The American Spectator : Obama: Stuck on Begrudge

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Obama: Stuck on Begrudge

Where would he be today if Tony Rezko hadn't "made enough money"?

Off the teleprompter for a few seconds while stumping for financial reform recently in Illinois, President Obama had this to say about money, incomes and success: "Now, what we're doing, I want to be clear, we're not trying to push financial reform because we begrudge success that's fairly earned. I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money."

No begrudging of success? That's what the left does -- begrudge, envy and resent, robotically. That's what makes them leftists -- and bitter. Sufficiently empowered, they've been more than willing more than once to kill millions of their fellow citizens who refused to admit to the guilt of individualism and independence, refused to obediently transfer their assets to a regime of organized looters.

Why would Obama even have the words "begrudge success" right there in front of his mind, ready for a quick ad-lib, if the begrudging of achievement wasn't an integral part of his mindset, a key motivator in his desire to grab wallets and redistribute wealth and income.

Obama did add a qualifier. There's no begrudging of success if it's "fairly earned." And who decides what's fair? Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got a $25 million signing bonus while the median annual salary last year for physicians practicing family medicine in the U.S. was $160,000? So 156 family doctors worked all year and their combined paychecks were slightly lower than Ben's signing bonus. Is the White House okay with that?

Should the central committee of White House czars decide how much of Ben's $25 million was due to the lucky inheritance of a good throwing arm and how much was "fairly earned" due to hard work?

And what'll they do about Lady Gaga earning more than General Motors?

More troubling than the "fairly earned" dilemma is the bloated cockiness of the "I do think at a certain point you've made enough money" remark, especially coming from a president who is explicitly on record as being in favor of redistributing America's incomes in a downward direction.

It was in October 2008 that candidate Obama, in another unscripted moment away from a teleprompter, told Joe the Plumber why he wanted to raise taxes on upper income households: "My attitude is that if the economy's good for folks from the bottom up, it's gonna be good for everyone," explained Obama. "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everyone."

So who decides when we've "made enough money"? Should we tell Julia Roberts not to make another movie, tell her she's "made enough"? And what about the stage hands and popcorn sellers who lose their jobs as a result?

Should the czars tell Tiger that he's way past that "certain point" when he's earned "enough," unless he wants to play for free or donate 100 percent of the winnings to the needs of the collective?

Should the government have told the owners of Pittsburgh-based 84 Lumber to stop at 83? At last count, the company had about 4,000 employees in 289 stores in 34 states. Some 200 stores ago, what if an overreaching government had decided that the owners of the lumber company already had "enough" cars, houses, jewelry and investments? What good would have come from putting a lid on the company's expansion, a lid on the owners' success, a lid on the hiring of thousands of new employees?

Rather than worrying about who has too much, President Obama should be thinking about what made the United States the most successful nation in human history, both in terms of economic prosperity and individual freedom. Hint: They're directly linked.

Instead of giving greater power to the central government, the power to decree, for instance, what we should drive, what we should eat, what we'll be permitted to hear and see, what income has been "fairly earned," and when at "a certain point" we've "made enough money," the founding philosophy of the United States called for a society based on an exactly opposite set of principles.

"Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread," warned Thomas Jefferson. It's a lesson that was tragically learned firsthand by millions of starving farmers in both China and the Soviet Union.

About the Author

Ralph R. Reiland is the B. Kenneth Simon professor of free enterprise and an associate professor of economics at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (37) | Leave a comment

Roberto Fahl| 5.10.10 @ 6:39AM

Just what is enough, is a question I'd like to ask BHO. Has Obama applied this standard to failed presidential candidate John F. Kerry's annual income? How about Bill Clinton? He rakes in millions just running his mouth for wealthy Liberal Socialists. When has old Bubba, earned enough? Or Obama himself? He earned over 5.5 million last year. Isn't that too much? What is too much? Only the Liberal Socialists know and then it doesn't apply to the Clintons, the Kerry's and of course, Obama and his "gasbag" buddy AlGore of Tennessee!

Deborah D| 5.10.10 @ 6:57AM

"Enough" is whatever Obama says it is whenever it suits his purpose. It's average Americans that make more than $250,000 or is it $200,000? Or is it $70,000?

Or is it whatever is more than he thinks you "need" -- if you're not in a union or working for a government? If you're an investor in say, an American car company, then screw you, but if you work for an American union-run car company and helped it go caput...then you get whatever's left of the company.

Whoever has helped Obama and the Dems can make whatever they want, but if you oppose them, screw you. Got it? The Chicago Way.

drudge ette obama| 5.10.10 @ 7:07AM

Thomas Jefferson was a genius.

Mike Rogers| 5.10.10 @ 7:56AM

And his remarks are absolutely word perfect for the mess in California's Central Valley, where Washington has told the farmers that they can neither sow nor reap - that poor and starving is fine with the bureaucrats as long as the insignificant Delta Smelt is saved.

