Krauthammer: Obama is no Harry Truman
posted at 2:00 pm on September 10, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
By now, one would think that Charles Krauthammer’s analysis of Barack Obama on “Inside Washington” would hardly generate controversy. Krauthammer calls him a “mortal who is in over his head,” a rather obvious conclusion, especially given the regurgitation of the Porkulus bill Obama delivered to a joint session of Congress as though it were some change in direction from Obamanomics. Krauthammer points out the lack of experience Obama had in any kind of executive position prior to his election as President, which isn’t even analysis — it’s a recitation of plain facts. Of course, for the Washington Post’s Colby King, facts equal blind hatred, or something.
In this clip from the Daily Caller, Krauthammer points out all of these facts to argue against the notion that a Trumanesque run against a “do-nothing Congress” would have any hope of success in 2012 for Obama:
“[B]arack Obama is no Harry Truman,” Krauthammer said. It’s not that complicated. Obama is over his head. He is a great orator. He came out of nowhere. He dazzled America. He [has] never run anything. He never actually enacted anything even in the legislature. He hadn’t run a state. He hadn’t run a city. He hadn’t run a business. He is running the biggest enterprise in the world and he has not succeeded. And that is why all of these independents, all of those who believed in a soaring rhetoric, including probably a couple who swooned in the aisles as he spoke in 2008, are now waking up and realizing he is a mortal who is in over his head.”
King objected that Obama is subjected to “personalized attack … week after week,” but there’s nothing “personalized” about what Krauthammer says in this argument. Most of it, with the exception of stating that Obama is “in over his head,” is just plain factual. Obama was a backbencher in the Illinois legislature, and he was a backbencher in the half-term he served in the US Senate. King wants to paint all dissent and disapproval as hate in order to demagogue Obama’s political opponents, and as we see at the end, Krauthammer won’t let him get away with it.
Blowback
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“I’d like an argument that actually answers the analysis and not an ad hominem on your part.”
/charles’ parting shot
nice work, Dr. K.
ted c on September 10, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Geraldine Ferraro and Bill Clinton pointed out the same thing during the campaigns, and were both denounced as raaaaacist.
Wethal on September 10, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Krauthammer is racist?
John the Libertarian on September 10, 2011 at 2:07 PM
Rev. Jeremiah Wright would say so.
Wethal on September 10, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Sorry, your “racism” card is maxed out.
Mord on September 10, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Good for you, Charles, for that quote! Keep it up! You are absolutely correct in your assessment!
herm2416 on September 10, 2011 at 2:12 PM
Fixed.
Del Dolemonte on September 10, 2011 at 2:16 PM
I don’t care. Obama is awesome.
Jocundus on September 10, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Colby King hates the handicapped/
oldernwiser on September 10, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Obama has a plan. . . .
Skandia Recluse on September 10, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Obama has a plan. . .
. . . . it’s an awesome plan. . .
. . . . We will find out what that plan is soon enough. . .
Skandia Recluse on September 10, 2011 at 2:24 PM
So Charles, do you still think that he has the temperament to be president?
slickwillie2001 on September 10, 2011 at 2:25 PM
I’m sorry sir, but your Race Card has been declined.
Count to 10 on September 10, 2011 at 2:28 PM
One day, decades from now, when they write the history of the news media, they will point to the legacy media’s shameless shilling for Obama as the final straw, the point in time when they lost their last shreds of credibility and devolved into nothing more that partisan hacks and propagandists.
Adjoran on September 10, 2011 at 2:31 PM
In this corner heavy weight Dr. K and that corner lightweight Colby King. It is no match. Dr. K KO’s Colby…
d1carter on September 10, 2011 at 2:34 PM
“Lean Forward” and I’ll show you were you can put your STUPID “RACIST!” card.
GarandFan on September 10, 2011 at 2:37 PM
This is stating the planest of all the fact. This is an empty dummy, a malicious, craven, narcissistic and passive-aggressive one.
Only the blind have not seen through him.
His oratory? without a prompter he is nothing.
Schadenfreude on September 10, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Nicely put Chuck….how about an answer to the statement that he’s unqualified that doesn’t depend on “haters and racists” bullsh!t.
Tim_CA on September 10, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Did Colby King ever note many pundits dislike of GWB made it impossible for them to give a fair analysis of him? Didn’t think so.
JAM on September 10, 2011 at 2:49 PM
Dr. K was nicer than I would be, I don’t even think he’s a great orator. I think he’s full of it. But nice victim card play. Totally shocking. /
Cindy Munford on September 10, 2011 at 2:50 PM
Not only is Barack Obama no Harry Truman.
Obama is not even up to being Truman Burbank.
/s
RedPepper on September 10, 2011 at 2:51 PM
He ain’t Truman…..he da DOTUS!
