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A Man on His Way to Bitterness
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Obama the candidate seemed to rise above his opponents. The president Wednesday night was battling enemies, real and imagined.
Xtra Insight: Read more Daily Beast takes on Obama's health-care speech.
This didn’t look anything like the Barack Obama I remember from the campaign. Obama the candidate seemed almost unaware of his opponents. At his best, which was most of the time, he rose above them completely, utterly unwounded by the attacks.
He also seemed like an adult. Obama was forever reminding audiences of the hard choices America needed to make, choices that had been sugarcoated when they weren’t ignored completely by politicians too fearful to tell the whole truth. Once elected, Obama promised, that would change.
Never has a president been warped by Washington quicker. At times tonight, Obama sounded like an embattled second-termer with a 35 percent approval rating. What percentage of his speech was spent lashing out at his enemies, real and imagined? Radio and cable-television pundits, George W. Bush, former Congresses, unnamed ghouls employing “scare tactics,” whose “only agenda is to stop reform at any cost”—they’re all against him, Obama said. And they’re lying.
Never has a president been warped by Washington quicker. At times tonight, Obama sounded like an embattled second-termer with a 35 percent approval rating.
This isn’t how confident leaders speak. These are the complaints of a man on his way to bitterness. So soon?
And whatever happened to the hard choices? Obama spent the early part of the speech describing his plan as the reasonable middle ground between a single-payer Canadian-style system favored by the left wing, and the laissez-faire, Hobbesian chaos so beloved on the right. It’s a plan, he said, that will add “not one dime to the deficit, now or in the future.”
Fine. But when it came time to explain where the money would come from—that $900 billion over 10 years—he flinched. His answer: Why, by eliminating waste and fraud from the current private system, of course. Also, the insurance companies (maybe the most reviled industry in the world since the makers of DDT went under) may have to reduce some of their obscene profits.
And that was pretty much it. Nobody else—not seniors, not the middle class or the poor or anyone else you have ever met personally—was going to have to pay anything for this wonderful new system. In Obama’s telling, there are only upsides. Free ice cream for everybody.
This is deceptive. In fact, it’s a lie. Obama the candidate would have been ashamed to say it.
Xtra Insight: Read more Daily Beast takes on Obama's health-care speech.
Tucker Carlson is a contributor to the Fox News Channel. He previously hosted The Situation with Tucker Carlson and Tucker on MSNBC after working for CNN.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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Tucker Carlson is a contributor to the Fox News Channel. He previously hosted The Situation with Tucker Carlson and Tucker on MSNBC after working for CNN.
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Tucker Carlson is a contributor to the Fox News Channel. He previously hosted The Situation with Tucker Carlson and Tucker on MSNBC after working for CNN.
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Tucker Carlson is a contributor to the Fox News Channel. He previously hosted The Situation with Tucker Carlson and Tucker on MSNBC after working for CNN.
sagelike
I think Carlson saw a speech more imagined in his own mind than what was actually delivered.
RODERICK098
For Tucker to saying is some thing is deceptive and a lie is hypocrisy of the highest orderr. His entire career can be described as such. Hoped this hack had been fired but HEEEEESSSS BAAAAAACK.
DrBlizzardo
"A Man On His Way To Bitterness"? Ah, Tucker--it takes one to know one--or rather, it takes one to IMAGINE one--as your therapist probably routinely tells you--"If you spot it, you got it".
Give it up, Tucker, even at your tender age you are a washed-up hack nobody is interested in--your lies, distortions and slavish propaganda may have served you well in the past, but it's so outre today--we don't need you anymore--we don't want you anymore.
Go away.
MOZART
Tucker Carlson??? I thought he died. I guess I was just hoping. He seems to have disappeared
the last year or so... damn... I should have known that was too good to be true.
Just another has been... making silly remarks. There are so many of them around... listening to
themselves.
Bulldoglover100
No...he's still around and still having wet dreams about Obama failing :)
swkidder
Aw, give him a break, that's the only sex life he has going ....
