Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on October 13, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Barack Obama used his weekly address to talk more about his health-care overhaul plans, or more accurately, about Congress’ plans. This time, however, Obama finally offered a new argument; he claimed that he had bipartisan support for ObamaCare, and cited two former Senate Majority Leaders, Bob Dole and Bill Frist. However, that turned out to be at least one too many:
In fact, what’s remarkable is not that we’ve had a spirited debate about health insurance reform, but the unprecedented consensus that has come together behind it. This consensus encompasses everyone from doctors and nurses to hospitals and drug manufacturers.
And earlier this week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg came out in support of reform, joining two former Republican Senate Majority Leaders: Bob Dole and Dr. Bill Frist …
Unfortunately for the President, Bob Dole hasn’t endorsed Obama’s plans for health-care reform. He has offered support for some kind of reform plan, but he wants it to be a bipartisan plan, not a radical overhaul dictated by Nancy Pelosi. In fact, Dole felt strongly enough about it to demand that the DNC stop including him in their commercials:
The Democratic National Committee is canceling a television ad touting GOP support for health care reform after protests from one of the Republicans mentioned, former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. …
“I just didn’t think it was fair, when I’ve tried to be helpful in encouraging a bipartisan solution, for the DNC to run an ad that I interpreted and I know others did as a backhanded comment about Republicans,” Dole said. …
On Sunday, Dole said: “I still believe a compromise is there. No one I know is flatly against health care reform.”
And that’s the central conceit in Obama’s argument. Most people understand that the system needs reform of some sort. It doesn’t need a massive government intervention that will make the existing problems worse. Using Obama’s logic, he could even claim that I back his efforts on a health-care overhaul. Er, maybe I shouldn’t give him any ideas …
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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Joe Wilson said it best.
yoda on October 13, 2009 at 8:11 AM
Schwarzenegger and Bloomberg? That’s all he’s got? That’s almost too funny.
bookman on October 13, 2009 at 8:13 AM
What an idiot.
milwife88 on October 13, 2009 at 8:14 AM
Come on Ed that just one more lie from Obama who is not only trying to take worse President ever from Jimmy Carter but is also working on making Clinton look like an honest President in comparison.
cmptrnerd on October 13, 2009 at 8:15 AM
If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes true, right?
/sarc
“Facts are stubborn things.”
- John Adams
publiuspen on October 13, 2009 at 8:15 AM
ok, Virginians, let’s act like Virginians as in the olden times: call dumbsh*t Senator Jim Webb & tell him to vote no on socialized medicine. Gateway Pundit says the vote may be today.
#s: 866-507-1570, 202)224-4024
kelley in virginia on October 13, 2009 at 8:16 AM
If you can’t get a spokesman for an ED cure to support your healthcare reform plan….
James on October 13, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Hey kids! Learn to present facts like a real live president:
apostic on October 13, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Shut up, Dr. Frist. You haven’t gotten any wiser…
ladyingray on October 13, 2009 at 8:19 AM
Perhaps someone told the Nobel Prize Winner that Dole may back the reform in the future.
TimBuk3 on October 13, 2009 at 8:20 AM
haw haw
blatantblue on October 13, 2009 at 8:21 AM
an unprecedented consensus of 4. wow. wee.
kringeesmom on October 13, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Let’s call it what it is, Bullsh*t and Lies.
SHARPTOOTH on October 13, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Last time I checked none of those people are in the current Congress.
NeoKong on October 13, 2009 at 8:25 AM
try getting a consensus in congress and then you can blow your own horn…
you have to wonder how many of those folks are truly behind this pathetic bill…
cmsinaz on October 13, 2009 at 8:27 AM
Next thing you know, they’ll be digging up dead Republicans to endorse the frickin’ plan.
Why not, they’ve got the almost dead ones.