Boy he was a angry little boy in that speech the other night.
Worst president EVAH!
PappyD61 on September 10, 2011 at 2:59 PM
O/T Just caught the end of the Flight 93 ceremony and they show W walking away and Clinton and Biden working the crowd campaign style. It looked as if both Clinton and Biden spoke after W also. I don’t know why but that bugs me. Petty I guess.
Cindy Munford on September 10, 2011 at 3:00 PM
Krauthammer said (this was on Meet the Press November 2008), “With him,” Obama, “we get a president with a political intelligence of a Bill Clinton, harnessed to the steely discipline of a Vladimir Putin, and I say this admiringly. With these qualities, Obama will now bestride the political stage as largely as did Reagan.”
BDavis on September 10, 2011 at 3:01 PM
RedPepper on September 10, 2011 at 2:51 PM
Barack Obama is Trevor Berbick
thebrokenrattle on September 10, 2011 at 3:02 PM
Dr. K fear not Obama has tens of millions more TEETERS now than Truman did in 1948.
This horrible reality show could go on way past 2012. We c/b in fur another 5 1/2 years!
PappyD61 on September 10, 2011 at 3:04 PM
To observe the rest of the table is schadenfreudid.
Schadenfreude on September 10, 2011 at 3:05 PM
…especially helped by the stupidity and insanity on the right and from those so-called independents.
Schadenfreude on September 10, 2011 at 3:06 PM
That was some nice straw man Colby was trying to use.
Krauthammer never called Obama “stupid”.
King had put words into Krauthammer’s mouth and then tried to criticize him for it.
NeoKong on September 10, 2011 at 3:06 PM
I didn’t know he said that but I did know he was pretty impressed early on. Dr. K has been known to have to walk some stuff back, early opinions on the Tea Party is one of them. The problem with that is I never know which statement is real and which is a CYA because of critical emails.
Cindy Munford on September 10, 2011 at 3:12 PM
Obama s/b and embarrassment to all the thinking blacks.
Unfortunately he has set back the chances of really capable minorities to make it that far, for many, many years.
Schadenfreude on September 10, 2011 at 3:13 PM
.
As much as I’d like for this to be true: no, didn’t. He only resigned after he became Teh Won which is why we had the whole Blago $eat4$ale in Illinois and the country was then introduced to the eloquent Sen. Burris. Ha Ha.
.
Ø did begin his administration as screwup, however, and hasn’t looked back since.
ExpressoBold on September 10, 2011 at 3:14 PM
American Pride.
Key West Reader on September 10, 2011 at 3:18 PM
So did Custer.
The Notorious G.O.P on September 10, 2011 at 3:19 PM
Progressive dogma.
People who are capable should realize the fruits of their talents. People, not white people, or black people, or asian people, or the fictitious “latino” people. People – Americans.
When conservatives use the language of the progressives, and play the identity politics game – we lose.
Core conservative values, folks, that’s how we win. We play their game by their rules we cannot win – not only are they masters at it, they get to cheat at will. Only by forcing them to play by our rules do we win.
Rebar on September 10, 2011 at 3:22 PM
American Pride. Never. Ever. Forget.
God Da’m Is’lam
Key West Reader on September 10, 2011 at 3:23 PM
The NYT has an article “President O versus the nihilists”.
Is there a bigger nihilist than Obama?
Also, the eternal divider calls for unity in his weekend address, and likely his 9/11 proclamations. He should only hav a negative role in the latter.
The entire 9/11 everything is pretty disgusting. It s/b a somber and dignified remembrance, not a political and PC show.
Schadenfreude on September 10, 2011 at 3:25 PM
There should be a thread; a get to know everyone kind of thread.
Where were you on 9/11?
Key West Reader on September 10, 2011 at 3:27 PM
we are all racists according these kool-aid drinkers
sad
cmsinaz on September 10, 2011 at 3:30 PM
I’d like to see his course evaluations from UoC Law School. Ratemyprofessors.com was not around then, IIRC.
Wethal on September 10, 2011 at 3:32 PM
How bizarre that we are even having a conversation about whether or not Obama’s election-year strategy to run against a “do-nothing Congress” will work when his only argument in that strategy is that they “pass” a bill he hasn’t written, hasn’t had scored as to its costs, a bill that doesn’t exist.
How much more “do nothing” can you get than urging Congress to pass an imaginary bill? This is really just bizarre. It’s fairy land. My president is a wacko.
Rational Thought on September 10, 2011 at 3:39 PM
hear hear
cmsinaz on September 10, 2011 at 3:40 PM
Key West Reader on September 10, 2011 at 3:23 PM
Thank you for that. I just watched the Flight 93 Memorial Service. Very moving. Bush, Clinton and Biden did very well. Loved the music. I wasn’t really expecting to be taken in again with so much emotion and wanting to remember that day, but I don’t think we are completely healed. Maybe we never will be.
txmomof6 on September 10, 2011 at 3:40 PM
I just can’t forget. I just can’t.
