The Hypocrisy & Hubris of Obama’s “Responsibility” Rhetoric
While I found much to praise in the president’s speech in Strasbourg, one line stood out as defining the hypocrisy and hubris of his young Administration. It shows his hypocrisy because he says one thing while governing in a different direction. The hubris lies in his belief that his rhetoric defines the world’s reality, that if he says a noble quality defines his Administration, then it must be so.
That line, one which echoes the title of his budget, “We are ushering a new era of responsibility, and that is something we should all be proud of.“
How presumptuous of him to say we should be proud of era that has not yet begun, of something not yet achieved!
And to use the term responsibility to define his work is the height of hypocrisy. In the third debate, he echoed a point he had made during the campaign, implicitly faulting the supposedly spendthrift policies of the Bush Administration:
But there is no doubt that we’ve been living beyond our means and we’re going to have to make some adjustments.
Now, what I’ve done throughout this campaign is to propose a net spending cut.
Instead of giving us a net spending cut, his self-described responsible budget gives us a severe spending explosion. No wonder the tea party movement is burgeoning.
How can he, after contending we’ve been living beyond our means and campaigning on a “net spending cut,” offer a budget under which the government spends far, far beyond its means with deficits and treble those he decried under his predecessor’s Administration and call that an “era of responsibility”?
Does he understand that his very actions undermine his rhetoric?
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HE goes from bad to worse every time he opens his mouth
Comment by PatriotMom — April 5, 2009 @ 9:22 am - April 5, 2009
oh snap, patriotmom. you tell it like it is!
Comment by bob (aka boob) — April 5, 2009 @ 9:44 am - April 5, 2009
I believe Obama’s got the public sector O-bots and the GWLs (Guilty White Liberals) in his hip pocket. Forever. His wildly incoherent nonsense proclaiming that irresponsible spending got us into this mess, and way more irresponsible spending will get us out of it, is directed at the 14 to 18 year olds who couldn’t vote in 2008.
He’s aiming his 2012 campaign at the most ignorant and emotionally vulnerable demographic.
Comment by Marsh — April 5, 2009 @ 10:09 am - April 5, 2009
I don’t think you can parse the Obama “swoon” rhetoric that the cult members adore unambiguously. Obama speaks in the tongue of Miles Gloriosus, a main character in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” (Miles is pronounced “Mee-lays” and his name is Latin for “boastful soldier.”) Two great lines Miles delivered that are true masterpieces in the Obama school of rhetoric:
“Stand aside, I take big steps.”
“Poor little moth, she fluttered to close to my flame.”
Obama intoxicates himself on the sniff of his own cork. He is a fine wine in his own mind, reserved for himself alone.
Read and weep:
“Something familiar, something peculiar”
“Something for everyone.:” “a comedy tonight”
“Something appealing,” “something appalling”
“Something for everyone.:” “a comedy tonight”
“Nothing for kings”
“Nothing for crowns”
“Bring on the lovers, liars and clowns”
“Old situations, new complications”
“Nothing portentous or polite”
“Tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight”
“Something convulsive,” “something repulsive”
“Something for everyone.:” “a comedy tonight”
“Something aesthetic,” “something frenetic”
“Something for everyone.:” “a comedy tonight
“(chorus)”"Nothing of gods, nothing of fate”
“Weighty affairs will just have to wait” etc., etc., etc.
Comment by heliotrope — April 5, 2009 @ 10:18 am - April 5, 2009
Behaviors that seem to define the Left and their apologists, at times.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — April 5, 2009 @ 12:37 pm - April 5, 2009
Oh, bob, I’m laughing so hard at your latest bon mot… Please stop.
To apply the word “responsibility” to the federal budget doesn’t seem possible.
#3 helio: excellent. Now that is funny.
Comment by SoCalRobert — April 5, 2009 @ 1:32 pm - April 5, 2009
Our president is a shameless, filthy liar with delusions of grandeur that would make Napoleon’s ego pale in comparison.
Comment by RD — April 5, 2009 @ 2:17 pm - April 5, 2009
Our president is on the road to robbing us, and indenturing our children and grandchildren. He hates America, even if he says he loves USA you can see it in his eyes the contempt he has for freedom and everything America stands for. Just llok at the radicals and folks he associates with. You know “never let a good crisis go to waste” Rahm?
Comment by Pamela — April 5, 2009 @ 3:50 pm - April 5, 2009
I wonder if boob can explain why the Chairman is refusing to take bank TARP repayments.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — April 5, 2009 @ 3:54 pm - April 5, 2009
Here are two interesting windows into Obama’s character.
Richard Epstein discusses Barack Obama
Richard Epstein is the James Parker Hall Distinguished Service Professor of Law at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1972. He was a colleague of Barack Obama when Obama taught as an instructor. Epstein had mutual friends with Obama, and talked to Obama about some issues. His main description is that Obama is under complete self-control.
Obama and God
When God talks to you through your inner voice, it is even better than prayer. Obama experiences this every day, in his own words, revealed in a March 2004 interview with a reporter on religious issues.
Comment by Andrew_M_Garland — April 5, 2009 @ 4:09 pm - April 5, 2009
Other than prayer, Gay Christianist, how do you think one heads off a depression?
Comment by Little Boots — April 5, 2009 @ 5:07 pm - April 5, 2009
I’m trying to Say It, you won’t let me. What’s that about?
Comment by Little Boots — April 5, 2009 @ 5:10 pm - April 5, 2009
The media honeymoon with most polititians eventually fades. With the Clintons it was when he wagged his finger into the camera and lied on live tv. With the very leftist, socialist Obama it is going to take longer because they sympathize with every leftward jolt of his plan. I think it will occur when the media get tired of the administration leading them around by the nose constantly. They will eventually use the promise of “transparency” I think to hold them accountable. Watch for the “alternative media” ,those not coopted by Obamateleprompter to prosper the next 4 years.
Comment by Gene on Pennsylvania — April 5, 2009 @ 5:21 pm - April 5, 2009
#11: The mysterious “spam filter” eats comments now and then – even happens to the regulars. Our hosts, Bruce and Dan, are pretty diligent about moving legit comments out of quarantine so be patient.
Comment by SoCalRobert — April 5, 2009 @ 6:05 pm - April 5, 2009
If so, I apologize, SoCal.
Comment by Little Boots — April 5, 2009 @ 6:07 pm - April 5, 2009
I just had a very quick look at the “obama and God” link.
If you read it properly, he says he is talking to God, but Obama is talking to himself. Read what he says. He sees himself as God!!
However, if you really want an insight into this person, have a look at Dr. Sanity where she writes about Obama on the world stage. I would suggest reading Dr. Alice Miller, who described in detail the family background of Adolf Hitler, and how he was playing out his issues on the world stage. There are some very scary parallels.
I have an equally scary Prime Minister – Kevin KRudd – who is also playing out childhood issues, and who has the same bad spending and spin habits.
Comment by maggie — April 5, 2009 @ 6:12 pm - April 5, 2009
Caligula, er Little Boots (sorry was thinking in Latin), just rescue a whole passel of your comments.
Comment by GayPatriotWest — April 5, 2009 @ 6:21 pm - April 5, 2009
maggie, fight the crazy. it does not have to overwhelm you. it really doesn’t. think.
Comment by Little Boots — April 5, 2009 @ 6:22 pm - April 5, 2009
thanks, gay patriot west. Was getting a little paranoid.
Comment by Little Boots — April 5, 2009 @ 6:23 pm - April 5, 2009
#18 – Paranoia seems to be a hallmark of the folks on your side of the aisle, huh?
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — April 6, 2009 @ 11:45 am - April 6, 2009