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The Spectacle Blog
Less than a month ago, Barack Obama decided to give a speech on Super Tuesday, a key day in the Republican primary season. DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said the timing of the speech was “not a coincidence.”
Perhaps he is trying to remind people that he is the president while the scrambling Republicans just hope to be.
More likely he is trying to keep the cameras pointed at him, in part to distract attention away from his competitors and in part because he is a publicity hound fueled by a mild case of narcissism — as also shown by the fact that he thinks we need his opinion on every issue in the news (about which more tomorrow) and that nothing is ever his fault.
Today is another important day in Republican politics, with primaries in Wisconsin, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Mitt Romney is expected to win all three, with some wondering aloud whether that would be a “knock-out blow” to Rick Santorum. (I very much doubt it will be a knock-out blow, though if Santorum does not win his home state of Pennsylvania in three weeks, that could prove a watershed moment despite a more favorable spate of southern states coming up in May.)
Given what a potentially big day this is for Mitt Romney in the news cycle, here comes Barack Obama on cue with a plan to attack the House Republican Budget, authored by Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan — who recently endorsed Romney.
Early reports give a glimpse into Obama’s approach. Let’s just say it’s not one looking for common ground (not that there is much.) “It’s a Trojan horse. Disguised as deficit reduction plan, it’s really an attempt to impose a radical vision on our country. It’s nothing but thinly veiled social Darwinism.”
The tactics can work the other way; it is possible that some of the news value of Obama’s attack on the Ryan budget (which the left is calling the Ryan-Romney budget) will be lost in coverage of the primary contests. But given the media’s role in recent years as an arm of the Obama press office, most news broadcasts and newspapers are likely to play up the president’s ultra-partisan language and play down any good news for Obama’s most likely opponent in November.
Beyond the question of whether it’s wise for Obama to bring up “radical vision” when his truly radical vision for American health care is in public focus, one has to wonder whether a courageous reporter will ever ask the president why he keeps scheduling speeches on days of major Republican primary contests. I’m not holding my breath.
View all comments (40) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Ross Kaminsky
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/04/03/obama-cant-shut-up-on-primary
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Dimsum| 4.3.12 @ 11:18AM
Mr. Kaminsky is becoming the most incisive commentator in AmSpec land. More power to him!
Bill| 4.3.12 @ 11:18AM
R-Resolute
O-Organized
M-Money
N-Natural
E-Energetic
Y-Young
What is "ROMNEY"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's A Cunning Plan, Actually| 4.3.12 @ 2:19PM
R-RINO
O-Obamacare (architect of)
M-Massachusetts type "conservative"
N-"Next RINO In Line"
E-Enabler of liberalism
Y-Yawn!
THIS is ROMNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
c.j. acworth| 4.3.12 @ 5:59PM
Well done, Cunning.
Pete| 4.3.12 @ 11:18AM
Ah yes, a kindergarten classic. The "I know you are but what am I?" defense.
martin j smith| 4.3.12 @ 11:22AM
Obama has given us and will continue to give us gems to use for adds against him. Now if only the RINO Republican Leadershit were replaced by real leaders these would be very effective adds. If they were used.
Drek| 4.3.12 @ 3:03PM
After watching the ads run by the RNC and the Republican standard bearer during 2000 and 2004, who here has any confidence in the ad campaign that the GOP will wage against obama?
Did George W. Bush have a single hard hitting ad throughout 2ooo or 2004?
Mrs. Vito| 4.3.12 @ 8:31PM
..."Leadershit..."
Priceless!
C Bowen| 4.3.12 @ 11:24AM
Ryan's plan doesn't call for a balanced budget until 2040--the Ruling Class if having a good laugh over this so-called debate.
And Ryan's healthcare plan keeps the mandate--now that is radical, but I don't think that is what Obama meant--but maybe he did.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.3.12 @ 11:26AM
C,
While I agree with you that the Ryan budget appears slightly timid, I would also suggest that the static scoring of the plan misses the dramatic pro-growth effects of lower taxes and regulation, and that on the Ryan path the budget will be better than the CBO's predictions.
I could be wrong, but there is no doubt that static modeling always biases analysis against tax cuts.
fiscal| 4.3.12 @ 4:14PM
Ross, if you've actually done analysis of GDP and marginal tax rates, you'd know that lower taxes do not have any real stimulative effect on economic growth. That is a myth. Deregulation has an even lesser effect and done in the wrong place, can help exacerbate bubbles.
