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Politics

Did Obama Make a Gaffe? Says ‘You Can’t Change Washington From the Inside’

Sep. 20, 2012 5:37pm Madeleine Morgenstern

President Barack Obama on Thursday came under fire for saying the “most important lesson” he’s learned during his time in office is “you can’t change Washington from the inside.”

The quote quickly made its way around the Internet as it seemed to undermine the president’s very argument for getting re-elected. Obama went on to cite “the big accomplishments like health care,” which he said only happened because the American people were mobilized and spoke out.

“I’ve learned some lessons over the last four years, and the most important lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t change Washington from the inside,” Obama said during a Univision forum in Florida. “You can only change it from the outside. That’s how I got elected, and that’s how the big accomplishments like health care got done, was because we mobilized the American people to speak out. That’s how we were able to cut taxes for middle-class families. So something that I’d really like to concentrate on in my second term is being in a much more constant conversation with the American people so that they can put pressure on Congress to help move some of these issues forward.”

The liberal-leaning Media Matters for America sought to quickly dismiss the idea that Obama made a gaffe, saying the president “credited the outside pressure from Americans as key to the big changes he has enacted while in office (i.e. health care reform).”

It’s a fairly straightforward political message: change happens in Washington when Americans get involved and pressure political leaders to act.

How that “seems to undercut a central premise of his 2008 election” or “reinforces the perception that Obama could not accomplish what he set out to do” — he cited specific accomplishments and went on to say that he planned to use this lesson as a strategy to achieve more in a presumptive second term — is anyone’s guess.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was quick to jump on the president’s remark, however, telling a crowd in Florida that Obama “threw in the white flag of surrender again.”

“He said he can’t change Washington from the inside, he can only change it from outside. Well we’re going to give him that chance in November, he’s going outside,” Romney said. “I can change Washington, I will change Washington, we’ll get the job done from the inside…his slogan was ‘yes we can,’ his slogan now is ‘no I can’t.’”

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Comments (81)

thibx
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:09pm
i say deport him back to kenya or asia or where ever he is from one of those muslim countries. i read the washington examiner on the oboma you don’t know. read that he hates poor people. he’s a damn crook at the highest level. he defended the slum lords in court againt tentants who had no heat and was freezing.

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- Godfather.1
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:53pm
  Where do you get your information? Also, where did you learn to write? You go around this site labeling everyone dumbasses, but it appears you have little to any intelligence.
  
  You think he hates poor people, huh? Are you planning on voting for Romney, because after his latest statements, it is very clear what he thinks about poor people.
  
  Based on your writing skills, I would guess that you are in the 47% that he was talking about. How does that make you feel that Romney thinks you are a loser, a freeloader, a self-labeled victim, and someone who can’t take control of your life? How does it make you feel that Glenn Beck agrees with him?
  
  Report this comment
- nakedbootleg
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 7:52am
  He should go back to Pakistan and finish his “sabbatical” taken back when Americans were not allowed to travel to Pakistan. Passport please…
  
  Go Mitt/Ryan!!!
  
  Report this comment
- smokeysmoke
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:39am
  what obama ment was that ONLY THE PEOPLE FROM VOTING CAN CHANGE WASHINGTONG…., BUT i thought OBAMA AND NANCY PELOSI were going to drain the swamp of washington?? but then why in 08 were dems saying ELECT THEM… THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE WASHINGTON, MAKE THE SEA LEVEL RISE SLOW.. etc..
  
  Report this comment
- getalong
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 1:47pm
  Why is the Obama campaign using the same logo as the communist party. Wake up America!!!
  
