Politics

Charles Krauthammer on Obama: ‘More a Hugo Chavez Than He is a Teddy Roosevelt’

Charles Krauthammer on Obama: More a Hugo Chavez Than He is a Teddy Roosevelt

President Barack Obama intended to capture the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt with what was previewed as a “class warfare” speech earlier this week, but Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer thinks he fell short of that. Instead, he said Obama’s particular brand of populism channeled “not Teddy Roosevelt so much as [Venezuelan President] Hugo Chavez.”

In his column Thursday, Krauthammer said when Obama spoke about the millions who “are now forced to take their children to food banks,” he said so implying he himself bears no responsibility for the current economic climate.

“It’s the rich” Obama blames, Krauthammer wrote. “And, like Horatius at the bridge, Obama stands with the American masses against the soulless plutocrats. This is populism so crude that it channels not Teddy Roosevelt so much as Hugo Chavez.

Speaking Friday on “Inside Washington,” Krauthammer discussed the point further:

“He talked about how we got here. He gave a nice historical rundown except that he left out a critical three years – his presidency. It’s as if it didn’t exist. It’s as if we jumped from ’08 to today….This is a classic example of how little it takes to stir the erogenous zones of liberals. You give them a speech with social justice, a little bit of class war, you wrap it up in the patina of intellectualism in what is essentially a speech that exonerates anything he’s done and obviously not done and says all of our problems today are the result of the plutocrats.”

Watch below, via Newsbusters:

Comments (124)

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  • PJL
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:37pm

    Got that right.

    Report Post » PJL  
    • dogpatch65
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:43pm

      I don’t know. TR wasn’t exactly a conservative either. Obama may have more in common with him than either you or Krauthammer may think: http://markamerica.com/2011/12/08/barack-obama-unmasked-calls-for-national-socialism/

      Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:47pm

      Democrats are the only ones that can’t see that. Their blinded by his glowing Ora and his leg tinglings.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • smackdown33
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 4:05pm

      Teddy Roosevelt was the first neocon, an international hawk and domestic socialist.

      Report Post »  
    • smackdown33
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 4:10pm

      Did I forget to say the Krauthammer is also a neocon?
      http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/white-man-s-burden-1.14110

      Report Post »  
    • MIBUGNU2
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 5:10pm

      Don’t forget, he has that Nice Smile and he is such a
      good Family Man.. But He sure SUCKS as POTUS !!!

      Report Post » MIBUGNU2  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 6:23pm

      I just love Charles.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • dogpatch65
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 6:47pm

      @Smackdown33: You’ve got that right: http://markamerica.com/2011/12/08/barack-obama-unmasked-calls-for-national-socialism/

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 8:59pm

      Excellent, excellent, excellent analogy!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 9:00pm

      @smackdown33

      Good for Krauthammer.

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 9:02pm

      Teddy, the founder of the NRA, Barry, trying to undermine the second amendment with Fast and Furious.

      Report Post »  
    • MetalPatriot
      Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:39am

      I’ve been telling people about Krauthammer from the first time I heard him (only two or so years ago). He’s the only person I can stand to listen to because he uses logic, facts, & reason instead of party pandering like every other commentator or “news” reporter.

      His columns stretch my reading capacity, but it’s well worth the effort.

      Sure wish we had somebody with his intellect & passion for truth in office. He’s probably just too damn smart & that poses a threat to people in power who are corrupt. Notice it in your own workplaces. It’s seldom the best & brightest that call the shots…wake up & look around you. The A students work for the C students.

      Report Post » MetalPatriot  
    • old white guy
      Posted on December 11, 2011 at 8:30am

      kraut is right on that. i‘m guessing barak would love to have hugo’s power over the u.s.

      Report Post »  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on December 11, 2011 at 9:14am

      Just don’t let your vote get split next Nov!!!!!!!!!
      Do not fall for the Ross Perot ‘rope-a-dope’!