When will people learn that economic growth is made in the private sector when there is increased demand and that private companies invest when there is a profit to be made notwithstanding tax rates.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.3.12 @ 8:10PM
Come on, even Christina Romer says you're wrong. Your comment defies data and common sense.
http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba641
fiscal| 4.3.12 @ 4:16PM
One more comment... while government stimulus has a minimal effect, it almost never pays out and is therefore highly inefficient.
The moral of the story is that we should decide what we want the government to do and then pay for it through taxes. If I had my way, the government would do far less....
Trinacria| 4.3.12 @ 4:29PM
Which begs the question: Why does the office responsible for "scoring" budgets use a static model to assess a dynamic scenario?
The utility of any model is a function of the degree to which it predicts real outcomes; if the model fails to account for the positive effects of the major strategic components of a plan (all of which CAN be modeled based on historical data), what's the point of using it? It's like a businessman failing to account for the potential increase in sales volume associated with a reduction in unit price - his model will only predict a decline in revenue when prices are reduced. Flawed model; flawed conclusion.
fiscal| 4.3.12 @ 6:03PM
Static models are used because dynamic models almost always over predict. The static model used does take into account historical growth assumptions. The dynamic models referenced forecast growth beyond historical experience. Many people hear the word "static" and assume there are no growth assumptions -- that would be wrong.
Trinacria| 4.3.12 @ 8:45PM
No; nobody is saying that the models don't include growth assumptions. The problem is that the growth assumptions are established without regard to the positive effects of lower individual and corporate tax rates or a reduction in the overall regulatory burden. This flaw is further compounded by the assumption that (A) higher tax rates increase tax revenue and (B) lower tax rates decrease tax revenue.
Net/net the current models are inherently biased against any budgets that are fundamentally pro-growth/pro-business, as they simply cannot account for the resulting benefits .
Derek Leaberry| 4.3.12 @ 12:12PM
Mr. Kaminsky almost has Obama pinned but he is less than generous when he claims that Obama has a "mild" case of narcissism. Enormous is the correct adjective. Some conservatives claim Obama as a Muslim and some claim he is an atheist. Actually, Obama is his own god. He is the center of the universe.
Like most narcissists, Obama becomes less popular the more he saturates the public airwaves. Think of the Skip Gates debacle and the unforced error that became.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.3.12 @ 12:20PM
You are anticipating my column for tomorrow...
Mrs. Vito| 4.3.12 @ 8:35PM
As another columnist stated today, "Obama doesn't realize the symbol of America is not the 'bald ego'"...
Mike 3/505| 4.3.12 @ 12:25PM
Ross,
"...mild case of narcissism --"
Rip-roaring, metasticising, invasive...(need some more superlatives) case. C'mon partner. You can do better.
Ross Kaminsky | 4.3.12 @ 8:11PM
Mike, I was actually trying to make people laugh a little at the use of the word "mild". By no means did I intend readers to believe that I think Obama's case is actually mild, but I also didn't want to go too far attributing his behavior solely to a personality disorder.
Mike 3/505| 4.4.12 @ 1:11AM
Ross,
I was just bustin' your chops partner....kinda like the other day when you were "bagging it" waiting for primary results.
Regards,
Mike
ncatty| 4.3.12 @ 1:11PM
I hope Obama's tactic backfires, but I don't think it is unfair politics. Just tiresome.
beebop2| 4.4.12 @ 6:14AM
It becomes "unfair" politics when the lamestream media hangs on his every word and challenges nothing that comes out of his mouth ...
SpiralArchitect| 4.3.12 @ 1:48PM
The Manchurian Candidate calling the 'Paul Budget' a Trojan Horse.
That is the story not when President Decline attempts to overshadow (R)'s.
MyGirlFriday| 4.3.12 @ 2:33PM
And will one media outlet or so called journalist ask captain Zero where his plan is??????? No! They will sit their with their heads down and be good little puppy dogs because if they don't they will get publicly spanked.
beebop2| 4.4.12 @ 6:15AM
Brett Baier on Fox challenged Jay Smarmy about this topic just last evening. The exchange was PRICELESS.
Ann Compton| 4.3.12 @ 2:36PM
It is the role of a White House reporter to present the news of the day as the president sees fit and I'm more than happy to do my duty.
MyGirlFriday| 4.3.12 @ 2:50PM
Yes Ann, and that is why whenever I hear your "breathless" ABC reports I hit the mute button on my radio!
Joe Jones lyrics best describe Capt. Zero: "You Talk To Much!"
