Jul 14, 2012
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President Obama insulted small business owners during a campaign stop in Roanoke, Va. on Saturday.
“If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that,” Obama told the crowd. “Somebody else made that happen.”
President Obama said successful Americans did not become successful on their own — they had help.
“If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own,” he said. “You didn’t get there on your own.”
“The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together,” he said. “There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires.”
“If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help,” he said. “There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.”
Following is a transcript of President Obama’s remarks:
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Roanoke! (Applause.) It is good to be back in Roanoke! Good to be back in Virginia. (Applause.) Back in the Star City.
There are a couple of people I want to acknowledge. First of all, you’ve got one of the finest senators and public servants in the country in Mark Warner. Give it up for Mark Warner. (Applause.) Now, Mark was a great governor for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and now he’s a great senator. I just want to point out we’ve got another great governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia who is going to be a great senator in Tim Kaine. (Applause.) We are thrilled to have them both with us today.
I want to thank Mayor David Bowers who’s here. (Applause.) City Manager, Christopher Morrill. (Applause.) Fire Chief, David Hoback. (Applause.) And we’ve got former Majority Leader of the House of Delegates, Dick Cranwell is here. (Applause.)
And all of you are here. (Applause.) Couldn’t ask for a nicer setting. It is beautiful flying in to Roanoke.
Now, let me just say, unless you have managed to break your television set — (laughter) — you’re probably aware that it is campaign season. And I know it’s not always pretty to watch. We’re seeing more money flooding into the system than ever before, more negative ads, more cynicism. A lot of the reporting is just about who’s up and who’s down in the polls instead of talking about the things that matter in your day-to-day life.
So I know all this kind of makes it tempting to just turn off the TV set, and turn away from politics. And there are some people who are betting that you lose interest.
AUDIENCE: No!
THE PRESIDENT: But the fact that you are here tells me that you’re still ready to work to make this a better country. (Applause.) You’re still betting on hope and you’re still betting on change — and I am still betting on you. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Mr. President!
THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me just say this — if I win Virginia, I’m going to get four more years. (Applause.) That I can say with some confidence.
And the reason you’re here tonight is because no matter how petty and small politics seems sometimes, you recognize that the stakes could not be bigger. In some ways, the stakes are even bigger now than they were in 2008, because what’s at stake is not just two people or two political parties. What’s at stake is a decision between two fundamentally different views about where we take the country right now. And the choice is up to you.
Now, this is my last political campaign.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Awww –
THE PRESIDENT: No, it’s true. There is a term limit for Presidents. You get two. (Laughter.) So no matter what happens, this will be my last campaign. And it makes you nostalgic sometimes, and I started thinking about some of my first campaigns.
When I was traveling across Illinois — and Illinois is a big state. And it’s got big cities like Chicago and it’s got small towns, and it’s got rural areas and suburban areas, and you meet people from every walk of life — black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American. You stop in VFW halls, you stop in diners, you go to churches, you go to synagogues. Wherever you go, you’re going to have a chance to meet people from different walks of life. And when I think about that first campaign, what strikes me is no matter where I went, no matter who I was talking to, I could see my own life in the life of the people whose vote I was asking for.
So I would meet an elderly vet and I’d think about my grandfather who fought in World War II, and my grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line during the war. And I’d think about how, when my grandfather came back home, because of this country he was able to get an education on the GI Bill and they were able to buy their first home using an FHA loan.
And then I’d meet a single mom somewhere and I’d think about my mom. I never knew my dad. He left when I was just barely a baby, and so — and my mother didn’t have a lot of money and she was struggling, and she had to go back to school raising a kid, later raising my sister, and she had to work while she was in school. But despite all that, because she was in America, she was able to get grants and scholarships and her kids were able to get grants and scholarships. (Applause.) And they could go as far as their dreams could take them.
And then I’d talk to some working folks, and I’d think about Michelle’s family — her dad who was a blue-collar worker, worked at a water filtration plant in Chicago, and her mom was a secretary. And yet, despite never having a lot, there was so much love and so much passion — and her dad had MS, so he had to wake up an hour earlier than everybody else just to get to work because it took him that long to get dressed, and he could barely walk. But he never missed a day’s work — because he took pride in the idea that, you know what, I’m going to earn my way and look after my family. (Applause.) And I’d see that same pride in the people I was talking to.
And what this reminded me of was that, at the heart of this country, its central idea is the idea that in this country, if you’re willing to work hard, if you’re willing to take responsibility, you can make it if you try. (Applause.) That you can find a job that supports a family and find a home you can make your own; that you won’t go bankrupt when you get sick. That maybe you can take a little vacation with your family once in a while — nothing fancy, but just time to spend with those you love. Maybe see the country a little bit, maybe come down to Roanoke. (Applause.) That your kids can get a great education, and if they’re willing to work hard, then they can achieve things that you wouldn’t have even imagined achieving. And then you can maybe retire with some dignity and some respect, and be part of a community and give something back. (Applause.)
That’s the idea of America. It doesn’t matter what you look like. It doesn’t matter where you come from. It doesn’t matter what your last name is. You can live out the American Dream. That’s what binds us all together. (Applause.)
Now, the reason that I think so many of us came together in 2008 was because we saw that for a decade that dream was fraying, that it was slipping away; that there were too many people who were working hard but not seeing their incomes or wages go up; that we had taken a surplus and turned it into a deficit — we were running two wars on a credit card; that job growth was the most sluggish it had been in 50 years. There was a sense that those who were in charge didn’t feel responsible.
And so we came together to say we are going to bring about the kinds of changes that allow us to get back to those basics, allow us to restore and live out those values. What we didn’t realize was that some of that recklessness, some of that irresponsibility would lead to the worst financial crisis we’ve seen since the Great Depression. And I don’t need to tell you what we’ve been through over the last three and a half years because you’ve lived it. Too many folks lost jobs. Too many people saw their homes lose value. Too many folks saw their savings take a hit.
But you know what’s given me confidence and faith is that fact that as I’ve traveled around the country now, just like I used to travel around Illinois, that same decency, those same values — they’re still alive, at least outside Washington. (Applause.) Times have been tough, but America’s character hasn’t changed. The core decency of the American people is undiminished. (Applause.) Our willingness to fight through and work through the tough times and come together, that’s still there.
And so, just as we came together in the last campaign — not just Democrats, by the way, but Republicans and independents, because we’re not Democrats or Republicans first, we’re Americans first. (Applause.) Just like we came together in 2008, we know that we’ve got to keep working, we got to keep moving forward in 2012. And we knew back then that it wasn’t going to be easy. These problems we’re facing, they didn’t happen overnight, and they’re not going to be solved overnight. We understood it might take more than one year or one term or even one President. But what we also understood was that we weren’t going to stop until we had restored that basic American bargain that makes us the greatest country on Earth. (Applause.)
Our goal isn’t just to put people back to work — although that’s priority number one — it is to build an economy where that work pays off. An economy where everyone, whether you are starting a business or punching a clock, can see your hard work and responsibility rewarded. That’s what this campaign’s about, Roanoke. And that’s why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States of America. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Now, let me say this. It’s fashionable among some pundits — and this happens every time America hits a rough patch — it’s fashionable to be saying, well, this time it’s different, this time we really are in the soup; it’s going to be hard to solve our problems. Let me tell you something. What’s missing is not big ideas. What’s missing is not that we’ve got an absence of technical solutions to deal with issues like education or energy or our deficit. The problem we’ve got right now is we’ve just got a stalemate in Washington.
