Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on January 18, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
This is a combination Obamateurism, as there are a couple of moments from yesterday’s campaign appearance that just doesn’t make sense. On one hand, Obama says he doesn’t know anything about Scott Brown and his record:
Obama never once uttered Brown’s name, and admitted that he wasn’t too familiar with him.
“I’ve heard about some of the ads that Martha’s opponent’s running,” Obama said. “He’s driving his truck around the Commonwealth. He said he gets you. That he’ll fight for you. That he’ll be an independent voice. I don’t know him. I don’t know his record. I don’t know whether he’s been fighting for you up until now. But here’s what I do know. I want a senator who’s independent too … and here’s what I know: Martha will do so. She’s got a track record of doing so. I know there are things in which she and I disagree. She doesn’t just call herself independent. She has the character to be independent. I hear her opponent is calling himself independent. But you have to look under the hood.”
He doesn’t know Brown’s record, but he has no problem characterizing it for the audience:
Obama recited Coakley’s common refrain that, “As a legislator he (Brown) voted with Republicans 96 percent of the time.”
“It’s hard to suggest he’s going to be significantly independent from the Republican agenda,” Obama said.
D’oh!
But on the other hand, he knows enough to say that Brown will vote against taxes:
You’d better check under the hood, because from everything I’ve seen, Martha’s opponent would have voted against those taxes!
D’oh!
She would have voted against those tax cuts!
D’oh!! You can almost hear Martha Coakley saying, “You can shut up now, Mr. President.” And listen to the crowd go silent as he muffed the easy play. Obama would have been better off sticking to his first argument, which is that he didn’t know what he was talking about, rather than continuing to open his mouth and make it obvious.
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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What’s striking is how excited he actually appears. He obviously likes campaigning more than governing.
AnninCA on January 18, 2010 at 8:09 AM
Maybe that foot in mouth disease that greasy joe has is contagious.
SHARPTOOTH on January 18, 2010 at 8:10 AM
I thought the most amateurish thing about the President’s speech was mentioning that Coakley had put child abusers in prison. She KEPT people who had been falsely convicted of child abuse in prison, but that’s hardly a part of her record to remind people about. Unless the White House has decided that allowing health care to go down is better for the Democrats electorally in the long run…
brambo_42 on January 18, 2010 at 8:10 AM
But
BrutusBrown is an honorable manapostic on January 18, 2010 at 8:11 AM
You know, Teleprompter is very passive-aggressive. Maybe if Obama dressed nicer when he takes her out she wouldn’t mess with him like this.
jarodea on January 18, 2010 at 8:11 AM
Campaigning is easy. This “governing” thingy is hard. But I seem to have developed a case of athlete’s foot–in my mouth.
Crusader Rabbit on January 18, 2010 at 8:12 AM
That’s all the guy is, Ann…A campaigner. Governing? Bah! Leave that to the underlings like Pelosi and Reid. What could go wrong?
Heh.
Battlecruiser-operational on January 18, 2010 at 8:12 AM
Haha , foot in mouth.
What if palin had said that…
the_nile on January 18, 2010 at 8:14 AM
That’s like that idiot Patrick Kennedy saying if you want magic and a quick fix to the country’s problems, vote for Scott Brown. Ummmm…..yeah, Paddy, that actually sounds good.
bloggless on January 18, 2010 at 8:14 AM
B+ on the speech. B+ on the pivot. Strong work champ.
ted c on January 18, 2010 at 8:14 AM
Look at those fools behind him. If you watch them, you can see the subtle realization that they, too, should vote for Scotty.
bloggless on January 18, 2010 at 8:16 AM
I just have to say that the way the sheeple sitting behind Obowma chant his name mindlessly makes me ill (I loved Reagan, but I would never chant his name.)I hope the Founding Fathers can’t see them doing that…
I guess it’s easier to chant like a bunch of robots than actually think.
Battlecruiser-operational on January 18, 2010 at 8:18 AM
Well personally my favorite was the fact he kept putting Brown down for owning a truck. Brown owns a GMC Canyon. So I guess Obama is saying we shouldn’t buy from a government owned company?
