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Putting on Ears
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My Grandfather, Aaron Homnick (1893-1969)
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That Is What We Do
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Cut Out the Chase
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The Obama Watch
Running on the Race Track
The president’s subterranean mean street blues.
I can tell that I must be getting old from all the people telling me how young I look. At fifty-two I may look like forty-seven but I certainly don’t look like twenty-seven. The compliment does not help me very much, other than to reassure me that I’m wearing my fifty-two-ness lightly. But their need to say it serves as an ominous reminder of the clock ticking merrily away towards oblivion.
This in a way disturbs me about Barack Obama more than anything else. We hear so much about what a new breed of politician he is that it drives home the reality of his dreary oldness. Beneath the dashing façade, the insouciant wink, the casual wave, beats the heart of the dreariest old political hack imaginable. He is a card-carrying member of the cliché clique, the bromide brigade, the platitude attitude and the banal cabal. Uggh!
Case in point, his latest contribution to the national conversation, quoted in a new book by Kenneth Walsh. Obama says that the Tea Party movement is inspired by race, by a sense that minorities are getting all these goodies from Washington. They are motivated, the President thinks, by “a subterranean agenda.”
This is such a piece of hackery and flackery, of puffery and guffery, of foolery and fakery. Politics at its rankest masquerading as analysis at its frankest. There is so much dirty laundry being aired here that I simply had to make a list. Every trick in the old, old playbook is on display.
1. ZERO PROOF. There is no evidence to support such a contention, nor is any offered. The most powerful man in the country picks on a bunch of little people who put their lives aside at great personal cost to make a political statement and he accuses them of base motives without proof.
2. WHY NOW? If the issue is that these people feel shortchanged by all the government largesse to minorities, this is hardly the time to organize. None of the new laws, like Obamacare or the wall Street reforms, are designed to help minorities in particular. Believe me, if there was a stat showing that blacks were more likely to be uninsured than whites, we would have heard it repeated ad nauseam.
3. WHY NOT BELIEVE THEIR WORDS? The Tea Party is a movement with very definite ideas, expressed in a spate of books and articles. This is not a group of conspiracy thinkers or Trekkies. They offer a straightforward “terranean” explanation for their positions. These positions are certainly defensible at the very least; nothing contrived or suspicious about them. In fact, the Tea Party gave up the best shot at Republican Senate seats in Nevada and Connecticut to be true to their ideology.
4. WHY IMPUTE AN EVIL IDEAL? It is one thing to observe that people are abandoning ideals in favor of self-interest. It is certainly arguable that Tea Party commitment to fiscal conservatism is a case of liking their money better than they like the wonderful improvements in society wrought by activist government. But to say that they care more about an anti-minority evil ideology than about their own pocketbook — to skip selfishness as an easy motive and choose malevolence instead - is gratuitously offensive.
5. WHY NOT ASSUME NORMALCY? It would be very classy for the President to say he has no doubt the opponents of his legislation only want what’s best for the country. He understands their concerns about massive shifts in lifestyle. He empathizes with their fears. He realizes the pressures felt by ordinary citizens during tough economic times. But he is confident they will look back later when things are more settled and they will see it his way. Why treat them as creeps?
6. WHY NOT PRAISE THEM? It would be even more classy to laud folks for getting involved and learning more about the political process. Imagine if he made a surprise visit to a Tea Party rally in Washington and asked to speak. Keep up the good citizenship, he would say, but keep an open mind and promise me that if things turn out well you will be receptive to change. His poll numbers would jump ten points in five minutes, and he would lose nothing.
Instead, we get this garbage about the Tea Party being prejudiced against coffee and trying to keep the leaves at the bottom of the cup.
What a shame! They offer hope and change, but what we get is bad faith and ill will and mean spirit. When it comes to subterranean agendas, all I see is the POTUS calling the kettle black.
About the Author
Jay D. Homnick, commentator and humorist, is a frequent contributor to The American Spectator. He also writes for Human Events. Here he speaks at the Rally for Religious Freedom in Miami on June 8, 2012.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (38) | Leave a comment
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.7.11 @ 6:17AM
The simple explanation is that the President is a racist.
From calling the police stupid when they arrested a black man to referring to citizens of Pennsylvania with this quote, "And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations," it's actually east to observe that it's Obama who is the racist.
Obama has many character flaws. Obama does not believe America is great, it's simply a lab experiment for his social policies. Obama uses the oldest method possible of dividing a people, that of racial difference.
In short, he's weak, relying on fear to rule. The clock is ticking. With any luck he will be gone and soon. At least soon enough.
MikeD| 3.7.11 @ 7:23AM
Well said Bill. Not only is barry the muslim a racist, he's the worst kind of racist; an arrogant, self righteous racist who is SO convinced of the correctness of his racism he'll NEVER be convinced he's wrong.