And the outcome of this debate that we’re having is going to set the stage not just for the next year or five years, but for the next twenty. On the one side you’ve got my opponent in this presidential race and his Republican allies who –
AUDIENCE: Booo –
THE PRESIDENT: No, no, look — I mean, we’re having a good, healthy, democratic debate. That’s how this works. And on their side, they’ve got a basic theory about how you grow the economy. And the theory is very simple: They think that the economy grows from the top down. So their basic theory is, if wealthy investors are doing well then everybody does well. So if we spend trillions of dollars on more tax cuts mostly for the wealthy, that that’s somehow going to create jobs, even if we have to pay for it by gutting education and gutting job-training programs and gutting transportation projects, and maybe even seeing middle-class folks have a higher tax burden.
AUDIENCE: No!
THE PRESIDENT: So that’s part number one, right. More tax cuts for those at the top.
Part number two is they believe if you tear down all the regulations that we’ve put in place — for example, on Wall Street banks or on insurance companies or on credit card companies or on polluters — that somehow the economy is going to do much, much better. So those are their two theories. They’ve got the tax cuts for the high end, and they’ve got rollback regulation.
Now, here’s the problem. You may have guessed — we tried this. We tried this in the last decade and it did not work.
AUDIENCE: No!
THE PRESIDENT: Now, before I finish, can I say, by the way, that some of you have been standing for a while and I see a couple folks slumping down a little bit. Make sure you’re drinking water. Bend your knees. Don’t stand up too straight. The paralegals will be — the paralegals? (Laughter.) You don’t need lawyers. (Laughter.) The paramedics will be coming by, so just give folks a little bit of room, they’ll be fine. This happens at every event.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Obama!
THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) But I just want to point out that we tried their theory for almost 10 years, and here’s what it got us: We got the slowest job growth in decades. We got deficits as far as the eye can see. Your incomes and your wages didn’t go up. And it culminated in a crisis because there weren’t enough regulations on Wall Street and they could make reckless bets with other people’s money that resulted in this financial crisis, and you had to foot the bill. So that’s where their theory turned out.
Now, we don’t need more top-down economics. I’ve got a different view. I believe that the way you grow the economy is from the middle out. (Applause.) I believe that you grow the economy from the bottom up. I believe that when working people are doing well, the country does well. (Applause.)
I believe in fighting for the middle class because if they’re prospering, all of us will prosper. (Applause.) That’s what I’m fighting for, and that’s why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States. (Applause.)
Now, this is what I’ve been focused on since I’ve been in office. In 2008, I promised to make sure that middle-class taxes didn’t go up. And in fact, because of the recession, you needed some help, so we cut the typical family’s income taxes by $3,600. (Applause.) So if you hear somebody say that I’m a big tax guy, just remember $3,600 for the typical family. That’s the tax break you’ve gotten since I’ve been in office. (Applause.)
Four years later, I’m running to keep middle-class taxes low. So this week, I called on Congress to immediately extend income tax cuts on the first $250,000 of income. Now, what that means is 98 percent of Americans make less than $250,000, so 98 percent of folks would have the certainty and security that your taxes, your income taxes would not go up a dime. (Applause.) And, by the way, this is not a hypothetical. This wasn’t some campaign promise. The reason I called on Congress to act now is because if they don’t do anything, on January 1st, almost everybody here, your taxes will go up an average of $1,600.
AUDIENCE: Booo –
THE PRESIDENT: So we need to stop that tax hike from happening.
So you would think that this makes sense, right, because the Republicans say they’re the party of no new taxes, right? That’s what they always say. Except so far, they’ve refused to act. And this might confuse you. You might say, why would they not want to give 98 percent of Americans the certainty of this income tax cut?
Well, it turns out they don’t want you to get your tax break unless the other 2 percent, the top 2 percent, they get their tax break as well.
Now, understand, the top 2 percent, folks like me, we’re the ones who most benefited over the last decade from not only tax breaks, but also a lot of the money from increased profits and productivity went up to that top 2 percent. So the bottom line is, the top 2 percent doesn’t need help. They’re doing just fine.
And I understand why they wouldn’t want to pay more in taxes. Nobody likes to pay more in taxes. Here’s the problem: If you continue their tax breaks, that costs a trillion dollars. And since we’re trying to bring down our deficit and our debt, if we spend a trillion dollars on tax cuts for them, we’re going to have to find that trillion dollars someplace else. That means we’re going to have to maybe make student loans more expensive for students. Or we might have to cut back on the services we’re providing our brave veterans when they come home.
AUDIENCE: No!
THE PRESIDENT: Or we might have to stop investing in basic science and research that keeps us as a leading-edge economy. Or, as they suggested, maybe you would have to turn Medicare into a voucher program.
AUDIENCE: No!
THE PRESIDENT: I don’t think those are good ideas. So what I’ve said to the Republicans is, look, all right, let’s have this debate about the tax cuts for the wealthiest folks. I don’t mind having that debate. But in the meantime, let’s go ahead and do what we agree on, which is give 98 percent of Americans some certainty and some security. (Applause.) So far, they haven’t taken me up on my offer.
Now, this gives you a sense of how Congress works these days — you’ve got the possibility of your taxes going up in four months, five months, and instead of working on that, guess what they worked on this week? They worked –
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Nothing!
THE PRESIDENT: — they voted for the 33rd time to try to repeal a health care bill we passed two years ago, after the Supreme Court said it’s constitutional and we are going to go ahead and implement that law. (Applause.) I don’t know about you, Virginia, but I think they’ve got a better way to use their time. I think helping you make sure your taxes don’t go up, that would be a good use of congressional time. (Applause.)
Now, this is just a small example of the difference between myself and Mr. Romney, between myself and some of the Republicans who are running Congress. And look, Virginia, I want to repeat — this is a choice. If you think their way of doing things is a recipe for economic growth and helping the middle class, then you should vote for them.
AUDIENCE: No!
THE PRESIDENT: You can send those folks to Washington. I promise you they will carry out what they promise to do.
But that’s not why I went to Washington. I went to Washington to fight for the middle class. (Applause.) I went to Washington to fight for working people who are trying to get into the middle class, and have some sense of security in their lives. (Applause.) People like me and Mr. Romney don’t need another tax cut. You need some help right now to make sure your kids are living the kind of life you want for them. And that’s why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States. (Applause.)
On almost every issue, you’ve got the same kind of choice. When the auto industry was about to go under, a million jobs lost, and my opponent said, “let’s let Detroit go bankrupt,” what did I say? I said –
AUDIENCE: No!
THE PRESIDENT: I said I’m betting on America’s workers. (Applause.) I’m betting on American industry. And guess what? Three years later, GM is number one again and the American auto industry has come roaring back. (Applause.)
So I believe in American manufacturing. I believe in making stuff here in America. (Applause.) My opponent, he invested in companies who are called “pioneers” of outsourcing. I don’t believe in outsourcing — I believe in insourcing. (Applause.) I want to stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas; let’s give tax breaks to companies that are investing right here in Roanoke, right here in the United States of America. (Applause.) Let’s invest in American workers so they can make products and ship them around the world with those three proud words: Made in America. (Applause.)
I’m running because our men and women in uniform have sacrificed so much. We could not be prouder of them and we could not be prouder of our veterans. And because of their efforts, I was able to keep my promise and end the war in Iraq. (Applause.)
And I now intend to transition out of Afghanistan and bring our troops home. (Applause.) And what I said is, because of their outstanding work, we’ve been able to decimate al Qaeda and take out bin Laden. (Applause.) And so now it’s time for us to take half of the money we were saving on war and pay down our deficit, and use the other half to do some nation-building here at home. (Applause.)
