OBAMA made a STUPID COMMENT today that will haunt him in the general election if he wins the nom

[Herman Munster]

In other words, Obama is running as a figurehead who can give a good speech but will leave the hard stuff like running the government to people "smarter than him."

He's going to wish he never said this if he faces McCain in the general election. You can see the republican attack ads coming a mile away.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/

*** We wonder if this will come up at the debate: “Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama freely admits he doesn’t have the experience to run a bureaucracy. But he’s banking on the fact voters aren’t looking for a ‘chief operating officer’ in this election. ‘I have a pretty good sense of my strengths and my weaknesses,’ he said today during a meeting with the Reno Gazette-Journal editorial board. ‘I am very good at teasing out from people who are smarter than me what the issues are and how we resolve them,’ he said. ‘I don’t think there is anybody in this race who can inspire the American people better than I can. And I don’t think there is anybody in this race who can bridge differences ... better than I cann. But I’m not an operating officer. Some in this debate around experience seem to think the job of the president is to go in and run some bureaucracy. Well, that’s not my job. My job is to set a vision of “here’s where the bureaucracy needs to go.”’”

[rocktivity]

1. ALL presidents should do that.

:shrug:
rocknation

[KennedyGuy]

8. Yeah..we can all see how great that has been working out with Chimpy..

[robertpaulsen]

35. If he had run a campaign in 2000 saying he wanted to be The Decider...

he would have finished 4th, right behind Buchanan.

[rocktivity]

72. I meant that presidents should aim to be bureaucrats instead of CEOs.

"Bureaucracy" is a four-letter word because it tends to LACK the right kind vision and direction. It doesn't HAVE to be that way.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Adelante]

2. What large organization has McCain ever run?

When was he a CEO of anything?

[earthlover]

44. On the other hand, the last time Hillary was chairperson of something it was of the Young Reps...

McCain would make an issue of his experience....and he would likely use some of Hillary's speeches on experience to illustrate his point that experience is important....

[bigdarryl]

3. OH PLEASE!!!!!

[msongs]

4. sounds like he is not making any huge faux pas here - bush has cheney to run the bureaucracy nt

[OzarkDem]

68. IOKIYAR

Media holds Democratic candidates to a much higher standard.

[Diane R]

5. Why am I not surprised that you have a Hillary avatar?

[KennedyGuy]

which does NOTHING to address the point..

[rodeodance]

14. Why are you shooting the messenger?--it is Obama's that are the problem!!

[fenriswolf]

6. yeah thats a smart move

a president should be smart, but he cannot be an expert in all fields. The president should share and direct the vision of american, while he has at his beck and call the most qualified people in their fields (not cronies you owe a job too)

[origin1286]

7. He is absolutely right

Maybe if you understood exactly what it is the President does and the limits of his power you'd see that.

And first read completely put words in his mouth. When did he say he didn't have the experience to run a buereaucracy?

[rodeodance]

9. NO WONDER HE IS SO VAGUE SO OFTEN: "My job is to set a vision"

[origin1286]

13. The President's job is to create the blueprint

Not build the building.

[rodeodance]

20. yeah--we hear a lot from Bush regarding blueprints. yup

[origin1286]

26. You fail at logic

Because one person failed to live up to a promise does not mean others will fail to live up to that same promise.

They have no effect on one another.

Word of advice: Never take the LSAT.

[FrenchieCat]

10. It is sooo much better to bring your husband with you to get the job

that you are elected to do as the first woman President. How liberating, NOT!

[Herman Munster]

15. I want competent grown ups to lead us

not american idol candidates that inspire. If you are so desperate for inspiration, i suggest you watch oprah or dr. phil.

[KennedyGuy]

23. Obama hides behind Michelle so much I wonder who the candidate is...

[femrap]

38. I heard that she was the one

who allowed him to be a Community Organizer, run for the IL Senate, etc....because she was bringing home $300,000/yr. He didn't have to worry about supporting a family.

I just don't trust him.

[earthlover]

49. To use your craven logic....Obama would not have had to work at all!

But instead he dedicated himself to community service and social justice.

It is a sad day when democrats pooh-pooh social justice. A very sad day.

I might add that Hillary has always...er...been...er....comfortable. When did SHE devote herself to social justice on the streets?

[femrap]

51. I wasn't talking to you.

And with that lovely Ignore button, I never will have to again!

If Michelle hadn't had the big $ job, he wouldn't have been able to. He got himself a Sugar Momma!

And now I don't have to read your response!!!! Rib removal could be the answer you're looking for....it's the way to world peace!

[Nailzberg]

62. Check your timelines - he was a community organizer before he met Michelle.

[cali]

11. Gary Hart says Obama is the consumate policy wonk

I heard him today talking about Obama on the radio.

