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Obama Mocks Socialist Attacks: "I Shared My Toys in Kindergarten"

Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 12:13 PM on October 29, 2008.


"By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because ... I shared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich."

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Barack Obama campaigned earlier in Raleigh, North Carolina, principally relying on the closing-statement speech he unveiled in Ohio on Monday. Today, however, he added a new paragraph.

"[B]ecause he knows his economic theories don't work, he's been spending these last few days calling me every name in the book," Obama said. "Lately, he's called me a 'socialist' for wanting to roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans so we can finally give tax relief to the middle class. I don't know what's next. By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten. I shared my peanut butter and jelly sandwich."

From time to time, over the course of the 20 or so months, Obama has demonstrated an ability to use humor very effectively. Greg Sargent noted earlier, "[This] kind of unforced mockery, even levity, tends to be a good indicator of genuine confidence in the outcome."

I think that's true, but I'd add that Obama seems to use humor, light mockery, and the occasional sarcasm even when he's less confident in the outcome. For months, regardless of circumstance, even during the primaries, when given a choice between delivering an angry response and a humorous one, Obama almost always prefers the latter.

One gets the sense that Obama's not mad at the Republicans; he just thinks they're ridiculous.

AlterNet is a nonprofit organization and does not make political endorsements. The opinions expressed by its writers are their own.


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View:
Republicans are ridiculous
Posted by: metamind on Oct 30, 2008 2:32 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yes, Republicans are ridiculous. So are Democrats. But the difference is that Republicans are willing to kill people in order to "win the game."

There are a million dead bodies because of the "war on terror" ... most of them in Iraq.

Who do you think killed the Kennedy brothers? Who killed Martin Luther King? Who killed Paul Wellstone?

I'll give you a hint: it wasn't a Democrat.

Republicans are not just ridiculous... they are evil.

Never vote Republican. Get this evil party off the poltiical stage ... forever.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: epublicans are ridiculous Posted by: willymack
the real choice Americans will be making is between two kinds of freedom
Posted by: Suzon on Oct 30, 2008 5:15 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Freedom and democracy are often taken to be one and the same thing, but there is the freedom enjoyed by tyrants and despots through the ages and freedom within the context of democracy.

Advantage-seekers feel entitled to act without any constraints. This kind of freedom permits lying, cheating, stealing and killing for one's own benefit. It's not just shock-jocks or Republicans who fall into this category! Any member of Congress who enabled the invasion of Iraq did so on the basis that following the leader made it okay to terrorize and murder people in some other country.

Freedom within a democratic context, however, cannot ride roughshod over the rights of others. It may not have the dynamic attractiveness of "shoot first and ask questions later" recklessness and irresponsibiliy. Because it requires us to think about possible outcomes and about fairness, it's a bit time-consuming. On the other hand, it has its rewards in a safer and healthier society.

Yes, Obama has had to play the only game in town, but it's his willingness to constrain himself, to think and consider, that has won my support. His humor comes out of his sense of perspective. I mean, when was the last time you heard a political candidate refer to a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich?!

That alone could cinch the election!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

When you think about it--what good have Republicans...
Posted by: jvaljon1 on Oct 30, 2008 3:44 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...ever done for America??? Won WWII?

Nope, the "cut & run" Dems did that.

Uh...they maybe, brought prosperity to most Americans?

Nope, The "tax & spend" Dems did that too, back in the 90s, during the last 'tax & spend-er' when gas at the pump here in TX, was: 99 cents!

Wait! Didn't the Pukers fix the First Great Depression? Oops--wrong again, cause they're the ones that brought us that first one-- (Herbert Hoover was a Repuke) and now, not content with that, they appear to also have brought us--ta-da! The Second Great Depression!

All the while, that we're shoving money at them with, how they say, ten fingers on each hand! Does this make ANY kind of sense, folks???

Here's what one enemy of America has done to us lately:


1) Shredded our Constitution--the only real security that America ever had.

2) Started a war based on a pack of lies that the president (doesn't deserve the capital letter) told us--and thus gave us the whole Middle East as enemies--incidentally getting over 5,000 of our National Guard, killed in his phony, lie-based "war".

3) Maintained a close personal friendship with the nation that DID move against us, and commit 9/11--the Saudis.


