Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on April 15, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
The phrase “whether we like it or not” usually connotes a negative to which an audience has to resign themselves. To give one example, no one ever hears, “Whether you like it or not, you’re going to get a banana split with your choice of toppings,” or “Like it or not, I’m going to get naked now.” For some reason, Barack Obama — commander in chief of the American military, mind you — used this very construct when noting that the US “remain[s] a dominant military superpower” while addressing the Nuclear Security Summit he hosted this week. Freedom’s Lighthouse has the clip:
Er, what exactly is there not to like about having the dominant military in the world? That status has kept us safe from state-on-state attack since World War II, when Pearl Harbor taught us that weakness invites attack. Do we need clarification from our Commander-in-Chief as to whether he sees this as a good thing or not? Because whether we like it or not, we’re stuck with Obama as C-in-C for the next two years, nine months, and five days.
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!
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Actually, I use that one quite often.
Daggett on April 15, 2010 at 8:08 AM
Methinks Obowma falls in the ‘not’ category.
bikermailman on April 15, 2010 at 8:10 AM
Maybe he liked it better when there were 5 or 6 countries with roughly equal military power and they had multi-megadeath scale wars every so often.
forest on April 15, 2010 at 8:10 AM
God bless us all! Our CIC has no love of this great country.
cmsinaz on April 15, 2010 at 8:11 AM
“Like it or not, I’m going to get naked now.” – Eric Massa
forest on April 15, 2010 at 8:12 AM
Has he ever heard of the term ‘Peace through strength’?
cmsinaz on April 15, 2010 at 8:13 AM
Ed, if you’re the one saying that, I don’t see it as a positive. Just sayin.’
CurtZHP on April 15, 2010 at 8:13 AM
(Off Topic) Yeah. I think it can qualify as a threat for some people. (Spring must be in the air… see also this thread….)
(On Topic) I think I can, for a moment, give the POTUS a pass on this one because it’s like that “With great power comes great responsibility” thingie. But that moment is fleeting.
apostic on April 15, 2010 at 8:14 AM
The Hopey/Changey MY WAY,or the HIGHWAY!!
canopfor on April 15, 2010 at 8:14 AM
He was obviously talking to his moonbat base, all of whom are thoroughly offended by our superpower status.
CurtZHP on April 15, 2010 at 8:15 AM
Obama had to use those words because his real choice would have been:
“I do not like nor want the United States to remain a dominant military superpower”.
albill on April 15, 2010 at 8:15 AM
The Last few days it has been difficult to read the Real news – The Hits just keep coming, come Nov I will be Bruised but not Beaten – and will vote ..
wheels on April 15, 2010 at 8:16 AM
He was obviously talking to his moonbat base, all of whom are thoroughly offended by our superpower status.
CurtZHP on April 15, 2010 at 8:15 AM
CurtZHP:And therein lies the DANGER of the Obama
Administration,er,Obama himself!!:)
canopfor on April 15, 2010 at 8:17 AM
FIFY
Daggett on April 15, 2010 at 8:18 AM
“Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.”
—Ronald Reagan—
mwdiver on April 15, 2010 at 8:19 AM
Who was our Obama-commie talking to exactly …
tarpon on April 15, 2010 at 8:20 AM
I agree. His sentence structure was horrible, but if you listen to the entire clip, you can make the case that the “whether we like it or not” part refers to the later line below.
“when conflicts break out, we get pulled into them one way or another.”
mwdiver on April 15, 2010 at 8:23 AM
Ah…um…ah…after I..um..finish..off…ah…America
um..ah…the playing field…will be evened up…ah…
so ah…everybody..ah..will..um..be…the same….ah..
so..all…countries..ah..will..be equal..ah..(snark).
canopfor on April 15, 2010 at 8:24 AM
I’m really concerned about the Obamateurism of the decade. And most concerned by the Obamateurism of the century.
YOU KNOW IT’S COMING!