      Report Post »  
    • Clara88
      Posted on December 11, 2011 at 8:44pm

      Please support Gov Rick Perry for President…a conservative AND a veteran..GOD BLESS
      http://www.rickperry.org/

      Gov. Rick Perry…

      “The idea this president now, with Iran getting one of our predator drones in their possession, and he had opportunities — he had two choices. Actually, he had three. He chose the worse. And those two opportunities he had was to either retrieve that drone or to destroy it. And he did the worst of the three. And he did absolutely nothing. And the Russians and the Chinese will have our highly technical equipment now. This president IS the problem,” Perry said at the ABC News debate in Des Moines, Iowa

      Report Post » Clara88  
  • mtnhimike
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:34pm

    the GOP now has a new Bumper Sticker !

    Report Post »  
  • TeaPartyPatriot
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:33pm

    The only thing more horrible to imagine than OBOZO trying on a “Teddy” is fat-cakes Michelle doing it.

    Report Post » TeaPartyPatriot  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:28pm

    Right as rain!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • South Philly Boy
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:28pm

    Enough said

    Report Post » South Philly Boy  
  • garyM
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:26pm

    I always love to hear those round table discussions when Krauthammer and Juan Williams both are at the table, I like it when Juan goes first and then watch Krauthammer make him look like the liberal spinner he is! You can tell when Juan goes first as he is talking, he is glancing over at Krauthammer all time he is talking, thinking, oh no, I know he gonna clobbered when I get through spinning!

    Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 7:50pm

      Funny take on Williams and Krauthammer ! Juan seems like such a decent fellow. Sure wish he’d wise up about Obama , but think Juan’s blind adoring of Obama shows how strong a bond is race. Am sure that is why Obama was chosen. The Race Card has been a frequently used Democrat tactic.

      Report Post »  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on December 11, 2011 at 12:00am

      @ barber2
      I, too, think Williams actually is inclined to think independently and to aspire to intellectual honesty. He doesn’t get much help, though. Example: remember the big deal about him saying that he he would feel uncomfortable isf several young Muslims men were to board a plane? He got booted from NPR for that, and it was big news. Few noted what else he said in that SAME discussion: the McVeigh & Rudolf were CHRISTIAN! It is positively established that those terrorists were ATHEISTS — but was Juan Williams called on that? By ANYBODY? Nope.

      Report Post »  
    • aLinedog
      Posted on December 11, 2011 at 9:26am

      Not to defend Mr. Williams political bent in any fashion, nor attempt to paint him as moderate or otherwise. However, consider his ‘job’ or, his purpose for being on the show is to provide a counter-balance to the right. It is not beyond reason to presume he is making some stands, not so much as his own point of view but to play the ‘Devil’s advocate’ and thereby a debate.
      -line
      oh, yeah. Krauthammer 2012!

      Report Post »  
  • jim
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:24pm

    Ouch. Charles wounds the lefty intellectuals with smarter speak.

    Report Post » jim  
  • Randyrocker
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:22pm

    After Krauthammer’s remarks, Sean Penn should be knocking on the White House door at any moment to talk with another one of his Marxist Masters Barack Hussein Obama.

    Report Post »  
  • garyM
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:20pm

    Most cable and INTERNET news people wouldn‘t make a pimple on Krauthammer’s butt. He is in the know more than anyone else. I want to hear what Charles has to say before anyone! He has been around the block several times, not his first rodeo!

    Report Post »  
  • mattmo79
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:19pm

    BO is a marxist and is working hard to become a dictator!! If that happens, will he be more like Stalin?

    Report Post » mattmo79  
  • JamesR
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:18pm

    I am a Krauthammer fan and I do feel as though Charles puts it on the line like it is. To me a perfect team to report and respond to the news events would be Charles and George Will. Wow, that would becken some serious following.

