Obama makes Oval Office call to reporters
POSTED March 08 2009 9:48 AM BY
President Obama was so concerned that he had appeared to dismiss a question from New York Times reporters about whether he was a socialist that he called the newspaper from the Oval Office to clarify his policies.
"It was hard for me to believe that you were entirely serious about that socialist question," he told reporters, who had interviewed the president aboard Air Force One on Friday.
Opening the unusual presidential call to reporters by saying that there was "just one thing I was thinking about as I was getting on the copter," he said it wasn't he who started the federal government's intervention into the nation's financial system.
"I did think it might be useful to point out that it wasn’t under me that we started buying a bunch of shares of banks. It wasn’t on my watch. And it wasn’t on my watch that we passed a massive new entitlement -– the prescription drug plan -- without a source of funding. And so I think it’s important just to note when you start hearing folks throw these words around that we’ve actually been operating in a way that has been entirely consistent with free-market principles and that some of the same folks who are throwing the word 'socialist' around can’t say the same."
The New York Times asked, "So whose watch are we talking about here?" but Obama wouldn't name names.
"Well, I just think it’s clear by the time we got here, there already had been an enormous infusion of taxpayer money into the financial system. And the thing I constantly try to emphasize to people if that coming in, the market was doing fine, nobody would be happier than me to stay out of it. I have more than enough to do without having to worry the financial system. The fact that we’ve had to take these extraordinary measures and intervene is not an indication of my ideological preference, but an indication of the degree to which lax regulation and extravagant risk taking has precipitated a crisis."
He concluded the brief call by saying, "I think that covers it."
The phone call came after the president was asked aboard his plane: "Are you a socialist as some people have suggested?"
He was clear in his first answer: "You know, let’s take a look at the budget – the answer would be no."
"Is there anything wrong with saying, 'Yes'?" a Times reporter pressed.
"Let’s just take a look at what we’ve done," Obama said, ticking off efforts his administration has made to stabilize the economy. But he acknowledged that, as he told Joe the Plumber, he plans to try to spread the wealth around.
"If you look on the revenue side what we’re proposing, what we’re looking at is essentially to go back to the tax rates that existed during the 1990s when, as I recall, rich people were doing very well. In fact everybody was doing very well. . . . We said that we’d give a tax cut to 95 percent of working Americans. That’s exactly what we have done."
-- Joseph Curl, senior political correspondent, The Washington Times
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Next PageBy: AKgrandma
Constitution lover, there is a small problem with your fix of the economy. The foriegn contries that buy trillions of dollors of American made goods have told us if we try your plan (only buy American) then they will NOT buy American. There are a whole LOT of people in Europe, China, South Amerca, etc. that would stop buying American goods and they BY FAR outnumber Americans buying American goods. Our economy would collapse without foreign buyers.
March 9, 2009 at 3 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: yngrepub
I would just like to remind everyone that none of this is B. H. Obama's fault. It seems to be everyone else's fault. Remember he inherited a trillion dollar deficit.
Well now its almost two trillion
Correction two and half trillion...
Once I'm done commenting who knows maybe three trillion.
March 9, 2009 at 2:29 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: timfife
Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush, they are all the same. We are blinded by this 2 party bull-crap and can't see they are both (Reps/Dems) stealing our freedoms/rights, wealth, natural resources etc.. Divide and conquer it seems does work for those too stupid, too lazy or too scared to stand up for themselves. Hell, we spend so much time arguing about who are the smartest of the retarded are we forget who we are! There is hope and Obama ain't it. We better figure this out before 2012 and get America back to the nation it is supposed to be! A free America, not an America where everything is free!!!!
March 9, 2009 at 2:07 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: harber2009
Do people here think that Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is the Joseph Gobbels of the 21st Century?
(for those of you who have never heard of Joseph Gobbels, he was the Propaganda Chief for Adolf Hitler.
March 9, 2009 at 1:56 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: timfife
By: RickRollington
"Seriously, you Drudge readers are dumber than dirt."
We'll see soon who the "dumber than dirt" people are there PrickRollington...
March 9, 2009 at 1:52 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: Flanny
Rick Rollington, just read a book. How about the one Timbuck 3 suggested. You make comments without substance. How would you like me to call you an idiot? Why not explain what concept you disagree with the so called Hannity fans and why. I know I can't stand the guy(Hannity) and I think you are referring to me. Drudge doesn't have commentary. Hate to tell you. So you seem a little retarded yourself in figuring out who the critics of Obama are. Or just full of blind hate. I dare you to read a book. It might help in your thinking process.
