Politics

White House ‘Car in Ditch’ Metaphor Crashes & Burns

As President Barack Obama tours the country on the campaign trail with fellow Democrats, he’s made one metaphor a staple of his usual stump speech:

I want you to think about it this way. Imagine that these folks [Republicans] drove a car into the ditch. And it was a really deep ditch. And somehow they were able to walk away from the accident, but they did nothing to get the car out of the ditch. And so, me and Barbara [Boxer] and Jerry [Brown] and Antonio [Villaraigosa], we all put on our boots and we climbed down into the ditch.

And it’s hot down there. Flies are down there — (laughter) — and we’re sweating. But we’re pushing, we’re pushing to get the car out of the ditch. And even though Barbara Boxer is small, she is pushing, too. And we’re all pushing. (Applause.) And as we’re pushing, we look up and the Republicans are all standing there at the top of the ditch. They’re all looking down. And we say, why don’t you come down and help? And they say, no, that’s all right. And then they kick some dirt down into the ditch. (Laughter.) They’re sipping on a Slurpee. They’re fanning themselves. You’re not pushing hard enough, they say. You’re not pushing the right way.

As the story goes, at least as Obama tells it, the Democrats succeed in dragging the vehicle out of the ditch and take control in driving in a “new direction.”

In an attempt to build on this metaphor Tuesday, White House press secretary told reporters he understood people’s frustration with the Obama administration. “Look, there’s, there’s an Obama bumper sticker on the car. We get that,” he said in response to a question from CNN.

The implications of this new twist in the tale weren’t lost on Republicans who were quick to point out the gaffe.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin tweeted “classic admittance [sic: admission]….Um, that’s been our point.”

In an email sent around to reporters from the Republican National Committee, another jab at the top White House aide. “Robert Gibbs admits that the President‘s famous ’car in the ditch’ has an Obama bumper sticker on it,” read the message under a large bold title: “They said it!”

Republicans have argued it’s the Obama administration policies that are keeping the economy on a dangerous course.

One top Republican said the White House needs to stop pointing fingers at the past and fix the economy, which is now the Obama administration’s problem.

As CBS White House correspondent has noted, the metaphor department seems fresh out of new ideas.  But Gibbs predicts the president will continue to deliver this message right on through the midterm elections next Tuesday.

Closing thought: Possible new campaign message for the GOP?

Comments (152)

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  • Its Gonna Getcha
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 9:26pm

    I knew Cool Hand Luke and you ain’t no Cool Hand Luke.

    And you ain’t no Kurt Cobain.

    (Funny video)

    Report Post » Its Gonna Getcha  
  • LSX
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 9:22pm

    Hey ‘Bammy.

    We’re all voting “R” for the Recovery of this country

    Those voting “D”are trying to Destroy America.

    Put that in your talking points!

    Report Post » LSX  
  • Navyguy30
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 9:17pm

    As the lady told Obama. I’m exhausted! Well I’m exhausted too! I’m tired of this idiot boy president and his stupid “car in the ditch” story! I can’t wait till 2012!!

    Report Post »  
  • M-O-O-N Spells Moon
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 9:15pm

    Oh my goodness… THANK YOU for posting that video. :)

    I’ve noticed that a lot of people here around where I work must have purchased one of those kits. Their Prius’s have such clean bumbers now. ROFL

    Report Post » M-O-O-N Spells Moon  
  • ...............R..U..Kidding...Me
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 9:08pm

    At least, under the Republicians you have a chance to work and buy a car. Under socialist obama they‘ll take your car and spread your wealth around so much you’ll be lucky if you can remember what a car look like.

    Report Post »  
  • Laus Deo
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 9:07pm

    Pathetic.. What’s more pathetic? The people applauding that tired, asinine metaphor.

    Report Post » Laus Deo  
  • flyguync
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:53pm

    I have an idea for a Democratic bumper sticker – “If you don’t like the way I drive, stay out of the ditch”. They seem so intent on keeping us there.

