From crisis to catastrophe. Off a cliff. Dark, darker, darkest. Mortal danger of absolute collapse. Armageddon.
President Obama and top Democrats on Capitol Hill are deploying these and other stark predictions of doom and gloom to push through their economic-stimulus package. In terms not heard in Washington since the late 1970s under President Jimmy Carter’s watch, the new president has sought to terrify Americans into supporting the $800 billion-plus bailout bill.
While President Bush was accused shortly after taking office in 2001 of “talking down the economy” – and for saying the economy was “slowing down” – Mr. Obama is using ever-heightening hyperbole to hammer home his message. But the strategy brings great risk for the “Yes, We Can” man, who just three weeks ago told America in his inaugural address that despite “a sapping of confidence across our land,” his election meant Americans had “chosen hope over fear.”
“Mr. Hope has to be careful not to become Dr. Doom,” said Frank Luntz, a political consultant and author of the book “Words That Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear.”
“The danger for him is using the Jimmy Carter malaise rhetoric, particularly for Mr. Obama, who was elected because people thought he was the solution. There’s only so much negativity they will tolerate from him before they will feel betrayed,” Mr. Luntz said.
One wonders why Obama seems so desperate to get this dog of a bill passed – and then one realizes we’re dealing with Democrats: so, its all a matter of paying everyone off who help, in any way at all, to elevate Obama to the White House. Why didn’t Hillary start a floor fight? Why did all those super delegates start crowding towards Obama? Why did so many big Democrat donors shell out quite so much money? Well, there is always that chance it was a principled stand – ok, ok; you can stop laughing now. Nope, the whole deal was predicated upon everyone getting paid – and Obama is trying to pay them.
Think about it – in a “stimulus” bill which we must have our we’re all gonna die, there are provisions for condoms. Who would even think to add such a thing to such a bill? I mean, its not like there won’t be plenty of opportunities for Obama to increase condom funding over the next four years…why chuck it in here, right now, and then go about telling the American people that their whole nation will crash and burn unless we rush this thing through, presumably with condoms still in the mix? It must be that those groups who believe that birth control is important made quick action on such a thing the price for their support. Everyone wants their payoff right away, knowing that if they don’t get it right away, they might not get it for years – or ever – depending on the ebb and flow of political powers and popular concerns. What Obama has here is a Chicago-style political payola scam dressed up as an economic stimulus package.
And now Obama seems to be deathly afraid he won’t be able to deliver the promised swag – and this, in turn, is making him use ever more overheated and negative rhetoric to try and stampede Congress into backing this scam. Carter lives – he’s younger, better looking and way the heck more hip, but Obama is the true Son of Carter…only we’re not yet sure that Obama is as dumb as James Earl Carter.
Not yet.
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