March 9, 2009 at 1:50 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: OMcommunist
famed story:"There was a man who had $300 and he didn't know where is the safest place to hide his money. At end, he digged a pit in his backyard and buried his money there, but he still thought someone might find it and would take it, therefore, he wrote a note saying "there is no money of $300" and put the note at the place he had buried his money...."
I guess everyone knows the result what happened to the"smart" guy.
March 9, 2009 at 1:42 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: betterred
Ricky did you forget your heelmeent?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...
March 9, 2009 at 1:32 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: SharpShtik
Like Hitler, FDR & Clinton, Obama is a Third Way Socialist (TWS) using government to control (take/risk) private property to serve national socialism. TWSs know carrot/stick approach of free enterprise is better economic engine than government ownership, but idiotically think under socialist controlled enterprise that people will still work as hard & risk/invest as much when most of the carrot is stolen/redistributed and the stick is longer. Government under TWSs is organized crime.
TWS caused the financial collapse. TWSs forced Affirmative Action (standardless) lending from 1993-2004, using DOJ and HUD to threaten lawsuits under TWS regulations FLA 1968, ECOA 1974 & CRA 1977. Clinton installed his budget director Raines as FNMA CEO (1998-2004) to expand AA lending, risking trillions in private property to serve it. The artificial expansion of buyers caused a massive bubble that fully imploded in 2008. Obama & Clinton admit financial collapse TWS caused is cover for more TWS. Never waste a good crisis they say.
In 78 years (FDR ‘33-2011), no fiscal conservative control except 1995-2001 Republican Congress. Control in the 78 years: Presidency (D - 42 yr / R - 36 yr), Senate (D - 56 yr / R - 22 yr), House (D - 62 yr / R - 16 yr), Total Control (D - 34 yr / R - 7 yr). In 34 years total control, D had overwhelming control except 1951-53. In 7 years total control, R had slim margins except 2005-07.
Democrats use total control to massively expand government & wealth redistribution with new & increased taxes. Before increasing them, they started income tax at 1% to 7% in 1913 (Wilson), SS tax at 2% of 1st $3k in 1935 (FDR) & Med. tax in 1965 (Johnson). Presently, 60% income earners (including illegals) pay under 3% income taxes under highly progressive rates & payroll taxes are now 12.4% on 1st $102k + 2.9% all income + 1.2% on 1st $7k. With total control again, Democrats massively expand government & wealth redistribution with new CO2 tax, increased income taxes, etc. CO2 tax doesn’t "solve" alleged “man-made" "global warming" "crisis.” It’s only more TWS control of private property for redistribution. See, e.g., Emma Brindal of Friends of the Earth, who said, “[a] climate change response must have at its heart a redistribution of wealth and resources.” Obama's budget redistributes $60 billion in CO2 taxes to Democrat voters.
Obama admits he’s a racist socialist: "when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." 10-11-08. "Supreme Court never [forced] redistribution of wealth [or] economic justice ... [a] traged[y] ... [P]olitical & community organizing [is] actual coalition of powers [to] bring about redistributive change." WBEZ FM, 2001. "America continues to become increasingly unequal [along] racial lines." "Audacity of Hope," p.157. "[S]omeone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so someone else can have more." Michelle Obama, 4-8-08. Obama is America's Hugo Chavez. Welcome to Amerizuela.
March 9, 2009 at 1:32 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: bigeasy43
I am 66 years old and have a retail business and was committed to keeping keeping it open for the sake of my employees.
Now they come to work wearing Obama tshirts and caps and I've overheard talk of unionizing.
What they do not know is that the business is totally optional for me and I will shut it down if a union vote is taken and voted for.
March 9, 2009 at 1:25 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: NDSue
Little Ricky - The things you've listed are exactly what government, via our taxes, is SUPPOSED to provide us under Capitalism. In addition to military protection. It's the REST of the garbage that makes us Socialist!
March 9, 2009 at 1:25 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: jprescia
Obama IS a SOCIALIST. He's trying to skirt the question. It's so obvious he doesn't want his cover blown. Why else would he criticize Bush (rightfully so) about deficit spending BEFORE the 2008 election, then do 10 times MORE of the VERY same deficit spending? Obama is BUSH X10. They are both worthless Socialists! You can't 1. cut taxes 2. deficit spend 3. have taxpayers pay for it later and then call that "cutting taxes". My personal checkbook does not understand that logic either.
Oh I understand. I can 1. cut my expenses from my checkbook 2. run up charges on my credit cards beyond my ability to pay 3. Pay for it later and feel good that I don't spend as much from my checkbook cash account.
Does anyone out there friggin' think anymore and ask Obama REAL questions?
