Yes another swing state townhall - why didn't he have these when he was a candidate? Well he's still acting like a candidate. Why didn't he have the courage to debate in a townhall setting with then Sen Clinton and/or Sen McCain?
He goes to these places to get his fix of adoration and to complain about his naysayers. It's the one and only thing he is transparent about. When he went to Indiana he whined about Rush Limabugh and Sean Hannity. They must have calmed down because this time it was the teabaggers he went after to get his dig in and laugh from the crowd.
And the familiar barry whine: it's not my fault - it wasn't me - it was here when I moved in - it's Bush's fault.
Arnold Missouri - see CNN video - here's the CNN relevant transcript courtesy of Martina Stewart.
BARRY: I know you've been hearing all these arguments about, oh, 'Obama is just spending crazy.' Well, let me make a point. Number one, we inherited a $1.3 trillion deficit — that wasn't from my — that wasn't me.
...Then he tells them why he's still campaigning - he wants to get his health package through to add to the monstrous debt that was there. What's the next president going to inherit? Morning Joe said that barry's debt is going to be more than all the presidents combined. That's sobering. And yes a great deal of it is going to be his fault - not Bush's.
BARRY: That's why I've said we've got to have health reform this year — to drive down costs and make health care affordable for American families, businesses and for our government.
He doesn't mention FOX as per usual because it was Rick Santelli on CNBC that set off the Teabaggers. The media scoffed at them and here barry is still whining. Gibbs went after Santelli as well. If you can, watch the video to see him dismissively waving his hand when he mentions the teabags. He doesn't get the crowd roar he was expecting. There's nothing funny about trillions of dollars of debt. Who can even conceptualize it?
So, you know, when you see — those of you who are watching certain news channels on which I'm not very popular and you see folks waving tea bags around, let me just remind them that I am happy to have a serious conversation about how we are going to cut our health care costs down over the long term, how we're going to stabilize Social Security.
But let's not play games and pretend that the reason is because of the [$787 billion stimulus bill], because that's just a fraction of the overall problem that we've got.
Happening in a city or state near you. I'm not sure it matters much to some folk what the true meaning behind them are - explained below. Some folks are angry that the proobamedia refuses to call him barry on anything and continue to not vet him.
There are three main sponsors of the Tea Parties: the DontGo Movement, Smart Girl Politics and Top Conservatives on Twitter. As an aside, I find it funny that John McCain, who barry said couldn't use a computer, is in the top 10 on Twitter.
The Tax Day Tea Party is a national collaborative grassroots effort organized by Smart Girl Politics, Top Conservatives on Twitter, the DontGo Movement and many other online groups/coalitions.
The Tea Party protests, in their current form, began in early 2009 when Rick Santelli, the On Air Editor for CNBC, set out on a rant to expose the bankrupt liberal agenda of the White House Administration and Congress. Specifically, the flawed "Stimulus Bill" and pork filled budget.
During Rick's rant (see video below), he called for a "Chicago tea Party" where advocates of the free-market system could join in a protest against out of control government spending.
A few days later, grassroots activists and average Joe Americans began organizing what would soon become the Nationwide Chicago Tea Party effort.
On February 27th, an estimated 30,000 Americans took to the street in 40+ cities accross the country in the first nationwide "Tea Party" protest.
Organizers of the February 27th events pledged to continue on with an even bigger and better protest to follow the first. With April 15th being "Tax Day", it was decided to schedule the second round of Tea Party protests to ride alongside the tax deadline.
And with that, the "Tax Day Tea Party", the second round of the Nationwide Tea Party protests, moved into reality.
So now RNC Chairman Michael Steele is denying he ever asked to speak at the Chicago Tea Party. This after Eric Odom of the DontGo Movement (Tea Party organizers) said (4-8) that he could listen but not speak. For full background from Rick Santelli's rant - the inspiration - follow the links below.
April 10th, PAUL BEDARD, from Washington Whispers (US News) seems to have an inside source who said Steele never planned to speak and did ask to speak. DontGo responded with a press release saying Steele did but did include proof. (That I found.)
...Yesterday, when I heard about this, I called the RNC, which said that Steele plans to be in Chicago for a party meeting and was just interested in getting info on the event and the attendees.
"He never asked to speak," says a party official. "There was never an expectation nor formal request for our participation."
"He's in a daylong meeting anyway, so we weren't ever going to be speaking," said an official. "It was just a 'Hey, we're going to be in town' call."
Well, after we E-mailed Don't Go, organizers there must have realized the news value of their claim. They put out a news release titled: "RNC Chairman Denied. Steele Not Wanted to Speak at Chicago Tea Party."
The RNC's reaction: "They're just having a little fun."
This is a partial transcript of Robert Gibbs going off on Rick Santelli the day after Santelli's rant. He does it in his typically rude manner - condescending and sarcastic. It's embarrassing. All he knows how to do is attack any and all barry naysayers. The reporter asks Gibbs a general question "people" and Gibbs focusing on one = Santelli. That is not professional. No one cares, which is why POTUS & FL went overseas and embarrassed the entire country.