And that's only THREE things! I'm sure that my fellow Americans can think of a lot more that's been done against us by our 'fellow Americans' currently in charge.

And what have WE done about it?

Yup.

Sad, isn't it?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Whats wrong with sharing - not my toys though
Posted by: Karl.Ben on Oct 30, 2008 7:26 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
did he share his toys or someone else toys. My guess is it wasnt his!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

WHAT'S WRONG WITH SHARING? - DEPENDS!
Posted by: blurider on Oct 30, 2008 8:26 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
REPUBLICANS DON'T MIND SHARING OURS WITH THE WEALTHY BUT THEY'VE CONDITIONED YOU TO HAVE A UNIFORM, PAVLOVIAN RESPONSE TO ANY SHARING DOWNWARD!

It's true that Obama has spoken openly and without shame, of wealth re-distribution. Refreshing isn't it, to hear a politician daring to speak honestly on an important subject without any Orwellian, Washington-speak?

Wealth re-distribution is something we should be used to by now except for the word I used above - Washington-speak and the co-opting and domination of our national conversation by the political right.

Are you aware of Dr Nouriel Roubini? He is a professor of economics at NYU. He will soon be listed in all the Encyclopedias.
He' s been a hero of mine for years but I deferred to Wickipedia since I'd forgotten some details of his speech at the IMF...

Roubini is known for his predictions of financial crises, notably at the IMF in 2006, where he was received skeptically, with one commentator noting his lack of mathematical models. As of 2008 many of his predictions have come to fruition. Formerly an obscure academic, he has received invitations since to speak before influential organizations such as United States Congress and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Last Tuesday on CNBC he was a 'guest host' on Squawk Box. You may be aware that CNBC in an election year is a 24/7, free commercial for the G O P.

Soooo ...they ask Dr Roubini's opinion about which party would be best for the economy and he replies that he is apolitical - that as a professional economist and academic he avoids being swayed or affected by ideology. The other regular talking heads push and prod him until he offers, (and I paraphrase) 'History shows that since the era of modern Republicans and Democrats, our economy has always been best under Democratic administrations.' They're nearly apoplectic as they complain, 'but what about taxes? Obama has spoken openly of wealth re-distribution! How can you have a good economy with higher taxes?'
Roubini just smiles as he explains - to talking heads who clearly didn't know or didn't want to, 'We've always had wealth re-distribution, under both parties. Democrats re-distribute downward, Republicans re-distribute upward.'

One well-worn term you're not hearing much these days is 'tax and spend liberals'! Obviously that would invite comparisons with the profligacy of the Bush years, the kleptocracy, the mismanagement and our outstanding, record national deficit and national debt - WHICH, unless one believes in fairies, brownies and the Easter Bunny, WE CAN ONLY PAY FOR THROUGH TAXATION! We 'can pay now' as they say or our kids 'can pay later'.

I don't remember Roubini's actual phrasing as he reminded them of the record wealth transfer to the wealthy and the record deficit of the Reagan administration, the first Bush recession, Clinton's devotion to paying it off and the good economy we enjoyed under Clinton then the surplus he handed down to Bush II. Seemingly he didn't even feel the need to mention the last eight years.

Finally, desperately they demanded of him who he intended to vote for and once again he demurred until they insisted and he finally replied ........ Obama.

They respect him and AFTER the election they'll probably invite him back.

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» PAVLOV's Palin >: = / Posted by: godsbreath64
so adorable and so deceptive
Posted by: LillianB on Oct 30, 2008 10:41 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/5638

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» RE: so adorable and so deceptive Posted by: Prairie Waif
Obama
Posted by: Archie1954 on Oct 30, 2008 10:56 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Senator Obama is a genuinely nice person. He is ethical and moral and cares for others. He obviously loves his country and is willing to take on the most difficult job in the country to prove it. We all know that in today's world that job could kill a man like the senator and still he is willing to bear the risk for all of us. It falls to us to make sure that when he is elected we do everything within our power to protect him with our own bodies if necessary. There are many evil people and organizations around who will do everything within their power to harm him. You are seeing some of it during this campaign. It doesn't bode well for his personal safety in the future

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» RE: Obama Posted by: Karl.Ben