Paul| 5.10.10 @ 9:09AM

It's the same logic that has the MSM show video footage of an oil-soaked bird for several days on end while the Gulf Coast merchants who depend on tourism are ignored...

Purpleguy| 5.10.10 @ 5:26PM

So what's a picture of empty stores going to do? No one will relate that to the oil spill. Birds soaked in oil, we ALL know why that has happened. Cheap bastards that run the oil rig. I've heard it's only a $500K cost equipment which would have avoided all this frickin' mess... Unbelievably stupid

JimE| 5.10.10 @ 6:40PM

Purpleasswipe,
Typical moron " I heard", no research, no due diligence just "I heard" from olberman and schultz no doubt.

STFUStupid| 5.12.10 @ 12:12AM

You bought any blowout preventers suitable for use at a depth of ONE MILE, lately ??
Olbermann & Schultz are making BIGGER morons out of the morons who watch them / listen to them...

Jobe| 5.10.10 @ 8:24AM

Just for kicks, why doesn't anyone ask obama if his 5.5 million last year was enough.

Ned| 5.10.10 @ 12:34PM

"anyone" in say, the media, just as an example...
yeah, THAT's going to happen...

Mattled| 5.10.10 @ 8:40AM

I'm sure in his post-Prez (sure enough in 2013) Odoofus will scale back his income?
Right?

Right?

Bueller? Bueller?

THEN, we should hang this on his neck for the rest of his civilian life---until Rezko himself starts singing to save his hide and Odoofus is in Joliet.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 5.10.10 @ 8:48AM

Obama's question should be applied across the board. For instance, he was recently identified as the biggest recipient of funds from BP. At some point we should ask, how much money is enough for political donations? Obama has bailed out industry after industry. How many bailouts are enough? While Obama criticizes excesses in others behavior Obama appears to suffer from an excess of lying, or engaging in the very behavior he notes in others.

An Obama Calendar| 5.10.10 @ 8:54AM

I think someone should come up with an Obama Calendar to remind us how dumb he really is/was.

Just like the dog or cat calendar or whatever inspiring sayings, I'm sure we can come up with 365 stupid or a**inine or hypocritical things the Commie has uttered.

I'm in for half a dozen---for my Lib relatives and friends. Maybe more!!

FREEDOMFIRST| 5.10.10 @ 10:20AM

One of my favorites was when he ratted out his white grandmother: out of fear, she crossed the street when she saw a black person. How did she handle those Sunday dinners with her son-in-law?

Janelle| 5.10.10 @ 11:48AM

Great idea.......we just don't have enough days to handle all of them. Need to double or triple that per page!

crookedwren| 5.10.10 @ 8:59AM

Yes. When does one have "enough" campaign moneys? When one has purchased the Presidency, obviously.

Obama, a Junior Senator with virtually no business experience, garners more dough for his campaign treasury chest than anyone ever has -- even surpasses the corrupt treasure chests of the Clinton Machine. More money spent on Obama's campaign than was ever spent before.

I dare say, Obama would not think that he'd received "too much" in campaign contributions.

And what of Franklin Raines $90 Million that he took with him out of Fannie Mae? When he was busy cooking the books so he could get a better and bigger "bonus"? Obama didn't find THAT a block to getting Raines involved in his Administration.

1FreeMan| 5.10.10 @ 9:21AM

And what about the money behind the dictator-in-chief? How about we spread around George Soros' money. I bet that pile of cash would really stimulate the economy. Just seize the Soros estate and reinvigorate Social Security. Problem solved.

See, it;s all fun and games until a limousine liberal gets their millions in the spotlight.

Purpleguy| 5.10.10 @ 5:39PM

Stealing his hard-earned $$$ to "spread it around". Isn't that Socialism?

Nick| 5.10.10 @ 5:46PM

Pay no attention to PurpleJackass folks.

He doesn't even know that Virginia governors don't run for re-election because they can only serve one term, then have to wait 4 years to run again.

He also likes to berate others for spelling "hypocrisy" wrong, and in the same post he wrote "hypocrit", like a moron.

He is not worthy of debate with grown-ups.

JJ| 5.10.10 @ 9:57AM

"Now is not the time for profits." That's my favorite Obama line.

Dan Hirsch| 5.10.10 @ 10:04AM

Anybody know if Thomas Jefferson was familiar with the failed socialist experiment that almost starved the 1612 expedition to Jamestown. I bet he was...too bad more of our contemporaries aren't. Socialism has been known to be a loser for 398 years.

Will we EVER learn?

Len| 5.10.10 @ 10:41AM

In addition to Jamestown, the settlement at Plymouth Rock underwent near starvation until the Governor there ended the communal practices in favor of libertarian practices where everyone was able to keep the fruits of their labor. The problem with the progressives and their socio-economic programs is they cannot grasp that what they want to be reality is not achievable by the means they use. What happened elsewhere such as Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, North Korea, Cuba, etc. is never associated with what progressives attempt here. They are of course a better breed, more intelligent, more learned and thus will be able to do what their historical counterparts never did.

