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Another Perspective
Surveying a Ravaged Economy
Barack Obama will show you further evidence of his own greatness.
(Page 2 of 2)
And that’s it: crisis averted. After this fine little speech… this nice little diversion, if you will… they all agreed to soldier on as unpaid volunteers going through the motions of organizing meetings and rallies that never lead to any practical result. The closing words from this scene in Dreams are:
“You handled that meeting pretty good, Barack. Seems like you know what you’re doing.”
“I don’t, Mona. I don’t have a clue.”
She laughed. “Well, I promise I won’t tell nobody.”
“I appreciate that, Mona. I sure do appreciate that.”
However, what is most notable about this story is not the young man’s presence of mind in making a Houdini-like escape from a tricky situation. It is the plethora of words and the absence of action. Obama and his followers did not rush out of the church where they were gathered to talk to the boys or to offer any counsel. Nor did they take up the topic of youth at risk in any subsequent meeting mentioned in Obama’s book. They did nothing at all.
Here I am reminded of one of the enduring images of Obama’s first term: the picture of the president striding briskly to the lectern to address the press at the end of so-called “beer summit.” Trailing several paces behind him were Professor Gates and Sergeant Crowley — the policeman who had been unfairly accused of racism in the earlier arrest of the professor. It is the cop who stops to help the handicapped professor down the White House steps, not his longtime friend, the president.
IF YOU ARE A TRUE progressive — as this president surely is — it makes no difference whether your policies work or not. You do not expect to be judged on the basis of results, but only on the basis of intentions. Looking good, feeling good, and sounding good always trump doing good.
About the Author
Andrew B. Wilson, a frequent contributor to The American Spectator, writes from St. Louis.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (13) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Andrew B. Wilson
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http://spectator.org/archives/2012/09/06/surveying-a-ravaged-economy
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Appleby| 9.6.12 @ 7:30AM
"It isn't whether you win or lose, but how you place the blame."
LindaF | 9.6.12 @ 7:46AM
Obama paints a picture of businessmen as Snidley Whiplashes, gloating at the sight of Poor Penelopes, tied to the tracks, for the crime of not wanting to have anything to do with them.
It was a ridiculous stereotype in the 1960s, in cartoons.
It's even more ridiculous today.
Von Mises Jr| 9.6.12 @ 8:23AM
Perhaps Mattel should design a "Barry Doll" to go along with Barbie and Ken. Pull the string and it says "blah,blah,blah...."
JimH| 9.6.12 @ 9:39AM
It would have to come with a miniature teleprompter
Von Mises Jr| 9.6.12 @ 10:43AM
And a chair. Of course the doll won't be able to bend and sit in the chair. It is an empty chair.
Harry the Horrible| 9.6.12 @ 1:32PM
I was thinking more like "Spread the wealth" and "Bush's Fault."
DTOM| 9.6.12 @ 9:59AM
Don't they already offer an empty chair?
DTOM
Pecos Pete| 9.6.12 @ 10:07AM
You can expect from King O tonight nothing but ... lies.
Pepe LaPue| 9.6.12 @ 10:13AM
As Fernando on Sat Nite Live used to say " its better to look good than to feel good"
JD| 9.6.12 @ 12:18PM
So Obama was the same at 22-23 as he is now. He asks people to give something for nothing to advance a fruitless effort, and when they balk, he plays the guilt card, suggesting that by not cooperating in his pointless endeavor, people are responsible for all the suffering in the world.
Nothing has changed in 30 years since.
The Avenger| 9.6.12 @ 12:22PM
Exactly!!
Dave Williams| 9.6.12 @ 5:57PM
...and whatever HAPPENED to those kids? Hmmm...I'm guessing that 3 of them are dead, 3 in prison, 4 are current/recovering drug addicts/alcoholics, maybe 2 have actually made something of themselves, and one has become (another) fraudulent social activist/community organizer. Thanks to racist DEMOCRATIC policies, those are pretty much the only options available in inner-city hellholes. And yes, pretty much all of the survivors, if they vote at all, will pull the lever again for King Zero. Go figure.
Carroll | 9.6.12 @ 11:55PM
Democrats in the South voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1865, and actively suppressed black voting rights up until and after that time.