Roanoke knows something about transportation — this was a railroad hub for a long time. So you know how important that is to growing an economy. Let’s take some of that money and rebuild our roads and our bridges and our rail systems, and let’s build wireless networks into rural communities so everybody can tap into world markets. Let’s put construction workers back to work doing what they do best and that is rebuilding America. That’s why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States. That’s the choice you face. (Applause.)
I’m running to make sure that our kids are getting the best education in the world. When I came into office, we passed a tuition tax credit that has saved millions of families thousands of dollars, and now I want to extend it. But I don’t want to stop there. We just won a fight thanks to some of the folks who are here, including students from VT that — we just won a fight to make sure that student loan interest rates would not double.
But that’s not enough. I want to lower tuition to make it more affordable for all young people. (Applause.) I want to help our elementary schools and our middle schools and our high schools hire more teachers, especially in math and science. I want 2 million more people to be able to go to community colleges to get trained in the jobs that businesses are hiring for right now — because a higher education, a good education is not a luxury, it is an economic necessity. That’s how we’re going to win the race for the future. And that’s why I’m running for a second term as President — to finish the job we started in 2008. (Applause.)
We’ve got to deal with homeownership, and the fact of the matter is that my opponent’s philosophy when it comes to dealing with homeowners is, let the market bottom out and let as many foreclosures happen as it takes. I don’t think that’s part of a solution — that’s part of the problem.
So what I want to do is, I want to let every single person refinance their homes and save about $3,000 a year because you’ll spend that $3,000 on some of these stores right here in downtown. You’ll help small businesses and large businesses grow because they’ll have more customers. It will be good for you and it will be good for the economy. And that’s why I’m running for a second term as President — because I want to help America’s homeowners. (Applause.)
I am running because I still believe that you shouldn’t go bankrupt when you get sick. We passed that health care law because it was the right thing to do. (Applause.) And because we did, 30 million people who don’t have health insurance are going to get help getting health insurance. (Applause.) Six million young people who didn’t have health insurance can now stay on their parent’s plan and get health insurance.
Seniors are seeing their prescription drug costs go down. And, by the way, if you’ve got health insurance, you’re not getting hit by a tax. The only thing that’s happening to you is that you now have more security because insurance companies can’t drop you when you get sick. (Applause.) And they can’t mess around with you because of some fine print in your policy. If you’re paying your policy, you will get the deal that you paid for. That’s why we passed health care reform. (Applause.)
Now, one last thing — one of the biggest differences is how we pay down our debt and our deficit. My opponent, Mr. Romney’s plan is he wants to cut taxes another $5 trillion on top of the Bush tax cuts.
AUDIENCE: Booo –
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, like I said, the only way you can pay for that — if you’re actually saying you’re bringing down the deficit — is to cut transportation, cut education, cut basic research, voucherize Medicare, and you’re still going to end up having to raise taxes on middle-class families to pay for this $5 trillion tax cut. That’s not a deficit reduction plan. That’s a deficit expansion plan.
I’ve got a different idea. I do believe we can cut — we’ve already made a trillion dollars’ worth of cuts. We can make some more cuts in programs that don’t work, and make government work more efficiently. (Applause.) Not every government program works the way it’s supposed to. And frankly, government can’t solve every problem. If somebody doesn’t want to be helped, government can’t always help them. Parents — we can put more money into schools, but if your kids don’t want to learn it’s hard to teach them. (Applause.)
But you know what, I’m not going to see us gut the investments that grow our economy to give tax breaks to me or Mr. Romney or folks who don’t need them. So I’m going to reduce the deficit in a balanced way. We’ve already made a trillion dollars’ worth of cuts. We can make another trillion or trillion-two, and what we then do is ask for the wealthy to pay a little bit more. (Applause.) And, by the way, we’ve tried that before — a guy named Bill Clinton did it. We created 23 million new jobs, turned a deficit into a surplus, and rich people did just fine. We created a lot of millionaires.
There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me — because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t — look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. (Applause.)
If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.
The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires.
So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country, you know what, there are some things we do better together. That’s how we funded the GI Bill. That’s how we created the middle class. That’s how we built the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. That’s how we invented the Internet. That’s how we sent a man to the moon. We rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, and that’s the reason I’m running for President — because I still believe in that idea. You’re not on your own, we’re in this together. (Applause.)
So all these issues go back to that first campaign that I talked about, because everything has to do with how do we help middle-class families, working people, strivers, doers — how do we help them succeed? How do we make sure that their hard work pays off? That’s what I’ve been thinking about the entire time I’ve been President.
Now, over the next four months, the other side is going to spend more money than we’ve even seen in history. And they don’t really have a good argument for how they would do better, but they’re thinking they can win the election if they just remind people that a lot of people are still out of work, and the economy is not growing as fast as it needs to, and it’s all Obama’s fault. That’s basically their pitch.
AUDIENCE: Booo –
THE PRESIDENT: No, no, I mean, I’m just telling you. You’ve seen the ads, and they’re going to run more of them, and there will be all kinds of variations on the same theme. But it will be the same basic message over and over and over and over and over again.
Now, their ads may be a plan to win an election, but it’s not a plan to put people back to work. It’s not a plan to strengthen the middle class. And the reason it doesn’t worry me is because we’ve been outspent before. We’ve been counted out before. The pundits, they didn’t think I could win Virginia the last time. (Applause.) The last time I came to this part of Virginia, all the political writers, they’re all like, well, he’s not serious, he’s just making a tactical move. No, I’m serious — I’m going to get some votes down here. (Applause.)
And so the reason that I continue to have confidence is because when I look at you, I see my grandparents. When I see your kids, I see my kids. And I think about all those previous generations — our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents. Some of them came here as immigrants, some were brought here against their will. Some of them worked on farms, and some worked in mills, and some worked in mines, and some worked on the railroad.
But no matter where they worked, no matter how times were tough, they always had faith that there was something different about this country; that in this country, you have some God-given rights: a life in liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and a belief that all of us are equal — (applause) — and that we’re not guaranteed success, but we’re guaranteed the right to work hard for success. (Applause.)
They understood that, and they understood that succeeding in America wasn’t about how much money was in your bank account, but it was about whether you were doing right by your people, doing right by your family, doing right by your neighborhood, doing right by your community, doing right by your country, living out our values, living out our dreams, living out our hopes. That’s what America was about. (Applause.)
And so when I look out at this crowd, you inspire me. (Applause.) And I have to tell you that the privilege of being your President is something that I thank God for every single day. (Applause.)
I said to you back in 2008 when I was running, I’m not a perfect man — you can ask Michelle about that. (Laughter.) And I told you I wouldn’t be a perfect President. But what I did say to you was that I’d always tell you what I thought and I’d always tell you where I stood, and that I would wake up every single morning thinking about you and fighting as hard as I knew how to make your life a little bit better. (Applause.)
And over these last three and a half years, I know times have been tough, and I know change hasn’t always come as fast as you’d like. But you know what, I’ve kept that promise. (Applause.) I thought about you. I fought for you. I believe in you. And if you still believe in me, if you’re willing to stand up with me, and campaign with me, and make phone calls for me, and knock on doors with me, I promise you we will finish what we started — (applause) — and we will restore that basic bargain that built this country, and we’ll remind the world just why it is that America is the greatest nation on Earth.