PoFolk
Can anyone with ****lover in his name make a wet dream joke?
Bulldoglover100
You can almost see the froth from the anger spittle running down his littler chin when he speaks of how GREAT Obama did last night LOL If it wasn't so funny to watch Tucker in the throes of his anger, it would be sad.
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n--Y--Yurdelitesouthernyankee
Gee Tuck
What speech were you watching? He didn't sound second term to me. You sound bitter and wishing his first term was over. Obama came off the adult as usual. Of course the republicans come off looking childish as usual.
FJ303Colorado
Who is the bitter man here? Tucker go back to the bow tie and keep to yourself
Johnniemae
It was his stint on dancing with the stars that did him in.
camfield
This guy apparently has so much bitterness of his own that he's trying to sell it as a preferred life style. And he certainly writes here like a contributor to the Fox News Channel, as he is said to be above . . . using any hook handy to hang it on when denigrating Obama and his administration.
Carlson appears to oppose the elimination of fraud and waste as a way to save money, dismissing the possibility out of hand and blathering in general terms, pausing to call the President a liar.
Obama is not promising "free ice cream for everybody." He's just trying to fix things so that poor little kids don't have to stand outside the window watching others gorging on ice cream--and yearning for a taste of it.
biglover
Good post!!!
BenGil
Which enemies is he imagining? If there aren't members of the government whose sole goal seems to be derailing health care at any cost, then why are so many of them supporting the rumour of death panels? If all of these people who are attempting to stop reform at any cost don't exist, does that mean that Sarah Palin is all in my imagination? If so, I've got a sick, twisted mind.
Extremely unbalanced article, Mr. Carson. Perhaps you need another talking-to from Jon Stewart.
unclesamisnotmydoctor
Hmmmm.... Jon Stewart???? Come on. Ben.... he's a comedian... not a actual reporter.
JustinTyme
Jon Stewart is a comedian who calls himself a comedian.
On the other hand, we have people who call them selves "Journalists" who are sadly "Comedic" .
marks1943
Ben, please list all "members of the government whose sole goal seems to be derailing health care at any cost" if you can, Please don't start with Sarah Palin since she isn't apart of any government enity.
JustinTyme
With nobody at the tiller, the Republicans must satisfy themselves with Proxy. Actually, isn't Faux "News" owned by the RNC?
Isn't Murdock a Republican Czar?
nancynance
I agree with this assessment of the speech. I didn't like the tone and his obvious anger and resentment. Also the face making and pouts in the background were manipulative as well
jong345
Can I please be the first one to call bullshit?
Obama the candidate was the FIRST Democratic candidate to take on his opponents head-on, without remorse, and without letting up.
I'm sure you were to busy adjusting your shorts the next day (you know what I'm talking about) to remember Obama's speech at the DNC, but that was the most aggressive I've ever heard a candidate - Democrat or Republican - speak openly.
The debates, again, were incredibly pointed. Biden was the one to float above his verbal sparring partner (to avoid providing fodder for right-wingers who had newly discovered feminism) in the debates.
This is the Obama that was promised during the campaign:
He said he would encourage debate, listen, cherry-pick the best ideas, and then move forward strongly with a plan.
Sorry Tucker, I love you (and was even you for Halloween one year), but you are flat out wrong and misleading here.
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n--Y--JAsMomLAsamobeachguy
Second that motion. It's just more reductive Republican Bullshit. "Free Ice Cream for everybody" maybe he should get fat, use drugs and become Rush Limbaugh. At the very least he would make a whole lot more money. free Oxy-contin for everybody!
cassandravert
Yeah, I agree with jong345...except for the Halloween part o_O
Fringers won't go away if you ignore them. We found that out. You have to call a bully a bully and a lie a lie. To do otherwise is to be complicit in the lie. It's the same moral courage that drove him to talk about tough choices--the courage of a mature adult.
newstome
Huh? Did we hear the same speech? That speech was not bitter - it was beautiful!