Cybergeezer on April 15, 2010 at 8:25 AM
Yes, but I can’t truly enjoy someone’s nakedness if there is even one person in the world without a naked person to enjoy. I’m lookin’ at you, beta blogger.
docjeff on April 15, 2010 at 8:25 AM
“when conflicts break out, we get pulled into them one way or another.”
mwdiver on April 15, 2010 at 8:23 AM
mwdiver:And yet,the Liberal Party b*tch’s about the
US being the worlds policemen!!
canopfor on April 15, 2010 at 8:26 AM
I’m really concerned about the Obamateurism of the decade. And most concerned by the Obamateurism of the century.
YOU KNOW IT’S COMING!
Cybergeezer on April 15, 2010 at 8:25 AM
Cybergeezer:It will be HISTORICAL!!:)
canopfor on April 15, 2010 at 8:27 AM
Ditto.
Now, if it were the Boss Emeritus. . . well that would be a different story.
Like it or not, didn’t Dear Liar use the same phrase in talking about the US’s economic policy?
rbj on April 15, 2010 at 8:28 AM
Has he ever heard of the term ‘Peace through strength’?
cmsinaz on April 15, 2010 at 8:13 AM
cmsinaz: Fired up,Ready to go:)
canopfor on April 15, 2010 at 8:29 AM
Isn’t FDR one of Øbummer’s choices of a president that he admires? Thus, he is just emulating a hero in times of national economic struggle which may lead to armed conflict from foreign attack.
ExpressoBold on April 15, 2010 at 8:29 AM
He stands against what America stands for: American Exceptionalism.
petefrt on April 15, 2010 at 8:31 AM
heh :)
cmsinaz on April 15, 2010 at 8:33 AM
Hurtful stuff scares the men children of our female dominated left.
Fasten your sealtbelts for the Oklahoma City anniversary!
The libs will not tell you that the main difference between Bill “guy in the neighborhood” Ayres and Tim McVeigh was that one knew chemistry. Somebody tell Hannity how he drove the lefty media absolutely nuts with the Rev. Wright and Ayres. They are praying for a nut to come out of the Tea Party. So guys, leave the M-40s and 16s in the cosmo and call any wack job who engages in violence now a double traitor.
And aside from that, ain’t it fun to watch this clown and His fellow travelers pretend to be leaders? It is like the wimps in Nissians with dark glass and trick wheels pretend to be gangsters.
It may be a genetic flaw among Aryan males to want to subjugate the world. Honest. Check out what Caesar and Alexander really looked like.
So maybe we are better off with the Oprah minions setting the theme…
IlikedAUH2O on April 15, 2010 at 8:33 AM
If it were you saying that to me, Ed, I would count that as a negative. :)
irishspy on April 15, 2010 at 8:33 AM
Brain bleach please!
/I kid… :D
bikermailman on April 15, 2010 at 8:38 AM
“Like it or not we have a great space program”
“Like it or not we have the best healthcare system in the world”
obviously being highly regarded is not well thought of by this president
R Square on April 15, 2010 at 8:39 AM
“Like it or not”? Are you kidding me? Well I’ll tell you what there MR. P. I FREAKING LOVE IT!!!! Every bit of it, support it 24/7 365, raise money to support it’s members, bake pies for men and women in uniform, man the grill at the BBQ’s at squadron parties, counsel and support the families, spend weeks and months as a single parent while my man is doing the best he can to save this country from ALL ENEMIES. So yeah, it’s safe to say I LOVE IT. And for anyone who has never in their life had anything to do with the military to think for one minute that our military is something not to like can GET THE “F” OUT OF MY COUNTRY.
Totally pissed off right now.
milwife88 on April 15, 2010 at 8:39 AM
No. Like it or not.
Mojave Mark on April 15, 2010 at 8:39 AM
heh
jobless claims rose again this week
get ready for an ‘unexpected’ AP report
BPD on April 15, 2010 at 8:39 AM
He wants this country to be a third-rate Democrat Socialist Marxist-lite nation. He does not believe in American exceptionalism. Period. “Wwhether we like it or not”,betrays his real feelings about America.
kingsjester on April 15, 2010 at 8:39 AM
He was talking to his base on the far left. America is still a world-dominating military power, but he is going to fix it.
He’s just p!ss!ng off the rest of us. Because he “won”, you know.
