Politics

Obamania: Is the President Putting His Words in Others’ Mouths?

Speaking to a crowd of about 26,000 at the University of Wisconsin on Tuesday, President Obama did his best to rile the base. One of the arrows in his rhetorical quiver was a to make the college audience feel trivialized by quoting “they,” the pundits in Washington, who are saying that the Democratic base is “apathetic” and that a “bloodletting” is in order because of an “enthusiasm gap.”

From Obama on Tuesday:

But that’s not quite the case. The “news” that Obama mentions has been filled this week with Democrats saying exactly what Obama is trying to pin on “they” and “Washington.”

For example, on Monday Vice President Joe Biden encouraged Democratic donors to “remind our base constituency to stop whining and get out there and look at the alternatives.” When MSNBC later asked if he wanted to retract that statement, he said no, and added, “Those who — didn’t get everything they wanted, it’s time to just buck up here, understand that we can make things better.”

But Biden is not alone in his thinking. Even Obama has recently decried a lack of enthusiasm from the base. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine (due out October 1) it was Obama who chided the base: “The idea that we’ve got a lack of enthusiasm in the Democratic base, that people are sitting on their hands complaining, is just irresponsible.”

He didn’t stop there: “We have to get folks off the sidelines. People need to shake off this lethargy, people need to buck up. Bringing about change is hard — that’s what I said during the campaign.” He even questioned his supporters’ dedication, quipping that “if people now want to take their ball and go home, that tells me folks weren’t serious in the first place.”

“If you’re serious, now’s exactly the time that people have to step up,” he added.

Back to the video:

Others, too, have noticed that it’s the president and his crew who have been most critical of the Democratic base. New York Times blogger Michael Shear put the whole thing this way:

But there does seem to be a common theme in some of the comments coming out of the West Wing, and it largely has to do with a sense that Democratic voters should toughen up and show some excitement for their president and their party.

In the end, then, Obama may be right: those in “Washington” are saying what he’s accusing them of saying — more specifically, though, the words are coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Comments (76)

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  • NHABE64
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:39am

    Obama will go down as the worst President of all time. And he is going down. I know this horse’s ass and his media buddie have most of the control over what the public see, but hey, FOX News is on watch as is Glen Beck, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Sean Hannity, and so many more. Nobama said he didn’t watch the Glen Beck rally. You mean he was not interested in what more than a half million Americans had to say ? He was watching alright, but it wasn’t to hear American voices. He listened merely to see what he could draw from it so he and his ******* media buddies could do to distort the truth, to play down the event. Obama’s world of czars and islamic friends is crumbling around him. Obama will NEVER take away guns or the Christian religion from this country. No way, we are not made like that. His Hitler like Brown Shirts could go door to door to take them away but they will be met by Americans who do NOT like to be pushed around There may well be a civil war in this country and if it happens its Obama who welcomes it. One thing, the good guys are going to win. Not Nobama and his crew of bad guys. We will take back this country and Obama is gong to get his pink slip as well. The sooner the better!

    Report Post »  
  • loveoursoldiers
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:20am

    and Obama needs to shut-up

    Report Post » loveoursoldiers  
  • unionrockstar
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:13am

    You guys see what he’s doing???
    This is the same tactic he and his campaign advisers used to get him elected in the first place.
    First of all he is speaking to 26,000 college students who have no idea what he has done since taking office because they don’t follow politics. He said “you guys know what’s going on, you read the papers and watch T.V”……..Actually no they don’t………Think about it; how much did you follow politics when you were in college?
    Secondly; notice how he sheds his suit and becomes one of them. He is doing nothing more than holding a pep rally in order to get everyone pumped up. Remember when you were in college or even high school and everyone would gather before a football game and the coach would spout fabricated insults that the “other side” had said just to get you fired up for the battle? That’s exactly what he is doing.
    If you don’t think it works; let me share something with you. During his pre-election campaign; two of the finest young men in our church (who were no where near liberal) told me how much they had been enlightened in college and that they fully intended to vote for Obama. I could hardly believe my ears. I could only say to them how important it is to understand persons voting history and previous associates before making a commitment that cannot be reversed. Regardless they voted for him anyway; just as hundreds of thousands of other very respectable young individuals across the county had.
    We all know how this man will say whatever the moment calls for and then depend on most of us to just forget about it.
    My point is; he is launching a series of pep rallies in order to get the same group of people to the polls that he manipulated last time. We have a real problem on our hands that we caused by not taking the time to vote. We can sit comfortably in front of a computer and type insults about him and others, and then when voting time comes we stay at home.
    If we don’t walk the talk; we stand a good chance of losing what’s left of our country.