[Olney Blue]

22. This is reassuring. After suffering under the Chimp, I want a wonk!

[babylonsister]

12. We see how bureaucracy has worked out so well in this admin:

DHS, FEMA, 9/11 Commission, ad nauseum. Has anything really been accomplished? Give me someone who surrounds himself with very smart people and wants to get something done!

[Invidious]

16. I actually PREFER a President that can

admit that he is NOT an expert at all things and is not afraid to bring in smart people to help him. How is that a bad thing to admit?

[no name no slogan]

17. What bureaucracy has Hillary run? Or Edwards?

By your standards, NONE of the top three should be president.

BTW, elected officials make lousy bureaucrats. The smart ones HIRE good administrators.

(speaking as a one-time bureaucrat myself)

[ccpup]

29. well, there might be this stuff:

Clinton co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a state-level alliance with the Children's Defense Fund, in 1977. Then President Jimmy Carter (for whom she had done 1976 campaign coordination work in Indiana) appointed her to the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation, and she served in that capacity from 1978 through the end of 1981. For much of that time she served as the chair of that board, the first woman to do so. During her time as chair, funding for the Corporation was expanded from $90 million to $300 million, and she successfully battled against President Ronald Reagan's initial attempts to reduce the funding and change the nature of the organization. She was also appointed Chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee the same year, where she successfully obtained federal funds to expand medical facilities in Arkansas' poorest areas without affecting doctors' fees.

She also chaired the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee from 1982 to 1992, where she sought to bring about reform in the state's court-sanctioned public education system. During this time she fought a prolonged but ultimately successful battle against the Arkansas Education Association -- the all powerful Arkansas Education Association -- to put mandatory teacher testing as well as state standards for curriculum and classroom size in place.

In the White House she was the major force behind the State Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997, a federal effort that provided state support for children whose parents were unable to provide them with health coverage, successfully increasing research funding for prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institutes of Health.

With the above snippets from an impressive resume, I have no doubt Hillary will do more than just "provide the vision" or whatever it was Obama said.

[no name no slogan]

42. That still ain't government

Unless you've actually worked in the government (more specifically, the executive branch of government), you never really know what you're dealing with. It's a whole new level of stupid.

Smart elected officials hire bureaucrats to run things. The dumb ones try to become it.

[ccpup]

45. oh man, I'm going to have to learn to spin my head a new way

to wrap it around what you just wrote.

Chairing a State or Federal Committee and successfully jumping through the necessary legislative hoops to drastically increase funding for Government run programs like health care and education doesn't, um, give one an idea of what one is working ... with ... in government?

:eyes:

Okay. I'll just let you enjoy your nice little bubble for a while.

Meanwhile back in the real world ...

[no name no slogan]

57. I am serious. Chairng a committee is not the same as being Secretary of ______________

A legislative committee is definitely not the same thing as the Department of Health and Human Services or some other executive branch cabinet-level department. It makes the most byzantine fortune 500 company look like a lemonade stand by comparison.

An exectuve-level department has literally tens of thousands of people working for it, laboring under a very complex set of rules and regulations to deliver services. A committee may have a staff of a hundred and does not have to operate under a maze of laws, many often contradictory-- not to mention unfunded legislative mandates (I won't even get into those...)

I've seen former legislators all too often come into an executive-level department, thinking that because they wrote some policy they know how to manage a bureaucracy. Unfortunately for them, they are often in for a very rude awakening.

[ccpup]

61. that's a very good point

thank you for explaining what you meant.

I still believe -- comparing Obama's experience to Hillary's -- that she comes out on top, but I do appreciate you taking the time to clarify.

[no name no slogan]

63. Government is like sausage

It's disgusting to watch, but tastes okay once it's done.

Our candidates are thankfully smart enough to hire good administrators-- people that are good at dealing with bureaucrats and know how to make sure policy gets executed properly.

The only reason I say this is that when I worked in government I had the (dis)pleasure of working for ex-legislators who were very good at creating policy, but were really reeeaaally terrible at carrying it out once it got made into law. Conversely, I also worked for a guy who ran for office unsuccessfully many times but who was a really good administrator.

Thankfully, most of the bad ones went on to become lobbyists. ;)

[redqueen]

18. I couldn't help recalling hearing Bush saying that exact same thing...

didn't seem to hurt him too much.

[smalll]

19. It is a stupid remark. Yes, Bush (and Reagan) were like this - BUT

Reagan never came out and SAID this kind of thing. Everyone knew that "The Great Communicator" (Ronnie) was also a "Great Delegator" - but he never came out and said that about himself.

Also, I find this part of it: "I don’t think there is anybody in this race who can inspire the American people better than I can" a real turn-off. Sure, he can give a good speech; but you're not supposed to SAY "I can give a good speech." Can you imagine Romney actually saying to his fellow-Repubs, "I'm the hottest candidate we have by far, the best-looking, I have more hair than all the rest of them put together."??? Sure, hotness helps, but you're not supposed to proclaim your own hotness.