    I actually borrowed that – it used to say “stay off the sidewalk”, but……

    Report Post »  
  • Restored One
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:48pm

    I have to admit that today (well everyday) I saw a Prius (of course) parked with the 08 Obama sticker, a Brown 2010 sticker and a Boxer 2010 sticker; I wanted to put a note on the car that said “I will pray for you.” I was listening to Glenn on the radio and thought, maybe I should park next to the car and put the volume up and wait for the owner to return. BUT, I had to pick my kid up from school. What do you think, should I have put the note? HAHA

    Report Post »  
    • Danglinbags
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 9:06pm

      Nothing, unless you’re a psychiatrist. Liberalism (socialism/progressivism) is a mental disorder. Just look at ABCs comments on the Abortion article a few stories back if you don’t believe.

      Report Post » Snowleotard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • N37BU6
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 11:57pm

      @DB

      Yeah, the one I posted… surreal, isn’t it?

      Report Post » N37BU6  
  • clinker
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:48pm

    The dems never noticed that car also has a brake pedal….

    Report Post » clinker  
  • mwhaley
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:47pm

    Hey Obama, Your group was actually driving the car in 2006.

    Report Post »  
  • teahugger
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:45pm

    I am tired of metaphors, platitudes and sound bites. Who cares who’s to blame? Identify the problem and find a solution…and quit freakin’ talking about it!

    Report Post » teahugger  
  • Bombgod1
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:41pm

    There was another Democrat that had a car in the ditch, well it was a river. He got out and went home while the girl drowned. I’m sure Obama would have been there to help out as well. Probably would have given him a ride to his house.

    Report Post » Bombgod1  
    • moonlight on the bay
      Posted on October 28, 2010 at 1:21am

      I was thinking about that car in the water myself . . . wondering if things would have turned out differently if a handful of people could have pushed THAT car back onto dry land.

      Report Post »  
    • George Washington
      Posted on October 29, 2010 at 3:19pm

      Obama would have given the congressman another drink before sending him on his way. If it weren’t for the bridge being in the way, the accident would not have happened. He would have simply jumped across the water in his car. They do it all the time in the movies.

      Report Post »  
  • JBaer
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:37pm

    I LOVE the BS removal commercial!!
    I’m ready for BO to go!

    Report Post » JBaer  
  • clhathaway
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:36pm

    “And so, me and Barbara” butchered the English language. So much for eloquence. Or was he translating it into Ebonics for his audience? Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

    Report Post »  
  • LadyLibertea
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:36pm

    this is HILARIOUS… love the commercial…hate the fact that he is running our country into the ditch. Loved it when they said, “it EVEN works on a Prius” LOLOL….

    Report Post »  
  • George Washington
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:36pm

    Now that he has the keys, one would think that he would drive the car out of the ditch. But no. He’s digging the ditch, deeper.

    Report Post »  
    • highcarry
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 10:07am

      he never had the keys. he’s from chicago. he used a slim jim and pull hammer.

      Report Post » highcarry  
    • George Washington
      Posted on October 28, 2010 at 3:51pm

      To HIGHCARRY. But is he smart enough to be able to hot wire the ignition?

      Report Post »  
  • chazman
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:32pm

    Thank you, God! I hoped something hilarious would come from all this CRAP we’ve been subjected to lately! A fork … a frickin’ FORK!! Yeah, takes that sticker right off, along with some paint!

    Report Post »  
  • MiketheTrucker
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:31pm

    I get so sick of hearing his lies. Two more years, just two more years.

    Report Post »  
    • ltb
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 10:01am

      Every time that lying thief comes on TV and I can’t change the channel fast enough, I instinctively say “liar” after everything he says. It’s like an involuntary reflex.

      Report Post » ltb  
  • MJ1025
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:30pm

    Obama must have gotten a lot of help in college. When he is not reading the TOTUS, he speaks like a teenage thug.

    Report Post » MJ1025  
    • CatB
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 12:32am

      You don‘t think that could be part of the reason he won’t unseal his records do you? That and that pesky little foreign student thing. :-)

      Report Post »  
  • The Patriot
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:30pm

    Fortunately there shouldn’t be too many Obama stickers left on the road because “Cash for Clunkers” got rid of at least half of them.