SpiralArchitect| 4.3.12 @ 6:13PM
+1
Oldefarte| 4.3.12 @ 2:56PM
Obama is not only a narcissist as Ross suggests, but probably more accurately a LIAR to boot ['....."It's a Trojan horse. Disguised as deficit reduction plan, it's really an attempt to impose a radical vision on our country....']. I mean come on, for him to suggest the words TROJUN HORSE when he himself is the personification of same, since anyone with an IQ of -50 should be able to discern that Obama TROJUN HORSED himself into the WH by lying, by deceiving, by prevaricating as to who/what he truly was/is. The only amazing thing is that the American public/voters were either so STUPID as to believe him or alternatively were determined to expel their combined guilt over slavery that they overlooked same to establish the first African American POTUS. I will however respectfully slightly disagree with Ross' version that "....when his truly radical vision for American health care is in public focus....", since Obama is RADICAL [and extremely so] in all of his policies/viewpoints and not just so concerning his WELFARECARE!!!!!!!!
Derek Leaberry| 4.3.12 @ 3:55PM
He is a PATHOLOGICAL liar, much like President Clinton. Like Ted Bundy, both can't help but lie even when they don't have to.
fiscal| 4.3.12 @ 4:20PM
Everybody in politics lies (slants the truth) whether they are on the right or left. The Ryan budget is a disaster if you look at the details and it leaves out SPECIFICALLY what is to be cut because if people knew, no Republican would be elected. The only upside of this is that the Obama budget is worse.
Trinacria| 4.3.12 @ 4:43PM
The relative merits of the plan notwithstanding, it seems to me that one relavent point that has gone unnoticed is that, unlike the impotent mopes in the Senate who have for the past 3 years abdicated their responsibility to submit a budget, Mr. Ryan has at least made a serious effort to draft and defend a comprehensive plan.
Whether or not one agrees with the specific details, Mr. Ryan should be commended for putting his ideas in writing and subjecting them to the scrutiny of all interested parties. Senator Reid clearly lacks the courage to do the same...
fiscal| 4.3.12 @ 6:15PM
The net result of Ryan's plan will be more votes for Obama because without the detail it will be painted as "social Darwinism". This was a dumb political move. If the Republicans keep on shooting themselves in the foot like this the election will be an Obama landslide.
What Republicans need to do is to either back a budget that makes sense, like Simson-Bowles, or have an argument about the size and purpose of government. They can win both of those arguments.
Trinacria| 4.3.12 @ 8:57PM
Really? They should have an argument about the size and purpose of government? In case you haven't noticed, we've already reached the point where the number of takers exceeds the number of givers; for them, the bigger the gift horse the better.
And based on what evidence do you make the assumption that the same citizenry who was so marginally witted that it bought hook line and sinker that utterly vacuous platform of "hope and change" would have the capacity to critically discern the relative merits of the arguments regarding the size and scope of government? On balance, the attention span of the current electorate is roughly the equivalent of a pre-teen with ADHD; as a result, any strategy based on having an adult discussion is doomed to fail...
Trinacria| 4.4.12 @ 12:23AM
By the way, you use the term "social Darwinism" as if it were a bad thing. To the extent that it means survival of the fittest (I.e. rewarding success, discouraging failure), I'm all for it.
Oldefarte| 4.3.12 @ 5:03PM
There is never a comparison between the lies of the right and the left, since the former is mostly dedicated to improvement of this country, whereas the latter is only concerned with its destruction. Ryan personally destribed his budget as ONLY A BLUEPRINT, not a detailed budget [as he preferred the actual details of same to be worked out in congressional committees so that the SUNSHINE of non-Democrat subversion tactics aka WELFARECARE etc could be observed by the public and commented upon]. As such, it is only an outline to be fleshed out within congressional committees, and it is a recipe for reining in the socialistic strangulation from Democrats' defecits/debts for the last half century. There never is nor will there ever be comparison between what Republicans do versus what Democrats don't do!!!!!!!!!
fiscal| 4.3.12 @ 6:12PM
After looking at Ryan's budget, it is obvious why he didn't put in any detail -- not even general summary numbers -- because the numbers don't add up and if people knew what Ryan needed to cut to make the budget work, there would be no Republican votes. The Ryan plan is a POLITICAL document, not a real plan. He knows that no congressional committee would ever use his plan because those members want to be re-elected.
On the other hand, the Democrat "budget" can only work by having significant tax increases -- that's why there is NO official Democrat budget. There are real budgets out there that have significant cuts in spending -- mainly the Simpson-Bowles plan. The detail is there and the numbers add up.
Politically, his budget is a net negative because it gives the Dems ammunition. I wish Romney wouldn't have tied himself so closely to that budget, but instead say that the Ryan direction is right, but he wouldn't commit until he sees the detail. At least that would give him wiggle room.
The Bruce| 4.3.12 @ 5:26PM
Perhaps Obama's getting a little pissy over the fact that the House unanimously voted down his own budget, as the Senate did previously.