Of course, barry is SO wrong on so many levels that his racism is just one of many dangerous attitudes that continually displays his complete unfitness to be our president.
He doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut because he's convinced that America is wrong about everything that he just has to jump in in ANY situation to make sure he tells the rest of the world about America's imagined faults.
Every bad thing has some value, if for no other reason than to illustrate mistakes. Barry does that non-stop. He's a mistake (Or is the correct word "Fraud"?) that gets worse by the day. 2012 can't get here soon enough.
Deborah D | 3.7.11 @ 9:15AM
Reminds me of a sign at a very early gathering of protesters, before there was a Tea Party -- the sign read:
O ne
B ig
A $$
M istake
A merica
WilliamInWien| 3.7.11 @ 7:31AM
What ws it Mrs. Obama said about how we would view politics after BHO's election? I do not think that the resulting Tea Party was what she had in mind.
Ken (Old Texican)| 3.7.11 @ 7:59AM
Mike D,
I'm a little saddened that some communist (pardon the shorthand), used the three letters in TEA to hang the slogan about our necks: "Taxed Enough Already".
What saddens me a little more is that some of us have embraced a slogan that is frankly on the fringe of our thinking.
Most Tea Partiers I know are mostly angry and frightened by the government power grabs, and the new piles of regulations constricting our liberty.
We are also tired of being forced to borrow from our children and grandchildren in order to pay off slackers.
Am I wrong thinking I'm like most Tea partiers?
Deborah D | 3.7.11 @ 9:19AM
No, you're not wrong, Ken. The Tea Party is worried about the future of the country under this regime. It's about loss of freedom. It's about returning to Constitutional values. It's about saving the country for our children. It's about the big picture...it's seeing where we're headed and finally standing up and saying -- STOP! No more! Our children deserve America not some "fundamentally transformed" version.
martin j smith| 3.7.11 @ 8:23AM
When will you and others ever get it straight in you minds about Obama: He is a Marxist and an Islamist Radical in Sheep's clothing, only the wool has been wearing off a lot for more people to see.
Name one thing that Obama has done that has made the life of Americans safer or better ? This in over two years. Then list all of the destructive things he has and continues to do. A stark difference indeed.
Rule number 1 for Obama: He is a liar until proven otherwise.
Axiom number 1a regarding Obama--Anyone who speaks for him is a liar until proven otherwise--unless they contradict Obama.
The facts still need to be discovered.
In my personal oppinion Obama is purposefully destroying this nation. By divide and conquer policies, by neglect by outright obfiscation and sabotage.
SpiralArchitect | 3.7.11 @ 1:01PM
Reading between the lines is not required - the Community Organizer is a Marxist looking to make this Great Nation a Socalist wasteland.
People who believe in him ( re: axium 1a ) may be ignorant, ostrich'icized or simply (re:simpleton) stupid.
We are united through our concern and spite for this... President.
Radioman777| 3.7.11 @ 10:04AM
He consistently uses every propaganda and rhetorical technique used by Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Castro, et al. Why? Because he's one of them. With any luck at all, he'll be gone before he can copy the other stuff they did.
Habu| 3.7.11 @ 10:53AM
While this might not be erudite I think we have all heard enough about obamas policies,seen there lurid effects on our economy and country that any more articles about him make me want to puke.
We'll rid ourselves of this smooove talk'n street pimp in the next election. Until then the Reps can make a great case not to fund any of his Marxist agenda.
Peppermint Tea| 3.7.11 @ 10:55AM
The Tea Party really grew out of TARP and the feeling that nobody (Bush, Obama, McCain) represented them and their fears of government spending. It's the Spending, Stupid! And the accompanying loss of liberty! Loss of worth of dollars. Loss of everything the enables our pursuit of happiness. Are we to just take it lying down?
hawker 1 | 3.7.11 @ 11:06AM
One only has to read his books , which he supposed to have authored, to see his true color and where he actually stands. The books should be required reading by our public and private schools, mmmmm but don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.
SpiralArchitect | 3.7.11 @ 1:12PM
Once the indoctrination begins it surely will become a mandate.
As a countermeasure, perhaps it shoudl start early - but many would follow step I fear not being those that stand upright and breath through their nose.
