A few recent statements from Obama recently have sparked republican retaliation in a childish way. Recently President Obama made a few statements using the words “soft” and “lazy.” Out of context using these words might stimulate hostile reactions for many Americans. But when reading them in context Obama is simply trying to allow Americans to see through his eyes through a few issues that he sees. The context of these words comes from multiple speeches from the President. At a during a CEO business summit Q & A hosted by APEC, Obama was referring to collective efforts in promoting foreign investment in the US. He said, “But we've been a little bit lazy, I think, over the last couple of decades.”
In another recent speech is where we hear the word “soft” come into play. “The way I think about it is, this is a great, great country that had gotten a little soft and we didn't have that same competitive edge that we needed over the last couple of decades.” Some might say it was a negative notation towards Americans, but he is respectful in his delivery and, in my opinion, I don’t think he has any negative intentions what so ever. He then follows his statement up with this statement: “But I still wouldn't trade our position with any country's on earth. We still have the best universities, the best scientists, and best workers in the world…” Obviously America has many problems and kinks it needs to work out, having a leader that sees issues and wants to help with success is a good thing in my eyes; but apparently not in Rick Perry’s.
Perry used these words as a weapon against Obama. He made a commercial replaying these speeches and calling Obama out, saying “That's what our president thinks is wrong with America? That Americans are lazy? That's pathetic. It's time to clean house in Washington." I’m not opposed to one man calling another out for something that he doesn’t agree with, but it’s his intent that I have a problem with. He is using these to get a leg up in his presidential campaign against Obama. I am outraged by the childish “he said, she said” TV and radio commercials during elections. I think candidates should be focusing on more pressing issues outlining their stance on issues, rather than feeling the need to “tattle” on the opponent for irrelevant information.
I agree with your statement that “candidates should be focusing on more pressing issues outlining their stance on issues.” I also believe that our President’s view of the American people is very important. The President has a whole team of advisors and speech writers. The words in his speeches are chosen very carefully and probably have to be approved by many staff members and the President himself. This fact leads me to believe that the President’s feelings are much stronger than the speech leads us to believe. “Soft” and “lazy” must have been approved by everyone. It also appears that he repeats the phrase “over the last couple of decades” to point the finger at others and is not accepting any responsibility for the problems Americans are currently facing and the downfall of our economy since this President has taken office. I also feel that these statements were not “taken out of context”. Obama was quoted as saying “we've been a little bit lazy” and “this is a great, great country that had gotten a little soft”. I believe it is very important to have leaders who see our country through the eyes of the people they represent - the people that voted them into their positions – and not try to influence the people to see issues through their eyes. And… let’s face it, the President will always have to watch what he says. - - that is a huge part of his position is communication.
ReplyDeleteObama was recently criticized about his speech over climate change. I read the article which stated that Obama can only cope with one tricky subject at a time, and that the preference is for him to deal with the healthcare issue - as if climate change can wait... Obama said in his UN speech that “the threat of climate change was serious, urgent and wrong”. It seems a strange series of adjectives in that speech. Serious and urgent seem appropriate for this issue. Adding the word wrong sounds like he doesn’t agree that there is a threat and is confusing and misleading.
I do agree with your statement that “America does have many problems and kinks it needs to work out, having a leader that sees issues and wants to help.” As I said earlier, we need a leader who sees life through the eyes of the people. I am just not confident that in a leader who can only cope with one issue at a time when there are so many issues that need attention. Our society has come to the point where drama is what gets people’s attention and fired up. As long as Obama continues to speak to the American public in any way that can be construed as negative, the press will use it and so will every comedian and talk show host around the country. They’re going to continue to criticize the President each and every time he provides them with the material to criticize. In all campaigns, it is just as important to criticize your opponent and poke holes in his platform as it is to voice your own platform. It is what gets our society interested. Perry is going to use what Obama keeps feeding him. We don’t all have to agree with these tactics, but, I don’t see them changing in the near future.