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RNC Misrepresents Obama Quote

September 30, 2008 9:07 AM

Last week we pointed out that the Obama campaign was misrepresenting a quote from House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., taking a quote of his out of context to make it seem like he was saying something he wasn't.

The RNC did the same to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., yesterday.

An alert went out from the Republican National Committee's Alex Conant yesterday suggesting that Obama praised the fundamentals of the economy even in the very same speech when he was hammering McCain, for praising the fundamentals of the U.S. economy as strong.

"Obama said it is the U.S. economy’s 'long-term fundamentals that will really make sure this economy grows'," the RNC's Alex Conant told reporters, "even after attacking John McCain for saying the same thing earlier in the speech."

Not so.

Obama in Westminster, Colo., yesterday did say that "Senator McCain just doesn’t get it – he doesn’t get that this crisis on Wall Street hit Main Street a long time ago. That's why his first response to the greatest fiscal meltdown in generations was to say that the ‘fundamentals of the economy are strong,’ and why he didn’t say the words 'middle-class' once in an entire 90-minute debate."

But Obama's quote about fundamentals making the economy grow has been youtubed out of context:

When Obama said “after this immediate problem, we’ve got the long-term fundamentals that will really make sure this economy grows," he was not talking about the fundamentals of the economy being strong. He was talking about the fundamentals of his economic plan.

Here's the full context:

"We don’t just need a plan for bankers and investors, we need a plan for autoworkers and teachers and small business owners," Obama said. "I have said it before and I’ll say it again:  we need to pass, after this immediate crisis is over, an economic stimulus plan.  Right now.  For working families – a plan that will help folks cope with rising food and gas prices, that can save one million jobs by rebuilding our schools and our roads, and help states and cities avoid budget cuts and tax increases.   A plan that would extend expiring unemployment benefits.  For those Americans who have lost their jobs and have been working hard to find a new one, but haven’t found one yet.  That’s part of the change we need. 

"And then after this immediate problem," Obama continued, "we’ve got the long-term fundamentals that will really make sure this economy grows. Change means a tax code that doesn’t reward the lobbyists who wrote it,  but the American workers and small businesses that deserve it.  As President I am going to eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-ups.  That’s how we’ll grow our economy and create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow. I will cut taxes – cut taxes – but not the way John McCain does things.  I’ll cut taxes for 95% of all working families."

Bad oppo.

- jpt

September 30, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (145)

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That's easy, Ryan: voter fraud. An official indicted for corruption goes to jail. A kid killed in a riot goes to the morgue."

Racist republicans challenging the voting rights of minorities do so at their own peril.

I can't believe you actually blame Democrats for conditions the Republicans are actively fostering.

"You don't remember the cities on fire. Some of us do."

So the riots during the 60's were over voter fraud?

Not police brutality against minorities.

Not the assasination of Dr. King.

But voter fraud?

"Take some advice seriously. If the worst happens, sit down. As long as the SNCC was non-violent, they were winning. As soon as Abbie Hoffman convinced ten people to convince 100 people in 1000 people to throw rocks, heads rolled and Nixon was elected then reelected. King was killed. Bobby was killed. It wasn't all flower power and music. It was murder."

You're blaming King and JFK being killed for the Chicago riots at the Dem convention?

Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 30, 2008 2:40:29 PM

So, you know, we’re getting stampeded here to vote for something that doesn’t help homeowners, that doesn’t do anything about foreclosures, that doesn’t help those people who have been in bankruptcy and are looking for a way out. As a matter of fact, it made sure they can’t get out. So, who’s this for? It’s for speculators. It’s to play a game that provides some temporary help in the market, and, you know, you might see an uptick today if this passes the House. On the other hand, if it doesn’t, we need to be ready to find a way for Wall Street to address its problems without having to tap the increasingly diminishing resources of the federal taxpayers.


Posted by: HP Boston | Sep 30, 2008 2:39:22 PM

If McCain had shown good judgment when picking a VP, if he had not picked a mess of lobbyists to run his campaign, if he wasn't so gungho to start wars and if he was smart, I may have voted for him.