Deanna on January 18, 2010 at 8:18 AM
I love the first screencap. Obama has his “haughty” look going on, and the lady in the front right has her hand to her forehead as if saying “Oh my…”
Probably just an accident of catching movement a certain way, but got my attention.
cs89 on January 18, 2010 at 8:19 AM
Brown:”Obama is right , i would vote against those taxes”..
the_nile on January 18, 2010 at 8:20 AM
Deanna on January 18, 2010 at 8:18 AM
Yeah, those bitter clingers hanging on to God & Guns, driving around with those pick’em-up trucks…
Racists?
cs89 on January 18, 2010 at 8:20 AM
He likes that adoring crowds, the adulation. Narcissists are like that. Governing is hard work.
Pablo on January 18, 2010 at 8:21 AM
He also said that “anyone can run a slick campaign, anyone can buy a truck.”
Boy, is he right! Apparently, these days, any idiot can dupe 52% of the country into believing that he’s *not* a complete and total moron, even though he can’t put two words together without the aid of a teleprompter.
jana on January 18, 2010 at 8:21 AM
In the first video,
you see Smug Hopey,
and,in the second video
you see,
If Looks Could Kill Hopey!(snark).
canopfor on January 18, 2010 at 8:21 AM
So I take it from this witticism that Jay and Conan have nothing to fear from Obama.
Wethal on January 18, 2010 at 8:22 AM
Nobody to blame for that but yourself, Barack. Unlike another candidate of recent memory, Brown hasn’t tried to keep his past a secret.
backwoods conservative on January 18, 2010 at 8:23 AM
Also, the kid behind the President’s right shoulder struggled to remain focused. Sometimes I thought he was rolling his eyes. Like a student in a class where the lecture goes on too long.
brambo_42 on January 18, 2010 at 8:23 AM
One word comes to mind when I think about the Pookie-dent….
LIAR
Jerome Horwitz on January 18, 2010 at 8:24 AM
Nothing funny about this guy at all, eh comedians? Nothing? You can’t find one. single. thing?
jana on January 18, 2010 at 8:24 AM
Well, obviously.
Campaigning requires you to do nothing more than make speeches to your fans.
That’s what Obama thought being President of the United States was going to be. And it isn’t.
We told you this clod was nothing more than an empty blathering suit that did nothing when in Congress and is doing nothing good as President.
Some of us aren’t taken easily by style over substance. Some of us are. The Obamacrats value style over substance. Glad to see you’re finally recognizing this. It’s too late, however, to do anything about it. The damage has been done.
Good Lt on January 18, 2010 at 8:24 AM
That’s all he lives for. Acting the celebrity. What else has he done except make public appearances? Um not very much. Between dates, vacations, world apology tour, jetting around to Copenhagen, Oslo and just about everywhere else, Bowing before foreign leaders, parties and golf, there is just so little time to get anything done!
dogsoldier on January 18, 2010 at 8:25 AM
TOTUS must be on the fritz again.
Hog Wild on January 18, 2010 at 8:25 AM
I can’t believe that any Republican can win this election.
Of course, I couldn’t believe the Jets game yesterday, either.
I hope that it doesn’t work out that I wish I had bet (the money I gave to Scott) on the Jets.
IlikedAUH2O on January 18, 2010 at 8:25 AM
For people who like to rip the GOP for being “trapped” by a conservative ideology, the Democrats are well and truly screwed if the Community Agitator won’t escape his inner Alinsky.
jjshaka on January 18, 2010 at 8:26 AM
Also, he’s talking about Brown votes with Republicans 96% of the time.
Ummm, isn’t Brown running as a Republican? Wouldn’t you expect that a person running as a Republican would vote along the same lines as other Republicans?
jana on January 18, 2010 at 8:26 AM
It seems,that in the background,the ObamaVoterBots
have lost some enthusiasm for Team Obama!
canopfor on January 18, 2010 at 8:27 AM
PLEASE SEND SCOTT $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
OmahaConservative on January 18, 2010 at 8:27 AM
At least he doesn’t vote “present” 96% of the time.