    Report Post »  
    • loveoursoldiers
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:28am

      This guy is the lowest form of life..liar… and he is in the white house? I feel like this is a nightmare and any time now I’m going to wake up. We better pray ( as Glenn says) and bless ourselves with holy water and wear crosses around our necks.. I think holy water and crosses keep the devil in check!

      Report Post » loveoursoldiers  
    • Contrarianthinker
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:29am

      I fear that Constitutionalists are becoming overconfident.. letting down our guard in terms of turnout. It coukld prove to be our HUBRIS. IF anyone doesn’t know what that is, please google its meaning.

      Report Post »  
  • RobR
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:11am

    No he’s putting something else of his in their mouths ( remember, once you’ve tried bl.., you never go back ), causing them to involuntarily spew his radically / socialist, yet queerly sissyboy, bedwetter rhetoric.

    This is just one more of the amazingly, unpresidented, youtube immortalized ( except for the ones he had the FBI remove or doctor ) facts surrounding the fly swallowing, bubble bee beard wearing, rat whisperer, 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

    This guy is truely the gift that just keeps on mother F-ing giving and giving and giving……..

    Report Post » Barack Must Go  
    • loveoursoldiers
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:22am

      love your description and last line…. made me chuckle ( which doesn’t happen much these days)

      Report Post » loveoursoldiers  
  • tjdavid21444
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:03am

    I guess it‘s better for him to be putting his words in other people’s mouths, than what the mainstream media has allowed him to put in their mouths.

    Report Post »  
  • amercalover
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:58am

    Oh my god, is he a racist? I see way too many white people in that crowd. Has anyone told NBC, CNN and the rest? Somebody call Garafalo!

    Report Post »  
  • missmarie
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:49am

    I am weary of seeing this president flitting around the country, campaigning, headlining fundraisers, vacationing, attending union events, etc. Are there no job duties associated with being the president of the United States? With all the time he appears to have on his hands, I seriously wonder why we need a full-time president. I’m already convinced we only need part-time legislators with strict term limits.

    Report Post » missmarie  
  • LittleLordFauntleroy
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:31am

    Both the funk up and the suck up say to buck up. What they really need to do is buck off.

    Report Post » LittleLordFauntleroy  
  • Anitabreak
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:16am

    Whining, Claiming the Victim Status and Demonizing American Prosperity is the Predominant GLOBAL Strategy of the Progressive Leftist Movement

    Report Post »  
  • AChristian
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:08am

    Joe McCarthy was right all along. The Communist Party inflitrated the Government at the highest levels. FDRs’ VP was a Socialist. He ran against FDR on the Socialist Party ticket. And then FDR chose him to be his VP. WHY?

    Alger Hiss was a spy who was convicted & imprisoned. But he was a Harvard grad, and became a hero of the Dems after serving time. WTF?

    Mccarthy was a Senator from Wisconsin. The HUAC ( house unamerican activities commission) was started in the Congress 2 1/2 years before McCarthy became a Senator. History in the form of Movies, Television, radio, magazines, & newspapers Lie when they say “McCarthy’s HUAC Witch Hunt” A lie that is the cornerstone of a house of lies. McCarthy was a Senator, not a congressman.
    McCarthy identified Communist spies in the White House, Defense, & Justice departments. The Socialist/Communist response when outed was to Demonize McCarthy. The same strategy used to Demonize the detractors of Billy Jeff Clinton. The S.O.S used to Demonize those who know who PinochioBama really is. B-O-R-I-N-G!

    Report Post »  
    • Contrarianthinker
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:34am

      Thanks for the history lesson. IF you learn about the villification of McCarthy (he did use some very questionable methods), you will see much the same villification directed at Glenn. I predict it will increase greatly after 10/2.

      BTW, when many of the Soviets spy records were opend long after the death of McCarthy, we found that most of McCarthy’s charges were on target or very close. How often does hear that part of History? A perfect example of what Glenn says about Progressives changing and deleting history.

      Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:06am

    obama is going to get us all killed, he’s destroying America.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • TheLeftMadeMeRight
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:54am

    Yea the anointed one was here in Madison AGAIN yesterday, screwing up traffic and putting down a big taxpayer paid carbon footprint. They interviewed a bunch of UW students who as usual were “so excited and ready to vote TODAY!” The same students also couldn’t identify the vice president, Nancy Pelosi or any of the other pictures of Washington elite they were shown. One student was asked what he would like to hear Obama say; his reply; “I am studying economics, so I would like to hear him say something about that.” And we are Homer Simpsons?