I've voted for Republicans (not for President, but for other offices). I just think McCain is dumb. I mean, not as much of dumb as Bush, but nowhere near the sharpest tool in the shed.

The man sees so focused on earmark reform, he has ignored the idea of real budget reform. Earmarks make up less than a percent of our budget. McCain could have saved far more money if he had redirected his energy from focusing on earmarks and put it on looking at the budget as a whole. But that's his focus. That's his niche. The big picture is outside of his purview.

Obama may have less experience, but the man has shown excellent judgment. I do not worry about an Obama administration. I know that his economic advisers will be top notch. I know that his foreign policy adviser will not be blinded by ideology and will be a top notch negotiator. I know that the people he appoints will be smart people who aren't lobbyists.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 30, 2008 2:31:01 PM

That's easy, Ryan: voter fraud. An official indicted for corruption goes to jail. A kid killed in a riot goes to the morgue.

You don't remember the cities on fire. Some of us do.

Take some advice seriously. If the worst happens, sit down. As long as the SNCC was non-violent, they were winning. As soon as Abbie Hoffman convinced ten people to convince 100 people in 1000 people to throw rocks, heads rolled and Nixon was elected then reelected. King was killed. Bobby was killed. It wasn't all flower power and music. It was murder.

Sit down. Protest is not about getting in their faces. It is about getting in their way. It isn't likely in my opinion but it is possible and the voter fraud is enough to light the match.

What Obama is telling you is wrong, dangerous and self-serving. DON'T get in their faces. Only an self-obsessed fool would tell you to do that. We pay a high price for that as Democrats, but
$1.2 trillion wasn't enough, I guess.

Posted by: len | Sep 30, 2008 2:28:43 PM

"A lack of faith in the electoral process signals an end of democracy as we know it."

So why are Republicans doing everything they can to undermine the faith in the election because they are losing?

"The vote must be sacrosanct."

Its a great ideal but the vote has been sullied in recent years with problems with touchscreen voting and people having their right to vote interfered with by Republican caging efforts.

"Widespread voter fraud on a national scale perpetrated by a well funded organization isn't just a crime, it's treason"

A few thousand fraudlent registrations with no proof that anyone actually voted?

You really consider that worse than a dozen Congressmen selling favors and contracts to the highest bidder?

Let me ask you this Woody,

Do you consider it more important for people to be able to exercise their right to vote as easily as possible or do you think restrictions on the voters should be in place to make sure voter fraud does not occur?

Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 30, 2008 2:20:59 PM

"It seems that there are mainly 2 reasons to vote for Barry; He's not white and he's not Republican."
-----
Au contraire: behind the corporate curtain, he's both -- and mob-enhanced to boot.

Posted by: Belle Starr | Sep 30, 2008 2:15:42 PM

"RealClearPolitics: Obama 301, McCain 237'

It seems that there are mainly 2 reasons to vote for Barry; He's not white and he's not Republican.

Posted by: Mack | Sep 30, 2008 2:12:59 PM

Well, yay, our possible next president thinks the economy is "fundamentally weak" I guess.

Yay, panic, yay, doom! Guess we will never get out of it without a helping hand always knocking on the door asking for another form.


Posted by: Wade | Sep 30, 2008 2:11:54 PM

"Obama seems to have 60% of the Jewish vote according to polls. Kerry polled at around 69% right before his election."
-----
Yeah. Democratic saboteur Kerry was a GREAT president hahaha.

Posted by: Belle Starr | Sep 30, 2008 2:11:21 PM

Oh this is even better:

Florida Polls:

PPP - McCain 46, Obama 49
FOX News/Rasmussen - McCain 47, Obama 47

Florida going to Obama is game-over territory. If Obama simply holds on to all the states he's leaning on right now and adds Florida, he's over 270. WI, MN, NC, VA, NH, MO and NV could all go for McCain and Obama would still win.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 30, 2008 2:06:06 PM

Electoral Vote Predictions (no toss-ups):

RealClearPolitics: Obama 301, McCain 237

Ouch.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 30, 2008 1:55:19 PM

johnTX

your absolutely right on Obama's support for Israel ..... Mr. Amnesia and his cultural references have some other agenda.

