As gaffes go, it was sizable: Barack Obama told a Tuesday campaign crowd in Virginia, “In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas. Ten thousand people died — an entire town destroyed,” going on to second Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ unhappiness about how much National Guard equipment is in Iraq. A few minutes later, he appeared to realize his overstatement, saying, “There are going to be times when I get tired. There are going to be times when I get weary. There are going to be times when I make mistakes.” A spokesman later said Obama meant to say “at least 10” deaths.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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42 Comments
Politics Today, comment on something for your political gain even though you do not know the facts.
The AmWay and Quixtar folks had a saying “If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t matter.”
Seems as if our politicians are applying that addage from a corrupt pyramid scheme to governing a country.
Obama is not the only one to do this, BOTH parties do this as in Delay with the Schiavo affair.
I’m not sure that Obama even knows where Kansas is, let alone, cares. I’m sick and tired of politicians (yes, Bush included) trying to promote themselves with their phoney concern about people who have suffered a loss. They can just send money, and save their so-called concern.
OBAMA: “Waiter, I would like 10,000 oysters.”WAITER: “Sir, Didn’t you mean to articulate 10 oysters instead?”OBAMA: “Sir! Are you a racist?!”WAITER: “Uh…Your order may take some time.”
It’s all about politics. He jumped on the same bandwagon Sebelius did by taking a real call for assistance and turning it into a politcal call for themselves.
Sotheysaid,
You mean the same bandwagon Tiahrt jumped on by showing up in Greensburg, even though it’s not his district, and there’s nothing for him to do out there?
And if no politicians had shown up, everyone would be whinning “See, I told you they don’t give a damn!” In our country, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t..in the end, Americans just love to bitch, it’s our national past time.On the subject…Obama better be careful or he’ll end up being looked at as the next George Bush.
Mary,
I had no objection to Brownback, Roberts, and Moran showing up. It’s Moran’s district, and as US Senators, Brownback and Roberts represent the entire state.
It’s not like Tiahrt was there to clear rubble, either. Every photo op showed the usual perfect hairdo, pressed pants, and starched shirt. 15 minutes of rubble-clearing, in Kansas humidity, would leave anyone a mess.
Todd Tiahrt will play a helpful role with Greensburg because of the committees he serves on (appropriations). Also, Wichita has sent significant resources to help the clean up. Calm down people.
Like I said, people would have noticed and been critical him if he hadn’t shown up.
Mary,
Boyda and Moore didn’t ride Sotheydsaid’s “bandwagon” into Greensburg, and they have just as much reason to be there as Tiahrt. I have yet to see any criticism of either of them.
I doubt that anyone could catch up to GWB. He has books, calendars, etc of them.
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushisms.htm“You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 — 1976.” — George W. Bush, to Queen Elizabeth, Washington, D.C., May 7, 2007
Tom…Who? I doubt most people other than the very local locals know who they are, they’re not exactly the household names that Tiahrt and Bush are.
Obama just sufferred a slip of the tongue.
He meant to say that 10,000 Infidels died in the tornado.
Mary,
Jerry Moran is the US Representative for Kansas 1st Congressional District. Greensburg is in his district, as are places like Hutchinson, Pratt, and Dodge City.
Nancy Boyda is the US Representative for Kansas 2nd Congressional District. Major cities in her district include Manhattan, Topeka, and Lawrence.
Dennis Moore is the US Representative for Kansas 3rd Congressional District. Major cities in his district include Kansas City, KS, Overland Park, and Olathe.
Todd Tiahrt is the US Representative for Kansas 4th Congressional District. His district includes Wichita, El Dorado, and Coffeyville. Greensburg is *NOT* in his district. It’s not even close – in fact, it’s two counties away from Tiahrt’s district.
To say that Moore and Boyda aren’t household names in Greensburg is true enough. But neither is Tiahrt’s. Their congressman is Moran, and he was there, doing his job. Boyda and Moore are busy representing their constituents in their districts.
Tiahrt was in Greensburg getting face time with the TV cameras. Grandstanding.
By the way, I am quite sure that Sen. Obama knows where Kansas is. He was in Topeka in Mar. 2006 for the Kansas Democratic Party convention. He is also supposed to be in KC today.
Tiahrt is like Fred Phelps. If there’s a tragedy he wants to be there to exploit it and get some publicity. Or perhaps he was there to apologize to everyone for sending so much National Guard equipment to Iraq?
