Obama Rips Ryan: "This is the same guy...

[AllTooEasy]

According to USAToday:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/04/obama-unplugged-blasts-gop-on-health-care-planned-parenthood/1?loc=interstitialskip

...Obama rips the GOP and Ryan especially in front of donors in (what he thought was) a private meeting. One of Obama's quotes:


"When Paul Ryan says his priority is to make sure, he's just being America's accountant ... This is the same guy that voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription drug bill that cost as much as my health care bill -- but wasn't paid for ... So it's not on the level."

[DCKit]

1. The Republicans (I'm sure) would feel a lot better about this...

if OUR President spoke gibberish and/or doublespeak, as they do.

Unfortunately, for them, it sounds like good old English that even most Teahadii might understand.

[Project Grudge]

2. It's obvious the President "gets it"

when it comes to Republicans, but then why doesn't he use the bully pulpit to remind the American people; instead it's used to promote "compromise" with the conservative right wing.

[AllTooEasy]

3. One word: Independents

Basic Fact: Winning %100 of the Left + Losing Independents = Repuke President ...ask Carter

Basic Fact #2: Winning %100 of the Right + Losing Independents = Obama's 2nd term ...ask McCain and Dole

Unfortunately, there's just not enough of Us (or them) to overcome an Independent loss at the polls. Obama knows that the Left gave him the DNC nomination, but Independents gave him the White House.

[socialist_n_TN]

9. That's the last war..........

60% of the country (no matter WHAT they "call" themselves) support progressive postiona on the issues. Don't get bogged down on what worked 15 to 30 years ago. It ain't that way now.

[AllTooEasy]

13. "%60" until the right brings the 'socialist' tag out their ass

Cenk did a great piece (wish I could find it) where the majority of Americans embrace progressive opinions until someone tells them that it's liberal/socialist/etc. Unbelieveable.

[Enthusiast]

15. Really? I call bullshit.

Carter lost because of GOP subterfuge and the Iranian hostage 'crisis'. It had nothing to do with Carter moving to the left. McCain and Dole were dud candidates. It means nothing. It certainly is no BASIC FACT. It is what the right wants us to believe so they get the government they want.

What is 'right'? What is 'left'?

This is where the 'American people' stand on taxes -forget the labels. And they are even more opposed to cuts in social security and medicare.

[Cresent City Kid]

18. Studies have shown...

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but when people were surveyed about Clinton's economic policies the postive numbers were substantial until you put his name with the plan. The right's only response to facts and common sense from the left is "consider the source." People are being trained to oppose the Dems, Pavlov's dogs are laughing at the knee-jerk conditional responses.

[Enthusiast]

20. If this is true,

what is your solution? Move to the right? I'll vote against any right wing fuck, moderate fucking right wing, barely fucking right wing or a teensy weensie bit fucking right of center.

[Cresent City Kid]

21. My solution is education

Easier said than done. I'm chipping away at my right wing relatives, one issue at a time. I'm pesimistic, I expect a lot more of the same before it gets better. I wish I had a better answer.

My solution is not to move to the right, we need to hold ground and reverse the rightward trend. I don't claim to know exactly how do that, but one good place to start is local politics. Teabaggers are training candidates for local school boards. We can't let them run unopposed.

My brother used to think that the sheer destruction of Bush and his ilk was enough to wake people up. That's not enough, we need to speak up.

[Melinda]

42. "Teabaggers are training candidates for local school boards" YES!! DUers & others should too!!

So many on DU ask for ideas on how to garner voters, write about rebranding the label "Liberal", "Progressive", and "Dem", seek ways to attract those voting against their own interests and so much more, and yet you are one of the very few that I have seen suggest we begin at the beginning - the local level.

I've been pondering running for elective office myself in the small and conservative town in which I live. I come face to face with economically disadvantaged people and families almost daily in my position as a community organizer for a non-profit. Many, if not most, of the folks I work with have not had the opportunities nor education so many voting Americans have had in their lives, and therefore are not involved in electoral politics. This is something that needs to change, and like you suggest (and the TP'ers apply) can and must begin at the local level.

The DU activism forum is long inactive. Some DUers held meetups during the Bush* years, but I don't read much about those any more. More's the pity, as DU is probably one of the best platforms there is to bring folks together and start the changing at home.

From your lips and all.... thank you for saying this, and here's hoping others pick up on this thread and start walking down the path we need.

:toast:

[Major Hogwash]

24. I always thought the number was closer to 40%.

30% of the American people identified themselves as Democrats, 40% of the American people identified themselves as Independent of either party, and the other 30% identifed themselves as Republicans.