Give me a chance with him one on one. I'll ask REAL questions that Americans who work and have ethics and morals what to know answers to.
March 9, 2009 at 1:23 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: betterred
then again i'm assuming one has a mind with more than 2 firing synapses - sadly most liberals don't.
March 9, 2009 at 1:22 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: Flanny
We are a part of the babyboomer generation or a product of. Most of us think of economic cycles as the bible. That is it goes up apx. 7 years and goes down about the same. This is only the case if the economic framework is pretty much the same. In the last one hundred years or even less the encroachments on capitalism have been pretty tame compared to the last month or two. Just as Obama has spent more in his first few months in office then all others combined presidents so is the assault on capitalism. This is not to disparage Obama/Democrats as much as the career politician in DC. The bailouts or "stimulus packages" started with a Republican administration. This is the manifistation of the career politician. This is more about ruling class with the help of corporations who screw their shareholders just as bad as the ruling class over their naive wide eyed shall I say "sheeple." Back to the point, having blind faith in career politicians/lawmakers created figuritively and literally the biggest ongoing bank heist ever. What is needed is shareholders caring about their companies not just reading statements with good returns and hiding in a corner with bad. Citizens you too. Wake up and remove the shackle of the babyboomer mentality. Time for accountability. Hate to burst your bubbles or give you indigestion, this may mean prosecuting a Kennedy or putting another war hero turned politician back into captivity.
We did get change. The change was an exponentially changing framework versus progressive change that the RNC offered. McCain I think lusted after that exponential change. Luckily he doesn't smoke crack. Then he could have had an even more euphoric experience with his co conspirator.
What is the point of this writing? The point is that the founding fathers knew better than to adulate politicians. I even wonder if politicians should be stripped of the term leaders and just be called representatives. A representative is just as fallable as the people if not more in this current climate. Our founding fathers felt very strongly and thought of political duty as a duty not a career. Kind of like being in the reserves. What OBama did with exponential change to the economy, McCain did with the Obamination bill he pushed "campaign re-f the voter campaign reform act." For the first time in history this bill has succeeded in having only senators surviving as presidential candidates. These candidates are the same people that make laws that benefit corporations that are able to put together big fundraising schemes.
I know what is neccessary. Do you? Btw, forget about the stockmarket untill you the taxpayer and/or voter can reverse the bank robbers damage.
March 9, 2009 at 1:21 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: RickRollington
Seriously, you Drudge readers are dumber than dirt.
March 9, 2009 at 1:16 a.m.
By: betterred
Somewhere in the place where extremely bad souls retire, there is a proud father who's feeling especially warm all over.. Saul Alinsky's spawn of Hillary and Obama has matured and is in power..
Ignorance is dangerous and can cause much suffering.. we should to pay attention to the minds of the people we vote for.....
March 9, 2009 at 1:15 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: PatriotJoe
I heard on the news today that according to a NBC/WSJ poll, Obama has better than a 60% approval rating. He sure doesn't seem to have a 60% approval on this blog.
I guess his lemmings have been busy doing something else this weekend.
I've been trying for a year now, to educate Obama supporters about his radical background and associations, and lack of qualifications. But I haven't found even one who wanted to know. A very nice woman who is "hoping for change", recently told me, "Well, maybe it's better if we don't know about those things."
Check out:
http://www.ConserveTheUSA.com &
http://www.ProudLegacy.com
March 9, 2009 at 1:11 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: rongalap
Keep paying your taxes or you may be mistaken for a Democrap
March 9, 2009 at 1:05 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: realetybytes
Robin Hood was the ultimate CONSERVATIVE. He took back the tax money taken from the people, and gave it back. He was a TAX-CUTTER, ready to die to defend his country and fellow countrymen from tyranny and taxation. He was a Conservative Patriot. Great story.
March 9, 2009 at 12:59 a.m. | Mark as Offensive
By: lifenliberty
Robin Hood???? Did I miss something? Robin Hood stole from the King... or GOVERNMENT because the GOVERNMENT took too much from the people. My God! Socialists get that wrong too!
Did the Congress, under Bush use the peoples money AGAINST the peoples will to bail out AIG and Government companies Freddie and Fannie? Yep... did we complain... YEP...
Do 2 wrongs make a right... NOPE.
Obama, HOPE? NOPE!
1 day after the Socialists in Congress pass a 1 TRILLION dollar spending bill he holds a "summit" to examine ways to control government spending?!?!?!? -
This president IS a SOCIALIST... This country WILL BE hurt by his actions for years to come. And unlike the conservatives who questioned many of Bush's actions, his flock will follow him without question.
March 9, 2009 at 12:57 a.m. | Mark as Offensive