern high school education beats Barry’s Ivy League affirmative action one. Question is: Have none of his staff ever fact checked anything he is going to say in a speech?
TXMomof3 on October 2, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Who writes this stuff for Obama? If it is some young staffer than our country is in real trouble since they keep making so many errors regarding historical facts.
texasconserv on October 2, 2009 at 8:19 AM
Schmoozing: 4.0
Loxodonta on October 2, 2009 at 8:20 AM
A+ for Lox’s Rhyme Machine
Geochelone on October 2, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Well…considering Obama sees “President” as his first name these days…or is it “The One?”
coldwarrior on October 2, 2009 at 8:21 AM
“No more Mr. Passive Resistance. He’s out to kick some butt!”
It’s not a Hot Air thread without a UHF reference.
Doughboy on October 2, 2009 at 8:23 AM
I’m sure there is a Czar out there that can help dear leader…
cmsinaz on October 2, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Wow, this is really lame. Need to try harder.
Constant Parrhesia on October 2, 2009 at 8:24 AM
-Zen and the Art of Telepromter Maintenance 101.
-Butt Snorkeling for Politicians.
Geochelone on October 2, 2009 at 8:24 AM
Barry’s only as intelligent as his current speechwriter. He’s also only as honest as he thinks he can get away with; I think he’s a perpetual liar who’s not used to getting called on it.
anniekc on October 2, 2009 at 8:25 AM
Lox: excellent!
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:27 AM
Ed–be prepared to do a rapid flex on a new thread on the unemployment number. Should be landing with a thud on screens nationwide here in 3…2…1
i’m refreshing drudge to check it.
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Off camera, he discussed Columbus discovering America while on the Space Shuttle. Idjit.
kingsjester on October 2, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Advanced FBRK: Fawning, Bowing & Ring Kissing
Loxodonta on October 2, 2009 at 8:31 AM
UNEMPLOYMENT 9.8%: WORST SINCE JUNE 1983 … -263,000 LOST JOBS…
Geochelone on October 2, 2009 at 8:32 AM
If he believes this it may explain a lot.
MikeA on October 2, 2009 at 8:32 AM
drudge is redlining 9.8% unemployment. 263K jobs lost and worst since 1983.
Obama predicted that unemployment would get up to 8.% without the stimulus and here we are 8 mos later with it nearly 2 points above his prediction.
Amateur.
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:32 AM
I’m sure there are several photos of MLK meeting with Ghandi. Just look in the drawer where we keep all the historical photos of our war with Eastasia.
Kafir on October 2, 2009 at 8:33 AM
H/T: ted
I scooped ya Dude.
Geochelone on October 2, 2009 at 8:33 AM
Yeah that non violent approach has really taken hold in Chicago.
If the President says it, it must be true.
Skandia Recluse on October 2, 2009 at 8:33 AM
As unemployment continues to skyrocket, the President dithers in Copenhagen….
The President of Chicago that is….
No word from McChrystal through the President…
typical
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:34 AM
geo:
Daaayyymmnn
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:34 AM
yeah, you scooped me by less than a minute…
like minds…
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:35 AM
They don’t have to.
They won.
The little kids said so.
mmmm mmmm mmmm
Yoop on October 2, 2009 at 8:36 AM
It only took me 15 sec to add the analysis, you just got the headline.
geo:
Look, I can copy/paste and call it journalism!
j/k dude
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:36 AM
263,000 jobs lost would be worse than last month barring any revisions. Tell me again why Biden thinks porkulus is working better than he had hoped?
Doughboy on October 2, 2009 at 8:36 AM
ya got me dough? Plugs on the brain, maybe?
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:38 AM
You could work for the Peacock network, or any of the State Run Media Outlets.
You got a fast trigger finger there dude, but not faster than the waco kid.
Geochelone on October 2, 2009 at 8:38 AM
Well sure unemployment is a 9.8%, but that only means that Obama the Magic Won has saveed 90.2% of all jobs, all by his self! If you don’t belive that you are probably racist.
MikeA on October 2, 2009 at 8:39 AM
Yep.