Good Lt on January 18, 2010 at 8:28 AM
I know he doesn’t own a flag pin….but how about a tie?
Is he going for that third-world, “who cares” look?
Hening on January 18, 2010 at 8:29 AM
He didn’t even look like a POTUS yesterday. He looked like someone they dragged out of a pub and threw behind the podium to make a speech.
kingsjester on January 18, 2010 at 8:30 AM
Obama acted stupidly. Solid B+
wildcat84 on January 18, 2010 at 8:30 AM
I know he doesn’t own a flag pin….but how about a tie?
Is he going for that third-world, “who cares” look?
Hening on January 18, 2010 at 8:29 AM
yeah right, Maybe we should start calling him dinnerjacket.
SHARPTOOTH on January 18, 2010 at 8:31 AM
I doesn’t really matter what he says anymore when he speaks. For those that have completely keeled over into the fever swamp of Obama worship, he could just as well be up there reading a book report one of his daughters wrote. Every time he stops speaking, GO NUTS and CHEER!! W00T!!!
For a (thankfully) rapidly growing number of people: He’s talking??? He’s lying!!
BigWyo on January 18, 2010 at 8:31 AM
B.S. on not knowing much about Scott Brown. Obama and Rahm know what Brown had for breakfast a year ago last Tuesday. Getting info on the competition is what the WH does.
sherry on January 18, 2010 at 8:31 AM
Marcia goes under the bus tomorrow.
OmahaConservative on January 18, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Will. Not. Stop. Digging.
I simply cannot imagine where this train wreck ends…his resignation? He has NO idea what to do from one minute to the next…never had any leadership experience…
Maybe he craps his pants in public…
winston on January 18, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Grammar police:
There is a couple … that just don’t make sense.
A “couple” is a pair of things taken as one, therefore, the singular is appropriate.
The things that comprise the couple, individually, don’t make sense. Therefore, the plural is appropriate.
Or is it yesterday’s campaign appearance that doesn’t make sense? I can see the argument for that in fact, but then the sentence structure is awkward, unless we are assumed to share the understanding that there was one campaign appearance that didn’t make sense, and one that did, and so you are qualifying to which appearance you are referring.
Sorry. I think I’ll have the nurse use a higher voltage tomorrow.
mr.blacksheep on January 18, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Imagine what he will look like a year from now – a complete wreck.
sherry on January 18, 2010 at 8:33 AM
I’m sure their book reports are more honest and make more sense.
jana on January 18, 2010 at 8:33 AM
And this is why we should vote for her?
Seriously???
Scott Brown should send Obama a thank you note.
drjohn on January 18, 2010 at 8:33 AM
Shocking how someone would consistently vote with their party.
JammieWearingFool on January 18, 2010 at 8:34 AM
NRO. And I bet Mom Jeans Guy Obama couldn’t even drive a truck with standard transmission.
Wethal on January 18, 2010 at 8:35 AM
Win or lose, Mitt’s getting some credit for Brown’s big MO: http://mittromneycentral.com/2010/01/17/win-or-lose-mitts-getting-some-credit-for-browns-big-mo/
dnlchisholm on January 18, 2010 at 8:35 AM
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Loser!
conservnut on January 18, 2010 at 8:35 AM
Detailed Boston forecast
TodaySnow and rain this morning…then snow likely this afternoon. Snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches. Blustery with highs in the mid 30s. North winds 15 to 25 mph. Gusts up to 45 mph…decreasing to 30 mph this afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
TonightMostly cloudy. Near steady temperature in the upper 20s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.
National Weather Service forecast for Boston and Suffolk County. Last updated at 7:45 AM
* Extended forecast from the National Weather Service
seven-day forecast
Monday, Jan 18
Rain/snow showers
Rain/snow showers
36°F|30°F
2°C|-1°C
Tuesday, Jan 19
Snow showers
Snow showers
OmahaConservative on January 18, 2010 at 8:36 AM
It’s his idea of trying to look like the common folk, the working man…you know, the people who go to Fenway Park to watch an outdoor hockey game.