Greyfire
lol
sophia5
"These are the complaints of a man on his way to bitterness."
No, these are the comments of a man who promised to
"Fundamentally Change America."
Did he ever say . . . to what ?
A very clever, calculating man, with the Cheshire Cat Grin,
using a dinner "summit" with conservatives (George Will, Peggy Noonan, etc.) as a smoke screen.
In all those twenty years, he never heard The Reverend Wright speak ill of America, he was only an acquaintance of Mr. Ayers, he had no idea Van Jones was a "former" Communist, he promised not to take over private industry,
the financial sector, the auto industry,
the healthcare system ? Pattern ?
"But when it came time to explain where the money would come from-that $900 billion over 10 years-he flinched. His answer: Why, by eliminating waste and fraud"
" eliminating waste and fraud"
So, government is going to eliminate THEMSELVES ?
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n--Y--JAsMomLAdrkaza12
sophia5; once again you belie your namesake; wisdom. clearly the President mentioned in tandem with the cost of the Iraqi war the Bush tax cuts. it was these tax cuts in a time of war that shifted its financial burden to the middleclass that he intimated he was willing to role back to fund Healthcare for the under insured. it appears you and tucker need to youtube the speech.
there was no flinching while he said this. he mentioned it with befuddled confidence that the bush tax cuts equaled a trillion dollars over 10 years which in a time of war compounded our national debt. it placed us in a sink hole of interest rates with the Chinese, to be paid by the middle class with healthcare cost rising exponentially. in another 10 years if we do nothing there will be no middle class and emergency rooms will have uninsured Americans lining its walls from stem to stern. what should we do then sophia5, gaddess of sic information; the real cheshire cat grinning invisibly over your ridiculous comment about The President of The United States of America.
A very clever, calculating man, with the Cheshire Cat Grin, using a dinner "summit" with conservatives (George Will, Peggy Noonan, etc.) as a smoke screen.
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n--Y--Yurdeliteoptimus
You bigoted woman,if Obama had the power to heal cancer you would still fine fault.You are one of those kind of woman that believe that a man of color can't do anything right.You don't listen,you make up stuff in your silly little mind and make it factual.There is no place for you in this debate.
Johnniemae
Do the math Sophia 5;
Cost of a trip to the ER for an ignored medical condition that has deteriorated to he point of not only being nearly fatal, but requiring extensive inensive care v. the cost of routine health care to diagnosis and treat conditon in a timely, less expensive manner and eliminaing suffering. Unscrupulous medical supply companies renting a 500.00 wheel chair to a senior for 100.00 month billed to medicare for 5 years/versus loaner program with a 1 time purchase
biglover
Gosh that was so pathetic sophia. Is that all you got? It's really lame
Llplo99
The fact that Carlson is a Fox News channel contributor explains this piece of nonsensical article. Obama's speech tonight was very powerful.
sycodon
That fact that all you people can do is call names means you can't refute what he has to say.
Llplo99
What don't you get? The speech probably went over your head.
Bunx05
YOU LIE!!!
Oh wait . . . someone already used that on a guy who was telling the truth.
SCMax101
It is very hard to refute an article that was just his opinion. In Mr. Carlson's opinion, Obama sounded bitter. I didn't here that, but there really isn't anything to refute. That said, Tucker Carlson has a terrible track record of judging the way the public sees people (see Jon Stewart)
jasperjava
Caling someone a "Fox News channel contributor" is "calling names"!!! LOL!!! I thought so!
idicula1979
HACK!!
spinozareader
Amen!
(And not even an amusing hack!--but a tedious, cynical hack.)
spinozareader
Amen!
(And not even an amusing hack!--but a tedious and cynical hack.)
spinozareader
Amen!