But hey, who can blame them for the errors and confusion? They’ve been busy, busy, busy building strawmen and trying to discredit Glenn Beck.
Buy Danish on October 2, 2009 at 8:39 AM
Can I use this? I am teaching 8th graders critical thinking, and this sort of obvious error by Dear Leader will blow their little minds.
Side bar: What do DL’s followers think when they are exposed to this kind of blatant misstatement of history? Do they see the feet of clay?
InTheBellyoftheBeast on October 2, 2009 at 8:40 AM
Well in fairness, the Waco Kid did kill more men than Cecil B. DeMille.
Doughboy on October 2, 2009 at 8:40 AM
Dough:
Liberals engage in revisionist history even when history is being written. The stimulus has been an utter failure, the unemployment has rocketed past the administrations “unstimulated” predictions, and the president dithers in Copenhagen to get the chance to build monuments to himself and his friends, in a city no one cares about, to give jobs to people he loves.
Priorities.
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:40 AM
Because they are trying to destroy capitalism and tehy are doing it faster than they expected to. I thoght everyone here knew that.
MikeA on October 2, 2009 at 8:40 AM
It totally happened that way, because of the time space continual… and if the flux capacitor is functioning properly.
Hog Wild on October 2, 2009 at 8:41 AM
Good greif, who are Obama’s speach writers? Someone needs to hire some smart people. Or at least rent them.
barnone on October 2, 2009 at 8:41 AM
Hey! My hubby made the news! He’s one of the 263,000 who lost his job. Thanks Obama!
Key West Reader on October 2, 2009 at 8:42 AM
whatchu talkin’ bout? There’s a train headed back east and a ticket with your name on it takin’ you to a job yer jus gonna love up there next to Chrissy “Leg Tingle” Matthews…
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Aww Key, I’m sorry. My dad lost his job too last month.
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:43 AM
The Ministry of Information is busy rewriting the death of Gandhi. He choked on a cheese sandwich in 1965.
Geochelone on October 2, 2009 at 8:43 AM
What’s the frequency Roger? Give me an uplink I am ready to go live Now.
Geochelone on October 2, 2009 at 8:46 AM
If you didn’t catch Rush yesterday, check out his site http://www.rushlimbaugh.com and see the juxtaposition of charlie gibson pitching unemployment figures back in 1982 and today. Same guy, same network, virtually same number–BUT–the pitch is totally different.
check it.
Hey, where is the President today?
Does the sign on the White House door say “Not Present?”
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:46 AM
i hear the sunspots are bad around waco and makes it hard to get the signal yo
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:47 AM
Great illustration for how this White House will be known….amateurish at best, wholly incompetent the rest of the time.
Linnea on October 2, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Just to put the unemployment in context: Predicted: max 8%. Current: 9.8% Is that a 1.8% miss? No, that’s a 22.5% miss. Let me be clear, as I’ve said all along, 22.5% higher unemployment with the Porkulus than Odinglenuts said we’d have without it.
Hey, I’ve got a good idea. Since their management skills are so obviously excellent, let’s put them in charge of health care!!!
mr.blacksheep on October 2, 2009 at 8:49 AM
Sphincter Pucker Factor at White House just had to go up another notch.
Drudge is also redlining the “true” unemployment rate of 17% including those that have stopped looking or who’ve taken part time work.
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:49 AM
As much as I love poking fun of Barry, the fact that he uses the words “the Mahatma” tells me he understands it’s an honorific title. Many world leaders refer to their peers using a title rather than their first name.
The paragraph may be poorly constructed and Barry’s writers and fact checkers are notorious for their sloppiness, but I feel this particular Obamateurism is a stretch.
Barb Dwyer on October 2, 2009 at 8:50 AM
blacksheep nails it. Thanks for pointing out the fuzzy math. The party line is that it’s only a 1.8% miss–you got it though–good one.
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:50 AM
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Mr. President is in Copenhagen trying to score a windfall real estate deal for all his cronies in Chicago and his Administration like Valerie Jarrett, the slum owner. “9.8 % unenployment. Who cares? Let them eat arugula!”
Sorry about your Hubby, Key. I hope he finds work soon.
kingsjester on October 2, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Harvard Law School graduates. Do you have a problem with that?