JimP| 5.10.10 @ 3:45PM

You mentioned libertarian principles which prompts a question that you may have insight about. I read a blogger's description of himslef last week as a "progressive libertarian". Ever heard of this? If so, what is it? To me it is oxymoronic. Just curious. Anyone else who ever heard of this, please chime in.

Tks,

Len| 5.10.10 @ 6:02PM

There is no such thing as a "progressive libertarian". Though there are varying degrees of libertarianism, from those who believe in no government and society functioning through market arrangements in every capacity including roads, police, and military to those who are okay with a larger government that is extremely limited and reserves it purview to that of a legal and military/police force and possibly utilities such as roads that benefit all so that if taxes are taken then there is at least a service of value in return for the taxes.
Those calling themselves "progressive libertarians are in my opinion doing nothing more than taking advantage of the fact that those holding libertarian values are on the rise, and are nothing more than statists attempting to repackage themselves under an attractive label. They still believe that others acting under the guise of "government" may direct a person in certain areas of that person's life without there actually being consent. THAT is not libertarianism. No, these "progressive libertarians" do not espouse government control to the degree other progressives may, but allowing the foot in the door is giving the house away.

JimP| 5.10.10 @ 7:01PM

Len,
Thanks for the reply. Although I am not a libertarian per se, most of my political beliefs fall into that category and when I read this guy's descirption of himself I thought he was working for Soros trying to co-opt and undermine libertarians and the right in general. After reading your reply, I feel more stongly that may be the case or as you suggest, some other form of statist trying to repackage themselves.

Oldefarte| 5.10.10 @ 12:58PM

He disguisedly doesn't make mention of the typical Detroit auto assembly line worker who makes $100/hour producing the same vehicles as does Japan, whose workers make $50/hour. The DIFFERENCE between the two is known as LABOR UNIONS and their inflated wage scales. Of course, these labor unions supported en masse him pre 11/08; and he quid-pro-quoishly returned the favor by granting GM, Chrysler,GMAC billions in government/taxpayer-funded loans/bailouts [none of which have been repaid to date]. Oh, my, yes, the POWER OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION!!!

Mark MacInnis| 5.10.10 @ 12:59PM

Of course it is only right and proper for Lady Gaga to make more money than General Motors....after all, she has better headlights.

Thank you, thank you. I'm here all week. Tip your waitress...

Nick| 5.10.10 @ 1:26PM

Mr. MacInnis,

Don't you mean HE has better headlights?

steve| 5.10.10 @ 4:55PM

Great line! Thanks for the laugh.

dakota| 5.10.10 @ 2:53PM

what? what about me or us kids helping to save this world? my Generation is gonna save this world. ( 1996) so what can we do to save it? but he is trying to be clear abou it though.

Old Counselor| 5.10.10 @ 3:10PM

A colleague and I were discussing the president's revealing remark this morning. He and I both grew up from very humble stock and neither of us have any envy of "the rich." I often wonder if the privileged ultra-left are genetically predisposed to a mean and surly streak. Let a man or woman make as much as his/her honest toil will accomplish. This is what has always advanced our nation and contributed to the commonweal.

JimP| 5.10.10 @ 3:37PM

Here, here. What's 'fair', furthermore, about Roethlesberger's genetic inheritance? Let's redistribute some of his gene pool shall we? "Calling Dr. Mengele. Dr. Mengele pickup the red phone, please." What's fair about Hollywood idiots with their HS diploma's making bezillions and influencing foreign and national economic policy. They have too much "very". They are very rich and very stupid. It's not 'fair'! Punish them Barry.

Petronius| 5.10.10 @ 5:49PM

Here trolls
Come out from under your rocks and tell us all why you deserve to be at the top of the food chain . Echo the bitch in Dr. Zhivago who snarls "now you're going to have to live like the rest of US!"
That sentiment is what animates the consummate loser who believes that attitude is validation and qualification for entitlement to a "fair share". Extortion in his eyes is accomplishment, because if he'd actually gone to work and earned it, that would be "selling out". He cannot let "the man get a piece of him". Egotism is his profession, but there's no call for it anywhere, except politics.
And we hear the cries of Al (charlatan) Sharpton, the modern day Leveler: "There will be no social justice until every ones house is the same." I'll bet he lives in a pile that Robin Leach wouldn't turn his back to avoid with all the corporate "reparations" his lawyers extorted. Got a 2 bedroom tract house. Wanna trade? Welcome to the 17th century.

DaveS| 5.10.10 @ 9:15PM

More and more of the Jeremiah Wright coming out.

JeffT| 5.11.10 @ 8:37AM

It is, quite frankly, none of their damn business what anyone makes.

Bob Andelman| 5.22.10 @ 8:04AM

You might also enjoy this Mr. Media radio interview with Jonathan Alter from May 19, 2010. He talks about his book, “The Promise,” President Obama, The Colbert Report, his wife and even does an imitation of Joe Biden imitating Arkansas Senator John McClellan. Classic stuff! http://www.mrmedia.com/2010/05.....rs-on.html