BetseyRoss on April 15, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Well, see, from Obama’s viewpoint being Emperor would be so much easier if all those little people would just quit pestering him for help. If the US wasn’t a super power, all those little people would be bothering someone else, and he could enjoy his waffle.
Skandia Recluse on April 15, 2010 at 8:44 AM
Or we can nominate McCain, version 2.0 and be stuck with the stinking POS for six years, nine months and five days.
Extrafishy on April 15, 2010 at 8:44 AM
Absolutely correct, and furthermore he is doing his best to make sure there is no longer any American Exceptionalism. Which leads us to…
jwolf on April 15, 2010 at 8:44 AM
Definitely, and that der Leader is sooooo smart! When you are prone to ramble (a 17 minute answer comes to mind) the odds that he will get something out of place increase. Love that “Smart Power.”
mwdiver on April 15, 2010 at 8:46 AM
Like it or not, Pee Wee Herman would make a better President.
petefrt on April 15, 2010 at 8:46 AM
Of course he doesn’t like it that America is the world’s dominant military power.
It’s not fair. Waaaaaaaaaah!
AZCoyote on April 15, 2010 at 8:46 AM
What?
You folks don’t want to live in The Republic of New Kenya?
The world will stop hating us. They may even pity us.
IlikedAUH2O on April 15, 2010 at 8:47 AM
Redistributing the wealth is easy.
Redistributing the weapons is trickier.
It makes Obama cross.
Disturb the Universe on April 15, 2010 at 8:47 AM
Barry does not have a strong connection between the brain and the mouth. He just says what ever comes to mind with little thought as to how it sounds, or what it means in the common construct of the English language.
The meme that he is intelligent and a great orator gets deconstructed further each time he speaks. The Obama cultists and the MSM will never admit the obvious.
Yoop on April 15, 2010 at 8:48 AM
Can I get an “Amen?” “Amen, sister. Amen.”
mwdiver on April 15, 2010 at 8:49 AM
Sounds like Ol’ Pootie Poot had his hand up the President’s pootie poot.
yoda on April 15, 2010 at 8:50 AM
Obama, the disciple of Reverend Wright, America hater. If only the MSM had vetted him, perhaps we wouldn’t be staring at the destruction of our country.
fogw on April 15, 2010 at 8:50 AM
“Being a super power is hard.”
—BHO—
mwdiver on April 15, 2010 at 8:51 AM
And, of course, “unprecedented”.
We will be fortunate to survive this administration.
Cybergeezer on April 15, 2010 at 8:52 AM
As someone said, he is our first anti-American president.
Dhuka on April 15, 2010 at 8:54 AM
touche
cmsinaz on April 15, 2010 at 9:01 AM
O’Reilly had two liberals on last night to “debate” the issue. Sally Quinn and some other broad.
Bill O’Reilly is such a flaming idiot. I laughed through the whole thing.
Jaynie59 on April 15, 2010 at 9:03 AM
I also see a huge disconnect with that attitude and his high handed dealings with our allies, especially Israel. When it comes to telling sovereign countries their business, he seems to like it a way too much.
Cindy Munford on April 15, 2010 at 9:03 AM
As usual, Obama reveals his true beliefs when he goes off-script. Of course he does not like the U.S. being the world’s only superpower. He has been drilled his whole life by radicals who believe military power is bad.
rockmom on April 15, 2010 at 9:06 AM
I thought when Obummer was elected, everyone would be our friend and it wouldn’t matter if we were strong…so why is he apologizing???
ladyingray on April 15, 2010 at 9:10 AM
“Like it or not” is Oliar’s idea of his mandate as maximum ruler. That’s how we were gifted with HC deform.
His rumination on being the world’s policeman could have used a “let me be clear”, since that always brings his muddled thinking into sharper focus for me, as well, muddled thinking.
ontherocks on April 15, 2010 at 9:21 AM
One would think that the Greatest Orator Since Cicero would understand how to use a coloquial expression,
DDT on April 15, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Wow, what a coincidence. As I watched O’Reilly engage the two spin doctors all I could think was “Friggin idiots!”