(And not EVEN an amusing hack; but a tedious and cynical hack. Bollocks.)
idicula1979
I swear he does not even listen to president Obama's speeches! My favorite hack job by Tucker is when he cratiequed Obama's Notre Dame speech, and he said for a speech about abortion he does not even mention the word and in actuallity he mentions the word abortion several times in his speech.
spinozareader
Okay. There's something WAY wrong with the Beast's "Submit" function when my repsonse shows up three times? What's going on at your end???
ajsd76
To quote the president, "this would be laughable if it wasn't cynicism" at its best. There was not a single day, minute or second tucker carlson ever gave credit to Barack Obama during the campaign. Not once. Everything he did was not either mature enough, or American enough. And now you are out swinging on how he has let himself don by lashing at the opponents of health-care reform? This is not a campaign. This is people's lives. Lives that the likes of you are using as a play mat because you believe yours and the insurance executives who fork out millions in profits are more worthy than.
You have no sense of thought and it is sad that you have a forum to spew your inane views. views that not only subtract from civilization, but hurt it so bad we have to reset it.
Please go away!!!
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n--Y--Yurdeliteajsd76
What credibility does this dork tucker carlson have to critique anything at all. Other than the fact that he has a access to forums like TDB, he has nothing in his head that warrants being read or listened to. he is always looking for ways he can seem all-knowing while more and more revealing that he has a mind of 70 year-old sheep lying in a puddle of it's own crap.
TheFreeLance
Did he watch the same speech I watched? I saw a President who specifically credited ideas by John McCain and G.W. Bush. He also proposed that the health care bill would explicitly require cuts if necessary to ensure there's no impact on spending. The US pays more for health care with poorer results than any other 1st world country. In countries with regulated private, competitive insurance companies, administrative costs are one third what they are here. We pay too much and get lousy results. Health care reform would seem to be a no-brainer.
clearthinker
I don't understand how it will become law for an insurance company to pay for "pre-existing conditions". By this nonsense, nobody in their right mind would ever purchase insurance until they get sick. Kinda like buying auto insurance whenever you get in a wreck. The premiums would be astronomical. How does paying for "pre-existing conditions" help when it comes to driving insurance costs down?
Johnniemae
people are not cars. we die if we don't get treatment for medical conditions. You can live without a car. You cannot live without a life.
JustinTyme
Thus, the concept of "Universal" coverage. In part, you are paying for your future medical needs while you are well and able.
oakely
Tucker wants Obama to ignore the attacks and lies. Wasn't that what he did these past weeks when his poll numbers tanked?
In politics, attacks and lies not confronted and countered usually stick. But then, that's what Tucker wants for the president.
cooperscopy
This speech was unusually partisan. Sarah Palin seems to definitely be under their skin. Usually if you think someone is irrelevant, you ignore them... Read:.. Is Obama A Snake Oil Salesman?...at....http://cooperscopy.blogspot.com/
BasPos
coop, please send as much money to her PAC immediately.
Bunx05
Plugging your own blog on someone else's site is tacky and in poor taste . . . even for the internets.
drkaza12
cooperscopy; "Usually if you think someone is irrelevant", you ignore them; that's malarky. what is this bull about sarah palin not being relevant. her comments like yours are applicable. her profit like your is to distort the message of healthcare. its to limit real dialogue by subplanting it with fear and lies. the question is why? all evidence points to claiming control and power for the GOP. the unfortunate thing you dips -- in the GOP -- don't understand is garbage in garbage out. you start with a lie you end with a lie, and reversing the damage requires a multitude of facts proportional to your wreckage.
cooperscopy you and your ilk are phogbounds and snake oil sales men who require more than looking the other way or wishing to the corn field to nuder. you and sarah palin are the unfortunate spawn from the bitch that birthed joseph mccarthy, and keeping at least one glazie on you at all times is a must.
torodad
There are reputable studies which indicate that right wing extremists like Carlson are suffering from a form of mental illness. Include anyone else associated with Fox News in that assessment. Carlson should ask for either "a bottle in front of me" or "a pre-frontal lobotomy".
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n--Y--JAsMomLAThank you.
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