Obama: Americans simply don't understand his arguments (Wizbang)

If only we weren't so damned stupid:

After a suffering a "shellacking" in the midterm elections, President Obama acknowledges what many have seen as his chief weakness - failing to sell the importance of several legislative milestones to the American people.
"I think that's a fair argument. I think that, over the course of two years we were so busy and so focused on getting a bunch of stuff done that, we stopped paying attention to the fact that leadership isn't just legislation. That it's a matter of persuading people. And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone," Mr. Obama told 60 Minutes' Steve Kroft in an exclusive interview set to air Sunday.
"Making an argument that people can understand," Mr. Obama continued, "I think that we haven't always been successful at that. And I take personal responsibility for that. And it's something that I've got to examine carefully ... as I go forward."

The message here is clear is it not? The American people weren't rejecting Obama's agenda, they just aren't bright enough to understand it.

It's about America's stupidity, stupid.

And Obama's humility in recognizing that he must dumb things down for us.

There now, aren't you ready to vote for him in 2012?

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Comments (39)

With people like Obama...th... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by mag | November 5, 2010 11:38 AM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

mag:

With people like Obama...their ego will always blame us and never himself.
He can not leave soon enough for me.

And I am getting pretty sick and tired of his insults to us Americans.

Posted on November 5, 2010 11:38

President Obama is correct.... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by _Mike_ | November 5, 2010 11:45 AM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)

_Mike_:

President Obama is correct. There's a communication problem between the White House and the American people. We need to put it in terms he can understand on Nov. 6th, 2012.

Posted on November 5, 2010 11:45

Iz jus to stuuped cuz i be ... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by ODA315 | November 5, 2010 11:48 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

ODA315:

Iz jus to stuuped cuz i be shootin mi gunz not bein skul.

Posted on November 5, 2010 11:48

Up yours Barry. ... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by 914 | November 5, 2010 11:51 AM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)

914:

Up yours Barry.

Posted on November 5, 2010 11:51

I was going to write... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Hank | November 5, 2010 11:52 AM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

Hank:

I was going to write a longer reply but this is nothing more that the definition of insanity, doing the same thing and expecting different results.

We know the legislation sucks.
We understand it.
We don't want it.

He can't accept that.

Posted on November 5, 2010 11:52

So the guy who's been on TV... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by GarandFan | November 5, 2010 11:57 AM | Score: 6 (8 votes cast)

GarandFan:

So the guy who's been on TV 24/7 (or so it seems) for the last 2 years couldn't get his 'message' out?

If we're lucky, Barry will stay on an extended overseas tour for the next two years.

Posted on November 5, 2010 11:57

It's a shame that God waste... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Roy | November 5, 2010 12:02 PM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)

Roy:

It's a shame that God wasted those big fuckin' ears on a clown that doesn't know how to listen.

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:02

"So the guy who's been o... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by 914 | November 5, 2010 12:05 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

"So the guy who's been on TV 24/7 (or so it seems) for the last 2 years couldn't get his 'message' out?"

ha ha

Barrys message was its all about "ME". Tuesday proved otherwise.

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:05

Maybe the shellacking that ... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by Stan | November 5, 2010 12:09 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Stan:

Maybe the shellacking that Barry can understand is the one that he will get in 2012. That one should give his stuck on stupid mentality a real shocker.

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:09

... as I go forward."... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Edward A. Schuster | November 5, 2010 12:22 PM | Score: 7 (7 votes cast)

Edward A. Schuster:

... as I go forward."

It's still all about him.

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:22

We're not the ones who are ... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by sarahconnor2 | November 5, 2010 12:25 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

sarahconnor2:

We're not the ones who are having trouble getting it, Barry.

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:25

Reading the comments on tha... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by MjM | November 5, 2010 12:30 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

MjM:

Reading the comments on that C-BS site, not one in defense of Obie.

Not a single one (as of 12:25 EST).

A-course, they're still sleeping in CA.

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:30

He seriously lives in anoth... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by Rich | November 5, 2010 12:33 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Rich:

He seriously lives in another world. How many covers of magazines(newsweek in particular) was devoted to Obama. The main body of all journalists shouted out his policies as if they were from Moses. Even Fox news broadcast his ideas for everyone to hear,though they did it without all the shiny gloss. Townhalls,backyards,whole blocks of interviews on the air,two books of his own and dozens more from liberal authors. It has been two years of Obama in office,but another two years of his campaigning prior to office. We have been saturated with Obama for four years. I think the people got his message.