God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
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All Democrats and the Democrat Political Party are enemies of life, liberty and We The People. Democrats are against life; they endorse abortion & partial birth abortion. Democrats are against liberty; they conceived, passed, endorse & defend Obamacare. Democrats are against We The People; Barack Obama, leader of the Democrat Political Party openly violates our Constitution and scoffs at those who criticize his lawlessness.
You could not be more wrong. You throw around absolutes about a widely variant group of people that are completely untrue. Also, much of "Obamacare" was conceived by the Republican party, including the individual mandate. Obama has not violated the Constitution, and I'm pretty sure I've never heard him scoff.
Only someone from the cesspool of the country could think this.
To which cesspool are you referring, Patricia? And which part do you think is incorrect about what I said? I state facts and you hurl an invective. Classy.
To which cesspool are you referring, Patricia? And which part do you think is incorrect about what I said? I state facts and you hurl an invective. Classy.
No one "endorses" abortion. No one. Democrats support the idea that, yes, women have a right to decide what happens in and to their bodies. As for Obamacare, you're free to get your own insurance. What you'll no longer be free to do is to expect hospitals to treat you gratis should you not have insurance yet find yourself needing medical help. Your liberty is preserved and so is the hospital given back some liberty. As for violating the Constitution, you'd have to prove that. I've tried to prove it and come up empty every time.
There has NEVER been a more "anti-American" party than the current crop of radical Neo-Fascists called the Republican party today. Seriously–what are you smoking?!?!
There is no Democrat Party.
There's a Democratic Party, founded by Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren in 1828. It's the oldest political party in the United States. But if you can't even get the name correct, the historical details are probably lost on someone like you.
The Progressive Globalist Liberals and Neo Conservative Globalist Conservatives both are in the same boat…
WHAT's BLACK & WHITE & RED ALL OVER?
OBAMA
Help? The Kenyan doesn't grasp the basic capitalist principle that the bearer of the "risk" reaps the reward of profits. If you put your money down and risk losing it in order to create value and make a profit, that is rewarded on a scale far greater than the rewards doled out to the single mom who shows up to do a specific job in order to feed her family. Yes, she helped make the business function every day. But what does she risk? Is any of her risk related to financial loss if the business closes? Will she bear any fiscal responsibility for paying creditors?
The problem with SlowBama is he thinks businesses run like a cookie jar. He perceives money comes out of cookie jars that rich people can stick their hands into and pull out a wad of cash. Moron.
Actually Obama was saying that businesses rely on thing like roads, bridges and the internet that the government created, and that those that have been successful in part thanks to government and so they should pay their fair share back into the system that made them wealthy. I think your lack of understanding makes you the moron.
Only read the headline, huh, Anthony?
Kuba Osta
I think McKenyan should be under the spotlight and explain himself to the American people without you spinning things for him. He has his own spin team for that.
The only people spinning things are Fox News and the rest of the right wing hicks. Just watch the full clip or read the full transcript. The context is obvious.
Umm, the "government" is us people. WE put our money in, as did the businesses under attack, and built the roads, etc. WE own the stuff, not Obama and his henchmen. Government workers are not benevolent, as ChavezyObama would like you to think. WE are benevolent in letting them hold office. This is so simple it is remarkable how duped our nation is becoming with this drivel. Perhaps one day I will have the same feelings as Mrs. Obama when she admitted she had never been proud of her country. No wonder.
Tim Mosher "WE put our money in" Right, and now WE are running up a debt because our revenue is less then our spending. WE need to increase revenue to pay for those things that have made successful businesses successful. WE need to decide who's going to foot the bill out of the people that make up this "WE" and it only makes sense for those that are successful to pay back more into the system. Common sense buddy, c'mon.
Actually much of this debt comes from the military industrial complex… nothing to do with roads or bridges… lol… Local governments pay for roads and bridges… So raise state tax… Congress and their lack of budgeting is the reason for our debt, not because I drive to your business to buy a chair…
Actually much of this debt comes from the military industrial complex… nothing to do with roads or bridges… lol… Local governments pay for roads and bridges… So raise state tax… Congress and their lack of budgeting is the reason for our debt, not because I drive to your business to buy a chair…
In fact the govt makes money on my car at every turn, registration fee, license fee, taxes paid on the car, on the GAS, and on the CHAIR I bought from you.
AND then you expect me to give the money to the government so they can drop million dollar bombs in Libya or Iraq? come on…
In fact the govt makes money on my car at every turn, registration fee, license fee, taxes paid on the car, on the GAS, and on the CHAIR I bought from you.
AND then you expect me to give the money to the government so they can drop million dollar bombs in Libya or Iraq? come on…
So, what's your point, Mr President? American businesses should be grateful for confiscatory tax rates because they can't fight fires by themselves?
Well, sir, I would think American entrepreneurs might take offense from such patently silly remarks, but the truth is they know you don't have even a clue about what it takes to establish and maintain a business, so mostly they just laugh at you.
"Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive."
Except that "somebody else" is doing everything he seemingly can to dismantle that "unbelievable American system." If American businesses are thriving, Mr. President, it's in spite of the things you do, not because of them.
Does Obama realize just how communistic he sounds? Actually that speech tells us everything we need to know about this man. Yet, people will vote for him again – I am worried that he will declare an "emergency" and try to stop the election if he thinks he is going to lose. He is like a dictator – our laws mean nothing to him! AND so far, we are letting him get away with it. What does that say about us?
Linda, there are Obama trained muslim terrorists in your closet and under your bed right now….
Yeah, those black helicopters and camps didn't come to pass in the last three years, so they must be ready in the next four. It's always just around the corner. I spent years in elementary schools practicing covering my head when the commies were going to blow us up. Still here.
Ignorance and paranoia are all conservatives have to offer….
Stupidity and wimpiness is all libtards have to offer. And of course statism.
Linda, the response you have recieved prove how uninformed some people are. The man that leads us is the divide and conquer type. He has no experience outside his little bubble of government never had a real job and work for what he has gotten. He has a soul that is black and cold for this country. When this nightmare of a presidentcy ends maybe others under his spell will realize what has been brought to bare.
You "conservative haters" need to read up on Obamas past associations with the communist party before you spout your "assigned rhetoric". Conservatives deal with facts..Liberals and democrats deal with lies..
And there are trained Media people in your head right now! And the terrorists are not muslim but, democrats and liberals, who are out to destroy our America! We at least think for ourselves and rely on facts before we speak.
Pointing out facts hardly constitutes 'hatred'. In any event I notice you have been unable to provide any facts that prove any liberals are 'lying'….
Which, incidentally, makes YOU a liar….
Can you say Dearborne, Michigan?
What facts, Howard? All you've done is opine—not substantiate—that conservatives are paranoid and ignorant? What do YOU have to offer—aside from sophomoric pejoratives— since you complained about the dearth of suggestions from conservatives?
To prove liberals are lying, all one has to do is point out that their lips are moving.
Nora Simon
Aside from opining, the only other thing that Coward has to offer is child-like personal attacks in the persona of a condescending jackass. You can't reason with him/her/it.
Linda Wall
Well, McKenyan is the one that we supposedly were waiting for. If that's not narcissistic arrogance, then a legend in his own mind is what he is.
I can see the spittle coming out of your hateful mouth!
WOW! You are people are so far out of touch with reality. It's really a shame! I have NEVER seen or heard such hatred. GET OVER YOURSELVES for real!
Marcia Wimmer
Out of touch with reality? Really now. Say that to yourself in front of a mirror 100 times until its ingrained in your psyche.
Do saying businesses have benefited from roads and bridges is communistic? That less me to believe that you don't know what communism really is.
