Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 8:05 am on January 5, 2012 by Ed Morrissey
Back in 1980, Ted Kennedy made a long-anticipated run for the White House against a very vulnerable Jimmy Carter, and looked like he might prevail in the primary — until Kennedy offered up one of the all-time worst flubs in national electoral politics:
Hey, at least Kennedy had an answer, incoherent as it was. Barack Obama told ABC last week that he’s still trying to come up with a slogan to explain why people should vote for him again:
The man who made “change we can believe in” and “yes, we can” hallmarks of the 2008 presidential race is still searching for a catchy phrase to define his next campaign.
“We’re still working on it,” President Obama told ABC News’ Barbara Walters when asked about his slogan in an exclusive pre-Christmas interview.
“I think that’s a great question,” Obama said, grinning. “If those middle-schoolers have any suggestions, let me know.” (Walters’ question had been written by a young American student and Obama admirer.)
While no official selection has been made 313 days before the election, Obama’s campaign team has been testing a mix of pithy phrases meant to reflect the president’s accomplishments and vision for the future – all while deflecting attention from the lagging economy and some of the promises from 2008 that didn’t quite get fulfilled.
“We’re still working on it”? Maybe they haven’t had enough time yet. After all, they’ve only been at it for almost a year. If they have to test proposed slogans for a year to avoid referencing Obama’s flops, then maybe that should tell them something. Besides, isn’t this why campaigns hire professional advertising executives? If a candidate has to wait a year for well-paid consultants to create a campaign slogan, that tells you something about that candidate’s executive competence … although nothing we don’t already know.
How about “No I Can’t”? Seems to fit in this instance.
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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“Squeal like a pig.”
exliberal on January 5, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Those middle schoolers ask tougher questions than our fool media.
IlikedAUH2O on January 5, 2012 at 10:49 AM
“Why stop at just four years of generational theft?”
“No Child Left a Dime”
“Visit Europe without leaving America”
“Don’t let Fidel Castro’s endorsement go to waste”
“If you like my incompetence, you can keep my incompetence”
“Because teleprompters can’t collect unemployment”
“Cousin Pookie, come out, come out, wherever you are”
“When it absolutely, positively has to be bankrupted overnight”
“Don’t say nope to the hope-a-dope”
“Because the White House press corpse says so”
“So you can keep living Carter buyer remorse”
But the most likely:
“Timmy’s printing trillions in new ObamaBucks, come get yours!”
MrKleenexMuscles on January 5, 2012 at 10:52 AM
He needs 4 more years to loose the nasty slice with the long clubs.
scookam on January 5, 2012 at 10:55 AM
But, but I thought he was 50% white. If he’s JUST AS MUCH white as he is black, how can I be racist against the 44th white president?
Nutstuyu on January 5, 2012 at 10:56 AM
This is going on my car’s bumber.
Nutstuyu on January 5, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Perfect!
I was always rather fond of Vero Possumus and the fake Presidential seal. He could update it to veni, vidi, vici, especially after conducting a successful War on Congress, War on Profits, and so forth.
As for what the GOP’s slogan should be? How about we use Obama’s words against him and go with, You’ve been hoodwinked and bamboozled.
Buy Danish on January 5, 2012 at 11:01 AM
“We’re Still Working On It.”
What a GREAT campaign slogan!
Harrell on January 5, 2012 at 11:02 AM
“When I said ‘change you can believe in’ I didn’t mean this term, I meant next term”
dont taze me bro on January 5, 2012 at 11:05 AM
“Do Nothing Congress…Please”
dont taze me bro on January 5, 2012 at 11:06 AM
“Duty Calls Us!”
(crickets)
(giggling)
(rolling on the floor)
WHEN?
~(Ä)~
Karl Magnus on January 5, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Excellent!
Ned Beatty was never the same after that.
(and yes, we’re getting the same treatment)
~(Ä)~
Karl Magnus on January 5, 2012 at 11:24 AM
“I’m still not on the dollar bills!”
“Hoodwink ya, yes we can!”
“Remember, I’m black!”
“Yes we can, I just need another FOOOOOUR!”
sarainitaly on January 5, 2012 at 11:42 AM
“All your stuff are belong to us”
BobMbx on January 5, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Perchance “We’re Still Working On It” is in fact their slogan and the best they can come up with.
P Opus on January 5, 2012 at 12:01 PM
“Everyone loves me, they are nutjobs”
Or
“I hate rich people.”
demotheses on January 5, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Thanks, Fallon!
ITguy on January 5, 2012 at 12:33 PM
That’s the first thing I thought. It’s… PERFECT!!!
Kraken on January 5, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Ah, Teddy Kennedy, the original lefty head-tilter.
Here’s a slogan that perfectly suits the Obama campaign: “Shut up and vote for me!”
RebeccaH on January 5, 2012 at 12:38 PM
To expand on cmsinaz’s gem, if I may and if no one else hasn’t already:
“Four more years of Fore Play”
Yoop on January 5, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Fits Obama 2012 to utmost perfection:
“From Diapers to Depends”
Schadenfreude on January 5, 2012 at 1:01 PM
I thought he coined it back in January 2011: WTF!
kmid219 on January 5, 2012 at 1:11 PM
Try these:
“Fore more years and I’ll be ready for Mount Rushmore and the PGA.”
“I have to have another term because Michelle likes being called ‘Your Excellency.’”
Gladtobehere on January 5, 2012 at 1:17 PM
I think President Obama should run on his economic platform. A couple of suggestions:
1. Work Will Set You Free (maybe he can roll this out at a campign speech in Germany, to appeal to an international consitituency).
2.
Spend
Tax
Federalize
Unionize
STFU America!
malclave on January 5, 2012 at 2:05 PM
“We’re still working on it”
That should be the slogan.
FireBlogger on January 5, 2012 at 2:24 PM
Change you can believe in….not dollars.
logicman_1998 on January 5, 2012 at 2:30 PM
“When it absolutely, positively has to be bankrupted overnight”
MrKleenexMuscles on January 5, 2012
This here is the one I absolutely love. Not only does it work for the individual businesses, but it’s working towards America herself.
On another note, obviously I’m new here, can someone PLEASE explain to me how to get the different areas shadded? I have posted a couple of times now and couldn’t figure it out and just gave up. Thank you.
momof5shortstuff on January 5, 2012 at 3:23 PM
How bout “Do over!”
Stevel on January 5, 2012 at 3:26 PM
How about this slogan…..”Vote for four more years because you can’t fix what ain’t Barak!”
chickasaw42 on January 5, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Here is what I learned from some poster here when all I could was just read and not post. I saved it in case I ever got a chance to be a part of Hot Air.
jazzuscounty on January 5, 2012 at 5:13 PM
Thank you sooo very much!
momof5shortstuff on January 5, 2012 at 6:01 PM
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