TXUS on October 13, 2009 at 8:29 AM
More lies from the liar in chief. ugh I still cant figure out how they are planning to vote on a bill that isnt even written.
becki51758 on October 13, 2009 at 8:29 AM
I ordered the t-shirt.
boomer on October 13, 2009 at 8:29 AM
riddle me this: the bill raises my taxes & cuts services to Medicaid & Medicare. so who gets more health care? just the illegals?
kelley in virginia on October 13, 2009 at 8:30 AM
This may be the day that they start the vote to ram the Health Scam down our throats…..start buring up the phone lines.
yoda on October 13, 2009 at 8:30 AM
is the Baucus “bill” still not in bill form? I realize John Kerry said that was completely unnecessary. Can they vote on a “bill” that is not in legal form? please don’t tell me they can do that.
kelley in virginia on October 13, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Spin it anyway you like and as fast as you can Barry, it’s still nothing but Fibs, Lies and BIG Fat Whoppers.
Barb Dwyer on October 13, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Make that two: Frist Predicts Tax, Premium Hikes With Democratic Health Bill
Pablo on October 13, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Riddle me this… If the Tax increases start the day the bill is signed into law, why dont the actual programs start until 2013… 3 years of collecting fees with no monetary outlays… Me thinks me smells something rotten in Washington DC…
doriangrey on October 13, 2009 at 8:35 AM
We seem to have redifined “Obamateurismisms” from the goofs of an incompetent administration to pointing out the lies. The filthy lying coward in the White House claiming that Bob Dole is 100% behind his plan or that there is overwhelming concensus for Obamacare are not foul-ups they are flat-out lies.
highhopes on October 13, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Because the balance sheet looks a lot nicer when it has 10 years of revenue and only 7 years of costs.
Pablo on October 13, 2009 at 8:38 AM
So what? He could get 100 former Republican Senators and Congressman to agree with him–that doesn’t make them right nor mean it is the right thing to do.
Beaglemom on October 13, 2009 at 8:38 AM
What? You didn’t see those marches on DC demanding that Congress pass Obamacare now? Neither did I.
highhopes on October 13, 2009 at 8:38 AM
Obama’s health care
reformtakeoverpetefrt on October 13, 2009 at 8:42 AM
It is not a bill, it is a concept. Next step after today’s vote will be for Harry Reid, Baucus, and Dodd to draft a bill for the Senate floor (based on the products of the two committees). It could well include a public option. It could well re-instate provisions to sneak through subsidizing illegals and federal funding of abortions. This is not the time to let up vigillence on what these criminals are doing.
highhopes on October 13, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Is Det. John Kimble even onboard? Didn’t he say the other day that he has no intention of supporting a bill that will add billions in unfunded mandates for California?
Doughboy on October 13, 2009 at 8:44 AM
highhopes: so they are only voting on a concept today? is that a waste of time? do they do alot of voting on concepts there?
kelley in virginia on October 13, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Short answer… no, The dems are going to pass a bill that hasnt been written so that they can write anything they want with impunity at a later date. Anyone who signs this bill should be prosecuted for fraud…
doriangrey on October 13, 2009 at 8:46 AM
I made my voice heard to my two useless jackalope senators known as Klobuchar and Franken. I said my piece, the young people on the phone were nice, and now I will be dutifully ignored by two of the most liberal hacks in Congress. Oh well, at least I still have Bachman.
Bishop on October 13, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Breaking: Ed Morrissey supports health care reform—Malkin request policy deductibles double for employees. Morrissey blames rate increase on greedy, (profit driven), insurance companies.
/
Rovin on October 13, 2009 at 8:48 AM
bishop: i have Warner & WEbb. I’m calling again today. Hope you do, too.
kelley in virginia on October 13, 2009 at 8:49 AM
I thought Arnold issued a statement saying he backed reform, but not Obamacare. I can’t find it but I clearly remember Bret Baeir reading it on Fox the day after Arnold supposedly threw his support behind O last week.