- lol got a swift vision of Dr Moreau's Island
CLAUDIA MONTEVERDI| 3.7.11 @ 11:29AM
I'll state my conclusion first: Jay, this was inarguably (un arguably? dis arguably? non arguably? WTF knows?)...the single best column in columnar history...a damn LAUNDRY LIST emplying all of the devices you disdain and therein ID as trumpery--bromide--tomfoolery---yeah yeah yeah, etcetera..Dammit Jay, your wicked wit is woefully want to weary the wan wanderer with the wonder of your wisdom..(like that?) ..all of that fulsome fanciful fullness fullfilled, I must say that your feigned astonishment that a bufoon acts like a buffon is just a tenny weeny bit inept..so what else is new? Obama is not only a skunk, he is a dolt....move on dot me...(contributions gratefully accepted, a generous 4% allotted to my favourite charity: my dinner..)--Let's concentrate on 2.012..the GOP now has a baker's half dozen of equally inept presidential candidates..nice guy dull Pawlenty..technocrat daniels..weirdo Gingrich..circus barker Huckabee...Bank President, assistant principal, Romney and maybe the two Pauls, pere et fils, curly and baldy....Let's focus on engaging Cristy, Ryan, Rubio and perhaps Jindal (savaged by one bad speech) into entering the lists and lancing the current president chap in the big tournament...enough shillying! enough shallying! --Hank Cinque screamed for "Henry, England and Saint George" it worked..give us a rallying cry, let's Remember the Maine, or Pearl Harbour or give us a Tippecanoe and Tyler tooooooo.toooo...too much "I Hate Obama" tiddlywinks--lets get DOWN and Dirty--
I say all of this since I propose that the RNC appoint you it's single spokesman..and toot sweet..the damned clock is is tocking or ticking and time is running out...Sorry Spectator, but your loss will be the Free World's Gain...I am out of time and I had intended to offer up my recipe for Chilean sea Bass Veneziana con Bucatoni alla Claudia..but as I said time is running out (that's my contribution to your cliche' treasurechest)
I remain your loyal admirer and fervent fan...
Claudia Monteverdi
John Carnal| 3.7.11 @ 11:32AM
Now all we need is just one piece like this on the evening news from ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS or CNN. Just one and his whole house of credibility cards comes crashing down.
Steve B | 3.7.11 @ 12:24PM
Perhaps BHO can't be blamed for failing to comprehend the emergence of the Tea Party portends a sea change in American politics. I think the American right was caught just as off-guard by the emergence of this genuinely grass-roots resistance movement.
James Surowiecki in his book, "The Wisdom of Crowds" offers perhaps the best model for understanding the pheonomenon of the Tea Party.
According to Surowiecski, crowds possessing the attributes of: diversity of opinion, independence of members from one another, decentralization; and a good method for aggregating opinions, can outperform committees of experts in solving a wide range of problems.
Surowiecski said these attributes keep the crowd open to information flow, prevents a single charismatic opinion leader from dominating the group, balances out the errors and eccentricities of individual members, and produces smarter results than any expert or group of experts.
The Tea Party was made possible, perhaps inevitable by the Internet.
Jack Olson| 3.7.11 @ 12:56PM
On March 30th, 2010, the Teleprompter of the United States said, "There's still going to be a group at their (the Tea Party) core that question my legitimacy. There's folks who just weren't sure whether I was born in the United States, whether I'm a socialist." In his comments to Matt Lauer, TOTUS said that he didn't want to paint Tea Party activists "in broad brushes", immediately after doing exactly that. He added that "I think there's a broader circle around that core group of people who are legitimately concerned about the deficit, who are legitimately concerned that the federal government may be taking on too much. And my hope is that as we move forward, taking steps that show we are sincere about dealing with our long term problems, that some of that group will dissipate." Seven months later, a conservative political movement of which the Tea Party was the most prominent faction gave the TOTUS what he called "a shellacking." Good luck in 2012, Mr. Empty Suit.
Clint| 3.7.11 @ 1:12PM
Barack Obama is the 20 year member of The Racist Reverend Jeremiah Wright's Black Liberation Trinity Church. Obama is the rejected son of a Post-Colonial African Marxist Failure Drunk Father & the son of a bohemian loser mother, who couldn't keep a husband.
In short, Barack Obama is a nasty Whitey Hatin' Black Socialist Asshole.
Skippy| 3.7.11 @ 4:30PM
No need to sugar-coat your analysis.
Tell us what you really think.
Clint| 3.7.11 @ 9:20PM
Allllrighty Then ! Obama is a Poopy Face
JeffT| 3.7.11 @ 1:39PM
At heart, this president is a street thug. That's what he learned on the community activist tour in Chicago.
Pelligrino| 3.8.11 @ 4:03AM
Jeff, I'd say that at heart, B.H.Obama is one who has completely disproportionately advanced in his life specifically due to his skin color.
He might look okay and speak okay (when given a speech to 'perform'), but he'd be a nobody legal beagle were he not 6,1" and black with no visible tatoos and piercings.
As if that was legitimate merit.
We select "leaders?" based on American Idol-like appearances AND based on some twisted, perveted guilt over manufactured race issues.