30-40-30 was the mix.

So, for the last 3 decades Democrats spent a lot of their time, energy, and money trying to win over a majority of the 40% of Independents by moving closer to the center right.
Which I always thought stinks.

It means the Democrats spent most of their time, energy, and money trying to influence a narrow band of just 21% of the voters to remain in office rather than be true to their principles.

Instead of appealing to their base of 30%, and trying to convince the 40% of Independent voters, hoping they were smart enough to be able to figure out who was telling the truth about the state of the economy or the budget or the world.

Nothing stood out more than the lies of there being WMDs in Iraq that Bush told over and over again, yet he was re-elected.
I don't just blame Fox for that.
CBS didn't do much reporting of what a scumbag piece of shit Bush was.
NBC practically anointed Bush for his 2nd term.
And ABC was another lap dog for the GOP.

Murdoch's FOX news network was bad to be sure. But I don't blame them for the complete breakdown of real reporting that was being done in this country.

Some of us were using the internet to get the real news of the status of the world.
And now the GOP wants to go after it and turn it into a Newspeak media format.
1984, indeed.

I remember well how Reagan acted like we were all filthy rich and morally correct upright citizens.
And then came Oliver North and a few other stories about trading arms for hostages, and we found ourselves hoodwinked by our own government.

Boss Tweed was a Democrat, but Reagan was a Republican!!

[whathehell]

37. Exacttly....The Talking Heads need to define their terms. n/t

[me b zola]

27. Independents is often another word for easily manipulated and intellectually lazy

Here's an idea: The Democratic Party ::was:: historically the party that looked after the interest of 90% of Americans. How about actually working for, and speaking for, their interest? How about reaching out to the millions of Americans who don't vote because they feel that no one speaks for them?

Independents my ass. What you really mean is "Reagan Democrats". Well fuck them and fuck that.

[aquart]

46. Worst math on the planet.

[JI7]

17. he does, i always hear him saying it when he is speaking

it's the media that wont report what he is saying and focus on stupid shit like birther crap.

[tblue37]

4. I am glad these remarks are being publicized. We should hear many more such

comments from him and from the Dem leadership!

I am sick to death of the way the Dems tiptoe politely around the Rs, while the Rs slap the most offensive labels on Dems and insult them in outrageous ways.

[Scuba]

5. Atta way Barak. Keep jacking up the pressure. A little rhetoric right now...

...would be a good thing.

[Bucky]

50. Barak is an anagram for "a bark"

Just once I'd like to see him bite.

[fredamae]

6. It took 5 Hours to get through to Ryan's office

But I finally did and she took my message and list of cuts I want to see!
Rep Ryan
202-225-3031

[kentuck]

7. I have no problem with telling the truth about Ryan and the GOP...

If they can't stand the heat, let 'em get out of the kitchen.

[eridani]

8. Pushback. Don't you love it when that happens?

Wish he would have done more of it before November 2010. But better late than never.

[Solomon]

41. And if he had wasted it then, he wouldn't be able to do it now.

I can't for the life see why people can't get this. You can't fight every battle at the same time with the same intensity. You have to use what resources you have wisely and pick your battles.

[eridani]

51. O for fuck's sake! If he had done it then, we wouldn't have a Repuke congress! n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Guy sounds better when caught by an open mike. n/t

[Overseas]

11. Refreshing candor!

Finally telling the truth about these GOP liars. We don't hear that enough from our Democratic leadership-- blatant exposure of GOP hypocrisy. Not sure why it is saved for campaign season, when the GOP legislators lie all the time.

[Kurovski]

12. Some truths are so obvious, I'm amazed that any rethugs hold office at all these days.

[ohtransplant]

14. I think he knew...

the mic was open.

Or were the reporters hiding under furniture?

He's a smart guy, right? three dimensional chess...8 moves ahead...right?

I have to believe he knew and gave Ryan a whack on purpose. If so, I say Bravo!!! :applause:

[Enthusiast]

16. He knew. That was perfectly obvious.

He shouldn't need the excuse of an open mike -he should just say it. Make those assholes whine!

Obama is the only voice we have. Even MSNBC is largely controlled by the right. Only Obama's words can actually reach the people.

[Liquorice]

19. I thought he knew too. I don't really like tactics like that, but I guess

he's gearing up for reelection, and it seemed to have the desired result.

[chollybocker]

22. It's called campaigning.

Obama lives and breathes under an open mic. He knows what he's doing.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[humanityisfree]

I would like to hear

more talk like this from Pres. Obama when he knows the mic is on. All the Dems should be saying exactly these things all the time!