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- tifosa
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:04pm
  Romney said the same thing on Huck…”I don’t think you change Washington from the inside I think you change it from the outside.” 12/07
  http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2007/12/30/4429528-mitt-on-huck-mccain-ann
  
  Report this comment
Claus
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:07pm
It was Pres. Martin Van Buren who organized the Dem. party into Wards, State, National, etc. He said: “Those who have wrought great change in the world never succeeded by gaining over “chiefs”, but always by exciting the multitude.” Beware the executive orders and Federal Regulation explosion the day after Pres. Obama wins or loses. That is his Transformation Day – he has the “flexibility” he told the Russian President about. He’ll be “flexible” for a lot longer if he wins. Harry Reid is there until 2016. He will continue to cover the President’s back, no matter how useless the President makes the Legislative Branch. One Party Rule is ugly. One man rule, even by “The One” is sadly possible, but is never good for a country or the world. Justice Roberts let the President buy a lot of votes with a health care takeover. But the Judge also warned us all: “Elections have Consequences.” One more appointment ..

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barber2
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:00pm
Obama does NOT like America / Washington. . He wants to ” fundamentally change ” America/ Washington. Like a typical Lefty student of the Chicago community organizer guru, Saul Alinsky , Obama follows the goal of those ” Rules For Radicals : ” to take power FROM those who have power – i.e., the majority , and ” redistribute ” power TO those who don’t have power – i.e., the minority .

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- RoadReady
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:16pm
  The vote is going to determine whose in the majority. Good Luck!
  
  Report this comment
- starman70
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:28pm
  It wasn’t a gaffe! It was the real truth. NOW, IT IS UP TO US, THE AMERICAN CITIZENS TO CHANGE WASHINGTON FROM THE OUTSIDE!!!!
  
  It is time to take the country BACK from the commies who have been destroying it from the inside. From Obama on down, clean them all out! Reid, Polosi, Waters, Clyburn, and all the Liberals must GO!!!
  
  America can become the world leader it once was but only if we remove these clowns.
  
  Report this comment
- TomSawyer
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:41pm
  I noticed when the Tea Party influences Washington, liberals call them obstructionist. And I don’t think health care passed because the people wanted it. The public was angry that it passed.
  
  Report this comment
thibx
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:52pm
this health care bill people did not want. it was done in a locked room harry reid and pharmical companies. i bet drug companies are making a lot of money on this. one thing i read about different companies made this one shot for someone who’s was having trouble in pregency. so she could carry the baby this shot cost $10.00. oboma gave making this shot to 1 drug company this company put a price of $1500.00 on the shot.

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Gregb
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:49pm
guess you have to change Washington from China

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MDECKER
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:47pm
Once again Obama blames the American people. Obama dreams of the day when he and his bother Hugo can sip a beer together, while watching over their Socialist domains. It was no gaffe.

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term limits for congress
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:42pm
The way I remember it, Obamacare created the TEA party.

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marine249
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:32pm
If you can’t or will not change Wasington from the inside.
THEN WE WILL CHANGE IT FROM THE OUTSIDE.
STEP. 1. VOTE YOUR A$$ OUT.

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- CatB
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:50pm
  LOL .. I just got back from a Romney Rally in Sarasota Florida .. Romney said just that . … we are going to put him on the OUTSIDE on November 6th. I had not heard this idiotic statement from Obama .. but Romney was RIGHT ON IT!
  
  Report this comment
- CatB
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:56pm
  That’s OUR RALLY ON THE VIDEO of Romney!
  
  Report this comment
- DebBinFla
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:12pm
  Actually a reply to CatB. Found you. I was the one you helped with mom. Thanks! Can’t be online for long right now. Great Rally!
  
  Report this comment
- CatB
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:21pm
  Hi Deb … had a great day .. tell your mom I enjoyed being with you both … will catch you again … CAT
  
  Report this comment
- CatB
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:31pm
  Oops .. Debb ;-) sorry about the missing b .. I have bookmarked you .. if you click on any name you can bring up their last posts.
  
  Report this comment
JimL
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:29pm
nation, nation in the survey what is my will today.