(I thought we all just have some kind of pigment.)
He'd have never been a US Senator nor POTUS without the race card. (The moneyed big lib hacks in the Demon Party and their media allies would have NEVER noticed him.)
ClaudiaMonteverdi| 3.7.11 @ 1:52PM
a curseon both your houses
To some of you letter writing bottom feeders..names omitted to protect the quasi\innocenti...
I would have a tough time choosing between that obama monstrosity and some of you rabid dogs...cool it or give away 2.012...feels like a bunch of you need a Beckterectomy
and fast..
Your Friend,
Claudia
CHRISTY AND RUBIO IN 2010
BOWLES SECTY OF STATE-DANIELS CHIEF OF STAFF-JINDAHL EVERYTHING ELSE BUT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE--I'LL BE PLEASED TO ACCEPT THAT ONE AND DO MY VERY BEST TO AVOID GRAFT AND CORRUPTION..
YOU'RE WELCOME,
Claudia Monteverdi
Alky| 3.7.11 @ 3:11PM
When will y'all get it? Christie is not what he appears to be! This was posted in another comment section by someone else...
*Supports Green Energy, Cap & Trade.
*Refuses to support states lawsuit against Obamacare.
*Opposes the AZ immigration law.
*Supports a clear path to legalization.
*Favors gun control
*Strongly supported Clinton Gun Ban
*He opposes attempts to permit conceal and carry laws in New Jersey
*Refuses to take a side on the Ground Zero Mosque.
Claudia Monteverdi| 3.7.11 @ 3:47PM
Dear Mr. Alky...I make allowances for you based upon your so very revealing moniker..as to Mr. Chriusty? he is the best and the brightest of all of the flatulent flock of self-styled candidates,with the exception of Haley B. who I adore, but makes that famous snowball in hell look like a favourite..I can imagine the source of your innaccuracies and your vehemence against him, it is so very indicative of the what the jerks are feeding upon at this moment from a small cluster of super putzes with that Beck guy in the forefront...Alkyy, not only are you dead wrong but when you sober up you will agree with me.
Respectfully,
Claudia
Carol| 3.7.11 @ 2:07PM
why because it is who he is
didn't you listen to him
Claudia Monteverdi| 3.7.11 @ 3:49PM
I haven't mastered onomatopoeia yet (not even the proper spelling) but alliteration is my raw meat today...bring it on..
Loveingly,
ClaudiaM
Ken (Old Texican)| 3.7.11 @ 4:23PM
Sorry Claudia,
We just can't fix stupid here.
Bob Grant| 3.7.11 @ 5:09PM
Dear CM,
Instead of working on being a clever wordsmith, try exerting a little of that energy on research.
Christie, in normal times without the budget crisis, would be considered a typical northeastern republican who would never be considered as a serious republican candidate for president.
davelnaf| 3.7.11 @ 5:21PM
Obama’s responses to the upheavals in Egypt and Libya are the latest examples of how he thinks—by now the list is very long. In his eyes the leader of Egypt qualified for regime change while Khadafy continues to warrant his prevarications. Everyone can see through Obama’s game here and everything he has done over the last two years. But there is a tendency in the media to make complicated about Obama what is really very simple: he is our first anti-American president. We were bound to get one sooner or later; they have been knocking on the door, off and on, for four decades. I wonder if people in the Democratic Party have been fearful of possibility. There was never a chance of one coming from the Republican Party after all. Whether dems like it or not, or accept it or not, Obama is now part of their brand and is causing all the predictable damage anyone ever imagined one of these people would cause. Ironically, all of this Bamster damage is about forcing a VAT in order to fix the Bamster’s damage.
Pelligrino| 3.8.11 @ 3:48AM
Thank you for the article, Mr. Homnick.
The Tea Party people that I personally have encountered in multiple rallies (both tiny and very large) in five different states has given me some hope for my country.
They are mostly very decent, hardworking, well (self) educated, folk who think long and hard about issues that matter to home, hearth, region, and grandchildren.
So many of them have this in common: They take their personal faith in the God of the Bible very seriously.
Everyone get it? Knowing God Almighty and the scriptures allows you to think straight. One has a "renewed mind." The Apostle Paul tells us exactly this in Romans 12:1-3.
Tea Party folk just need to know that the road ahead is a long one. And it will be rocky.
I just hope that they are astute enough to 1. Trust no politician (that means NONE of them), 2. Hold all politicians and senior bureaucrats feet ALWAYS to the fire, 3. Never waiver, never falter, 4. Question ALL taxation, 5. Adhere to the Constitution, and 6. Stick together.
Creative Recreation | 8.11.11 @ 2:20AM
is good
Creative Recreation | 8.11.11 @ 2:24AM
is good