Bill Maher on Obama

[Supergirl]

Transcript from the season opener of Real Time:

"New Rule: Republicans need to stop saying Barack Obama is an elitist, or looks down on rural people, and just admit you don’t like him because of something he can’t help, something that’s a result of the way he was born. Admit it, you’re not voting for him because he’s smarter than you.

In her acceptance speech, Gov. Sarah Palin accused Obama of using his run for the White House as a “journey of personal discovery” — this from the lady who just spent 10 minutes of her speech introducing her family — Track, Trig, Bristol, Piper — for a minute there I thought she was calling in an airstrike.

Karl Rove described Obama as “the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini, and making snide comments about everyone who passes by.” Unlike George Bush, who’s the guy at the country club who makes snide comments, and then passes out. Now this characterization, of course, was something Mr. Rove just completely pulled out of his bulbous, gelatinous ass, but remember this is America, a land where people believe anything they hear. One of McCain’s ads casts Obama as “the one,” implying he thinks he’s the Messiah. Good, maybe he can raise McCain from the dead.

It doesn’t matter to Karl Rove that his country club characterization is fictitious, it’s the role that Obama must play if the party of plutocrats is going to win over the little guy. Over and over at this convention we heard about the new put-upon victim in our society, the person in America, like Sarah Palin, who’s constantly mocked because they’re from a … small town! Governor Yup Yup’s got ‘em all riled up about being disrespected.

Barack Obama can’t help it if he’s a magna cum laude Harvard grad and you’re a Wal-Mart shopper who resurfaces driveways with your brother-in-law. Americans are so narcissistic that our candidates have to be just like us. That’s why George Bush is president. And that’s where the McCain camp gets its campaign strategy: Paint Obama as cocky and arrogant and wait for America to vote him off, like the black guy in every reality show. A black president? Half of Pennsylvania isn’t ready for black quarterbacks. Forget Obama, they think Will Smith needs to be taken down a peg.

And finally: As for “country first,” you know who’s putting country first? I am, by supporting Obama, because a victory this fall for the McCain-Mooseburger ticket would make my job in the next four years very, very easy."

[101A]

I'm not voting for Barrack Obama because he is liberal.

Nothing to do with his race, his intelligence, the fact that he smokes, or any other thing you can imagine.

He is liberal.

He will expand the government; he has promised to.

I am opposed to his policies; what he has said he is GOING to do.

I have a feeling MANY opponents of Obama feel this way; tough pill for Maher to swallow, I guess.

[Mr. Peabody]

Part you reference starts at 2:00 -

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[Mr. Peabody]

I'm not voting for Barrack Obama because he is liberal.

Nothing to do with his race, his intelligence, the fact that he smokes, or any other thing you can imagine.

He is liberal.

He will expand the government; he has promised to.

I am opposed to his policies; what he has said he is GOING to do.

I have a feeling MANY opponents of Obama feel this way; tough pill for Maher to swallow, I guess.

That's not the point of the segment. All he was saying is that charges of "elitist" derive from nothing more than the fact that the guy is intelligent.

Whether you agree with it or not, that's the point he is making.

[101A]

Transcript from the season opener of Real Time:

"...and just admit you don’t like him because of something he can’t help, something that’s a result of the way he was born. Admit it, you’re not voting for him because he’s smarter than you.



Just responding to that.

[boutons_]

"He will expand the government; he has promised to."

dubya expanded govt and doubled the national debt, by $Ts, but that's OK, he's "conservative, Christian" white guy.

[ploto]

There was a time when people could claim that they were Republican because they supported smaller government and fiscal conservative actions but those days are long gone.

[Findog]

He will expand the government; he has promised to.



This from a guy who probably supports Bush. When it comes to expanding the scope and power of government, nobody beats Bush.

[101A]

This from a guy who probably supports Bush. When it comes to expanding the scope and power of government, nobody beats Bush.

Bush promised to NOT expand government; he lied.

"Voted" for is NOT the same a "Supports".

Obama has promised to do what I don't want done.

[Oh, Gee!!]

101 would rather be lied to

[101A]

101 would rather be lied to


If Bush were running against Obama?

Probably wouldn't vote.

I'll tell you, and somebody should probably tell the Obama campaign; Bush isn't running.

[Findog]

If Bush were running against Obama?

Probably wouldn't vote.

I'll tell you, and somebody should probably tell the Obama campaign; Bush isn't running.

Somebody should tell McCain's supporters that he and Bush are both Republicans and McCain has vowed to continue Bush's economic policies.

[101A]

Somebody should tell McCain's supporters that he and Bush are both Republicans and McCain has vowed to continue Bush's economic policies.


If by that you mean, he wants to keep the tax brackets where they are; with people making over $250,000 paying 35% of their income in taxes, while people who make less $50K pay almost none - yeah, I guess he wants to keep that policy, FWIW. Today he announced a very different approach to Wall-Street; he has also diverged on earmarks.

[Anti.Hero]

There was a time when people could claim that they were Republican because they supported smaller government and fiscal conservative actions but those days are long gone.

yep

[TheMadHatter]

For a guy who is supposed to reform government he sure picked a winning running mate in Palin, who not surprisingly is governor of a state that requests the highest ratio of earmarks per person.

[Duff McCartney]

It is laughable to me that this country is full of morons that believe anything the Republican party says about it's opposition. All they have to do is repeat the same half-lies and people will say it's true. They'll say that Obama is a Muslim and he supports terrorist and of course people will believe it all.

I'm voting for Obama which doesn't really matter either way because I live in Texas and my vote doesn't count. But I have the feeling that McCain will win because of the same bullshit politics and lies that won Bush the presidency 4 years ago. Stupid ass people believing stupid ass lies.

