Pandering to His Base Obama goes left, left, and left again.
Jul 30, 2012, Vol. 17, No. 43 • By FRED BARNES
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In 2009, he suggested that doctors often gouge their patients by insisting on more treatment than necessary. This reflects a “business mentality,” he said. In 2010, he said he didn’t “begrudge success that’s fairly earned.” Then he added: “I mean, I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money.”
In his Roanoke riff, he outdid his previous hymns to government. The thrust of his argument was that government, even more than personal initiative and hard work, is responsible for the success of individuals. “If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that,” he said. “Somebody else made that happen.” He cited projects like the Hoover Dam and Golden Gate Bridge as evidence “you’re not on your own.”
The Obama campaign quickly sensed a backlash. When Mitt Romney read the “you didn’t build that” quote at a rally, it responded with a TV ad declaring “that’s not what [Obama] said.” Not true. Romney, gazing down at a text, had read the comment accurately, word for word.
Perhaps it was better, at least for campaign purposes, to deny the quote rather than try to explain it. Who would believe Obama didn’t mean exactly what he said? His history, his earlier comments, his policies—all stand as evidence of his loathing of business, profits, and affluence.
Obama’s campaign advisers appear confident of winning. Their contempt for Romney is palpable. But their cockiness is unearned, particularly when appealing to liberals is the best strategy they’ve got.
Fred Barnes is executive editor of The Weekly Standard.
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