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jerseyflash
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:25pm
This guy ” urkel ” has a major problem america….This is why we are in the state that we are in….” urkel’s ” retention level is “o”

they want to talk about romney’s week….Has anyone been watching the tv….Death and destruction…Brought to you by ” urkel “…The partaaaa guy

nov 6th …We will make changes from the inside out….”out with obama”!!!!!
In his own words nov 7th 2012….W.A.F. Shellacking i just took

vote nov 6th 2012 america…We can make the change

” a date which will live in infamy “

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RoadReady
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:22pm
Amazing how the righty media and candidates are still trying to use the old school technique of the sound bite. When Willard says, “his slogan was ‘yes we can,‘ his slogan now is ’no I can’t.’”. he forgot to finish it with the implied sentence, ‘but yes you can’.

Willard’s got some stones to say, President Obama, “threw in the white flag of surrender again.”. This coming from a guy whose falling behind in the polls towards his destiny of becoming another Lame Duck candidate.

Oh well, there just aren’t many ways to polish a turd.

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- DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:47pm
  Yes we can. Oops…no I can’t.
  The biggest failure in the history of the office of President.
  A complete, unequivocal disaster and failure.
  Barack Obama has made Jimmy Carter the good old days.
  Obama supporters are riding the short bus to a landslide loss.
  
  Report this comment
- RoadReady
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:11pm
  DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL: Are you dense! “Yes we can. Oops…no I can’t.”. You really can’t see the difference between the 2 statements from Willard! I’ll let your brain cook on it for a while.
  
  Report this comment
- DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:21pm
  I wasn’t referring to “Willard’s” statements…you were chatting nonsense…I was referring to The Failure’s. You’re riding the short bus.
  
  Report this comment
trappedinwv
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:20pm
$20 that Obama is too stupid to realize that all those protest where AGAINST the health care law. More evidence that this guy is moron of democratic proportions.

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- RoadReady
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:18pm
  Hey mr smarty pants that thinks the President is a Moron –I like to play a game with people like you who like to call others stupid, dumb, morons etc. I challenge you to an IQ test for say, $10K. Let me know when. I would love to take your money.
  
  Report this comment
needmoinfo
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:12pm
What is he talking about. Most didn’t want Obamacare and more don’t now. He’s nuts. He doesn’t know he wrecked Washington from the inside? Geez.

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- loriann12
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:26pm
  My DOCTOR and I just had a discussion about Obamacare. He said he got into medicine to cure people and this gets in the way. He’s from Columbia, and an outspoken Christian. He asked why did America vote someone into the office of president who doesn’t even like this country? He also said he thinks he’s a Muslim, that’s why he hasn’t been killed by the other Muslims, and that he fits the profile for the anti-christ.
  
  Report this comment
MiCurmudgeon
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:08pm
The sooner he’s on the outside , the better for the country!!! Adios !

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right
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:06pm
Let’s get him out of DC in Nov. Maybe he can change things fron his soon to be new palace in Hawaii.

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Voter713
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:06pm
THE place to start is on the inside!!! Really!!! We need to get back to the constitution and stick it to them!

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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:05pm
Time to fire Obama this November.

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- CatB
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:54pm
  @SNOW .. that’s what Romney said this afternoon .. I had not heard that Obama said this .. but Romney told us about this latest Obama statement .. and said that he is determined with America’s help .. put Obama outside of government on November 6th .. GREAT RALLY — PACKED …. and some deadbeat moveon.org people even came to protest us outside the venue ;-) not very many .. .. I think they came in a “short bus” ;-)
  
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AvengerK
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:00pm
ummmm….Obamacare still remains hugely unpopular with the American people. Can Barry please show me where Obamacare was pushed through by most of the population? In fact..Scott Brown become Senator in MA on a “NO vote for Obamacare” platform.

Seriously…what’s the empty chair’s problem?

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- Voter713
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:11pm
  We as americans werent included in voting on something of this magnitude. Our voice was not allowed to be heard on such an issue as this. Ryan even warned Obama this was not a good idea and healthcare should be left up to us OR a different plan of action to take place. Obama didnt listen – he just crammed it through the system. He is not for the people at all – he is for big government.
  
