Patterico's Pontifications

7/31/2009

Obama stumped by dumb Americans opposing ObamaCare

Filed under: General — Karl @ 1:40 pm



[Posted by Karl]

President Obama suggests the bitter clingers in middle America are so dense that even the greatest orator in world history cannot educate them:

“I don’t spend a lot of time looking at my polls. I do look at the polling on health care, partly because I think that there is a terrific case to be made to the American public. But it is — this is complicated, it’s difficult,” the president said. “And I will say that this has been the most difficult test for me so far in public life, trying to describe in clear, simple terms how important it is that we reform this system. The case is so clear to me.”

The establishment media has already started blaming the American people, so it is not a shock that The Politico is now pushing this line from Capitol Hill:

Olympia Snowe, it seems safe to assume, is following the health care debate a bit more closely than the average American.

So it is saying something that the Maine senator — a key figure in health care negotiations — admits she is stumped by the task of crafting a simple explanation for legislation of mind-numbing complexity.

“If anybody can give me an easy, 30-second solution to this multitrillion-dollar problem, be my guest,” said Snowe, a moderate Republican.

A Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, agrees. “The members don’t even understand what’s in it,” he confessed of the legislation. As for his constituents? They are “not exactly sure what this is about, and they’re not really sure whether they like it or not.”

Of course, it is hard for members of Congress to understand a bill they will not read. And it would be nice if Pres. Obama bothered to read it.

Complexity is an inherent problem with attempting comprehensive reform, so it is difficult to muster much sympathy for the politicians whining about it now. It is much easier to be glad that Pres. Obama has not tried the incremental approach, which is more difficult to fight.

Moreover, Pres. Obama’s rhetoric is part of his problem. For example, he complains about doctors and hospitals performing unnecessary medical tests, while claiming that we can save substantial money by promoting preventive care and refusing to tag his trial lawyer pals as part of the problem of defensive medicine. On a larger scale, Pres. Obama tries to assure everyone that he is not proposing a European or Japanese-style healthcare system, even as he claims that these countries do a better job than the US. And he is selling healthcare reform as a cost-containment measure when unbiased estimates show the opposite — not to mention that states like Tennessee, Maine and Massachusetts have all failed with similar schemes.

In short, it is no wonder Pres. Obama is having trouble selling his healthcare reforms. Not only is it a complex issue, but Pres. Obama insists on talking out of both sides of his mouth about the issue. It is not surprising that voters suspect this is because they would not want what is being sold if he was being honest.

–Karl

35 Responses to “Obama stumped by dumb Americans opposing ObamaCare”

  1. Dumb racist hicky hicks you all are.

    JD (6dacf4)

  2. Now, you ask me do I think it’s worth it? Of course, it was my grandmother. So anything that would relieve her pain or her suffering or extend her life in a way that she wished is something I wanted to do, and I would have paid for it out of pocket if I had to. But not every family is going to make those same decisions.

    Yes. Just so. Lots of families will probably just say screw grandma, Barack. Good point.

    happyfeet (71f55e)

  3. Well, again, thank you very much.

    Thank you so much.

    I just so appreciate you doing this.

    Well, I appreciate you. You’ve been doing a good job on the reporting on this.

    Thank you so much.

    It’s hard stuff and you’ve been very serious about it, so we appreciate it.

    no I love you more.

    no I love you more

    happyfeet (71f55e)

  4. Well what do you expect from the Anti-Christ?

    Hey, “World Net Daily” says Jesus mentioned him by name, so it must be true.

    David Ehrenstein (2550d9)

  5. You simpletons, can’t you understand taht I’m from the government and I’m here to help you? What is the matter with you ungreatful wretches?

    Teh Won (85dcd7)

  6. I think Bob Corker has it right. Health care legislation is more about Obama than it is about doing something good for the citizens of this country. Obama is more concerned with scoring a big leftist political victory.

    the wolf (7cffb6)

  7. Am I the only one who thinks this is a deliberate narrative?

    So many stories lately with similar themes: people are too emotional for town halls, they are afraid of change, they just can’t possibly understand it, etc. Sounds like the lead up to “we passed it because we know better.”