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:33

What a freaking joke this s... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by Gayle Miller | November 5, 2010 12:40 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Gayle Miller:

What a freaking joke this so-called president is! He is too stupid to understand that we understand him way more than he wants us to! And if that s.o.b. insults the intelligence of the American people one more time - - - !

Hey Barry - can I raise you a 176 and see if you can match or exceed it? Freaking socialist dimwit!

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:40

Question that needs to be p... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by DaveD | November 5, 2010 12:44 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

DaveD:

Question that needs to be put to this bozo:
'In your private moments when you can perhaps free yourself just a bit from the safety net of denial, do you allow that the average American actually does understand the intent of your agenda and simply disagrees?'

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:44

I'm actually pleased to see... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by Hank | November 5, 2010 12:51 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

I'm actually pleased to see that Obama still doesn't get it. If he did, he'd be a threat to move to the center over the next 2 years thereby enhancing his chances of reelection.

We can see from the interview and others that nothing in his background has equiped him to deal with rejection or failure.

The comparison to Jimmy Carter gets stronger and stronger.

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:51

I guess more appearances on... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by Gizmo | November 5, 2010 12:52 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

Gizmo:

I guess more appearances on The View and The Daily Show should be all that he needs to clear things up!

The amazing thing is thinking back to how hard a time the press gave GW Bush for not being able to admit his mistakes while in office! O's got him beat hands down. I mean, he still isn't 100% sure that calling Democratic opponents "enemies" was a bad idea.

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:52

"We haven't done a good eno... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by davidt | November 5, 2010 12:53 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

davidt:

"We haven't done a good enough job of deceiving the American people."

Posted on November 5, 2010 12:53

Obama is right, he suffered... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by steve | November 5, 2010 1:00 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

steve:

Obama is right, he suffered from poor messaging...

then again, as I posted, I don't know who could sell the American people on the idea that the Democrats who trashed the car while it was in the ditch were the ones we should continue to trust to get it out.

And as long as Obama continues to think that the Democrats weren't making it more difficult to get the car out of the ditch, the easier it will be for the GOP to keep adding seats.

Posted on November 5, 2010 13:00

Unlike Barack Obama, I actu... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by DavidL | November 5, 2010 1:14 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

DavidL:

Unlike Barack Obama, I actually took English 101. Had obama ever been required to do actual college work, he would have been required to have taken and passed the course. Alas poor Barack, too much time snorting coke and no time in the classroom.

Posted on November 5, 2010 13:14

I just love the arrogance a... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by Big Mo | November 5, 2010 1:16 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

Big Mo:

I just love the arrogance and cluelessness of this man. Think about this: How many businesses survive when they blame the customer for not liking or "understanding" their product?

Posted on November 5, 2010 13:16

The Republicans drove the c... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by Wayne | November 5, 2010 1:27 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Wayne:

The Republicans drove the car in the ditch by going too far left. Now Obama and the Democrats want to get the car out of the ditch by going further left. If they succeed we will end up in the wilderness or over a cliff.

Posted on November 5, 2010 13:27

This portends a total train... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by Jim Addison | November 5, 2010 1:34 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)

Jim Addison:

This portends a total train wreck in Washington for the next two years. Republicans got the message: they cannot and will not "go along to get along" with the radical policies and extravagant spending of the far left Administration.

Obama is not only a committed Marxist, but also a sociopathic narcissist who is incapable of admitting error. This is extremely dangerous for the country. This deranged man must be removed from office and replaced by someone more mentally stable.

And when Joe Biden appears to be the mentally stable one next to you, you are out there, baby!

Posted on November 5, 2010 13:34

"several legislative milest... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by JockDon | November 5, 2010 2:50 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

JockDon:

"several legislative milestones" - like the failure to pass a budget, or dealing with imigration, or addressing the expiring BUSH tax cuts, or other matters that are actually assigned to the Federal Government in the Constitution ...
This is what SHOULD be the legacy of this past congress/administration.

Posted on November 5, 2010 14:50

Bush: "I regret saying some... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by john | November 5, 2010 3:39 PM | Score: -2 (2 votes cast)

john:

Bush: "I regret saying some things I shouldn't have said".

Bush: "[Mission Accomplished] conveyed the wrong message".

How dare Bush think that the American people were too stupid to understand his message!

Posted on November 5, 2010 15:39

Obama: Americans simply don... (Below threshold)

26. Posted by 914 | November 5, 2010 3:58 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Obama: Americans simply don't understand his arguments

#25

The above is posted to remind you of the subject. Stick to it.

Posted on November 5, 2010 15:58

@ john in #25SMme ... (Below threshold)

27. Posted by Sky Captain | November 5, 2010 4:10 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Sky Captain:

@ john in #25

SMme of us are too ignorant to realize the "mission Accomplished" banner was for the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln, not GWB's visit.