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- KangarooJack
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:12pm
  The ‘Empty Chair’ is NOT a problem. The tinny voice from the empty chair is hardly ever heard. It is the voice that vocalizes his AGENDA for the United States. Too many are still rapt in their attention on to WHO WILL BE THEE next American Idol and/or American Voice.
  
  Report this comment
Capt_Gregg
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:57pm
This November, the American voters will most definitely change Washington from the outside. A lot of Dems will no longer be part of the DC landscape.

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- RiseAboveThem
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:05pm
  and hopefully RINOs too
  
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simplygilly
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:53pm
Gee, and all along I thought we got [non]Affordable Care Act because our elected representatives were coerced into voting for it without reading it. But I could be wrong.

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GoodCook
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:50pm
He said “Big accomplishments like health care got done, was because we mobilized the American people to speak out. ” Well obviously his big ears were blocked when we were talking because an over whelming majority of us are still opposed to it. He can’t count either especially when it gets to 16 trillion which he had trouble remembering on Letterman.

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floridareader
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:49pm
“I’ve learned some lessons over the last four years, and the most important lesson I‘ve learned is that you can’t change Washington from the inside,” Obama said during a Univision forum in Florida. “You can only change it from the outside. That’s how I got elected, and that’s how the big accomplishments like health care got done, was because we mobilized the American people to speak out”.
WHAT?!
He said he wanted to be president to change things in Washington.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4BJzPXgSh8
And on healthcare people did speak: 65% of Americans didn’t want Obamacare.
Still, Democrats passed the bill behind closed doors,

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- kaydeebeau
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:08pm
  I stood on the steps of the Capitol with 99,999,999 others. Congress ignored us. 2010 was just a pre-cursor….Remember Chick-fil-a day.
  
  Do Not be discouraged. They are lying…. We are winning. Cut off the state controlled media. Heck, cut off you cable…plug into the altenate media and switch to Dish to get Glenn Beck on the Blaze, Even if you don’t have Dish, got to http://www.theblaze.com
  
  Report this comment
TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:49pm
I thought it was bottom up, top down, inside out. I don’t know, don’t have time to read the article.

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ProgressivePete
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:44pm
To answer the most popular choice of the poll so far, the “Definitely. If that’s the case, why re-elect him?” I will tell you why. The answer is in Bill Clinton’s DNC speech, he lays out a valid case of why Obama deserves to be re elected. Even one of Regan’s advisors said on CNN after Clinton’s speech that this election is no longer a contest because Bill Clinton sealed the deal on Obama’s re election.

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- GoodCook
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:52pm
  If you haven’t heard Bill Clinton’s not running.
  
  Report this comment
- floridareader
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:54pm
  LOL LOL LOL
  have you checked your temp?
  
  Report this comment
- RiseAboveThem
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:01pm
  Keep dreaming.
  
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- DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:40pm
  PROGRESSIVEPETE – What makes BJ Clinton’s case “valid”? Because you say so?
  
  You said he “lays out a valid case”…prove it Petey.
  
  Report this comment
- ProgressivePete
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 6:43pm
  @Goodcook
  It is true that Bill Clinton isn’t running but he gave a powerful endorsement of Obama that the GOP can’t refute. He used statistics in his DNC speech. The GOP should have passed the jobs plan
  
  @FLORIDAREADER
  My tempereture is fine thank you.
  
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- 2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:25pm
  One liar endorsing another.
  
  And on a side note: Wouldn’t it be nice if Slick Willy would stick something in Hillary’s mouth once in a while so we don’t have to listen to her. Surely she has a nice blue dress she can put on for him.
  
  Report this comment
DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:43pm
The white flag of surrender. I like that. I wonder if they’ll call it racist?

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- TEXASGRANNY73
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 5:50pm
  Yep.
  
  Report this comment
- 2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 7:26pm
  Only if its served with a PB&J.
  
  Report this comment

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