Guess this is what comes from inexperience. :shrug:

[rodeodance]

25. too early for him to be bragging about inspiring people.

[mike_c]

21. damn, I bet you're CONCERNED about that....

:rofl:

[Mass]

24. And does Edward? or Hillary except by proxy?

[bunnies]

27. And heres the list of companies Hillary has run...

oh wait, never mind. :eyes:

[ccpup]

32. Google can be your friend, if you try a little:

Clinton co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a state-level alliance with the Children's Defense Fund, in 1977. Then President Jimmy Carter (for whom she had done 1976 campaign coordination work in Indiana) appointed her to the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation, and she served in that capacity from 1978 through the end of 1981. For much of that time she served as the chair of that board, the first woman to do so. During her time as chair, funding for the Corporation was expanded from $90 million to $300 million, and she successfully battled against President Ronald Reagan's initial attempts to reduce the funding and change the nature of the organization. She was also appointed Chair of the Rural Health Advisory Committee the same year, where she successfully obtained federal funds to expand medical facilities in Arkansas' poorest areas without affecting doctors' fees.

She also chaired the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee from 1982 to 1992, where she sought to bring about reform in the state's court-sanctioned public education system. During this time she fought a prolonged but ultimately successful battle against the Arkansas Education Association -- the all powerful Arkansas Education Association -- to put mandatory teacher testing as well as state standards for curriculum and classroom size in place.

In the White House she was the major force behind the State Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997, a federal effort that provided state support for children whose parents were unable to provide them with health coverage, successfully increasing research funding for prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institutes of Health.

...

not exactly the thin resume you were smugly hoping for, was it

now how does Obama compare to that?

[bunnies]

34. chairing a committee is not exactly running a company.

Nice try though.

and on edit: a seat on wal-marts board doesnt mean she ran wal-mart either. I notice you left that out though.

[ccpup]

40. Chairing a State or Federal committee

that successfully navigates the legislative hoops and bipartisan hills and valleys to effectively increase funding for important programs like health care and education which actually HELP people -- as opposed to making a pretty speech that inspires but has no meat and no follow-through -- is nothing to sneeze at.

Now, again, what has Obama done that's close to being comparable on a Federal or even a State Level?

Zilch. Zip. Na-da.

[bunnies]

52. Now you want to qualify business experience on a federal or state level?

If you recall, the topic of our conversation was running a company. So if Im to believe you havent changed topics - then according to your definition - Bill Gates would have zero business experience. Interesting.

[ccpup]

55. from the OP

Obama will "leave the hard stuff like running the government to people "smarter than him."

Running the government sounds like, well, running the government, not a business. I know other Posters were talking about government as business and you added your apparently uneducated voice wondering what Hillary has run. I offered her resume showing her experience in successfully running Government committees and now you're claiming I'm changing the subject.

I still have no idea how Obama's experience compares to Hillary's, but maybe someday someone will politely, respectfully let me know.

[bunnies]

56. My "apparently uneducated voice"?

Im not interested in playing the insult game. If thats your idea of polite and respectful, Im not interested. All set. Thanks.

[ccpup]

60. I apologize. I should have clarified that you seemed to be

apparently uneducated about Hillary's resume, not in general. I have no doubt you have a fine education, but are perhaps slightly unaware -- as most are -- of what Hillary has actually done the last 35 years.

[bunnies]

65. I appreciate that. Thank you for clarifying.

As you may know, I am no fan of Hillary Clinton. Its not my intention, however, to discount any of her accomplishments. I think the petty tit-for-tat of late has made me especially bitter and more inclined toward knee-jerk reactions. I will conceded to you that HRC has more experience than Obama running governmental programs.

And I apologize if I behaved like an asshole.

[ccpup]

66. no apology necessary

I think we both had a slight brush with that asshole mantle. :eyes:

So, spit and shake hands? :evilgrin:

[Heywood J]

64. BOD of Wal-Mart.

[sufrommich]

28. I don't think a statement like that would bother most people.nt

[David Zephyr]

30. LOL!

Thanks for the humor.

[polichick]

31. "My job is to set a vision of “here’s where the bureaucracy needs to go.”’”

Actually, I think that's exactly right!
<><><>

These bumper stickers, t-shirts & more at: http://www.cafepress.com/powerboutique GET OUT THE VOTE!

[polichick]

37. Keith Olbermann is talking about this right now, just read the statement. nt

[zulchzulu]

33. It's a "stupid comment" if you're a Hillary shill

Bush bragged that he could be a CEO President and we've seen where that's gone.

I get the feeling that Obama's comments are just over the head for some people, namely Hillary supporters who have been predictably analyzed as less educated.