    I just have a hard time believing that all the politicians just decided to start whining about how misunderstood they are, all about the same time.

    Mama AJ (788539)

  8. Because those “dumb hicks” are starting to get wise to the reality that Obama’s “health care reform” is going to result in much worse health care and much higher costs.

    Joe (a32cff)

  9. Andrea Kramer on MSNBC this morning pretty much said the President’s problem is “he was having difficulty explaining to people how much better this new plan was than existing plans and how most would benefit.”

    Please tell us Andrea!!!!

    We are soooo stooopid!!

    We don’t know what is good for us!

    HeavenSent (01a566)

  10. Rush nailed it. Congress is boning up on this bill in little education sessions taught by staffers because their constituents know what’s in it and THEY DON’T. So who is stupid?? They are going home to get creamed. Rush says they should be taking self-defense classes with what they are facing starting next week.

    Oh what a delicious picture that presents.

    President Stupidly lives up to his name.

    Peg C. (48175e)

  11. Apparently the government wants to know who the dumb people who cling to their guns and religion are. If you click on the government web site for their clunkers for cash program, the Glenn Beck show asserted that the government will have compete access to all your files.

    This seems to be a gross violation of the 4th and 5th amendments.

    Can anyone shed any light on this allegation?

    Is it possible to have access to such computer files simply by visiting such a site?

    If so is there any defense against such a tactic?

    Thomas Jackson (8ffd46)

  12. “We don’t know what is good for us!”

    Heavensent – That’s what socialism is for, when people are too dumb to know what is good for them. They let the government decide and make decisions for them. YIPEE!!!!

    daleyrocks (718861)

  13. “And I will say that this has been the most difficult test for me so far in public life, trying to describe in clear, simple terms how important it is that we reform this system.”

    If Obama can’t express it in convincing soundbites that aren’t blatant lies, then the liberal media who are not the smartest folks in the world have a much tougher time carrying his water, even though they want to.

    daleyrocks (718861)

  14. He cannot explain it clearly and simply because it simply is not true. He is a liar.

    Peg C. (48175e)

  15. Perplexed Kenyan cannot pronounce freedom.

    [note: fished from spam filter]

    bill-tb (365bd9)

  16. I be needin’ Obama care so I can getz my free Oxygin-Cotton.

    HeavenSent (01a566)

  17. It’s not hard at all — Cliffnotes version of government run healthcare — Abort the unborn, euthanize the old, save money, give money to Democrat constituents. Be president for life.

    bill-tb (365bd9)

  18. It’s not just that he’s talking out of both sides of his mouth. We simpletons out in the sticks have figured that he’s just making things up, and that he’s frequently talking out of yet another orifice.

    Mike Myers (674050)

  19. That’s whole “We must educate them because they obviously can’t possibly disagree with us on principle, it must be because they are illiterate hickstains.” thing that liberals always flipping do. Hell, my own dang sister does that crap to me. Then I slap her and tell her that I can be informed, educated AND disagree with her all at the same time.

    They just really can’t believe that we know the subject and still don’t follow their “logic” slavishly.

    The funny thing is, if we were really rubes, hickstains and illiterates we WOULD follow
    them slavishly.

    I think we should insist that the Congress fix the VA BEFORE they do anything with healthcare. Just to prove they can actually do it.

    Vivian Louise (c0f830)

  20. VL – They should fix the VA, Indian healthcare, Medicare, and Medicaid before even considering inflicting those failures on everyone.

    JD (e91ae1)

  21. Obama’s having trouble explaining his plan to the people? He doesn’t have a plan; he’s letting the Congressional Democrats make this sausage all by their lonesome. In fact, the reason there’s so much hair pulling, crying, and gnashing of teeth amongst the legislative factions is precisely because he isn’t leading on this…

    B-B-But, the Brilliance!, Judgement!, Leadership!

    Everyone thinks this is some deft, nuanced leadership maneuver on his part, when in fact he’s just effin’ lazy! as the [object]. The money part is the last 4 or 5 paragraphs, but check it all out if you have the time…

    No, as Karl says, this is a case where [object]. And, they’re not going to waste much more time before they just act in our best interests, despite what we think we want…

    Because, you know, they won! and we’d better get the picture that we’re supposed to be rolling over and acquiescing to their will! They’ve got their proggresive agenda, and we’d better not hamper it being instituted…

    After all, [object]!

