Last week Barack Obama declared some sort of class war on Mitt Romney–at least that’s what Fox, the New York Post and a few other outlets would have you believe.
On April 18, Obama gave a speech at a community college touting, among other things, a rather common only-in-America underdog spirit:
Somebody gave me an education. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Michelle wasn’t. But somebody gave us a chance—just like these folks up here are looking for a chance.
The next day, as blogger Michael Thaddeus pointed out (4/21/12), Fox host Steve Doocy added a few words to the quote during an interview with Mitt Romney. According to Doocy (4/19/12), Obama had used some “fiery rhetoric” and had actually said this:
Unlike some people, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
We know who “some people” is, right? And so with that we had a campaign story. Over at the Washington Post website we see this headline: “Mitt Romney Responds to Obama’s ‘Silver Spoon’ Swipe.” The story, by Philip Rucker, has since been corrected—sort of. (“An earlier version of this post incorrectly quoted President Obama’s reference to not being born with a silver spoon in his mouth.”)
But even the accounts that got the quote right were still seeing it as a swipe at Romney. At the top of ABC‘s This Week (4/22/12):
STEPHANOPOULOS: And the general election gets down and dirty early.
OBAMA: I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
ROMNEY: Even if you like Barack Obama, we can’t afford Barack Obama.
And the New York Times (4/19/12):
Mr. Obama is trying to broaden his appeal by pressing an argument of economic fairness and questioning whether a rich candidate like Mr. Romney can understand people’s challenges.
”I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth,” Mr. Obama said in his speech at the community college. ”Michelle wasn’t. But somebody gave us a chance.”
And the Murdoch-owned New York Post turned in a blistering editorial (4/20/12):
Romney has every right to be proud of his family’s accomplishments—as well as his own.
Even as Obama tries to portray it as repugnant—as he did this week with a remark that prompted the former Massachusetts governor’s response.
“Unlike some people, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth,” Obama said.
That’s not just snotty—it’s woefully ignorant of the American spirit.
The Post has since corrected the editorial, leaving the quote as it was spoken—which might make it difficult for readers to understand what exactly might be considered “snotty” about expressing pride in the distance one has traveled from a rather humble upbringing. And as John Dickerson pointed out at Slate (4/20/12), Obama has been saying this kind of thing for years.
And just think: The campaign season is just getting started.
UPDATE: Doocy issued something like a correction today (4/24/12): “I did some paraphrasing that seemed to misquote the president.” That’s funny, but not nearly as funny as Stephen Colbert’s take, which you can see here.
“And just think:The campaign season is just getting started.”
Come now: the campaign season started, at the latest, on January 20, 2009.
If only- Dare anyone mention, the poor of America need help! Both of these candidates must address a plan to reduce the gap between rich and poor. Or their presidency may lose capitalism.
This election for Obama will be about inciting class war fare.He cant run on any of the traditional things like his record.of course this was just another small thing in his general plan.Soon it will be constant.The presidents tent is shrinking everyday(in spite of what Joe Biden says :)
I wish FAIR didn’t have to always defend the Democrats. Obama was not born with a sliver spoon in his mouth but he is a wannabe. Just look at who he has surrounded himself with, who paid for his first campaign, and who is paying for his present one. Also look at what he has done for Wall Street at the expense of Main Street. When did he ever mention “the poor” in his speeches?
In this ultra-capitalist society, even (especially) Jesus would not be elected President!
Obama wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he just serves those who were.
Does anyone ever read facts…and do people remember who started the wars…and why? Come on….people do not buy into the lies of kick rommey..and his peeps. Do you ever think where all the bullies in school went they r Republicans now….