My staff in the office, kids at school; the confusion, the uncertainty. Calls coming into the office. And the towers falling. Never listening to talk radio before. My God, it was the worst day ever.
And BHO wants to re-make it all into a day of service. Yeah, you go with that you putz.
Sorry, grew up in NYC and can’t get over it.
Key West Reader on September 10, 2011 at 3:46 PM
Why is this box I’m typing in white?
Metro on September 10, 2011 at 3:47 PM
Agreed. I just found out this morning that two friends were on United Flight 23 from Kennedy to LAX on the runway when the flights were grounded. She said there were 3 middle eastern men on the flight who belligerently demanded that the plane fly and would not get off when they got back to the gate. People think it was a fifth plane with highjackers that got stopped from taking off when all the flights got grounded.
txmomof6 on September 10, 2011 at 3:48 PM
Why does nobody represent the fact that Obama’s party has failed him completly? Or have they?
swimcoachmike on September 10, 2011 at 3:49 PM
watching the fox news special with tears in my eyes…and to think the folks in the middle east were cheering this…
and e j dionne think we should get over it???
what is going on in their minds…
cmsinaz on September 10, 2011 at 3:58 PM
He wants to shift the emphasis on the war on terror and radical Islam.
He also wants to establish the idea of “days of service,” when you should “give back” to the community. Your time and your money aren’t really yours; you’re just allowed to have them (but not too much; at some point you’ve made enough money or have too much time.)
It’s all about “fairness” and “shared sacrifice” in the “federal family.” Don’t be selfish, now……
The road to serfdom, in other words.
Wethal on September 10, 2011 at 4:01 PM
Has Charles ever apologized for saying that?
slickwillie2001 on September 10, 2011 at 4:11 PM
Yeah, it isn’t as though Bush was criticized or anything like that. Ease up on Obamandias.
MJBrutus on September 10, 2011 at 4:33 PM
Yes, Charles K. was very taken with Obama and his “marvelous temperament” at one point. It wasn’t just the drooling left-wing nitwits who were swooning over (inexperienced and unqualified) Barry back in 2008 and early 2009 (although Chuck would probably prefer not to be reminded now that he was once one of Barry’s fanboys).
AZCoyote on September 10, 2011 at 4:34 PM
I doubt it. I think pedigree is the only thing that matters to people like Krauthammer. Ivy league = awesome.
BDavis on September 10, 2011 at 4:35 PM
I meant figuratively, of course. But I’m just using this as a poke in the eye at the Palin-haters on the Left, who conveniently forget that O’bama now has two female Governors who Quit their terms to serve in his cabinet.
It’s OK to do that if you’re a Democrat Female Governor, but verboten if you’re a Republican Female Governor.
Nope, no double standard there.
Del Dolemonte on September 10, 2011 at 4:50 PM
Sarah has had a job as a journalist, she’s run a city, an energy commission and a state, while being a mother to 5 kids, fishing, hunting, and running marathons. Zero can barely ride a bike and hides his golf scores.
Kissmygrits on September 10, 2011 at 4:50 PM
It is awesome, or it once was. Krauthammer has impressive credentials. So does Obama….errr..in theory..
I guess I would need his college transcripts to decide…heh…
I don’t think Dr. K is or was ever wrong in giving Obama the great benefit of the doubt. I tried it, too. Hell, many of us wish there Was something to Obama….>ANY shred of ANYTHING that would be good for this country, I would welcome.
This just sucks…more than a year left..
bridgetown on September 10, 2011 at 4:52 PM
He did apologize for criticizing the Tea Party rallies as shouting at politicians rather than trying to communicate with them.
He later realized that when someone is repeatedly ignoring you, the only way to get their attention might be to shout, and march. (And vote them out of office.)
Wethal on September 10, 2011 at 5:10 PM
Behold the desperation of cultists, lol.
xblade on September 10, 2011 at 5:13 PM
Harry Truman was a businessman… he got involved with a business and it went bankrupt and he spent many years getting the cash together to pay off the creditors and those owed by the business. He felt it was a moral obligation to do so, beyond what he had to do legally.
Barack Obama is NO Harry S. Truman.
Truman had morals and ethics you could define and defend.
Obama? Not so much.
ajacksonian on September 10, 2011 at 5:16 PM
Great orator?
Not without his teleprompter, he’s not. Maybe we should have elected him to replace Brian Williams.
hillbillyjim on September 10, 2011 at 5:26 PM
In other words, they didn’t quit because they decided they were lame ducks.