Q -- there really does appear to be some anger out there from people who just don't believe the President when he said that only people who acted responsibly are going to be helped here. How can you assure people that you're going to reward only people, only homeowners who acted responsibly?
MR. GIBBS: Well, let's go through this, because I do think this is very important. And I've watched Mr. Santelli on cable the past 24 hours or so. I'm not entirely sure where Mr. Santelli lives, or in what house he lives, but the American people are struggling every day to meet their mortgage, stay in their job, pay their bills, to send their kids to school, and to hope that they don't get sick or that somebody they care for gets sick and sends them into bankruptcy.
I think we said a few months ago the adage that if it was good for a derivatives trader that it was good for Main Street. I think the verdict is in on that.
Here's what this plan will do: For the very first time, this plan helps those who have acted responsibly, played by the rules, and made their mortgage payments. This will help people who aren't in trouble yet keep from getting in trouble. You can't stay in this program unless you continue to make mortgage payments. That's important for Mr. Santelli and millions of Americans to understand.
Here's what this plan won't do: It won't help somebody trying to flip a house. It won't bail out an investor looking to make a quick buck. It won't help speculators that were betting on a risky market. And it is not going to help a lender who knowingly made a bad loan. And it is not going to help -- as the President said in Phoenix, it is not going to help somebody who has long ago known they were in a house they couldn't afford. That's why the President was very clear in saying this was not going to stop every person's home from being foreclosed.
But Mr. Santelli has argued, I think quite wrongly, that this plan won't help everyone. This plan will help, by the money that's invested in Freddie and Fannie -- will drive down mortgage rates for millions of Americans.
That's not what I heard. I heard that everyone is getting stuck covering a subset of people - people who were irresponsible. Folks who do not need help will be paying back the deficit for decades through no fault of their own. They are not being helped. Nor are the folks who don't have mortgages.
The President in his speech was very clear in saying that every American with a mortgage payment should call their lender and see if they can refinance right now. This plan helps people that have been playing by the rules but can't get refinancing, get that refinancing so their home doesn't become foreclosed on.
And Mr. Santelli might also know that if you live in a home that's near one that's been foreclosed, your home value has likely dropped about 9 percent, which for the average home is about $20,000.
Listen to how he says this. This is what he is saying on the video. Truly professional.
Now, every day when I come out here, I spend a little time reading, studying on the issues, asking people who are smarter than I am questions about those issues. I would encourage him to read the President's plan and understand that it will help millions of people, many of whom he knows. I'd be more than happy to have him come here and read it. I'd be happy to buy him a cup of coffee -- decaf.(Laughter.) Chuck.
Q I want to sort of follow up on the criticism that -- MR. GIBBS: Let me do this, too. This is a copy of the President's home affordability plan. It's available on the White House web site, and I would encourage him: download it, hit print, and begin to read it.
Does it get more unprofessional. They talk about transparency but only some of the "plans" and bills make it to the website. It's not either or some it's all. Transparency is not conditional. Ofuscate once - transparency impossible.
Q The criticism that's coming on the housing plan is similar to the criticism that came on the bank bailout vote before you came into office and in Phase II, which is there are people who were irresponsible who will be helped -- period. It's going -- that is a fact, that is going to be -- that is going to be -- people are going to use that to say this is not fair. So what do you -- how do you -- you know, how do you justify that? I mean, how do you --
Just wait and it eventually seeps out if pressed = the truth.
MR. GIBBS: Well, look, there is -- there will be people that made bad decisions that, in some ways, will get help. This plan, though, I think it's important for the American people to understand, was designed to help those that have been responsible.
As the President has said, if your neighbor's house is on fire or if several houses are on fire, you don't debate it; you get a hose and try to put the fire out. That's what's most important. This plan will stop the spread of those foreclosures because it addresses those that are -- that potentially could be in trouble but aren't there yet, get the help they need so that the foreclosure sign doesn't go up on their front yard. But I also think it's tremendously important that for people who rant on cable television to be responsible and understand what it is they're talking about. I feel assured that Mr. Santelli doesn't know what he's talking about.
Rant on cable TV? What about his best buds Chris Matthews, Herr Olbermann, David Schuster and Rachel Maddow? And then there's Cafferty, King, Roland Martin...
Chris Matthews had Rick Santelli on (2-20) to discuss the rant. Santelli said it was more philosophical: a card laid is a card played. The government shouldn’t get in the middle of a contract. He also slips in the word “redistribute” and matthews doesn’t even notice.
barama: Who did you vote for?
Santelli: Mr McCain.
barama: I wanted to know where you were coming from politically because you’re coming down on Barack.
It’s always the same. Someone speaks out about something barry does and it’s a personal attack on barry, which sets off his botlets who then attack the one who dared say something. It’s so predictable it’s funny…unless you’re the heretic.
barama calls him “Ebeneezer Scrooge Rick Santelli”.
Santelli has a solution. Take all the money and divide it up equally among the people with mortgages - behind or not.
barama says it’s crazy then he says to Santelli that his name is personally iconized because the president has sent his spokesman after him.
barama: You’re up there with Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. It’s quite a team. You’re probably the smartest in that group. I’ll tell ya.
obamasecrets
Robert Gibbs, WH Press Secretary goes after Santelli in his charateristc middle school sarcastic manner. How long before this guy learns decorum? See separate post for the transcript of Gibbs’ comments.