Oh yeah, sure–that's why the Republicans have made lying a matter of policy? If you think the Republicans have ANY Interest whatsoever in "truth", I have a bridge in Arizona to sell you..
Nora Simon Nora, the mere fact that you Conservatives throw around the "Socialism" bogeyword and endlessly flog that dead horse regarding The Affordable Care Act–WHICH WAS A REPUBLICAN IDEA TO BEGIN WITH!!!!–PROVES that you are both "ignorant" and "paranoid".
End of story.
Patty Gebo Hambrick You "Liberal haters" need to read up on Romney's associations with noted, convicted inside trader and financial despot Michael Milken before you go talkiing up his "business experience".
Oh and…"For those that have higher incomes, we expect them to have health insurance. And if they don’t, we’re going to withhold their tax refund or put in place other penalties to assure that everybody comes in the system." -Mitt Romney April 11, 2006 on Fox News.
This man is in a world of his own. Just doesn't get it, bless his heart.
I have more faith in the Tooth Fairy putting a dollar under my pillow then I have in Obama restoring America to what it was before he tried to destroy it.
Totally agree ! Obama is a nightmarish boor and a MORON !! What did he EVER BUILD? Except STRESS AND ULCERS IN EVERY AMERICAN GUT !!
You're free to move to Mexico then?
Audience: Baaaaaaahh!
I heartily recommend that people do read the transcript of the speech. Does Obama insult small business owners? No, he points out that they got "help" from teachers, friends, access to a free internet system etc. Elizabeth Warren, running for Senate in Mass., pointed out that successful businesses in America (using a manufacturer as example), has the benefit of an educated workforce, good public road system, a police force that will protect his facility, copyright and patent justice system and other publicly funded supports that our taxes pay for. No one does it on their own.
We all use them why have some been successful and others not so much. Please explain why that is?
So he is saying that due to the "help" they received from teachers, friends, free internet, etc, means they took the risk of opening a business, hiring the right staff, and working hard to supply a good service, wasnt really doing it for themselves, but for those who gave them the "initiative" and access to the tools they needed to start it? Its like saying just because you were born, you owe all you have to your parents for giving you life! How about some credit to the individual who actually listened to their peers, applied the "iniative", and put hard work, and the tools, into it to make it successful? Most individals dont even listen, much less do anything in their lives to take a "risk". All Obama is doing here is demonizing small business because small business doesnt like him. Hes regulated and taxed them into bankruptcy, or out of business, to the point that small businesses stop hiring, move overseas where its more business friendly, or give up on the american dream of owning a business at all. Obama is anti capitalism. He believes any money earned by business
belongs to him and the government to spend as they choose. He says they didnt do it on their own so he can make his base believe they are the enemy and garner votes for his reelection. This coming from someone who has never owned a business, much less run one!
So, forgive me if I dont read it. I prefer reading something that inspires, not puts down.
Notice how it is always those in the ivory towers of media, university and other liberal bastions who never actually spent a life making a business go of it, that tell us how much business people should be thankful for them. I spent a career in public service and have come to mostly hate unions, coddled elites with peachy jobs and incomes, and intellectuals who wouldn't volunteer anything in life to help someone – except volunteer my money.
Lynn Leverton Tyson
Nice try at attempting to spin this in McKenyans favor. What ever happened to this "articulate, bright and clean African-American"? I mean if you're breaking down what you think he meant, good luck with that. The boy isn't living up to hype in articulating his message here, otherwise small business owners wouldn't be offended. Sure, it take components (workers) to keep he machine running, but it also takes vision, talent and know-how of someone like a small business owner to guide a business into success. Government only serves to hinder and tax to death, hurting businesses in the process. Too bad the Obamaprompter wasn't available, then again he would still put his foot in his mouth regardless.
Patty Gebo Hambrick You SHOULD read things before you participate in these idiotic news articles and news article lynch mobs.
Patty Gebo Hambrick: There's a difference between saying "somebody helped you on your way and you should contribute to that system" and "you owe everything you have to the government."
And Joel Rivera: Obama isn't a "boy." He is your President. Have some respect, even if you don't agree with him.
Beck Mankowski
McKenyan is your socialist president, not mine. You can't prevent my criticisms of him as much as I can't force you to not support him. You bring up the term "respect", what a novel concept. Better preach real good to your side of the isle about that. In the meantime, its kind of too late in the game for the boy to even attempt to earn the respect of more than half of the country.
Joel Rivera is one of millions of Americans who believe that they can do better than the president. This has been the case in every generation for the past few centuries.
Greg Ham Because that's the way it is? This seems like a thoughtless question. The fact that businesses don't do it on their own doesn't contradict the fact that the owners are responsible for the idea or dedication. How does it contradict?
This is like saying that because it took the work of a kitchen to prepare a meal, then the creator of the recipe couldn't have possibly created it.
This is nonsense. This medieval way of thinking is not healthy for a nation.
Joel Rivera
If you're American, he IS your president, whether you like it or not. Also, he's not Kenyan, nor is he a socialist. If only people actually knew what socialism is. I do agree that there needs to be respect on both sides of the aisle – the intense partisanship is appalling and is not allowing things to get done. I never said I wanted to prevent your criticisms, but calling the president a "boy" is not a criticism; it is simply racist and derogatory.
Lethe Denova,
And yet, a quick peek at Joel's facebook page shows a lifetime of failure at work, school and personal relationships….
Yeah and that would be fine except our taxes pay for those services, so business owners are not getting any "free help" like obama would like all of us to believe.
Lethe Denova
And your one of the millions who rely on government for all your needs. I believe that there is someone who can do way better than this inexperienced empty suit who is leading the nation into nowhere.
Beck Mankowski
I am American and he is not my president. Its my right to not accept him and you can't force me to accept either way. Would you have forced the Germans to accept Hitler if they didnt like him for some reason based on philosophy? I know what socialism is, and how its operating here is mild compared to Europe. Ask any immigrant from socialist Europe if they think that Obamacare is socialist, and they would concur and even add that they escaped that very system only to find it here. As far as my use of the term "boy", it knows no color, age or profession. Now save your energies for someone who gives a damn.
Coward Crybaby
You failed your humanity by preying on kids and young women.
Obviously you do give a damn, or you wouldn't have responded. He IS your president. You can choose not to LIKE that he's your president, but you cannot say that he is not the President of the United States of America and you are an American. That's not accepting his policies; it's simply an extension of fact that he holds that office and you live here.
Also, I know many Europeans, and none of them think that America is anything close to a socialist country. If you mean to say that the government offering any services whatsoever represents socialism, then that's a pretty ridiculous statement and shows a clear lack of understanding of how economic systems and governments are classified.
Lethe Denova
And your one of the millions who rely on government for all your needs. You place too much faith in government. I believe that there is someone out there who can do way better than this inexperienced empty suit who is leading the nation into nowhere and making government bigger than it doesnt need to be.
You rely on the same needs as any other citizen. What makes you any different? You can call him "Kenyan" in every single sentence or you can refer to him as a bad president or good president based on what he does and not an opinion that happens to be true, even if it did turn out that he thinks lowly of small businesses. Even assuming that he meant the complete opposite – It would mean nothing, anywhere, at any time, to anyone.
"And they can’t mess around with you because of some fine print in your policy."
But what are we supposed to do about the 'fine print' in obamacare?
Does anybody have video of this? I would love to see it.
Found it, this article's subject is at approximately 33:10 into the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Gw8FJ1EYc&feature=related
Government can help businesses most if government creates a friendly business climate. This administration has not done that. It bashes capitalism and downs capitalists. One example: the assault on Romney and Bain Capital. I'd bet that Bain Capital saved more jobs that Obama has created.