Mission Accomplished

Posted by: Rex | Sep 30, 2008 1:51:27 PM

"So what's the worse crime len?

Submitting fraudulent voter registration forms or taking bribes as a public official?"

The worse crime in my opinion is voter fraud in a landslide. We already have legalized bribery in the form of lobbying and campaign contributions. The ones who really flaunt it and break the rules eventually get caught and prosecuted.

A lack of faith in the electoral process signals an end of democracy as we know it. The vote must be sacrosanct. Widespread voter fraud on a national scale perpetrated by a well funded organization isn't just a crime, it's treason. The people who commit such crimes are domestic enemies of the constitution, in my opinion.

Posted by: Woody | Sep 30, 2008 1:45:41 PM

Wait, what's wrong with Obama's position on Israel?

There are 500 Rabbis endorsing him (they even have a website, rabiesforobama).

Then there's Rabbi Menachem Frohman, a founder of the Zionist settler movement in the West Bank settlement of Tekoa who not only endorsed Obama, but said he was the only hope for peace in the middle east.

Obama seems to have 60% of the Jewish vote according to polls. Kerry polled at around 69% right before his election.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 30, 2008 1:43:40 PM

Republicans are embarking on another divide the nation through race and conquer tactic:
they have distributed millions of cd's touting the scaremongering DVD "Obsession" that the Clarion Fund (McCain supporter) paid for distribution to dozens of newspapers across the country. Instances of anti-muslim violent acts have been reported.

Now they want to jump on ACORN, and push it using the race card. What about the predatory lenders that "steered" consumers into these bad sub-prime loans?

"It looks like we still have two separate and very unequal financial systems. One for the rich and one for the poor. One for whites, and one for everyone else. The banks created this situation when they abandoned our neighborhoods and opened the door for the loan sharks. Now we’re finding that these same banks are profiting from us through their financing or even ownership of these predatory lenders,” said ACORN National President Maude Hurd. “We know that many of the people who got subprime loans could have qualified for a lower cost mortgage, but instead they were pushed into a higher cost loan because the mortgage company saw an opportunity to make more money.”

When I drive through the suburbs, I see jplenty of foreclosed homes (350K and up) bought by folks who couldn't afford them, and those folks aren't minorities. Plus you have the flip and get rich crowd that flipped out when housing prices tanked.
And let's not forget the derivative and Credit swap instruments created on mortagages that are now worthless ( trillions of dollars worth). Can't blame that mess on minorities,
Why must republicans resort to race-baiting, divisive measures to win an election? That is just evil.

Posted by: Nan | Sep 30, 2008 1:35:15 PM

it was the Republicans
who started the ongoing Iraq war for oil.
-----
With the servile collusion of the hijacked Democrats and, ahem, the New York Times.

Posted by: Belle Starr | Sep 30, 2008 1:33:38 PM

"Look at the crowd Obama has in Nevada.

Another red state going BLUE

Posted by: Vanessa
--------------------------------------
What rock concert preceeded his speech?"

Barry has attack ad after attack ad playing on TV and Radio Nevada. I think in one he even blames McCain for causing Black Holes. McCain had better start responding.

Posted by: Mack | Sep 30, 2008 1:28:23 PM

Belle Starr

you are correct, it was the Republicans
who started the ongoing Iraq war for oil.


Mission Accomplished

Posted by: Rex | Sep 30, 2008 1:26:42 PM

"the party of uber patriots who like to start wars for oil.... "
-----
It's that fraud Obama, nominee of the hijacked Democrats, who's so hot to escalate in Afghanistan/Pakistan.

Posted by: Belle Starr | Sep 30, 2008 1:23:14 PM

October is going to be one wild ride. I know all the 527's have been holding back as have both campaigns.

I'm sure we'll hear about the S&L crisis McCain was in the middle of. The McCain camp might bring out Biden's credit card ties (though he is the VP candidate so I'm not sure anyone will care).

The thing is, if this economic crisis gets worse, those attacks aren't going to mean much. No one will care. They'll just want someone they think can fix this mess.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 30, 2008 1:18:57 PM

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