[KenMcCoy]

It is laughable to me that this country is full of morons that believe anything the Republican party says about it's opposition.

...Stupid ass people believing stupid ass lies.

It's laughable that this country is full of idiots who don't understand the basics of economics believe that raising corporate taxes and capital gains taxes will actually create jobs.

[2centsworth]

Somebody should tell McCain's supporters that he and Bush are both Republicans and McCain has vowed to continue Bush's economic policies.

what economic policies would those be and what would Obama do differently? Please enlighten us.

[TheMadHatter]

It's laughable that this country is full of idiots who don't understand the basics of economics believe that raising corporate taxes and capital gains taxes will actually create jobs.

And lowering those taxes has done what to our economy?

Trickle-down economics doesn't work.

[KenMcCoy]

And lowering those taxes has done what to our economy?

Trickle-down economics doesn't work.

Consistent growth in US GDP:

http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/gdp_glance.htm

Increased tax revenues:

http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/reports/revenue%20growth.jpg

Increased average family income:

http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idarticle=15993&t=US+Census%3A+Income+rises+in+2007


Sure...Reaganomics doesn't work:rolleyes

[Biernutz]

For a guy who is supposed to reform government he sure picked a winning running mate in Palin, who not surprisingly is governor of a state that requests the highest ratio of earmarks per person.

And your link to the earmarks statement is.......

[Creepn]

It's laughable that this country is full of idiots who don't understand the basics of economics believe that raising corporate taxes and capital gains taxes will actually create jobs.

Well at least McCain admits that he doesnt understand economy. Wanna laugh at him? Oh wait, lets not because hes a maverick and such an honest guy!

[Mr. Peabody]

And your link to the earmarks statement is.......



Link (http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-earmarks13-2008sep13,0,4231195.story)

McCain wrong on Palin earmarks

By Tom Hamburger and Maeve Reston, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
September 13, 2008

NEW YORK -- John McCain got it wrong Friday when he asserted that his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, had not requested any earmarks, the spending directives lawmakers insert in spending bills that McCain has vowed to eliminate.

Palin, in fact, requested $198 million in federal earmarks in February, including such expenses as $487,000 to fight obesity in Alaska and $4 million to develop recreational trails.
. . . .

Alaska has consistently been the largest per capita beneficiary of federal earmarks, in part because the state's congressional delegation is powerful and provides well for a small population in a state with a large federal presence.

[PixelPusher]

Alaska has consistently been the largest per capita beneficiary of federal earmarks, in part because the state's congressional delegation is powerful and provides well for a small population in a state with a large federal presence.
Palin even bragged about how much the Alaskan Congressional delegation("God bless 'em") was "the envy of all other States".
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[Yonivore]

Palin even bragged about how much the Alaskan Congressional delegation("God bless 'em") was "the envy of all other States".
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Alaska has consistently been the largest per capita beneficiary of federal earmarks, in part because the state's congressional delegation is powerful and provides well for a small population in a state with a large federal presence.
Yeah, in small part.

The principal reason Alaska has consistently been the largest per capita beneficiary of federal earmarks is because there are so few people living in a state of significant strategic and economic importance.

It's not the punch line to a joke that you can literally see Russia from there.

[Nbadan]

Sure...Reaganomics doesn't work

Highest in how many years again?


The unemployment rate rose from 5.7 to 6.1 percent in August, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend down (-84,000). In August, employment fell in manufacturing and employment services, while mining and health care continued to add jobs.

BLS (http://www.bls.gov/CPS/)

The only thing trickle down economics (otherwise known as Voodoo economics) works for is Wall Street...and we've now seen the outcome of that story..

[PixelPusher]

It's not the punch line to a joke that you can literally see Russia from there.

"I can see Russia from my house...now fork over the check, buster!"

Military Industrial Complexes are welfare states, too.

[BRHornet45]

sons fuck Bill Maher. that piece of shit.

[bobbyjoe]

I'm not voting for Barrack Obama because he is liberal.

Nothing to do with his race, his intelligence, the fact that he smokes, or any other thing you can imagine.

He is liberal.

He will expand the government; he has promised to.

I am opposed to his policies; what he has said he is GOING to do.

I have a feeling MANY opponents of Obama feel this way; tough pill for Maher to swallow, I guess.

This is a very reasonable position. I agree that Obama is too liberal in terms of his citing government as the entity which can cure most of our wills.

The problem is, I think there are many people who are voting against Obama for the reasons cited in this article (i have no idea how many, but i do think there are too many). Labeling the Democratic candidate as "elitist" is something that the hard right in this Country has been trying for the past 10 or so years. And in light of his resume and background, I think he's pretty dang far from an "elitist". He's just too liberal.

Rove's analogy was a smearjob and one that I dont see how too many reasonable could agree with it. It's as though he's just repeating his lines from the past 10 years without realizing they dont apply at all to Obama.

I can almost guarantee guys like Rove, Hannity, O'Reilly etc will be calling the next 4-5 democratic candidates "elitists".

[Supergirl]

It is laughable to me that this country is full of morons that believe anything the Republican party says about it's opposition. All they have to do is repeat the same half-lies and people will say it's true. They'll say that Obama is a Muslim and he supports terrorist and of course people will believe it all.

I'm voting for Obama which doesn't really matter either way because I live in Texas and my vote doesn't count. But I have the feeling that McCain will win because of the same bullshit politics and lies that won Bush the presidency 4 years ago. Stupid ass people believing stupid ass lies.

Have faith...even Texas is a lot more competitive for Obama than it was for Kerry or Gore. Part of that is, I believe, Obama is a much more exciting candidate for people to get behind, and part of that is because the last 8 years have been such a disaster that many people now realize what a huge mistake Bush was.