Every post here is missing the main point: Every person who "HELPED" along the way of a successful business was paid to do so. They did not did not help for free or to a greater degree from the bottom of their hearts. They got paid ; whether it was a teacher, civil servant, single mom, soccer, mom, they all received wages for their "HELP", service , employment, whatever you wish to call it.No one works for free in the good old US of A. Absolutely nothing is free in this country.
And this inexperienced, wet behind the big ears little bastard is suddenly an authority on the way business are created and how they work? McKenyan is a legend in his own mind.
Poor little Joke Rivers,
So jealous of Obama. After all, he has a job, a wife and kids and isn't 'disabled' by depression and leeching off of the taxpayer…. all the things you have failed miserably at….
Coward Crybaby
Good morning Mr Dead Man Walking. I have nothing to be jealous about. The bastard has a job that he sucks at. Things are worse than before. He owns this economy and all the ills that comes with the job. The time of deflecting blame and irresponsibility has been long over. He needs to do something that you have never done in your escape from the law due to your crimes of rape and molestation, and that is to man up and be responsible. But alas, you both don't have it within yourselves to man up to anything. What cowards, how ironic.
This clown just doesn't get it. I'm sure when it applies to him he did it all on his own. What an egotistical, socialistic, moronic, detestable, loathsome being.
Consider the source……….Fox News is trying their best not to be out done by their friends at the EIB Network!
Anthony Pagliaro
Consider this point,,,,,,why aren't the rest of he media reporting this as well? One more thing to consider….when the media is in bed with their darling favorite son, why would they even go against him?
Joke, the real media isn't reporting this because it's not 'news' it's lies and propaganda from an entertainment network…
Like most stories on FAUX… it's a forum for lazy, entitlement draining slobs like yourself to feed your ignorance and hatred…….
Consider the source … Barack Obama! Fox News did not put those words in his mouth and those communist thoughts in is head. I read the entire speech .. putting it in context makes it worse. As an independent and an entrepreneur who's risk capital has seen both success and failure; as a business owner and who has employed lots of help, I now have a damn good reason not to give Obama my vote. I'll vote for the venture capitalist.
Communist thoughts? Saying that most people who open a business got help from somewhere is communist? Really. I need to retake all of those political history classes then, because either they were all wrong or the definition of communism must have changed. I'm no Obama fan by any stretch, but this one is a reach to say he insulted small business owners, and to call it communist is just showing a real lack of understanding of the term.
Amen, my friend ! Amen ….
This was a reply to Sal G above. Don't know how it got placed here !!
Thank you, I couldn't of said it better myself.
Coward Crybaby
You wouldn't know truth if entered the jail cell where you rightfully belong, and tapped that sweet prostate. You've got something there to look forward to Bub.
Joel relives another personal experience….
Coward Crybaby
You should know, you've been violating the young long enough.
Just what I would expect from an insurance salesman! Vote your OWN self-interest, the country be damned. Count yourself as fighting for the enemies of America, Greg.
Does it bother anyone that Obama never actually said in the speech “If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that,” Obama told the crowd. “Somebody else made that happen.”.
Obama believes that if you are a successful business owner (Capitalist), you got there by exploiting the working class.(those who are reduced to selling their labor to make a living.) This is Basic Marxism 101.
Obama believes the successful OWE the working class for their success.
Maybe the idiot would like to give government credit for creating earth, man, woman, the air we breath and the water we drink. If this guy weren't in a position to wreck this country, no one, and I mean NO ONE would give him five minutes of their time because he's a crackpot. His lack of grasp for business, and the things necessary for success, staggers the mind.
What is the Republican response to this: "Nobody likes to pay more in taxes. Here’s the problem: If you continue their tax breaks, that costs a trillion dollars. And since we’re trying to bring down our deficit and our debt, if we spend a trillion dollars on tax cuts for them, we’re going to have to find that trillion dollars someplace else."
Because not spending it is out of the question…right?
My response is that the "tax breaks" to the upper income earners will not amount to trillions of dollars. The annual amount that is most frequently reported is about eighty billion dollars, and it is estimated that that sum will pay for the federal government for about eighty five days. The figure that Obama cites has no basis in reality. It is asserted for its effect on the minds of the willfully misinformed.
Obama complains that the individual entrepreneur is getting too much credit and in his view, the bricklayer should share it, equally.
Because he had never run a business, Obama does not understand that the entrepreneur creates a vision of the future, risks everything by investing his money in it, solves all the problems that hit him square in the face (like unreasonable Government regulations), he is harnessing the resources and he is securing the deals to make it work, and then creates the jobs for the bricklayers.
What is more ridiculous, Obama wants to raise the credit share to the Government! Oh, Common! When he talks about the teachers and role models is he referring to the political activists who shaped his view of the world? Or the ones the Teachers' Unions are protecting from vouchers and parents' choice?
We all saw what happens when the Government becomes the entrepreneur: the Trabant (made of cardboard) car in East Germany (vs. Mercedes in the West), or the Soviet Union rationed and collapsed economy when the 'wealth' (actual poverty) creator was the State, starving North Koreans today, eating grass from a park while their brothers and sisters in South Korea live comfortably because they embraced the free market economy. Should we point out the US Post Office, where the 'entrepreneur' is the Government? Or to the Food Stamps that are now advertized on TV commercials and Tele Novelas?
Now the US Government will provide us with 'healthcare'; God help us.
Obama complains that the individual entrepreneur is getting too much credit and in his view, the bricklayer should share it, equally.
Because he had never run a business, Obama does not understand that the entrepreneur creates a vision of the future, risks everything by investing his money in it, solves all the problems that hit him square in the face (like unreasonable Government regulations), he is harnessing the resources and he is securing the deals to make it work, and then creates the jobs for the bricklayers.
What is more ridiculous, Obama wants to raise the credit share to the Government! Oh, Common! When he talks about the teachers and role models is he referring to the political activists who shaped his view of the world? Or the ones the Teachers' Unions are protecting from vouchers and parents' choice?
We all saw what happens when the Government becomes the entrepreneur: the Trabant (made of cardboard) car in East Germany (vs. Mercedes in the West), or the Soviet Union rationed and collapsed economy when the 'wealth' (actual poverty) creator was the State, starving North Koreans today, eating grass from a park while their brothers and sisters in South Korea live comfortably because they embraced the free market economy. Should we point out the US Post Office, where the 'entrepreneur' is the Government? Or to the Food Stamps that are now advertized on TV commercials and Tele Novelas?
Now the US Government will provide us with 'healthcare'; God help us.
Obama complains that the individual entrepreneur is getting too much credit and in his view, the bricklayer should share it, equally.
Because he had never run a business, Obama does not understand that the entrepreneur creates a vision of the future, risks everything by investing his money in it, solves all the problems that hit him square in the face (like unreasonable Government regulations), he is harnessing the resources and he is securing the deals to make it work, and then creates the jobs for the bricklayers.
What is more ridiculous, Obama wants to raise the credit share to the Government! Oh, Common! When he talks about the teachers and role models is he referring to the political activists who shaped his view of the world? Or the ones the Teachers' Unions are protecting from vouchers and parents' choice?
We all saw what happens when the Government becomes the entrepreneur: the Trabant (made of cardboard) car in East Germany (vs. Mercedes in the West), or the Soviet Union rationed and collapsed economy when the 'wealth' (actual poverty) creator was the State, starving North Koreans today, eating grass from a park while their brothers and sisters in South Korea live comfortably because they embraced the free market economy. Should we point out the US Post Office, where the 'entrepreneur' is the Government? Or to the Food Stamps that are now advertized on TV commercials and Tele Novelas?