Gang-of-One on April 15, 2010 at 9:35 AM
I do not want to cast aspersions but…does he seem to be a bit tipsy? His stuttering and misspeaking resemble the actions of a person who has been imbibing.
allstonian on April 15, 2010 at 9:44 AM
You are not our RULER!!! at least not mine.
ohiobabe on April 15, 2010 at 9:53 AM
After watching it a couple more times, I think you’re right, he’s blitzed. Those are some heavy eyes, and “these things blake out” ain’t Chinese.
ontherocks on April 15, 2010 at 9:55 AM
This is another peek behind the curtain into who he really is. Similar to his Joe the Plumber moment and his wife’s “1st time in my life” moment.
Impeach this turd.
Alden Pyle on April 15, 2010 at 9:57 AM
The UN! Pinnochio wants to be leader of the whole wide world, but to do so he must first destroy American exceptualism and our economy.
Hes’ doin a fine job of both so far so I implore those who took the oath to protect and defend to IMPEACH PINNOCHIO!
dhunter on April 15, 2010 at 10:10 AM
If Barry doesn’t like our status, perhaps HE should consider MOVING to some other country. Kenya comes to mind.
GarandFan on April 15, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Obama heard it as “Pi$$ on strength”!!!
landlines on April 15, 2010 at 10:32 AM
Starting it with ‘like it or not…’ is misleading. You have to include the full ‘whether WE like it or not’ or else it could be interpreted as ‘suck it up, buttercup’ as if he were talking to foreigners.
I generally know better than to give him that much credit…but I had to watch it again to make sure.
James on April 15, 2010 at 11:22 AM
There was a discussion on this topic over in theGreen Room. Commenter SnowSun said, “Beyond the “like it or not” phrase, the indefinite article is also disconcerting: “a” doominant military superpower” should have been “the”.
My reply to SnowSun was that everything Obama utters must be parsed: words, sentence structure, vocal inflections – and parsed from the perspective of context.
Along with SnowSun’s example, consider Obama’s “…we remain a dominant superpower…”
If he had been speaking as a proud American commander-in-chief president to the rest of the world, he would have said “…we ARE THE dominant superpower…”
His using “remain” carries that whining, simpering, “I don’t approve of the US being a superpower” apologizing tone that is his trademark when referring to the US.. “I’m trying soooooo hard to make this a grovelling third-world countrry, but it takes time, so it REMAINS A dominant superpower. Please, puhleeeeeeze be patient with me.”
It’s enough to gag a maggot.
GGMac on April 15, 2010 at 12:07 PM
When I heard this statement yesterday, my first question to myself was, “Who is the ‘we’ he is referring to?”
DeoGratias on April 15, 2010 at 12:44 PM
I think it may actually be impossible for me to get even more disgusted with this waste of oxygen.
PJ Emeritus on April 15, 2010 at 12:58 PM
Probably not, but if he keeps it up, he will surely hear from “War through weakness.”
Unfortunately, so will the rest of us.
Voyager on April 15, 2010 at 1:05 PM
Look at the water Bill O. swims in.
The One’s comment is a drop on the top of a endless run of intestinal pulp which the arbiters of PC have been eliminating on the consciousness of this nation for the past two generations. The Europeans thrive on it.
The UN never tells us about the results of nationalism and exceptionalism surveys and the comparison between the develeloped world and the rest. But I digress..
A few, Bush and Cheney most famously, were not properly fertilized with PC and American guilt and look how much trouble they go into.
Bill O. had to have two libs handle this. The discussion would have gotten so testosterone and America loving with any citizen with a brain lacking the PC syrup of his two guests, some of his audience would have gotten upset.
That is why Fox doesn’t have nationalists like some of us as guests.
IlikedAUH2O on April 15, 2010 at 1:38 PM
I thought the same thing Apostic. The sentence was a real mess, but I think he was referring to “responsibility” when he said “like it or not.”
As far as I’m concerned, though, that’s just as bad as decrying our superpower status. Our status in the world gives us both responsibilities and opportunities. We embrace both.
Unfortunately, our President doesn’t understand that.
Dee2008 on April 15, 2010 at 1:48 PM