Barack Obama’s mother was born in Wichita. I am fairly certain he knows where Kansas is located on the map.
I think Congressman Dennis Moore must have grown up in Wichita. At least his father was a lawyer here in downtown Wichita and I believe Sedgwick County Prosecuting Attorney at one time.
Of course, Dennis Moore was one time County Prosecutor in Johnson County, same job now held by Phil Kline and previously by Paul Morrison.
“On the subject…Obama better be careful or he’ll end up being looked at as the next George Bush“.OH Mary you made me chuckle… Thanks.
Amazing how people can take a subject on a major gaffe by a Democratic presidential candidate and turn it around to a attack a Republican congressman thread?
Hey…people…accept the fact that Obama blew it and quit trying to mask that FACT by attacking someone else.
Gee..he gets tired and mispeaks. I can see it now as president:
Oooops, did I say bomb Canada? I meant visit Canada..sometimes I get tired, you know”
When a Democrat makes a mistake it makes headlines but when Bush makes a mistake the media yawns because they are tired of repeating something that happens daily.
Raptor, I think the phrase you were referring to was, “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” by pro-torture Senator McCain.
Nice try, Doug..but I was staying with the “Obama goofed” thread instead of wandering off trying to change this to an attack on the other party thread.
Obama misspoke. Simple. He is not perfect…accept it and move on. This is not a call to attack every Republican in sight.
Raptor and I don’t often agree, but this time he is right. Obama stuck his foot in his mouth, spoke in an inarticulate manner, let’s move on.
Barack goofed. End of story.
So what.
All of you who have never misspoke, go ahead and criticize. You’re just not unfortunate enough to do it with the cameras rolling in front of national media just waiting to pick you apart.
There are legitimate criticisms Obama as a presidential candidate. But this isn’t one of them.
Amazing how people can take a subject on a major gaffe by a Democratic presidential candidate and turn it around to a attack a Republican congressman thread?Posted by: raptor | May 12, 2007 at 12:45 PM
Raptor,
Sotheysaid decided to turn it into an “attack the Democratic governor” thread by going after Sebelius. If the thread is suddenly going to be about a “bandwagon,” _all_ the noisemakers are fair game.
Speaking of the Governor, I recall when Bush was in Kansas a couple of years ago, and the Governor chose to ride in the Presidential limo to some event, may have been a celebration at Ft. Riley, I can’t recall, but it was reported that she chose that opportunity two years before the Greensburg tornado to ask Bush when her National Guard’s equipement was going to be replenished. It seemed to me to be quite appropriate to, when he came here again, to remind him that the Kansas National Guard was STILL in need of being re-equipped, even though she NEVER said that the Guard was insufficiently equipped to handle the tornado disaster – this time.
You do know his MOTHER is a native Kansan don’t you? He not only KNOWS where Kansas is but he is going to be the first Democrat ever to WIN the state in the 2008 election.
I can’t believe that with all that has happened in Greensburg, that all anyone can talk about is how a presidential candidate had a slip of the tounge. Every one should take all of this negative energy and put it into helping the people of Greensburg.
Obama slipped up and said something stupid but if you want to compare his stupid remarks to those of GW Bush, it would be no contest at all. I still think that Obama will do quite well in Kansas and I would even give him a 50/50 shot of winning the state in 2008. I talked to a few friends from Concordia which is normally a very GOP part of the state and they told me that folks up there are very open towards Obama and his ideas.
Let’s hope Obama just slipped up – and wasn’t actually misinformed and BELIEVED it. Anyone can make a mistake – but that one’s a doozie, for sure.
Obama doesn’t stand a chance in KS – or any Red State. In fact, he probably doesn’t stand a chance in many Blue States.
Maybe Concordia likes him – but I haven’t run into anyone else in KS that does. I’m sure they’re out there – but I’m just saying everyone I’ve spoken to – has no use for him.
Actually, they pretty much have no use for ANY Democrat.
GSheridan,
Perhaps you need to talk to more people. Get out a little. Quit listening to your radical-conservative echo chamber.
“Actually, they pretty much have no use for ANY Democrat.”
Of course, more than FIFTY percent of Americans identify with Democrats or progressives and Obama beats ANY Republican in polls, but who’s counting?
Conservatives are going to have to get used to the fact that the country is moving steadily to the left.