    And the local estimate on the crowd size was first reported as not able to be accurately counted but “expected to be large” as they cut away to pictures of Obama’s 2008 stop in Madison. The local TV is reporting 17k this morning, so where did the Blaze get 26k from? I wonder how large it would have been without the three free bands? Bruce Springsteen, Ah…I mean John Kerry drew 80k to his Madison concert/rally. Guess we know who the real “Boss” is!

    Report Post » TheLeftMadeMeRight  
  • Silat
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:40am

    He is a piece of human defecation.

    Report Post »  
  • Dustyluv
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:32am

    You cannot get past the FACT that people were duped and they have woke up to who this idiot is. Yes there are still some mindless morons, but that group is getting smaller because he keeps talking. Sometime it just takes time for people to wake up and admit they have been lied to…

    Report Post »  
    • Topcat
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 12:38pm

      I love this line …LOL

      “Yes there are still some mindless morons, but that group is getting smaller because he keeps talkin”

      Report Post » Topcat  
  • Topcat
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:30am

    People that doubt or young people , dont count our young out. despite their indoctrination they are smart but disconnected , weren’t we at their age , they will come around . The young people graduating this year and last year have experienced what the Presidents policies have given them , they will come out against him. The promise of government welfare jobs wont sit well with them after 4 years of college.

    Report Post » Topcat  
  • JD Carp
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:28am

    Liberals have no core beliefs. Their entire movement is based in a series of agendas with no anchor in conviction of spirit or faith. If I may, they have no “firm reliance in our creator” or anything else. Which, by default translates to apathy.

    When Obama was elected in that landmark election I told mu wife “you will never het them out of bed for a second time for a second term.” I was wrong. You can’t get them out of bed for a mid-term! College kids, fringe groups, 3rd generation welfare families (white, black etc.) are not committed to anything but themselves. Until they recognize a higher power they will not mobilize and the paradox is, when they recognize that greater power, they will become conservative.

    Report Post » JD Carp  
    • QweeQwa
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:40am

      Help me out here JD, have the midterms already taken place or are you just psychic?

      Report Post »  
    • Werinoz
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 10:43am

      Well, I guess the polls could all be wrong. Polls leaning this far this close to an election have never been wrong short of some major event or October surprise. It is a shame you liberals don’t believe in prayer, cause you could sure use it now – or are saying you are psychic?

      Report Post »  
  • Wiz001
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:17am

    Werinoz Excellent I applaude you. I swear I could hear the tune as I read this..

    Report Post »  
  • Werinoz
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:42am

    The Wreck of the O-Bama Agenda

    The legend lives by a media fashioned lie
    Of the big fake they call Barry ‘Bama
    Inferior his cred and a plan to go red
    When the votes of November turned gloomy

    With a load of manure – 26,000 tons more
    Than the presidency ever spewed b’fore
    Good men then knew that our country was through
    When the votes of November fared poorly

    The One he despised our American pride
    Calling his drones to rally Wisconsin
    As the big spenders go he was bigger than most
    With the House and the Senate in legion.

    Concluding some terms with unions and green firms
    His left wing aimed at transformation
    But later that year voters started to jeer
    Could it be Marxist winds they’d been feeling.

    Does anyone know where the love of the One goes
    When the air waves aren’t full of his chatter
    The commies all say they’d have had things their way
    If they’d put fifteen more months behind him.

    The recovery came late, Cap n Trade had to wait
    When the polls of November came slashing
    The Stimulus failed, Business had been derailed
    In the face of a Marxist wind lashing

    Obamacare stalled when voters came to the mall
    But the Dems said so what I’ll ignore ya
    At thousands times ten, some started to cave in
    Saying Agenda it’s been good to grow ya.

    Dems might have sped up but they got whittled down
    when the voters were broke and got louder
    Now all that remains of their congressional gains
    is the whines and the fear of the slaughter.

    Gibbs said with a grin he had tea partiers pinned
    As racists but his lies were in peril
    Later that night when film proved that not right
    came the wreck of the Obama Agenda.

    A revery call out to all voting halls
    even bluest states heard it a sounding
    The polling bell chimed, ’til it rang 39 times
    For each Czar on the Obama Agenda

    The legend lives by a media fashioned lie
    Of the big fake they call Barry ‘Bama
    Inferior his cred and a plan to go red
    But the votes of November poll clearly.

    Report Post »  
  • faktchekr
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:39am

    Well gee, when you promise to stimulate the economy by spending 800 billion dollars but give the money to unions instead, when you promise to lower healthcare costs but instead raise the costs drastically, when you promise to lower taxes for 90% of people but instead allow taxes to go up on everyone and finally when you promise bi-patisanship and instead deliver over-the-top partisan nastiness on a scale not seen in the history or our country…folks have a tendency to NOT want you to stay in office…

    Report Post » faktchekr  
  • HeReturnsSoon
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:32am

    Always the Campaigner, But this time every one knows what he is. He is a deceiver and a devider from the swamp of Chicago. The only people who still beleive him are the misinformed.