On February 19th, Rick Santelli ranted from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on CNBC's Squawk Box in response to barry’s mortgage bailout plans. Here is the transcript and video. Afterward, barrymedia said it was preplanned because of the immediate response by grassrooters. You decide.
It seems the barrymedia were a little upset that the internet it seems works for nonbarryites and dissension regarding anything barry does is met with stiff opposition and public ridicule. Thing is the majority of Americans agreed with him. According to a Rasmussen Poll taken that week - 55% of the American people felt that the plan was rewarding bad behavior. It wasn't so much planned as it was perfectly in tune with the public's outrage, who also know how to use the internet.
TRANSCRIPT: courtesy of America’s Independence Day Tea Party which “was founded in 2008 by two individuals with no connection or affiliation with any political party, candidate, or candidates committee.”
nq792000
RICK SANTELLI: The government is promoting bad behavior. Because we certainly don’t want to put stimulus forth and give people a whopping $8 or $10 in their check, and think that they ought to save it, and in terms of modifications… I’ll tell you what, I have an idea.
You know, the new administration’s big on computers and technology– How about this, President and new administration? Why don’t you put up a website to have people vote on the Internet as a referendum to see if we really want to subsidize the losers’ mortgages; or would we like to at least buy cars and buy houses in foreclosure and give them to people that might have a chance to actually prosper down the road, and reward people that could carry the water instead of drink the water?
TRADER ON FLOOR: That’s a novel idea.
(Applause, cheering)
JOE KERNEN: Hey, Rick… Oh, boy. They’re like putty in your hands. Did you hear…?
SANTELLI: No they’re not, Joe. They’re not like putty in our hands. This is America! How many of you people want to pay for your neighbor’s mortgage that has an extra bathroom and can’t pay their bills? Raise their hand.
(Booing)
President Obama, are you listening?
TRADER: How ’bout we all stop paying our mortgage? It’s a moral hazard.
SANTELLI: Don’t get scared, Joe. They’re already scaring you. You know, Cuba used to have mansions and a relatively decent economy. They moved from the individual to the collective. Now, they’re driving ‘54 Chevys, maybe the last great car to come out of Detroit.
KERNEN: They’re driving them on water, too, which is a little strange to watch.
SANTELLI: There you go.
KERNEN: Hey Rick, how about the notion that, Wilbur pointed out, you can go down to 2% on the mortgage…
SANTELLI: You could go down to -2%. They can’t afford the house.
KERNEN: …and still have 40%, and still have 40% not be able to do it. So why are they in the house? Why are we trying to keep them in the house?
SANTELLI: I know Mr. Summers is a great economist, but boy, I’d love the answer to that one.
REBECCA QUICK: Wow. Wilbur, you get people fired up.
SANTELLI: We’re thinking of having a Chicago Tea Party in July. All you capitalists that want to show up to Lake Michigan, I’m gonna start organizing.
(Whistling, cheering)
QUICK: What are you dumping in, what are you dumping in this time? Housing…?
SANTELLI: We’re going to be dumping in some derivative securities. What do you think about that?
QUINTANILLA: Mayor Daley is marshaling the police right now.
KERNEN: Rabble-rouser.
QUINTANILLA: The National Guard.
After Jason Roney of Sharmac Capital makes some comments, it’s back to Santelli.
QUINTANILLA: You know, Rick, one of our producers says if Roland Burris steps down, man, “Senator Santelli,” the junior senator from Illinois. It’s a possibility. I’m just saying…
SANTELLI: Do you think I want to take a shower every hour? The last place I’m ever gonna live or work is D.C.
KERNEN: Have you raised any money for Blago?
SANTELLI: No, but I think that somebody’s gonna have to start raising money for us.
QUICK: Hey, Rick? Can you do that one more time, just get the mob behind you again?
QUINATILLA: Have the camera pull way out.
QUICK: Yeah, pull way out. Everybody listen to Rick Santelli.
KERNEN: He can’t… I don’t think… You can’t just do it at will, can you Rick? I mean, you have to say something.
QUICK: No, do it at will. Let’s see.
SANTELLI: Listen, all’s I know is, is that there’s only about 5% of the floor population here right now, and I talk loud enough they can all hear me. So if you want to ask ‘em anything, let me know. These guys are pretty straight forward, and my guess is, a pretty good statistical cross-section of America, the silent majority.
QUICK: Not so silent majority today. So Rick, are they opposed to the housing thing, to the stimulus package, to everything out there?
SANTELLI: You know, they’re pretty much of the notion that you can’t buy your way into prosperity, and if the multiplier that all of these Washington economists are selling us is over… that we never have to worry about the economy again. The government should spend a trillion dollars an hour because we’ll get 1.5 trillion back.
WILBUR ROSS: Rick, I congratulate you on your new incarnation as a revolutionary leader.
SANTELLI: Somebody needs one. I’ll tell you what, if you read our founding fathers, people like Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson,… What we’re doing in this country now is making them roll over in their graves.