    Report Post »  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:16pm

    I love a man who says it like it is.. Its time people we stand up and tell our neighbors our family and tell it like it is.. I have a Aunt who thinks Obama is the cats meow… but she watches the wrong news.. I have caught her off guard a couple times and she didn’t know a thing about it.. But she would never watch a conservative channel.. she is a diehard Democrat!! I have been on both sides of the and am glad that the conservative side of me won out.. I am poor and I do not want what my neighbor has.. I am where God wants me! God help us.. stand up against the evil around us!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • garyM
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:48pm

      @abbygirl1994 I have an Yellowdog democrat Uncle. I tried my best to tell him in 08 what Obama was, he told me people were just making that stuff up on Obama, he’s a good man, He would forward me emails trashing George W and talking about how much money W was spending in Iraq. I finally got enough and sent him a long email. I told him if he thought W was spending lots of money he hadn’t seen anything yet if Obama was elected, the debt would skyrocket and the war would go on, that we would lose freedoms, people would be more dividing than ever before, abortion laws would be strengthened and we would pay for abortions, gays would be in the military, the congress would have no power, he would appoint two liberal judges while he was in. I told him if he called himself a Christian and voted for Obama, he was a hypocrite. I told him the only thing I knew that would be possibly good that could come out of an Obama admin was things would be so bad after Obama got through his term, more people would draw closer to the Lord and that after one term of Obama, no democrat might not ever be able to be elected to any office again. I told him you will see everything I’m telling you is true but I know how you democrats are, you‘ll never admit it and sure enough he hasn’t!

      Report Post »  
    • bhohater
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 9:04pm

      Good for you ABBYGIRL, it takes courage to go against one’s family. I know a lot of people who blindly follow their parents or grandparents on political issues, mostly democrats. They may be good, honest people, but what they don’r realize is the democrat party is not the same as it was a few years ago. It has been hi-jacked by the far left.

      Report Post » bhohater  
  • garyM
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:10pm

    I am a Krauthammer fan, he gets it right when everyone else gets it wrong, Teddy Roosevelt wasn’t that bad for the day and time. The progressives started in the Woodrow Wilson days, Jimmy Carter pumped it up big time, more give away affirmative actions than ever before under Carter, Bill Clinton pumped it up some more with DADT which was the first step to the predetermined step of gays in the military. Obama cam along and finished it off, the worst GOP president has been much better than the best democrat president. Be careful not to listen to that BS about progressive GOP people, The sheep herders put their spin on some GOP people and you might think so. We have had some RINO GOP people which are just really democrats who know they must falsely wear the GOP brand to win in a democratic state. Watch out for the sheep herders if you have ever been known to be dumb as a sheep!

    Report Post »  
  • David, the Constitutional Libertarian
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:10pm

    If you ask me, Obama is Stalin without all the killing. Of course the majority of the killing that Stalin committed was through starvation. Why is Obama shutting down all our energy sources? Why is he destroying the economy? Why is he tying the hands of our businesses?

    Economic turmoil can remove that veneer of civilization that is as thin as it has ever been here in the States.

    Report Post » David, the Constitutional Libertarian  
    • netmail
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:43pm

      For sure and Venezuela 3rd quarter growth was + 4.2% compared to + 2% USA. Obama’s policies can only take us in one direction: DOWN.

      Report Post »  
    • neverending
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 5:30pm

      My sentiments exactly.

      Report Post »  
    • Badger Patriot
      Posted on December 11, 2011 at 2:59am

      “If you ask me, Obama is Stalin without all the killing. Of course the majority of the killing that Stalin committed was through starvation.”

      Stalin without the killing YET! He is just waiting for the emperor/soros to say its time. and yes obummer will likely kill many by way of starvation.

      And Mr. Krauthammer,
      Thanks for having the Nads to speak the truth.