So, whose cabinet did Palin resign as governor to serve in again?
Democrats are idiots, but you don’t help your cause when you make your own idiotic arguments like this.
xblade on September 10, 2011 at 5:27 PM
Thanks SO much for sharing that, kid.
All I did was state Facts. Since when does stating Facts make me an idiot?
If you’ve seen my regular posting history here, you’ll know I am no “Palin Cultist”.
F-
Del Dolemonte on September 10, 2011 at 6:07 PM
Why does Obama even get credit for being a great orator? The man can barely put two sentences together when speaking publicly, without a Teleprompter.
Susanboo on September 10, 2011 at 6:07 PM
Facts are racist…
JohnGalt23 on September 10, 2011 at 6:58 PM
I guess they mean ‘orator’ in the sense that he is simply reading a speech crafted by another person.
slickwillie2001 on September 10, 2011 at 7:03 PM
.
Oh, I completely agree! The idea that Ø had much to resign from in 2008 is highly debatable. How many times did
Chicago’sIllinois’ Junior miss votes in 2007 and 2008. Even all current favorable sources agree that Ø’s absentee rate was extremely high when he was running for higher office while collecting a Senate paycheck and doing little to earn it..
I understood the dig but I just wanted to put into context that Gov. Palin had far more pressure on her to defend, at her own personal cost, lawsuits brought by vicious and vindictive Democrat enemies than Ø ever thought of having to defend. He would go “fetal position” if he had to put up with the garbage Sarah has had to endure. Her resignation was for a purpose, not just a whim. Ø actually DID quit on the job without resigning while he spent 2 years engineering a run for president and perfecting his sneaky middle finger salutes.
.
Ø quit the Senate long before he resigned, no doubt about it but you will never find a self-respecting Democrat admit that Sarah Palin had real reasons to resign her post, reluctantly, as Alaska governor. I hope Sebelius and Napolitano find their pots of
peegold at the end of the rainbow. BTW, wikipedia does not mention that either of these governors resigned during their second terms toobeyserve Ø but the word “resignation” or “resign” is littered thoughout Sarah’s entry..
Wikipedia, you don’t get money from me by being biased, dummies… grow up and act adult.
ExpressoBold on September 10, 2011 at 7:15 PM
He makes a darn good Benito Mussolini though! He almost has that down to perfection.
Lon Chaney on September 10, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Unfortunately ObaMao is no Carter.
Slowburn on September 10, 2011 at 8:18 PM
Why of course Obama is brilliant. He is so brilliant Congress passes his legislation without needing to read it. And now we know it should pass his jobs bill instantly before he even sends over anything but his speech because Obama is so brilliant we just know that noone could improve on anything he suggests; so why waste time even waiting to get a copy of the bill before we act? After all, he told us 17 times to pass it now rather than wait until he tells us how he will pay for it etc./s
KW64 on September 10, 2011 at 10:03 PM
A thought I had early on, before he was elected, was that he would do a terrible job and some (really racist) people would say that only a “white man” can do the job. Pity that the first black president had to be such a doofus (or should I say DOTUS?)
The smartest thing BHO ever did was to have Biden as his VP and it was his good fortune to have San Fran Nan as Speaker. Who would have wanted either of them to replace him? Ugh.
IrishEyes on September 10, 2011 at 10:37 PM
I was saying the word lightweight some time ago while the good doctor and Bill O. were still struck with Dear Leader’s intellect.
And someone tell Bill O. that Ford Motor’s timely financing of everything that wasn’t in a trash can and thereby avoiding the fell circumstances which GM and Chrysler suffered does not makes Henry’s company more patriotic. They hawked their own brand. Avoid GM if you want but don’t think less if any corporation for wanting to survive.
Ford would have taken the money. And any import would in the same situation, too. Trust me.
IlikedAUH2O on September 11, 2011 at 1:14 AM
To quote one of my favorite movie lines ever from “Diehard”, as John McClane said to the bad guy, “Welcome to the party pal”.
Geesh, we were screaming this from the top of our lungs back in 2008. Krauthammer was sucking the Obama ether and enjoying it. He is SUCH a dumbass. Why is he pontificating on TV? Any of us commenters here are more qualified to give accurate opinions over Krauthammer.
karenhasfreedom on September 11, 2011 at 1:42 AM
Ah, Dr. Krauthammer, an ad hominem is all you’re likely to get from Colby and his fellow Obama supporters, because it’s pretty much all they’ve got left to offer…
morganfrost on September 11, 2011 at 10:57 AM
I knew Truman Capote, I worked with Truman Capote, Obama is, Truman Capote.
2Tru2Tru on September 11, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Urban Express, don’t leave home without it!
roy_batty on September 11, 2011 at 3:36 PM