    Report Post »  
  • KL
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:31am

    Do any of these young college kids even know who most of the people in congress are? If you watch Stossels report, ALOT of young adults do not know them, and they want to vote. NO WONDER we have Obama as President.

    Report Post »  
    • Sara
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 9:25am

      I‘m sure some do and many don’t. I‘ve always made it an obligation to know who and what I’m voting for or against. I’ve always known who the speaker of the house is, etc… The number who don’t is probably far too high, but I wouldn’t assume none of them are actively engaged. Many people my age who have never been engaged in politics are starting to paying attention and wake up to what is going on around us. It will be our generation that has to step up, sacrifice, and pay for debt accumulated by politicians that we were too young to vote for or against. We saw our parents, the baby boomers, become a very prosperous generation through innovation & the free market. We would have to be blind not to see how the growing size of government is not only effecting us, but is effecting our parents. My generation is one of “I want to do what I want” and “don’t tell me how to act” as many young generations have been in the past. The more Cass Sunstein starts to regulate, the more turned off 20 something’s are becoming. We didn’t like the Patriot Act, and we certainly don’t like the idea of regulated internet, etc. The reasons many young people didn‘t like George W Bush will be the demise of Obama’s popularity. Young people want their independence. The trick will be in getting the message to them before it is too late. It is hard to get anyone to believe that this type of stuff is going on, much less young people who haven’t seen the changes over an extended period of time. 20 somethings have the idea that we’re invincible as individuals, and that can be applied to them as individuals & as a country. It‘s hard to try and explain this stuff to my peers without getting the ’that would never happen’ look, or no matter how many facts you show them, they think it will be fixed before it would really effect anything. It is frustrating, but the more that happens, the less they are blind to it. I believe the rally this weekend will be an eye opener for a lot of young people. We all know how communists and socialists act when they rally. It will be televised and take place in our capital, around monuments and memorials of figures of U.S. history they all hate. As terrible as the rally seems, I believe it will expose many of these people for who they really are, and Obama has directly tied himself to them. It could end up being one of the best things they could do to ruin their credibility to the American people. Have faith in the young people. There are many idiots among us, old and young. The old are stubborn to change their ways, the young have a lot of experiences left to learn from if we keep our freedom. I think many conservatives in the country today were democrats/liberals in their 20′s. Many will stand for freedom, unfortunately, when you‘re in your 20’s, learning the hard way is often the path we choose.

      Sara  
    • Contrarianthinker
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:25am

      Sara, I too have faith in young people IF they get the messaqge. Please recohnize that this age group has the LOWEST voter turnout of any age group. I fully understand what Obama is trying to do. Are we smart enough to energize this age group? I don’t hear a lot about it so.. ????

      Having known college students for 30 years as a Univesrity Business Professor, I realize that very few consrevatives take the time to get involved whereas the majority nof liberals do. Just look at voting turnouts around college campauses and how heavily they vote DP.

      Report Post »  
    • loveoursoldiers
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:36am

      I know Bohener AND the Situation.. and I’m old ( er)… yikes. I must be smart or something.
      What Obama does that makes him the most vile human being I have ever witnessed in politics is the fact that he takes those who are not in the know, who are young and impressionable, and who want to believe in something and lies to them for his own agenda and to further the agendas of those RICH people that he likes to bash.
      He uses his ‘race’ for only one reason.. votes. Why do blacks keep falling for this charade?

      Report Post » loveoursoldiers  
    • Promotefreedom
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 11:50am

      I’m afraid the telecast of 10/2 will be totally slanted and in line with the Administration’s desires. Including violent outbreaks and signs that will demonstrate Beck, Palin, and Teaparty as racist crazies.

      The Progressive supporters will watch on the same government propaganda TV channels and media they have been watching all along. And will just be fed more presidential manure, which they will gobble up.

      Report Post »  
    • Class2000Generation
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 2:20pm

      I was one of those who didn’t pay attention to what I considered “the minor players” in our government. I thank Glenn Beck for opening my eyes and showing me the truth. All of my friends are die-hard liberals, most living in Madison, WI and it’s amazing to see how blind they are to the truth.