Imagine if he’d gone to the game and to a concession stand, “Hey, can I get some arugula on that brat?”
Wethal on January 18, 2010 at 8:37 AM
Once again, O’Bozo’s classical liberal arts education and keen intellect are on display, but oddly the image that comes across is of a poorly educated, highly opinionated dullard.
As Ed sort of said — you can sit quietly in Washington and let others think you are a fool, or you can open your mouth in Boston and prove it.
Thanks for joining the fight in Mass, O’Bonehead.
Jaibones on January 18, 2010 at 8:37 AM
Pookie can’t save this obamination.
Roy Rogers on January 18, 2010 at 8:38 AM
From this morning’s WashPost:
GOP hopeful riding voter anger in Kennedy seat bid
Yup. It’s just ‘anger’. It’s not like we have any common sense, or anything..
Urban Infidel on January 18, 2010 at 8:38 AM
We now witness the loss of his oratorical aura: “… evil Republican! …” (Not working! shift gears) “… evil tax cuts! …” (Still not working: shift gears!) “… hope and change! …” (Aw c’mon, STILL not working? Grind gears!) “… er, er, er …” (Dammit: SHIFT gears, not GRIND!) “… Boooooosh! …” (I’m stunned! It can’t be me: what’s wrong with these O-bots? Shift gears!) …
ya2daup on January 18, 2010 at 8:39 AM
Heh. I think laughing at O’Bozo for his sissiness is great fun. The Dems think he’s a great athlete or something.
Jaibones on January 18, 2010 at 8:39 AM
This is rich.
The tactic of not using your opponent’s name in advertisements is only effective when you’re WINNING.
Burger King mentions McDonalds, not vice versa.
Avis mentions Hertz, not vice versa.
Scott Brown does not mention whatever her name is.
Get it?
Obama confirms his clueless nature.
jeff_from_mpls on January 18, 2010 at 8:40 AM
D’oh!! You can almost hear Martha Coakley saying, “You can shut up now, Mr. President.” And listen to the crowd go silent as he muffed the easy play. Obama would have been better off sticking to his first argument, which is that he didn’t know what he was talking about, rather than continuing to open his mouth and make it obvious.
========================================================
Hopey has inherited,Bill Clinton’s
KISS OF POLITICAL DEATH,and has
done it within a year!!
canopfor on January 18, 2010 at 8:40 AM
Can you make a career babbling and blathering about nothing?
In Obamaspeak “Yesyoucan”.
What a truly empty suit this man is.
One-Termer. Jimmuh Carter lite.
bradley11 on January 18, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Possible Republican Blowout?
by: SteveB
Mon Jan 18, 2010 at 08:30:28 AM EST
On Morning Joe this morning Mike Barnicle stated that he had been talking to Suffolk University pollers who had been canvassing in Massachusetts last night. They were working specifically in bellwether areas of the state to try and get a final read on the mood of the state in terms of the Brown/Coakley senate race.
The word he got was that Scott Brown was ahead by double digits. Is this the makings of an historic blowout? What will that mean for administration’s agenda? The 2010 election cycle? The future of the the Democratic stranglehold on Massachusetts politics? Interesting questions we just may get a chance to answer this year.
Crossposted at The Rockefeller Republican.
OmahaConservative on January 18, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Considering Obamas track record success for campaigning for Dem candidates (re: Corzine in New Jersey); need I say more?
docdave on January 18, 2010 at 8:42 AM
If Barry did that, would he still blame it on Bush?
Barb Dwyer on January 18, 2010 at 8:42 AM
Martha “Marcia” Coakley declined an invitation to appear on Fox and Friends this morning. Verrry interesting.
kingsjester on January 18, 2010 at 8:43 AM
I’m angry *because* I have common sense and am able to see what havoc this administration is wreaking. Lots of Obots are angry because they realized they’ve been duped. Others are angry because their job is gone and there doesn’t seem to be another one in sight.