Now the US Government will provide us with 'healthcare'; God help us.
Obama complains that the individual entrepreneur is getting too much credit and in his view, the bricklayer should share it, equally.
Because he had never run a business, Obama does not understand that the entrepreneur creates a vision of the future, risks everything by investing his money in it, solves all the problems that hit him square in the face (like unreasonable Government regulations), he is harnessing the resources and he is securing the deals to make it work, and then creates the jobs for the bricklayers.
What is more ridiculous, Obama wants to raise the credit share to the Government! Oh, Common! When he talks about the teachers and role models is he referring to the political activists who shaped his view of the world? Or the ones the Teachers' Unions are protecting from vouchers and parents' choice?
We all saw what happens when the Government becomes the entrepreneur: the Trabant (made of cardboard) car in East Germany (vs. Mercedes in the West), or the Soviet Union rationed and collapsed economy when the 'wealth' (actual poverty) creator was the State, starving North Koreans today, eating grass from a park while their brothers and sisters in South Korea live comfortably because they embraced the free market economy. Should we point out the US Post Office, where the 'entrepreneur' is the Government? Or to the Food Stamps that are now advertized on TV commercials and Tele Novelas?
Now the US Government will provide us with 'healthcare'; God help us.
Obama complains that the individual entrepreneur is getting too much credit and in his view, the bricklayer should share it, equally.
Because he had never run a business, Obama does not understand that the entrepreneur creates a vision of the future, risks everything by investing his money in it, solves all the problems that hit him square in the face (like unreasonable Government regulations), he is harnessing the resources and he is securing the deals to make it work, and then creates the jobs for the bricklayers.
What is more ridiculous, Obama wants to raise the credit share to the Government! Oh, Common! When he talks about the teachers and role models is he referring to the political activists who shaped his view of the world? Or the ones the Teachers' Unions are protecting from vouchers and parents' choice?
We all saw what happens when the Government becomes the entrepreneur: the Trabant (made of cardboard) car in East Germany (vs. Mercedes in the West), or the Soviet Union rationed and collapsed economy when the 'wealth' (actual poverty) creator was the State, starving North Koreans today, eating grass from a park while their brothers and sisters in South Korea live comfortably because they embraced the free market economy. Should we point out the US Post Office, where the 'entrepreneur' is the Government? Or to the Food Stamps that are now advertized on TV commercials and Tele Novelas?
Now the US Government will provide us with 'healthcare'; God help us.
Yeah right! We have had a very successful business and have never taken one dime from the government or anyone else.
So your business has never used a road, bridge, or the internet? Some how I doubt it.
I'm betting they use roads THEIR taxes have paid for. How is it forgotten that from day 1, a business pays at least local property taxes. So they have skin in the game right away; they don't "owe" anybody. How is it now they "owe" more because Obama says so? Tell us what great business you run, how many you employ, and your other great community service. Workers work, elites talk.
Let me make this simple for you: We have government expenses. Expenses that help businesses be successful. Who pays for it? Those that were unsuccessful? The poor and middle class? Who? Or maybe you think we should cut funding to the very things that have made the successful businesses successful in the first place? Think about it.
Actually, the middle class does help pay for things – I've been doing it all my life; while raising 4 kids. In my pretty well off community, business (including a refinery) pays 30% of the property taxes – the middle and low end pay 60%. It works well and things are nice. So everyone pays something for ALL of our local services. Raising taxes on our businesses much beyond that drives them out; I have watched it. There is no difference at the federal level. We depend on business to help with the underlying costs of roads and services yes, but if they are not here, we don't need so many services anyway. The liberal position is just one of envy. A "fair" business share is not 50-60-70% or more of their income. And by the way, I work my **s off everyday in healthcare taking care of the massive number of freeloaders, drug addicts, disability-liars and lazy. Perhaps you libs ought to volunteer and give charitably for these "poor" folks out of your own pocket first – then you'll know about the real underbelly of this whole Obama world of dependency that is driving this money-envy.
"“Gramps returned from the war never having seen real combat, and the family moved to California, where he enrolled at Berkeley under the GI bill,” he writes. “But the classroom couldn’t contain his ambitions, his restlessness, and so the family moved again.” ' Dreams of my Father' Barack HUSSEIN Obama.
I recommend that everyone read Lynn Leverton Tyson's post on this matter. You're all so quick to rant like crazies without actually reading what is said.
How can a nation move forward if its citizens are insane?
Yes, Obama has made mistakes in his presidency. However, you should all learn how to discern truth from lies. Obama could save a kitten and you'd all be convinced it was some diabolical scheme to put terrorists in your closets.
It shows that you don't care as much about what is said – You came here to validate a belief that you already had and were not planning to change that belief no matter what was written about him.
He is right on this matter though. Businesses don't do it on their own. You have the patents, the overhead, the clientele, the teachers, the infrastructure, the taxes, the employees, the customers. This was his point. He knows that the concept and dedication is unique to the owners. The list goes on. What is a business without those things, though?
If you think this is an insult, then you need to toughen yourselves up and develop a serious spine. I don't even like Obama. Goodness.
Oh those ungrateful small business owners. Just because they helped me buy my house, feed my kids, purchase my car, gave me the insurance I need to keep my family healthy, gave me a couple weeks pay so I could go on vacation, made it possible to buy my family presents for Christmas and birthdays, allowed me to spoil my little ones with presents just for being good kids…..and you think this makes us even? HA!
Why you ungrateful pigs of human being!
Just because Obama and his fellow democrats policies caused the job I loved so much at a 120 year old American company to pick up and leave the country, just because myself and 750 of my co-workers lost the employer we enjoyed working for so much doesn't mean that Obama is wrong…..oh wait yes it does, it means he and any person who would vote democrat is my enemy. It means I would take great pride in making you and your families suffer they way you have inflicted suffering on me and my former co-workers.
It means that if I was given the chance I would excrete on a plate and offer it to you as food. It means that I have a responsibility to call you people what you are, the most dirty, filthy, obscene word in the English language….. a democrat
Angry does not describe the contempt I have for Democrats. I want more then pay back, I want more than revenge. I want to watch you suffer as you are forced to wallow in self pity, I want to be there to see the bank foreclose on your homes and watch as you explain to your wives and kids that things are going to be a little different from now on.
Call me spiteful, I will not disagree. Call me hateful, I will smile and say you are right.
Call me unAMerican and I will knock you on your rear end so fast you won't know what hit you.
"I will knock you on your rear end so fast you won't know what hit you"
hahahahaha!! Yea,ok ….. You need to either up the dosage or decrease the dosage of your meds there Mr.Tough Guy… Your current level of meds clearly aren't working.
Thank you for putting me in my place, it is a wonder I have lived this long. Now that you have enlightened me I will go register as a democrat……what ever you may believe there are some people left in America who do not make false claims
Nah…stay republican. They need you more. And I wasn't trying to "put you in your place". I have no doubt that you are dumb enough to resort to violence the moment someone disagrees with you. If you truly believe that you and 750 of your co-works lost their jobs solely because of the EVIL dems and that republicans and/or the republican party played absolutely no part in it,then you are beyond ignorant. Keep up the random hate if you like,though.
You can thank Mitt and others like him for outsourcing. You are unamerican.