[Renew Deal]

36. He's right.

The presidency is not a management position. It's a visionary position.

[book_worm]

39. oh Herman, Herman, Herman

I guess I should have known it wouldn't be anything.

[earthlover]

41. It is about LEADERSHIP! The OP misses the point

Obama says he will surround himself with people smarter than him and the OP tries to be the snark. Sorry, wrong on more than one count!

For one, it is an effective tactic to humble oneself....I have made a career in sales and I can tell you that this is effective. Second, you seem to imply that if Obama is not the smartest of his cabinet it refects negatively on Obama. The goal is not to be the smartest (Einstein never was our president) but to be a leader and to channel the smartest people into bettering our government. If you think of it as MR SMART surrounded by lesser minds, I think you see a recipe for failure.

[creeksneakers2]

43. I'm surprised he said this

Because it fits in with the way Hillary portrays him.

The person in charge has to be in charge. Otherwise, everybody underneath competes and back stabs each other to get control of the boss. A president can't be completely reliant on advice because everybody will give him different advice.

[polichick]

46. VISION is essential...

It's easy enough to find talented Americans to help make that vision a reality.
<>

GET OUT THE VOTE! <http://www.cafepress.com/powerboutique>

[BenDavid]

47. So as we have known all along, he is flash and dash, and

can baffle one with his bullshit and dazzle you with his brillance....We do not need a carney showman that might be best suited to guess how much someone weighs...

[2rth2pwr]

48. Maybe he could be our National Cheerleader and let

the adults do the work of the people.

[calico1]

50. I am not an Obama supporter but I don't

see how this is a bad statement for him to make. No President knows everything. The ones who think they do are the ones who get us in the big messes. Presidents should appoint cabinet members who are more knowledgeable than them in different areas and then LISTEN to them. I don't really think there are too many voters who expect a President to be an expert in military issues, economy, education, etc. You delegate those duties to a good qualified person.

[indimuse]

53. OOOOOOHHHHH My ....

‘I am very good at teasing out from people who are smarter than me what the issues are and how we resolve them,’ he said. ‘ TEASE??? What>>?? TEASE??? NO-bama!:crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Proud2BAmurkin]

54. WTF? COO is EXACTLY what people want in the next president, to clean up Idiot Admin mess

Foolish way to go at the experience issue.

[annie1]

58. lol, "smarter than me"? no: *I*

[BootinUp]

59. at least he is honest about it. 7 pts nt

[Califooyah Operative]

67. haha, keep trying. nt

[Nailzberg]

69. Good for him. Look what two terms of the corporate presidency cost us.

I don't want another MBA running the country. CEO President was the sales pitch for the Bush presidency.

[jackson_dem]

70. Hillary attacking him now for taking the Bush hands-off approach governing

[eallen]

71. Quite right. He describes quite well the difference between a CEO and a COO.

There are very different skill sets needed in those two jobs. The US government doesn't really have a "COO" job, that being divided among the cabinet secretaries, military chiefs of staff, and president's chief of staff. But there's no doubt that the president's job is analogous to a company's CEO.

One of the things I've noticed about Obama is that it is often his critics who do best at selling him.

:hippie:

[oasis]

73. I don't hire people to "inspire" me, I hire them to fix the goddam problem.(eom)

[JTFrog]

74. And someone made a STUPID POST. n/t

[indimuse]

75. maybe this is WHY he lost his State Senate records of 8 TEARS...

NONE...NADA...!

WHERE is Obamas Records during his time in Senate?
While in State government here in Illinois, Barack was known as a "nice guy," but has little to show for his years in state government. He was never particularly known
by the public at large as a vocal leader and was rarely out in front of any issue.

In fact, few Illinoisans even knew his name at all until he ran for the Senate seat against
Alan Keyes. He was an unknown, a non-entity as far as state politics was concerned.


Yet, the Obama camp has made no effort to assist investigators to look into his state records. In fact, Senator Obama has blithely claimed that his records have been

thrown out. Chicago columnist Lynn Sweet reports that Obama, who has called for "transparency in government" from his rivals, is not much interested in revealing his own documents.:wtf:



"I was in the state Senate for eight years," Obama said. "I had one staff person, that was what was allocated. I don't have archivists in the state Senate. I don't have

the Barack Obama State Senate Library available to me, so we had a bunch of file cabinets. I do not have a whole bunch of records from those years.:wtf: Now, if there are

particular documents that you are interested in, then you should let us know...As I said, I didn't have the resources to ensure that all this stuff was archived in some way...

it could have been thrown out.":rofl:...it could have been thrown out.:rofl:"it could have been thrown out.:rofl:"it could have been thrown out.:rofl....translation...NO-bama!

[Perry Logan]

76. Plus I don't think the speeches are all THAT great.