[humanityisfree]

25. I would like to hear

more talk like this from Pres. Obama when he knows the mic is on. All the Dems should be saying exactly these things all the time!

[Dokkie]

26. he also

voted for TARP
voted for No child left behind

Hes only becomes american accountant when a democrat is in office. What a fraud

[oldlib]

28. He is finally acting

and talking like a Democratic President should.

[RBInMaine]

29. So what's the fuckin issue? GOOD THAT HE SAID IT. SAY IT AGAIN IN PUBLIC AND LOUDER !

[TxVietVet]

30. The main problem the teabaggin' conservanazis have now is.....

they are not dealing with some ignorant black man from down in the 'hood. He's a well-educated lawyer, who knows what he's talking about. Now, the teabaggin' kkkluckers are going to be pissed because they bluff. And, it's public. I'm sure it will fuel their hatred for him now.

[messiah]

31. Election time.................

people are willingly being duped again.

[Enrique]

32. I'll prove your point with this election-eve Biden qoute, which we loved

I loved it myself. I posted it here to DU.

this is approximately a month before Obama extended the budget-busting Bush tax cuts. I wonder, does he laugh in Obama's face every time he talks about the deficit?


Biden to GOP: "Forgive me if I laugh in your face"

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?artic...

“How can Perry or the Republican Party talk with a straight face about fiscal responsibility? Give me a break,” Biden said. “Next time a Republican talks to you about fiscal responsibility, tell them, ‘Forgive me if I laugh in your face.’ It’s bizarre. It’s bizarre. They have no credibility.”

[Marr]

35. Certainly seems to be the case.

A politician does a 180 degree spin (in rhetoric) at the kick-off to campaign season, and many of the same people who were just complaining about Campaign Obama vs. President Obama say, 'hey-- he's finally come around'. I don't know whether it's funny or sad.

[Foolacious]

33. "Rips"? "Harsh"?

The media are characterising President Obama's words as "harsh"... that he "ripped" the GOP and Ryan. That was harsh???

I like the fact that what he said privately, he could have said and has said directly to GOP faces and to the public. His private rhetoric, at least in this case, matches his public.

[TheKentuckian]

34. Ryan isn't a special case, Mr President. Only you have the power to relentlessly tell the truth

on this band of dumpsterfires through the corporate media filter.

Independents and those who don't pay attention aren't going to remember that you played nice and they were assholes so while the bipartisan, "adults in the room" bullshit polls well it is also largely irrelevant which means we spent over two years ceding ground and reinvigorating a dead brand for no useful purpose because the only people who care about this approach and pay enough attention to know it is being employed over the gnashing of teeth from the Reich over their own proposals being enacted with nary a vote from them are Democrats, who I assume aren't going to vote GOP because Obama is too mean or oppositional to TeaPubliKlans.

If that is the vote we are trying to hold then fuck it, I don't want to win. I'd rather have a walk on part in the war than a lead role in a cage.

[cyberpj]

36. I'm not so sure he didn't know that mic was on. nt

[trud]

38. He should say this stuff in public

instead of being polite.

[Honeycombe8]

39. Yay!!!! Love to hear the truth boldly spoken by anyone, ESP. the Prez! nt

[bucolic_frolic]

40. VOUCHERS = DEATH PANELS

VOUCHERS are health care rationing for the oldest, poorest, and least able to speak for themselves.

[moondust]

43. K/R

[frylock]

44. president obama who continues to keep us mired in two (three?) wars..

and who refused to veto the bush tax cut extension calling out ryan. that's precious. wish i could get fired up over this.

[devilgrrl]

45. OMG!!! HOW SCANDELOUS!!!! CALL YOUR CONGRESS REP. RIGHT F***ING NOW!!!

:sarcasm:

[julian09]

47. If Obama had the microphone on

MSM probably wouldn't be reporting it, because it wouldn't be a gotcha moment.
He has to get on gas prices and jobs, which republicans forgot about.
He has to show that the tea party republicans are wildly irresponsibly playing brinksmanship, with every issue and could bring the world economy to its knees, for idiology. He has to discredit them with no holds barred to show; that some in the tea party do not deserve to hold public office. That their radical uncomproming positions should be exposed for the world to see, how brinksmanship or blackmail is not legislating. About 80 tea partiers out of 435 US representatives is the tail wagging the dog, get them out. Do it on an open battery of open mikes.

[freshwest]

48. If only this was on MSM it'd change the national dialogue, but it's GOP owned and operated.

Instead of quoting the truth, the tea party circus will be on the air.

Real people and their issues are treated as if they do not exist!

[inna]

49. they call it "ripping"?? ok.