      Report Post » Class2000Generation  
    • nordspan
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:35pm

      I’m telling you that I agree with the Stoffel report last night, and infact seriously (and I am laughing as I type this) that this comes down to the young voter really falling in love with “Jack Bauer’s 24 character that played David Palmer.” I’d vote for David Palmer – he was an awesome president that just happened to be Dennis Haybert and African American! But that’s the comparison. The voter fell in love with the face, the possibility, the romance of the first non-white president. But as far as education of the issues, why bother. Hollywood hasn’t lead them astray yet (sarcasim included.)

      Report Post »  
    • ClockKing
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:55pm

      That was the whole point of the Dems lowering the voting age to 18. Young and unaware, easily swayed by one-word phrases. This is why the Left is pushing TODAY to lower the voting age to 15.

      Report Post » ClockKing  
  • wingedwolf
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:28am

    His base has been demoralized along with everyone else. People haven’t lost jobs, businesses haven’t closed, people haven’t lost homes because of subprime loans along political party lines. His great plans for saving people’s homes busted big time, and even the stupidest demolibersocialcommie can see that if we let this man and his policies stay in force, none of us are going to have any kind of life worth living or to pass along to our kids and grandkids. He‘s going to save all his union friends pensions by taking over and nationalizing the pensions of the private sector and we are all going to live out our golden years as paupers if we don’t stop him dead in his tracks.

    Report Post » wingedwolf  
  • baldwin4freedom
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:21am

    It is hard for your base to get fired up when they start questioning your agenda. Some are probably getting a gut check, wondering what did I vote for. Even though there is a big lack of common sense in this country, there are still some remenants of common sense in most everyone. Lets hope that they listen to that sickening feeling in their gut.

    Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:21am

    buck up lefties…….as soon as im done building your utopia you will get to move into the new repainted and decorated gulag that comes hand in hand with this socialist communist movement you guys have pushed so hard for . As long as I can get rid of that pesky teaparty first ………

    GOOD LUCK WITH THAT OBAMA WE WILL NOT STOP EVER. EVEN AFTER WE HAVE RETURNED OUR GOVERNMENT TO ITS ORIGINAL INTENT WE WILL ALWAYS BE VIGIL AND STOMP YOUR SCUM OF SOCIALISM BACK INTO THE CAVES FROM WHICH IT HAS RECENTLY CRAWLED FROM………..LONG LIVE LIBERTY

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • wingedwolf
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:33am

      Psychosis, from your lips to God’s ears!! We must be vigilant and teach our children and grandchildren to be vigilant so that these demolibersocialcommies don’t EVER come this close to destroying this magnificent America again. (Amen.)

      Report Post » wingedwolf  
    • texaschld
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:49pm

      you speak of gulags. you’re not far wrong. i work in a lot of the housing authorities (government housing) around my city. cement block walls painted white. you have to show your id just to enter the building; then, you have to walk pass the “most wanted” wall: pictures, taped to the walls, of “trouble makers” who are no longer allowed in the building. the “low” rise buildings were the worse. my first day, to one in particular, was delayed because the a.t.f. and d.e.a. were “raiding” a particular apartment. at another, i was called a white b*tch and was warned to leave…which i did. i was outnumbered 9 to 1. that particular location had a “mini” police station set up in the community building. a lot of good that did. 2 officers for 20+ buildings. welcome to the new american dream: to live in a government owned neighborhood with the least amount of drug traffic. yea!

      Report Post » texaschld  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:16am

    Sorry but Obama is always right. If he says it’s they and Washington then it has to be. Oh, he is right, he said they and those IN Washington, okay! For once he is right about something.

    Report Post » Marylou7  
    • staythecourse
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 4:20pm

      I’ve watched the whole speech from the UW web site… this man is really frightening. the outright lies… his anger…. and his sway over the youth. http://host.madison.com/news/video/vmix_f1220abe-cb99-11df-b193-001cc4c002e0.html He needs to be exposed for the person, the communist that he is. Do these kids really believe in communism? Do they know what life under communism is all about? These are the “kids”, and I do mean “kids” because we have not allowed them to mature into real young adults — we keep them “kids” so they can be manipulated — are the people that will make up obama’s new “brownshirt” force in america with his new mandated youth corps. To all college students….. wake up! Do not be brainwashed into submission and giving up your God given freedoms.

      Report Post »  
    • GlennBeckUsesVicksVaporub
      Posted on September 29, 2010 at 8:05pm

      As of Sept. 21, 296 advertisers have asked that their commercials not be shown on Beck’s show

      Report Post »  
    • BoiseBaked
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:33am

      Hey staythecourse, interesting that you mentioned O‘Bama’s anger. Dinesh D’Souza, who is no dummy, just wrote a book called “The Roots of Obama’s Rage.”

      Report Post »  
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