Monica on October 13, 2009 at 8:50 AM
I’ll get mine ordered….sure wish I still had my old printing business and came up with that print.
Burn the lines everyone…..Baucus is trying to bring this to vote today.
yoda on October 13, 2009 at 8:50 AM
Never underestimate the ignorance of the electorate….one of the fundamental principles of politics.
Is this Dole thing an Obamateurism or is it by design?
Ever since Obama declared himself a candidate, Obama has at least once a day made some promouncement that while false in its entirety has appeared plausible to all but those who were actually paying attention.
coldwarrior on October 13, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Last interview I saw with Frist, he didn’t seem too crazy about the current bill either.
mikeyboss on October 13, 2009 at 8:55 AM
True QOTD, and the sad news is that’s about a close to reality as old Bob ever was.[emphasis added]
Can you say RINO?
I knew you could.
Blacksmith8 on October 13, 2009 at 8:58 AM
ding, ding, ding, ding, ding
We have a winner!
Blacksmith8 on October 13, 2009 at 8:59 AM
Good on Bob Dole! But I’m waiting for him to say, “Bob Dole thinks Obama needs to go.”
KS Rex on October 13, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Yes, they will be voting on a concept. The legislative language has not yet been written and the devil is in the details. Co-ops by any other name can be the public option depending on what exactly is meant by the term cooperative. The mechanisms for funding abortions can well circumvent the Hyde Amendment by bogus accounting meausure.
highhopes on October 13, 2009 at 9:03 AM
I called my guy Crapo. He is opposed to much of the bill, but his staffer didn’t know how he would vote. So I helped him out. Vote NO!!
csdeven on October 13, 2009 at 9:10 AM
*sighs* Ive called mine…Spector and Casey. Not thinking Im gonna change their minds….but I will drive them batty!
becki51758 on October 13, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Ahnold has been around the Kennedys way too long. Sen. Frist, please go away and concentrate on your Medical Missionary work. Sen. Dole, please find the courage you displayed as a member of our Armed Forces and make a principled stand against this garbage.
kingsjester on October 13, 2009 at 9:15 AM
This is why I’m really beginning to hate the GOP
Jeff from WI on October 13, 2009 at 9:24 AM
i tried to call Warner & WEbb. after hitting the button “please press 2 if you wish to leave message”, i got a busy signal. all message boxes were full, no live bodies.
but finally, i got someone in the Norton Va office of Sen. Webb? do any of you know where the hell Norton Va is? it is in the middle of coal country in SW Va. That woman got it. she said she knew people were mad.
kelley in virginia on October 13, 2009 at 9:26 AM
we have battled this for months. we cannot give up now. keep calling. never surrender. keep calling.
kelley in virginia on October 13, 2009 at 9:26 AM
sen warner’s office in abdingdon has no voice mail service & no live body picked up.
i called the Norfolk office. Norfolk is a city & you know that people are smarter in cities. the woman said that Sen Warner said that the Baucus bill would lower costs. i asked if she could point me to language in the specific bill that said that.
duh. there is no bill. our taxes & insurance premiums will go up.
when i told her that i was a lawyer & had enough sense to read this stuff & see how it would raise taxes, she wanted to get off the phone.
they know they are lying to the American public
keep calling.
kelley in virginia on October 13, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Yeah! Considering place and time that’s as good as it gets. Still, highhopes’ “filthy lying coward” says is all.
Gang-of-One on October 13, 2009 at 9:35 AM
My suggestion to Ed a few days ago still stands:
Amateur, with its Latin root meaning “lover” is not the accurate descriptor.
Should be saboteur — one who purposefully destroys.
Therefore, Sobamateurism of the Day.
publiuspen on October 13, 2009 at 9:40 AM
There is a need to help the several millions who want health coverage, but who now are unable to afford it, to get it. (Those who can afford it but don’t bother are on their own.)
And there is a need for Tort Reform.
And for preventing insurers from denying signed-for care via sleazy fine print technicalities.
