So Obama went to Iowa today and took the gloves off.
President Barack Obama launched a rare direct attack Monday on the Republican presidential field, criticizing GOP hopefuls for their blanket opposition to any deficit-cutting compromise involving new taxes.
huffingtonpost.com
Without naming names, Obama lambasted the GOP Presidential field who just stated unanimously that they would not except a deal that gives than a 10 to 1 advantage in bargaining terms, not even if they previously supported most of the ideas offered, and he took a nice swipe at Mittens, who embodies that hypocrisy . .
"You've got a governor who's running for president right now who instituted the exact same thing in Massachusetts," Obama said, referring to a central component of his law – the requirement for nearly everyone to carry health insurance.
"This used to be a Republican idea," Obama said. "It's like suddenly they got amnesia."
Yes! I call it "Fox Viewer Derangement Syndrome", wherein things you supported yesterday are now unforgivable transgressions against basic American values because President Obama suddenly began supporting it. This is also known as being a cynical asshole
It's like all those George W. Bush voters suddenly got amnesia the day that Obama became President, and suddenly Obama did not inherit a economy in shambles and a runaway deficit, he created it.
This needs to be emphasized over and over again.
But it gets better . . .
In response to a question, Obama also took the chance to counter the anti-government stance embraced by the tea party and largely by the Republican presidential field.
He noted that although government doesn't do everything well, it is responsible for sending a man to the moon and for the military defending the country, among other things.
"When you go to the National Parks and those folks in the hats, that's government," Obama said.
"As frustrated as you are about politics don't buy into this notion that somehow government is what's holding us back," he said.
huffingtonpost.com
Now THAT is perfect . . .
More below the squiggle . . .
YES, the Government CAN do things, and do them well. If you like clean drinking water you will know what I am talking about. In 2012 President Obama is sure to face a Republican opponent who will argue that it is NOT the job of the Government to regulate big business, just gay lifestyles and a woman's right to choose. That Republican Presidential contender, whoever he/she is, will be selling a dour message of how bad things are and how the government made it worse and only less government is the only answer. Of course, whenever they are in power Republicans do everything they can to make sure that every part of the government that isn't related to the military is underfunded, inefficient and catering to the special interests they are supposed to be overseeing, and then when they are out of power they point to their own malfeasance as proof that the government doesn't work, never mind the fact that they were the ones to fuck it up in the first place. Amnesia.
But the only way to counter the argument that we need less government is to make the case why government works and why we need it. There are many excellent examples of how government intervention can succeed in the marketplace, and the rescue of the auto-industry under the Obama Administration is a great example of that. Who could possibly argue that America would have been better off if we had lost all of those jobs, I mean, who other than an ideologically amnesiac Republican who will never vote for Obama anyway?
In my opinion, it is vital to Obama's re-election that he makes the case for why we need good government, not less government. Take for example the Consumer Protection Agency that was created last year due to the passage of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill. Who could possibly argue that American consumers would be better off with less consumer protection? I mean, who other than an ideologically amnesiac Republican who will never vote for Obama anyway?
So cheers to President Obama for calling out the collective amnesia and rank hypocrisy that defines the GOP today, and remember, one of these Republicans with a penchant for amnesia when it comes to how government has been good to them, whether it is Bachmann and her love of farm subsidies, Romney and his strong belief in an individual mandate in health care reform, or Perry who was able to balance his budget with Federal Aid while simultaneously promoting secession, well, one of these meatheads is going to have to run against President Obama, and that gives me a feeling of hope for the rest of us. Remember, the last time these Republicans tried to go one on one with Obama it didn't end very well for them, and as they say, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Also, this is not good news for John McCain.
Rant off . . .
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