    Report Post »  
  • MaduraMi
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:30pm

    Obama is leaving out the part where himself, Reid, Pelosi, Boxer and the other Dems keep digging the hole deeper and deeper and wonder why the car wont get out. Then they drive several other cars into the ditch thinking maybe that will work but now we have 8 cars stuck. Then they just keep digging and digging telling us that eventually they’ll get to the bottom. The ditch keeps getting bigger, more cars are getting stuck. They they tell us the problem is that we’re not digging fast enough so they bring in heavy equipment that also gets stuck. But they just keep on digging….

    Report Post »  
  • felina g
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:27pm

    [In explaining the "true" nature of banking in the world] The IBBC is a bank. Their objective isn’t to control the conflict, it’s to control the debt that the conflict produces. You see, the real value of a conflict, the true value, is in the debt that it creates. You control the debt, you control everything. You find this upsetting, yes? But this is the very essence of the banking industry, to make us all, whether we be nations or individuals, slaves to debt.

    “The International”

    Report Post »  
  • seeker9
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:26pm

    I have had enough of the Obama-mobile! Much of what got rhe economy in the ditch can be attributed to the progressive agenda. Put poor people in houses with mortgages they can’t afford, bundle the mortgages, rate them, sell them. Obama even helped with his Acorn associations! Yeah, right. It’s all the republicans fault. Give me a break!

    Report Post » seeker9  
    • N37BU6
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 10:08pm

      When will Obama’s supporters clue in to the fact that they are being patronized and treated like children? I cringed throughout the whole thing… it’s so juvenile. Who takes this guy seriously?

      Accusations and lame analogies are all I ever hear from Obama. Why hasn’t it worn thin for these people yet? Are liberals THAT shallow? When will they get offended at his disdain for them?

      He actually has more respect for us, as we’re informed and represent a challenge. He treats them like doormats.

      Report Post » N37BU6  
    • N37BU6
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 10:28pm

      http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3157/barryfail.jpg

      Report Post » N37BU6  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:25pm

    i think it should be illegal for people to remove those obama stickers from their cars, and shouldnt be allowed to sell the car either………………………….if they did i wouldnt know who to flip the bird to as i am driving down the highway…….lol

    Psychosis  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:22pm

    His Presidency is in the ditch!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:27pm

      It’s off the cliff.

      Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:30pm

      True Mr Obama talks about cars in the ditch while the economy of the country and the attmepted take over by the Progressives shows the greater disaster of his Presidency. Anyone have an old, used fiddle to give him so he can play while DC burns?

      http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mix art)

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Whitehouse Mouse
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:41pm

      The problem for Obama with this car in ditch strategy is, it may seem like the Dems are trying to push the car out, but Americans know he’s actually on his blackberry calling some union with a solid gold tow-truck and promising the moon if they only pull him out.

      Report Post »  
    • John 1776
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 8:56pm

      Still don’t get it. The dems took over congress and the purse strings in 2006, four years ago. They voted for everything that has taken down the economy. Obama himself voted for all but one of the spending bills. Now they point back at it and say “The Republicans did it!”

      Report Post » John 1776  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 9:00pm

      I was in a location tonight where the POTUS will be in a few days. The people that I was with are elected officials and they were not given tickets to the event. Apparently, there were alot of complimentary tickets printed and given to others, but not to the municipality’s elected officials. And the kicker is, 90% of the elected officials are Democrats.

      Are these guys for real? What happened to common courtesy?

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
    • snowleopard3200
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 9:11pm

      @Taquoshi

      I think that the question answers itself with this administration, there is no courtesy with them period. Unless of course, you walk in total agreement and android mentality of the Progressives.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • WPtG
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 9:34pm

      No Buraq… the Conservatives are standing at the top of ditching saying, “Why didn’t you idiots call a tow truck 21 months ago?”

      Report Post » WPtG  
    • Noonien_Soong
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 10:20pm

      It’s too far gone to be in a ditch. The car is hanging on the edge of a cliff waiting to go over the edge. Slowly and surely the edge is eroding away. When it finally falls will be when we won’t see Obama driving out of the driveway, maybe a Nixon farewell wave could happen. Come April-May next year the humiliation could be too much that we might see an extended vacation with no return and Biden will be at the helm. God help us.