That would be you, just in case you are too ignorant to understand me.

Posted on November 5, 2010 16:10

The above is posted to r... (Below threshold)

28. Posted by john | November 5, 2010 4:12 PM | Score: -2 (2 votes cast)

The above is posted to remind you of the subject.

"The subject": Anything that you agree with.

"Not the subject": Anything that weakens your argument.

Noted.

Posted on November 5, 2010 16:12

SMme of us are too ignor... (Below threshold)

29. Posted by john | November 5, 2010 4:16 PM | Score: -2 (4 votes cast)

So you're confirming that Bush's message was that some Americans were too ignorant to understand him. Thanks for the support!

Posted on November 5, 2010 16:16

#28I made n... (Below threshold)

30. Posted by 914 | November 5, 2010 4:29 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

#28

I made no argument. Simply pointed out the subject matter. And its not "blame Bush" although admittedly that is all the left has had for some 10 odd years now.

Posted on November 5, 2010 16:29

john in #28,No, I'... (Below threshold)

31. Posted by Sky Captain | November 5, 2010 5:30 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

john in #28,

No, I'll try again.
The USS Abraham Lincoln was at the end of its deployment. The "Mission Accomplished" banner was hung up by/for its crew in celebration of the end of deployment.

Now, is that clear enough, or do wish to demonstrate your ignorance some more?
Since you WERE to ignorant to understand.

Posted on November 5, 2010 17:30

I understand your interpret... (Below threshold)

32. Posted by john | November 5, 2010 5:38 PM | Score: -1 (3 votes cast)

I understand your interpretation of the message. Your position (now stated twice) is that some people (citing me as an example) were too ignorant to understand that message. This is the same position that this thread ascribes to Obama, and soundly criticizes him for. You make my point. Again, thanks for the support.

Posted on November 5, 2010 17:38

If Obama weren't so dangero... (Below threshold)

33. Posted by Caesar Augustus | November 5, 2010 6:01 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Caesar Augustus:

If Obama weren't so dangerous the depth of his idiocy and egomania actually would be amusing.

Posted on November 5, 2010 18:01

John,Since you bro... (Below threshold)

34. Posted by Harmon | November 5, 2010 7:05 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Harmon:

John,

Since you brought up Bush...

When the Republicans got their butts handed to them over the Iraq war in the 2006 elections, Bush listened to what the people were saying about the conduct of the war and made needed changes in the leadership and strategy related to the war in Iraq. Remember the surge?

Do you honestly think Obama has the same natural grace and intelligence that Bush showed to admit his error and change his economic leadership and strategy?

For the sake of the country I hope he does, but I have not seen even a glimmer of a sign that he can or will.

Posted on November 5, 2010 19:05

Harmon, please see "stick t... (Below threshold)

35. Posted by john | November 5, 2010 7:20 PM | Score: -2 (2 votes cast)

Harmon, please see "stick to the subject", above.

Posted on November 5, 2010 19:20

So it seems that the answer... (Below threshold)

36. Posted by Harmon | November 5, 2010 7:39 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

So it seems that the answer is no he doesn't, no he can't and no he won't.

There is a term in the business world for what I have seen in Obama's actions and attitudes. When a lower level manager gets promoted to a position that is above his current qualifications, it is not unusual to see them flame out in a spectacular fashion. The term for this is "derailment". It is a problem that has nothing to do with intelligence or ability. It is related to a lack of experience and poor training.

Obama is in a job he is not qualified to handle and he has "derailed". Unfortunately for the rest of us, he has derailed in the most important job in the country. Even more unfortunate for all of us, this is a condition that is nearly impossible to fix without a demotion and further training. See a problem here?

While I am happy that it is now very likely that no more of his ill considered policies will be enacted into law, I fear that we are probably in for a very rough, and possibly dangerous two year wait for the next election.

Posted on November 5, 2010 19:39

#35No accou... (Below threshold)

37. Posted by 914 | November 5, 2010 8:16 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

#35

No accounting for stupidity

Posted on November 5, 2010 20:16

.....or you just can't fix ... (Below threshold)

38. Posted by olsoljer | November 6, 2010 9:29 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

olsoljer:

.....or you just can't fix stupid

Posted on November 6, 2010 09:29

"as I go forward", to where... (Below threshold)

39. Posted by xiphos | November 6, 2010 9:35 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

xiphos:

"as I go forward", to where? .... thats a wall if front of O'blame-a, a wall of voters in 2012.
Friggin idiot!

Posted on November 6, 2010 09:35

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