    Bob (99fc1b)

  22. Oops! Sorry folks, my HTML-Fu is weak tonight…

    Bob (99fc1b)

  23. But it is — this is complicated, it’s difficult,” the president said. “And I will say that this has been the most difficult test for me so far in public life, trying to describe in clear, simple terms how important it is that we reform this system. The case is so clear to me.”

    This last sentence underhandedly and arrogantly informs us that we are lacking in understanding, we are the ones who just aren’t capable of grasping what he sees so clearly, and that because of this essential inability to comprehend on our part, we are holding up this urgent bill. Shame on us.

    It’s a tad jarring when I see our president displaying that generally feminine quality of passive-aggressive flamethrowing: subtle, underhanded, and sneaky. It always takes me aback because it’s coming from a man, and that man is our president.

    Dana (57e332)

  24. Dana – He is better than us. We are stupid and not worthy. Accept it. He won.

    daleyrocks (718861)

  25. No recognition at all from Obama that he contributed by making promises that he’s backed away from deceptively. And no recognition from Obama that he is not really even trying to convince anyone about the actual legislation that even he admits he does not know the contents of.

    But its all the fault of those people who are not listening to him….

    The Empty Suit(tm) continues his brilliant work.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  26. Just another variation on the old theme of the arrogant and clueless person who’s wondering: “could it actually be my fault, or the fault of everyone else? No, it’s everyone else’s fault.”

    Dmac (e6d1c2)

  27. I was with a few friends having a beer and watching professional, American League baseball on TV tonight. When a Ford commercial ran about the $4500 cash-for-clunkers deal, my hard-core, union, Democrat friend laughed out loud. I felt safe enough to say “and these jokers want to run our health care” and there was wide agreement. Seriously, does the Obama administration have one MBA in it? I could have ballparked the car program cost within 10% in a couple of hours, and I know nothing of the industry.

    carlitos (b0a11b)

  28. Personally,I’m waiting for Joe Biden to explain the health care bill…that should clear things up..

    rlhosier (bc1507)

  29. I don’t think having an MBA has anything to do with it, Carlitos – I’ve met more than a few from my media days and many were incredibly obtuse and useless wankers (I’m specifically talking about MBA’s in marketing). Just anyone with basic math skills would do nicely (or anyone who can balance their checkbook).

    Dmac (e6d1c2)

  30. Does anyone want the same folks who ran King-Drew to run national health care?

    Michael Ejercito (833607)

  31. So much of what has gone on in DC this year is an amazing reprise of what Amity Shlaes reveals in “The Forgotten Man“, with the exception that the American voter is not putting up with the crap that they did in the 30’s from a bunch of Utopians who had no idea what would, or would not, work.

    AD - RtR/OS! (486a83)

  32. Comment by Michael Ejercito — 8/1/2009 @ 10:48 am

    In fact, it would behoove The LiC to re-open King-Drew as a demonstration project of what a Government Health-Care System could accomplish, along with improving the Native-American Health-Care System, and the VA; not to mention Medicare/Medicaid.

    AD - RtR/OS! (486a83)

  33. Can advocates of ObamaCare explain how the same entity (government) that killed Sean Bell and Pedro Navarro-Oregon, and imprisoned Timothy Cole for a rape that he did not commit, can be any better at managing health care than managing criminal justice?

    Michael Ejercito (833607)

  34. For those of you that believe the public option is evil, socialized medicine, stop being so damn hypocritical. Why not give up Medicare or convince your grandparents or parents to give up Medicare. Maybe you should also convince a veteran relative to give up VA benefits as well. I’m sure your tune will change when you loose your job and can’t afford to buy health insurance. No worries, you can always pass on the cost by declaring bankruptcy. Our current system is so wonderful, isn’t it?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_infant_mortality_rate

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy

    http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/press_releases/2005/anderson_healthspending.html

    Dave Conner (d97f34)


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