'Obama: If you've got a business, you didn't build that'

Mitt and many conservative groups are jumping all over Obama's statement. Personally, I think it was something that came out of Obama's mouth wrong; I don't think he meant to downplay the work business owners put in, just to emphasize that at some point they had to have help from someone else.

Do you think these comments are worth a fallout?

Are they worth a fallout? Isolated, no. But if Mitt Romney had said the exact same thing, Obama supporters would be jumping all over him. Obama has a history of things coming out wrong and he IS the president, so more should be expected of him. Frankly, if you're running for president, people will jump all over everything you say and whining about the fact that people have a problem with how he worded it seems to just be trying to dance around the issue.

And going by Obama's record, I think he actually said exactly what he meant to say.

Successful people had some help on their road to success. What's the contoversey again?

I was watching FOX News the other day at work and they were ALL over this. They wouldn't let this go for shit. Obviously he wasn't discounting business owners work, but yeah...they all had help in building their shit. There's no such thing as a business owner who did 100% of everything. That's not even possible.

Typical response from those cocksuckers. What can you do?

Anybody ever watch presidential bloopers??? OMG some of them are soooo freakin funny!

The first one is my absolute favorite! Also check out youtube for bloopers from all the most recent presidents.. there were too many to post here.

Forgiveness Man wrote:Are they worth a fallout? Isolated, no. But if Mitt Romney had said the exact same thing, Obama supporters would be jumping all over him. Obama has a history of things coming out wrong and he IS the president, so more should be expected of him. Frankly, if you're running for president, people will jump all over everything you say and whining about the fact that people have a problem with how he worded it seems to just be trying to dance around the issue.

Funnily enough, I actually agree with this. Obama should know better than to make such an obvious blunder! And yes, if/when Mitt says equally dumb things he is also equally scrutinized and judged for it (as he should be). Politicians shouldn't make mistakes like this because it calls into question their ability to think on the fly and deliver a clear, concise message in the interest of honesty and transparency. These type of mistakes will always call into question the politicians credibility (no matter who they are or what party they belong to).

Forgiveness Man wrote:And going by Obama's record, I think he actually said exactly what he meant to say.

That part I disagree with. He erred plain and simple! I get what he was trying to say (and you probably do to) which is that every person who's ever made it successfully in this country had HELP (the support of others, government assistance, being in the right place at the right time, a bit a luck, etc). All of that is true, and it actually makes perfect sense what he said. Some people can work hard all their lives in hopes of achieving an impossible dream, only to realize that not everyone has the same opportunities open to them (no matter how hard they work). The problem is that this notion wasn't delivered clearly by what he actually said. His statement came out wrong because it ignored the part about how society should reward hard work and self determination. And he obviously didn't realize how his statement actually sounded until after the fact because had he realized how that sounded (and how it would open him up to criticism from the right) he never would have said it that way in the first place. Mitt has done exactly the same thing with the "Corporations are people" bit. Obama's record doesn't indicate anything but exactly what his speech implied. That supports the middle class and not the rich or large corporations that get by at the expense of the middle class.

Alan Smithee wrote:Successful people had some help on their road to success. What's the contoversey again?

The controversy is the fact that he opened himself up to criticism from the right by not delivering this point clearly and concisely. His point was muddled by the fact that he said "If you've got a business, you DIDN'T build that". That statement suggests that the hard work and personal sacrifices that people made to build their own businesses is a figment of their imagination! People do build their own businesses. Granted, they didn't do it on their own and had help from outside sources. But they ultimately took the steps necessary to accomplish their vision. No government agency or corporation ever just knocked on my door and built me a business! What Obama should have said was "if you've got a business, then you had help building that". Then there would have been no controversy.

So yes, I get what he meant, you get what he meant and all the people on the right get what he meant too. But they will ignore what everyone knew he meant to focus on what he actually said, so that they can twist his words around and paint him as the person they want him to appear to be. And the left would do exactly the same thing if Mitt Romney has said something like that as well, just like they did when he said "Corporations are people too!". Yes, we knew what he actually meant, but we still pointed out how much of an idiot and out of touch that made him sound! Obama deserves no special treatment just because he is the President. The "fallout" that he is receiving from his words is completely FAIR, although I doubt it will amount to anything significant either way come election day. It's only a matter of time before Mitt says his next DUMB thing for the media to circle around. It will continue to seesaw like that until election day I predict.

The meaning I clearly heard was you didn't build the roads and bridges that your business depends on. I will concede that taking a small sound bite out of context will be problematic in a political campaign being run during one of the most divisive times in our history. And yes they're out of context because what he was speaking about equity in taxes.

I have no doubt he meant what Elizabeth Warren is peaking about and should have used her words.

I loved the one about the OBGYN's !

And no successful business makes it without a lot of "help", customers, clients , loans etc.
Rather like it takes a village to raise a child, it truly does but some folks had a cow about that too.

No business owner can get their operation off the ground without having help from others at some point. That's just common sense. We all get what he meant, but yes...I do wish he had chosen his words a little more carefully. This plays nicely into his detractors and opponents hands. Even though they know so good and well what he meant too.