Loxodonta on October 2, 2009 at 8:52 AM
I left my webcam at the saloon. Dang.
Geochelone on October 2, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Oh hell yes. Thanks for reminding me as I’ve so quickly forgotten.
The President IS out of the country trying to land the Olympics for homies in HIS city, to pay back HIS debts to them for helping him get elected.
Has anyone asked if that community is any better organized today, than before Obama got it organized?
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:53 AM
California is a indicator where the rest of the nation will go, California is currently at 12.2 percent unemployment, the nation unemployment figure will eventually be even worse. You can thank Barry and Company for this.
doriangrey on October 2, 2009 at 8:54 AM
a little problem with “responsibility” I can see.
Chrissy “Leg Tingle” Matthews will not be pleased. But, his friend Letterman has a tried and true way to “work your way up the ladder” so to speak. Give him a shout.
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Those schools aren’t for learning anything besides liberal activism.
Hyunchback on October 2, 2009 at 8:55 AM
This reminds me of his “Selma” story. He’s constantly wanting to align himself with Martin Luther King, Jr.
texabama on October 2, 2009 at 8:56 AM
If the unemployment figure tops 10% here in 20 min, then the Obamateurism of the Day ought to be a retroactive one to the time when they predicted that it would get up to 8% if the stimulus didn’t pass.
ted c on October 2, 2009 at 8:12 AM
IMHO this would qualify as Obamateurism of the Month, if not the Year. Far more important than Obama’s typical day to day bungles.
jwolf on October 2, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Michelle Obama should give The One an American history book for Christmas so he can bone up on the facts. Obama could always hand it off to his speechwriter, who, like our Empty-Suit-in-Chief, obviously never studied history at ALL.
I guess he was too busy in his formative years doing all that “community organizing” crap.
Something tells me he wasn’t too busy to read Mr. Marx’ little tome though.
bradley11 on October 2, 2009 at 8:57 AM
David Letterman brings a whole new meaning to the concept of the Boss screwing his employees…
doriangrey on October 2, 2009 at 8:58 AM
No it won’t. The kids will just tell you “mmmm mmmm mmmm”
Yoop on October 2, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Seems pretty clear they know his first name isn’t Mahatma, but very clumsy, nonetheless.
mwdiver on October 2, 2009 at 9:03 AM
TOP TEN REASONS TO ACCEPT THAT JOB OFFER FROM DAVID LETTERMAN (by Treacher)
Geochelone on October 2, 2009 at 9:03 AM
I’m just happy the WH took out of the first draft the part about Barry as the boy prophet sitting the two down for tea because Ghandi acted stupidly.
Dusty on October 2, 2009 at 9:05 AM
September Unemployment: ACTUAL LOSS 995k
http://market-ticker.org/archives/1485-September-Unemployment-ACTUAL-LOSS-995k.html
elduende on October 2, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Unemployment levels sitting at 15.2% and rising here in Michigan.
So glad that stimulus crap is working so well…is the sarcasm button even necessary?
ZeeMI on October 2, 2009 at 9:09 AM
LOL…nice
Jeff from WI on October 2, 2009 at 9:10 AM
ROTFLMAO… David Letterman is just another progressive for who the phrase “The ends justify the means” is a religious mantra..
doriangrey on October 2, 2009 at 9:11 AM
The Freshman going in are pretty sharp, but by the time they graduate every cogent thought they ever had has been post-modernized and deconstructed into blissful gradations of irrelevance.
Geochelone on October 2, 2009 at 9:11 AM
From your neighbor to the west…Abandon Ship! Your state is sinking. (Ours isn’t much better with 2 useless DEM Senators and a rotten DEM Governor)
Jeff from WI on October 2, 2009 at 9:12 AM
InTheBellyoftheBeast on October 2, 2009 at 8:40 AM
Thank God someone is still teaching critical thinking. Good luck to ya.
I seriously think that Obama is using some of those High School dropouts that voted for him to write these speeches.
