Obama’s Strange Habit of Denying What He’s Doing
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on February 28th, 2009 5:37 am by HL
Obama’s Strange Habit of Denying What He’s Doing
It became clear back in October when the tsunami called the financial crisis washed over the United States (and the rest of the world), that the 2008 election might be a deeply consequential one. Until the economy tanked, the contest between Barack Obama and John McCain was about conventional Democrat/Republican disagreements. Even differences over the war in Iraq and foreign policy had seemed to contract with the continued progress of Gen. David Petraeus’ strategy. Though Barack Obama had the most liberal voting record of any senator, his campaign gave no appearance of extremism. You might have had your private doubts, but on paper he was a gun-defending proponent of traditional marriage who simply wanted to make government work better. Pro-union? Sure. A down the line supporter of abortion rights? Yes. But an FDR-style statist with grand ambitions to alter the American political landscape? No. Immediately after the election, Obama chose a number of centrist advisers and even kept Robert Gates at the Pentagon. Some of us wondered whether he was really planning to govern from the center. Left-wing bloggers began to shift uneasily in their chairs. But they can relax now. With his “stimulus” package and his quasi-State of the Union address this week, President Obama has made it abundantly clear that he intends to hustle this country into European nanny state socialism if he can (and just as fast as he can).
Biden’s Opening Remarks at Middle Class Task Force Meeting
William B. Irvine Auditorium The University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 12:10 P.M. EST THE VICE PRESIDENT: I’d like the record to show it’s the first time in my life my Senate colleagues ever stood for me. I really do appreciate that — (laughter) — this was worth the job, worth the trip. (Laughter.) Ladies and gentleman, thank you for all being here today, and Senators Specter and Casey, and Congressman Fattah and Congressman Brady; Mayor Nutter and the governor will be here, as well; and many luminaries that are here in the audience: I see that Andy Stern of SEIU is out there, and Anna Burger of Change to Win, — (applause) — and as I understand it, that Jerry Sullivan is out there, representing the laborers that are going to get, God-willing and the creek not rising, a significant boost from what we’re about to do. And Congressman Patrick Murphy, I’m told, is in the audience, as well as — and I just got this list, I hope I’m not leaving anybody out — the mayor of Easton, Sal Panto is here, I’m told — Sal, welcome; the mayor of Bethlehem, John Callahan; the mayor of Harrisburg, Steve Reed; the mayor of Allentown, Ed — is it Pawlowski — (laughter) — did I get it right — you can call me “Bidden” if I got it wrong — (laughter) — the mayor of Wilkes-Barre, next to the — one of the second best towns in America after Wilmington, Delaware — Scranton, Pennsylvania, the mayor of Wilkes-Barre, Tom Leighton is here I’m told; and a good personal friend and a great public servant, Jim Florio, former governor of New Jersey I’m told is here. So welcome, Jim. (Applause.)