      Report Post » Noonien_Soong  
    • It's a Republic stupid
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 10:28pm

      If the Republicans drove the car into the ditch, it was because the Democrats/Progressives cut the barke line!!!!!!!!!!!!
      Democrats took over spending in 2007 when Polosi took over. Yes, the Republicans did go on a spending spree while they were in control but when brake fluid starts leaking from a moving car down hill, its gonna end up in a ditch.

      “how bout dem apples boy”

      Report Post » It's a Republic stupid  
    • Loonbeam
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 10:29pm

      I heard Obama, previously named Brank Oslncar, was born in a ditch, and then the alcoholic-chain-smoking Cruella Deville put him into her skunk-striped hair, but once he grew and fell out, he fell into the arms of a gypsy on her way to Golestan. He met Aladdin’s monkey, and stole the Abu and the magic carpet to he could get to Hawaii.

      Report Post » Loonbeam  
    • FIRED UP FREE MAN !
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 11:11pm

      Are you free or are you not? After fighting the communists from Berlin to Vietnam, Korea to Afghanistan, and all around the world spending our blood our youth and our treasure for another people, how is it we have allowed Communism in the ranks of the Democrats. Are the Democrats so desperate for power they would associate with traitors, indeed welcome them with open arms? Forming organizations with tax payer money with the sole purpose of overthrowing the constitution forcing us to pay for our own destruction? We have got to get rid of this lose money! It’s time to turn our government back into the institution it was meant to be, not some weird kind of ATM machine. If you are a communist you are by definition ineligible to take any oath of office because no communist can say the oath with a straight face knowing that ultimately because of your beliefs, you wish the destruction of the constitution and our American way of life.

      FIRED UP FREE MAN !  
    • thepatriotdave
      Posted on October 26, 2010 at 11:25pm

      John 1776,

      Of course. You don’t expect the anti-American Democrats to start telling the truth do you?

      PatriotShops.com

      Report Post » thepatriotdave  
    • CatB
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 12:29am

      Obama RAN the CAR off a CLIFF !

      Report Post »  
    • Robert W
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 12:39am

      Put the bumper sticker over his mouth.

      Report Post »  
    • rhett5624
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 1:30am

      Yes the Republicans had a little too much to drink at a party and drove it into the ditch. So, they leave to go get help. Meanwhile, Obama and his democratic gang-bangers are walking by and see the car – climb down into the ditch, push it out, hot-wire it and off they go. 100 miles an hour, joy riding, cruising and boozing. The police citizens are following them, lights flashing, horns blaring, doing everything we can to stop these abject idiots from driving the car off of the cliff a quarter mile ahead.

      Report Post »  
    • Patriotic Minuteman
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 8:02am

      One way or another we will get rid of these tyrannical imbeciles! Tyranny cannot be allowed to fester in our great land of America! “Give me Liberty or give me death!”
      When this is over, I would enjoy seeing these enemies of freedom tried for their crimes against America’s citizens.

      Report Post » Patriotic Minuteman  
    • TheBlazer05
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 9:35am

      Would someone please tell the Mechanic-in-Chief that the reason the Republicans are on top of the ditch looking down is because the ditch is too deep to push the car out from. They need to call a tow truck to get the car out. But instead of calling the tow truck and getting the car out quickly, the democrats would rather spend two years trying to push the car out out the ditch.

      Report Post »  
    • billydee
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 3:26pm

      Didnt the cash for clunker program already take all of those unsightly stickers of the road?

      Report Post »  
    • BassLakeCharlie
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 4:26pm

      I live in MN “Liberal Lakes” I’ve got 2 bumper stickers with quotes from Jefferson, and 2 with quotes from Reagan but it’s the: PALIN-Bachmann 2012 that drives the liberals crazy!!!! I get the “finger” all the time, but I get a lot more Thumbs-Up from fellow conservatives…….

      Report Post »  
    • RaptureReady_004
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 5:42pm

      Finally, a commercial I don’t mind watching. What a crack-up!

      Report Post » RaptureReady_004  
    • billydee
      Posted on October 27, 2010 at 9:49pm

      I thought the cash for clunkers program took care of all those Obama/Biden stickers.

      Report Post »  
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