WHAT? This is the most stupid comment I've heard so far. Employees work and they get paid for their work, small business owners many times go without paid just to make it happend. Success is the payment for the small business owner's sacrifice, does this comment smells like socialism to you?
Full quote: " Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business — you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."
Its not socialism, its political propaganda brought to you by Fox news.
Still a stupid comment! Road and bridges don't make a business, whoever said that have never created one. I dont see any propaganda.
Are you kidding me? Fox News is playing over and over that out of context quote making it sound as if the "that" in the statement refers to the small businesses, rather than roads and bridges (and further in the quote, the internet).
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Obama was pointing out that businesses big and small dont become successful without government built roads, bridges, the internet, post office, patent system, police, etc. That is a cold hard fact and he his point was that those that succeeded in this system need to pay their fair share.
This news is about your socialist president no fox news.
By making small business a "group effort" the president is trying to make it easy to take away the very same fabric of our nation and the individual desire to do better for themselves.
I know this socialistic playbook very well. One day you will wake up and see your country turn into a big house of lazies and unproductive citizens!
This "news" is about political propaganda from the Republican News network aka Fox News to take Obama's quote and take it out of context. Take off your bias glasses and watch Fox for the next couple of hours and see if at any point they mention the the "that" Obama refers to is roads and bridges, not the actual small businesses.
The point the President is trying to make is that those that have been successful in this system should pay back into it. Call that socialism if you want but news flash buddy, we've almost always been socialist in some way. The public school system, the USPS, the fire and police depts., road and interstate highways, public transit, the military, medicaid, etc, has been paid for by taxes and run by the government, hence our system is SOCIALIST!!!!! But what you right wingers dont understand is that there are degrees of socialism and by relative standards we are extremely conservative when compared to other western developed countries.
"hence our system is SOCIALIST!!!!! " WOW! Scary! I was right!
Those services you mentioned does not indicate socialism to me. Socialism is to take away the producers ability to produce to give it to the government dependents and by the way your socialistic president is going we will get there if the American people dont wake up on time.
In a socialistic society government controls everything including the news individual consume. Who cares if Fox news is bias, MSNBC is bias and almost any other news Chanel the different is that right now you can choose the news you consume. In your socialistic future the regime will dictate what is news and will close the channels and venues they dont like.
Your hate for Fox news only demonstrate your hate for free news and the flow of information the very same hate socialistic dictators have!
Wrong. Socialism doesnt mean government controls of everything. You need to understand terms. Socialism simply mean that the government takes control of certain aspects of our society (ie. police and firemen). You're wrong the, in terms of defining what socialism is. Fox News represents corporate benefits, not free press. To think otherwise is to be blind.
Jajaja! Look who is blind. So you agree with me you and your president want ta socialistic America?
Kuba Osta
That makes no sense. So Steve Jobs and Bill Gates didn't make it big without bridges, roads, internet, government help etc? WOW, and here I thought it was because of ideas, vision and leadership that these innovators became as big as they are without the help of the always helpful and intrusive big government.
Agree with Joel. One more thing according to the president the more roads we have the more business are created? What came first the chicken or the egg?
ROTFL! Jobs and Gates would have no businesses without computers and the internet which the GOVERNMENT funded and developed!
Kuba Osta
Jobs and Gates were already a success before Algore invented the Internet. As for McKenyans speech, he know nothing how business works, and who creates business. The experts that know are the ones who started from scratch and built all the way up, without brother governments help. His speech was off the cuff, unscripted, and inarticulate with poor choice of words. He needs to stick to the Obamaprompter.
Not really. Their businesses grew largely because of the internet. Regardless, they would have no business without computers in the first place. Al Gore never said he "invented" the internet. There is no business in the US that was built independent of any government help, except maybe Amish businesses. He was articulate and his choice of words were just fine. It's the "taking out of context" by the right wingers that is the problem here.
Aids VD and Stupidity from Lying has ate his brains.
So if it wasn't for the goernment I guess we would never have any teachers, roads, internet or way to put out fires. Only the goverment can do that. Right. And how well are they doing?
How about you quote the speech accurately? Todd, you say in your lede that Obama 'insults' small business owners by saying "“If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that." I cannot find this quote anywhere.
http://youtu.be/6j8XhQfvpW8
"that" refers to government built roads and bridges.
REALLY! You people are out of your minds. Why don't you try reading an accurate version of what Mr. Obama said. AND while you are at it — take hating, biggotted selves back under a rock somewhere. RIDICULOUS!
Marcia Wimmer
Hating McKenyan's politics and how he is ruining the country does in no way shape or form equate to bigotry. Think outside the box woman. People who have read the transcripts know that he's rambling to his hearts content. He should have brought the Obamaprompter to this gathering, then again he blows hot air with or without.
Go back under your rock IDIOT!
Marcia Wimmer
Ladies first, if you even consider yourself one Dingbattus Americanus!
Why should small business owners be given a pass? He wanted to make sure they didn't feel left out. Now he has attacked ALL business owners, big and small! Didn't he say he was going to bring us together? He thinks businesses are stupid and he thinks the American people are stupid. Look how he has brought us together!
Yeah except he never said anything like that. Try reading the full transcript.
Sounds like to Socialisim is taking over and communism. FOUR MORE YEARS OF OBAMA YOU CAN KISS FREEDOM GOODBYE.
How so?
Todd, Todd, Todd, look at the transcript you included. Go down to roughly 10 graphs before the end and you'll clearly read what Obama said, "Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that." He was referring to the roads and bridges, that's it. Your Starnsian contextual trickery is always amusing, Todd, but the ultimate impression that they leave are, in honesty, lies. Todd, you're a religious person, obviously. Ask yourself if the God you worship places great import on honesty. Then ask yourself what "he" thinks of deceit. Now look at the way you began your blog here. A bit deceitful, no? Yes, Todd, a bit deceitful. Also, Todd, most businesses do require the help of others to succeed, small or large, and any small business owner would admit that fact quite proudly.
Actually, the businesses DO invest in roads and bridges by paying property taxes, and fuel taxes (if in, say, trucking). Talk about a basic lack of understanding about this – amazing. The businesses in my town DO build roads, bridges, parks, fire and police stations and government buildings with their tax dollars. Geesh.
" Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business — you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen. "
Notice how Fox makes it sound as if he is saying the business owners didn't build there business when in fact he is saying they didn't build the roads and bridges.
Oh yes, sure he did. (rolling eyes)
I guess the TRUTH that Obama spoke–that it takes more than one sole individual to make a successful business–insults the egotism of the typical "Me, Me, Me" Conservative?
"“If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help,” he said. “There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.”".
TRUTH. Why is this even an issue? Honestly; I"ll bet that all the moronic naysayers here just read the headlines and nothing else. The speech he gave is an example of brilliant understanding and characterization of the radical agenda of the RIght and Obama's more sensible vision for America.
FOUR MORE YEARS!
DAMN SOCIALISTS!——–"For those that have higher incomes, we expect them to have health insurance. And if they don’t, we’re going to withhold their tax refund or put in place other penalties to assure that everybody comes in the system." -Mitt Romney April 11, 2006 on Fox News.
Obama hasn't insulted anyone. Faux News is doing what it typically does; taking a sound bite and trying to create a tempest in a teapot.
You all use public roads and services like PRESIDENT OBAMA noted. Stop whining.
Are you All asleep?,"these People will say Anything for Power!"and every 4 years You all go right back to sleep.WAKE UP, fire them All, Get some REAL Smart Americans in there, who really do care beyond becoming Bloody Rich Politicians , and Are Not All Lawyers. " Sycophants!"