ZeeMI on October 2, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Jeff from WI on October 2, 2009 at 9:12 AM
I would love to. Fortunately my spouse still has his job, if that job goes south too..all bets are off and I will be the first one out the door suitcase in hand.
I just hope the kids and hubby follow.
ZeeMI on October 2, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Barack Obama’s IQ is off the charts and you petty people are just jealous.
jeff_from_mpls on October 2, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Since every day it becomes painfully apparent that there is yet another subject, endeavor or science of which Obama is ignorant, what really have we demonstrated that he does know?
The only thing he’s good at is at reading speeches off of teleprompters. I can’t think of a single other thing that this guy excels at.
Least prepared, least accomplished, no leadership abilities and a two-bit partisan hack to boot.
Worst president ever by a mile and it’s three more years before we can kick his worthless, corrupt and incompetent ass to the curb. Sigh.
NoDonkey on October 2, 2009 at 9:18 AM
I HATE the term “critical thinking”, it’s like that other stupid term, “truth to power”. Truth to power means what?, exactly. There’s power in truth, well that’s OBVIOUS.
As for critical thinking, I’ve seen that term is some of the most slanted, incorrect textbooks written. It’s a made up “buzz” term with no real meaning.
Jeff from WI on October 2, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Worst president ever by a mile and it’s three more years before we can kick his worthless, corrupt and incompetent ass to the curb. Sigh.
NoDonkey on October 2, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Not according to him. Did you hear his speech to the IOC?
He is insinuating he will be at the end of his term when/if the games come to Shitcago
Sara may have been able to see the coastline of Russia from parts of Alaska, buy dayum..I can smell Shitcago from my house.
ZeeMI on October 2, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Carter said nucular, also. I’ve never heard any liberal berating him for mispronunciation.
And by the way, I’ve been officially unemployed for the last two weeks. I just don’t want to go and collect unemployment compensation checks. They probably don’t amount to much, anyhow.
Lanceman on October 2, 2009 at 9:22 AM
But on the plus side, Alan Grayson is here.
Lanceman on October 2, 2009 at 9:22 AM
For those unemployed, there are some staff positions open on the Letterman Show. /terrible pun intended
GnuBreed on October 2, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Jeff from WI on October 2, 2009 at 9:19 AM
I see your point. I guess I have always viewed it as looking at a subject and instead of just giving it a cursory thought, you really investigated the subject for yourself, examined both sides and used the brain you were given to make a well thought out decision based on what you learned.
As to your point. I should know by now anything pushed in public school is going to be extremely slanted. Silly me! Some day I’ll get it right.
ZeeMI on October 2, 2009 at 9:27 AM
I guess they don’t have Wikipedia or Google at the White House.
mizflame98 on October 2, 2009 at 9:31 AM
mizflame98 on October 2, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Nope. They do however have this really freaky website dedicated to picking appart anything a conservative says. I believe this week it is dedicated to trashing Glenn Beck
ZeeMI on October 2, 2009 at 9:34 AM
hahaha Him and gaffe master joe are a perfect match! Its like a competition to see who messes up the most.
becki51758 on October 2, 2009 at 9:35 AM
appart= apart
*sigh* no coffee left in the house, does it show?
ZeeMI on October 2, 2009 at 9:35 AM
AdultsCharles in chargemax1 on October 2, 2009 at 9:48 AM
White House is playing
Six Degrees of Mahatma.
All about the “O”.
Haiku Guy on October 2, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Barry isn’t one to let a little thing like historical accuracy cloud his myth-making. If he did, then he’d have to revise his story about how the 1965 Selma civil rights march inspired his parents’ romance and led to his own 1961 birth.
Even the time-space continuum bends to Barry’s will.
AZCoyote on October 2, 2009 at 9:50 AM
He better not count his chickens before they come home to roost.
His worthless butt is going to be planted back in Rev. Wright’s pew before he can say “G-d America”.
NoDonkey on October 2, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Me and Mahatma, uh, we’re on a first name basis, um, even though he’s been dead for over 60 years. I just love his rice.
Kissmygrits on October 2, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Are you phucking kidding me???
D2Boston on October 2, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Ebonic History
Jeff from WI on October 2, 2009 at 10:03 AM
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