So, yeah… Brown’s riding on some anger.
Fine with me. Whatever it takes to get these clowns out of absolute power.
jana on January 18, 2010 at 8:43 AM
MassachusettEs voters to Obama: Bend over, Barry, now it’s our turn.
petefrt on January 18, 2010 at 8:44 AM
This sounds vaguely familiar. ‘Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt”.
Rovin on January 18, 2010 at 8:45 AM
Obama’s touch has done the trick. At one point yesterday morning Intrade had Brown and Coakley at 50 and 50. This morning it is 67 and 36.
behiker on January 18, 2010 at 8:46 AM
Us knuckle-draggin conservatives got one right eh?
uknowmorethanme on January 18, 2010 at 8:46 AM
I can see the White House response on Wednesday: “Coakley who? Never heard of it.”
bradley11 on January 18, 2010 at 8:47 AM
He came to Massachusetts without a tie?!?
You’re not the mayor of Key West, Sport. Since you only play the President on TV, at least dress the part.
fluffy on January 18, 2010 at 8:47 AM
Marcia goes under the bus tomorrow.
OmahaConservative on January 18, 2010 at 8:32 AM
OmahaConservative:Well,she’ll have trucks for company!!
(I kid):)
canopfor on January 18, 2010 at 8:48 AM
Wait a tick,the KOOL-AID is wearing off!!!
canopfor on January 18, 2010 at 8:49 AM
OC, there was a HA poster from MA last night who said that’s just normal winter for MA. No big deal. They don’t close the schools or businesses for a snow shower. Just have to make sure all the old folks and anyone else without transport get rides to the polls.
And the Brown voters are fired up and ready to go out. The Coakley voters may say, “Oh, who cares…not in this weather…”
Wethal on January 18, 2010 at 8:50 AM
January 17, 2010 | 2:12 PM ET
Rep. Barney Frank at Obama-Coakley Rally: “She let it become a personality contest and that was a mistake”
(Boston) Outspoken chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) has not held back on his feelings on the Massachusetts special election Senate race, and today is no different.
Inside the gymnasium awaiting President Obama’s remarks at a rally for Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, Rep. Frank tells FOX News’ Carl Cameron about Coakley’s campaign so far:
“She let it become a personality contest and that was a mistake. Some of us complained about it and we think it’s turned around.”
Previously Rep. Frank said a win by Republican State Senator Scott Brown in this race would “kill the health bill.” Read more on his previous statements about the race here.
OmahaConservative on January 18, 2010 at 8:50 AM
My Theory…
TOTUS is a Union Member who didn’t get in on that sweetheart deal.
franksalterego on January 18, 2010 at 8:51 AM
So; much like before:
0bama:
but it is pretty obvious that he acted stupidly
LegendHasIt on January 18, 2010 at 8:51 AM
The MSM also continues to call it ‘Kennedy’s seat.’
Urban Infidel on January 18, 2010 at 8:51 AM
Yep, I saw that last night. just wanted to point out the blustery weather. Cousin Pookie ain’t goin’ nowhere, unless it’s for crack.
OmahaConservative on January 18, 2010 at 8:52 AM
If only the voters had taken the time to look under your hood, Obama.
Disturb the Universe on January 18, 2010 at 8:53 AM
“I don’t know – not having all the facts – what I think it’s fair to say, number one, that Brown would have acted stupidly.”
Obama needs to just keep his trap shut if he doesn’t know all the facts… How can he even diss a guy if he doesn’t know anything about him? And I can betcha, that is he doesn’t know squat about Brown, he knows squat about *Marcia Coakley* too.
sarainitaly on January 18, 2010 at 8:54 AM
Chris Matthews is already spinning this.. That if Coakley loses, “it’s not a vote against Obama.”
franksalterego on January 18, 2010 at 8:55 AM
Yep, more evidence that he is lost without TOTUS.