      Report Post » Badger Patriot  
    • BBomber66
      Posted on December 11, 2011 at 6:53am

      @netmail

      Venezuela’s GDP is more anemic than ours. 90% of its value is based on it oil exports. Where did you get 4.2%? http://www.tradingeconomics.com/venezuela/gdp-growth

      Report Post » BBomber66  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:04pm

    Mr Obama combines the massive government drive of T. Roosevelt with the utter ruthlessness and dictatorial desires of Chavez; so we are seeing the greater of evils that combines both in one.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • garyM
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:12pm

      Careful there, don’t get herded up like a sheep, research Teddy good before you speak, Newt too!

      Report Post »  
    • The10thAmendment
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:29pm

      Gary, Teddy Roosevelt was a worthless socialist POS, pure and simple. Although I think he trended more to the fascism model than the communist model.

      Report Post » The10thAmendment  
    • barber2
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 3:02pm

      GARY: What’s with all the “sheep” stuff. Bottom ,line : 2012 NOBama

      Report Post »  
  • disenlightened
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:03pm

    Krauthammer gets one right!

    Report Post » disenlightened  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:01pm

    I think Mr. Krauthammer is being lenient in light of the Christmas season.

    Report Post » Rayblue  
  • ShyMan
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 1:58pm

    And krauthammer is more a liberal than a conservative.

    Report Post » ShyMan  
  • Hickory
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 1:56pm

    I am not a Krauthammer fan but he got it right this time.

    Report Post » Hickory  
  • blackstone22
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 1:54pm

    Thank you Charles Krauthammer….bravo !

    Report Post »  
  • silquin11
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 1:54pm

    Mr. Krauthammer:right on the money as alway!I’m originally from Venezuela myself and it is the first thing that came to mind when I heard Obama during the 08 campaign: He is a Harvard-educated Hugo Chavez, nothing more. Same rethoric, same relentless divisionist discourse:black-white, rich-poor and same CHIP ON SHOULDER against the “EMPIRE” which is Chavez’s favorite culprit for all the illnesses in the world: THe USA. Isn’t it ironic that all these “socialists” hate THE USA but abosolutely LOOOOOOVE US DOLLARS and avidly collect them in their “socialist” bank accounts!!!

    Report Post »  
  • bama54m
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 1:52pm

    Wow,,It’s time that the media started calling a spade,,a spade,,this is not as much a surprise,,as it is a revelation,,that the time has come to stop the “aiding and abetting” by the media
    Just sayin’

    Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:06pm

      So, if I understand him correctly he‘s saying he didn’t like the speach although he makes no comments on the substance of President Obama’s remarks. Okay, so he didn’t like the speach, and decided to reference Hugo Chavez instead of Hitler (which is getting old).

      I think he sound more like Victoria Jackson than William F. Buckley.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • dr pepper
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 3:07pm

      JZS, he only stated that Obama spoke an incomplete truth. He emphasized how Obama refused to accept any claim to the current economic environment. He obviously did not disagree with the history within the speech, but only pointed out Obama’s inability to be a man and accept responsibility for his actions/policies which have been enacted via Congressional vote and Presidential Directive. How Obama tries to be one of the masses as he assails the “rich”, all the while enjoying the life of the “rich” who he panders for campaign contributions. I believe he is too polite to call this presidency what it really is, nothing but smoke and mirrors.

      Report Post »  
    • Bill Burns
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 5:17pm

      JZS do you ever get anything right?

      Report Post » Bill Burns  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on December 10, 2011 at 11:13pm

      @JZS

      I had a sPEACH once that was not ripe.

      I didn’t like it either.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
  • bouncerguyplus
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 1:51pm

    We can always count on Charles to tell it like it is, beautifully eloquent

    Report Post »  
  • fastgen1
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 1:48pm

    I know Krouthhammer is a righty, but it is about time someone in the press has the kahoonas to say the truth about Barry

    Report Post »  
  • Uncurable wound
    Posted on December 10, 2011 at 1:40pm

    Go ARMY,Beat Navy!!!

    Report Post »  
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