All of which can be done through minor tweaks to the current system.
There’s no need to further bankrupt the already-deeply-in-debt nation and burden all future generations with this power grabbing boondoggle… only so that democrats can seal their lock on the levers of more money-wasting schemes for decades to come.
profitsbeard on October 13, 2009 at 9:42 AM
I hate politicians.
Hey, Obama…I don’t care who you say is on board with you. Let me read the bill and hey, I can decide for myself.
Imagine that.
Why must they treat us like little children?!!
bridgetown on October 13, 2009 at 9:43 AM
*uuurrrp*
You’ll have to excuse me… I’m still gagging over the notion, you can lower the cost of Health Care Insurance, by raising taxes on Health Care Insurance.
franksalterego on October 13, 2009 at 9:58 AM
I doubt I could express just how angry I am about this lie by IWon. This is the President of the United States standing before the American people and telling a bald face lie. Even if Dole and Frist were on board, this would not be an “unprecedented consensus”. “Unprecedented consensus” implies the majority from both sides or at least the vast majority.
Next and more importantly the group IWon forgot to mention the most important group – the American people. And yes, it does appear there is a “consensus” among them – they don’t want a take over of their health care by a majority.
Next, why don’t we address the pay off the drug companies to get them on board? Wait until BO reneges on this promise after they finish paying for his ads.
katablog.com on October 13, 2009 at 10:04 AM
It’s actually a committee vote today and Webb’s not on the committee. I called anyway and voiced my opinion. I asked the staffer what kind of feedback they were getting on the issue and was told “It’s very mixed.” Yeah I’ll bet it’s mixed. Webb and Warner are both jackasses.
Oldnuke on October 13, 2009 at 10:35 AM
It’s the economy of scale when it comes to consensus. In order to destroy the global economy, a couple hundred “scientists” are needed to agree that
man-made global warmingclimate change is a real danger to the world. Only three or four people are needed to sign on to an ill-conceived government healthcareinsurance plan to bring the American economy closer to a standstill.Left Coast Right Mind on October 13, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Sounds to me that Dole was only upset when his statement was turned against Republicans. (Of course that is Obama’s strategy: pretend to ally with people who normally wouldn’t support you and then stab them in the back. Like he did with doctors, insurance companies and coming soon, the pharmaceutical industry.) If Obama had said, we will make this a bipartisan effort and had not insulted Republicans then I suspect Dole would have gone along.
What every Republican should say is KILL THE BILL! If you want healthcare reform use the Tom Coburn proposal. (And why don’t they echo in unison Coburn’s proposal when the libs cry that they are just the party of no?
Christian Conservative on October 13, 2009 at 11:04 AM
J_Crater on October 13, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Joe Wilson, who was proven to be correct, stated to Obama:
YOU LIE!!!
AGAIN.
dthorny on October 13, 2009 at 12:01 PM
AND not have rationed care when 40% of ALL existing doctors retire or quit while ADDING 47 million illegals, those who do not want healthcare and the legitimate 12 million who do not have healthcare to a government run plan? Keep in mind, 25 MILLION of this number WILL NOT HAVE GOVENMENT RUN HEALTHCARE UNDER THIS NEW PLAN for the measley cost of well over 1 TRILLION DOLLARS…
HE LIES.
dthorny on October 13, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Good for you!! I’m going to call Ben Nelson here in Nebraska again too. We can’t give up!!!
yoda on October 13, 2009 at 2:24 PM
GoO – You tell it like it is…..you’re my kind of people. Say what you mean and mean what you say!!!!!
yoda on October 13, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Two too many. I know I’m not the first to point this out, but I’d hate for it to get missed: Frist also said he was not for the healthcare bill.
Very true. You’d almost expect people to start referring to Obama as a filthy liar at every opportunity.
tom on October 13, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Obama wants everybody on the Dole.
Steve Z on October 13, 2009 at 5:22 PM