I want a senator who’s independent too … and here’s what I know: Martha will do so.
Ha! And the idea that any member of the Democrat machine (like Coakley) will be “independent” is farcical (unless you define “independent” as going rogue against the Constitution or emulating Communists like Hugo Chavez).
Buy Danish on January 18, 2010 at 8:55 AM
Hopefully, not for much longer.
jana on January 18, 2010 at 8:55 AM
I was watching MJ this morning. It was Chris Matthews that said that actually. It was delicious to watch. The look of pain he had was priceless.
Babino on January 18, 2010 at 8:55 AM
“But you have to look under the hood.”
Hmmmm sounds like double speak for “Brown is a klansman”.
(if fairy tale is racist then “look under the hood” sure sounds like klan speak to me…)
sarainitaly on January 18, 2010 at 8:57 AM
I wonder who Auntie “I love Bush” Zeituni is voting for? (I’m sure ACORN figured out a way to get her registered…)
jana on January 18, 2010 at 8:58 AM
Was he just excited to be on the stump again or was he on something? No tie, but then he had to leave the birthday party early for this. Don’t think he cares anymore about trying to fool anyone and is just going through the motions and doing just enough to get by. Present.
Kissmygrits on January 18, 2010 at 9:01 AM
Excellent catch sara!
IrishEi on January 18, 2010 at 9:01 AM
It angers me to no end that this narcissist thinks I want him to have all my money so he can figure out how to spend it. What worse is that he admits it and our fawning press thinks it a great idea and never report it.He worse than Jimmy Carter who, even through I was 8, I thought was terrible.
GO SCOTT BROWN.
Gracelynn on January 18, 2010 at 9:03 AM
Awesome! This plus the fact that Prez Emptysuit basically endorsed Brown in his speech!
Divine Intervention!
Chewy the Lab on January 18, 2010 at 9:05 AM
Didn’t O say Martha would be his ally is elected? So, what’s with the “Independent” garbage?
Beaglemom on January 18, 2010 at 9:06 AM
What would be great is if Brown were to win and a huge stock rally would happen on Wednesday as Jim Cramer is predicting.
Chissy can spin all he wants, but it would be a loud and clear message that this ALL about Obama.
behiker on January 18, 2010 at 9:07 AM
if elected, sorry.
Beaglemom on January 18, 2010 at 9:07 AM
Nice. That Democrat hack Coakley is running as an independent? News to me. How come all those dem groups are giving her money?
Come on Marcia, if you have what it takes, then run as an independent. Take away that (D) on the ballot, and the guaranteed meathead votes that it grants.
Honestly, who falls for this sort of BS?
Obama likes independent senators!? Bwahahahaha. Yes, he likes senators who are free to be either liberal or progressive.
reaganaut on January 18, 2010 at 9:08 AM
Obama likes to make fun of the truck Brown drives.
Its a GM truck.
Obama took over GM.
The government owns GM.
Would Obama have liked the truck better if it was a Toyota?
albill on January 18, 2010 at 9:08 AM
Obama: “I’m not a real president, but I play one on TV.”
BuckeyeSam on January 18, 2010 at 9:09 AM
franksalterego on January 18, 2010 at 8:55 AM
I hope there will be some exit polling asking WHY people voted the way they did. I’ll bet chrissy will not be happy with the answer to that question.
lukespapa on January 18, 2010 at 9:10 AM
You all notice the MSNBC headline at the bottom:
Obama rallys for Coakely.
Note to MSNBC: Rallys is not a word. And even if it were, it would be the plural of rally, not the correct word to use.
What you meant to say was Obama rallies for Coakely. Doesn’t matter though, I doubt the 17 welfare recipients watching noticed or cared.
angryed on January 18, 2010 at 9:12 AM
The Obamateurism of the year, as far as I’m concerned is in a clip posted over on Gateway Pundit.
“Forget about the truck, anyone can buy a truck”
Anyone can have Kobe beef too, I guess. What a dolt.
ORconservative on January 18, 2010 at 9:13 AM
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