And that is a sad state of affairs
Yes, the last election was won by Democrats. The American Public expected results, not more “dog and pony show” theatrics by the Democrats.
Photo Ops and template styled talking points do not run a government.
“GSheridan,
Perhaps you need to talk to more people. Get out a little. Quit listening to your radical-conservative echo chamber.”———
Tom – I’m out all the time. I run a friggin business that deals with the public, for gosh sake. I transport Senior Citizens a number of times a week. I’m constantly between the banks, the real estate offices, Chamber functions, and numerous other places where people meet and talk.
Seriously, no one (that I’ve met) likes Obama. I don’t think anyone has talked any real smack on him – but they just don’t give him a second thought.
Where have you been talking to people? The County jail? Local bar? Where? What kind of people are you talking to that support Obama?
If you think Obama is going to be strongly pro-gay rights, I sincerely doubt it. Hitlery will be a bigger champion for you. Obama DOES have some Muslim heritage. He may not be a Muslim – but in Sharia Law, homosexuality is punishable by death.
Maybe I’m wrong – maybe he IS pro-gay. Do you have a link to anything like that?
“…..and Obama beats ANY Republican in polls, but who’s counting?”————–
I’m not.
I still remember VERY well the polls before the last election.
Kerry IN BY A LANDSLIDE!
Polls with random samplings are far from scientific, especially since most national polls are conducted on the East or West Coast, due to the newsmedia’s proximity, where the liberals run deeper than still water.
I’m just relating the conversations I’ve encountered.
We obviously run in different circles.
In 2004, only a complete spineless moron could have lost to George W Bush. You would have to run the worst campaign in modern history to not beat the sitting president.
Only the most idiotic candidate could possibly allow a National Guard frat boy that skipped out on two years of service to compare your record of duty in Viet Nam and call you a coward and himself a war hero.
Even at that, only the worst possible nominee could allow himself to be beaten up on a daily basis and not fight back.
As a Democrat, to lose in 2004 to George W Bush, you would have to be wearing a pink tutu.
(With all apologies to those that have reason to wear pink tutus.)
Only the worst of the worst could have possibly lost to George W Bush in 2004.
And we had to pick the one son-of-a-bitch that could do it.
John Kerry.
What a flippin’ loser.
I have cleaned fish that had more spine than John Kerry.
Sheesh.
We won’t make the mistake again.
Count on it.
“Actually, they pretty much have no use for ANY Democrat.”
Obviously, the writer has no memory of the last election. But then, that doesn’t surprise me at all as the writer has very little that resembles intelligence.
The country has very little need for any republican. It is you, gs, and your ilk, that have no respect for this country or the people you want to stay in Iraq and give their lives so you morons can feel better about yourselves. You have broken the bond that keeps our fighting force in tune with the wishes of this country, and put their lives in the hands of a mad man who is masquerading as a president.
You and your ilk are making a mockery of this great country, and it will take someone from another party to try to put this country back together. And that party sure as hell ain’t republican; you’ve screwed it up enough as it is. And I was a republican prior to bush, but no more.
Maybe it’s time for another one of these —
Imprecatory prayer is most often used when the criminals are the rich and powerful or corrupt men in government. The prayer asks God to solve the problem and bring the criminal to repentance, or to judgment.
WS as for 2004, I have to disagree with your assessment, Bush was still riding the high the majority was still happy that he was President and the way he was going after those that had attacked us. Though from their vantage point of knowing everything that was going so wrong in Iraq. The Bush administration was worried sick about 2004, the campaign was taking precedence over Iraq and the war on terror in the minds of most of the administration.
As for the majority of the American voters, they was still for the most part clueless. Iraq was the right thing to do having been convinced that Saddam was behind it. Through I will add by some crafty choice words by members of the administration and a campaign by those in the Religious right. They too were still riding a high and controlling a large block of voters. Both the administration and the R.R. had convinced the voters that Saddam was a mastermind of the attack though in fact they never actually said it to be a fact.
I guess my point is, Bush had 2004 sewed up and there was nothing the Democrats could have done about it. Anything they could have said or shown would have been taken as pure partisan politics and attacking the savior of America at the time.
I believe that Tiahrt was there because his wife is from the Pratt area. Vickie was helping the people of Greensburg to clean up. Todd assisted also.
It was not about a photo opp. Sebelius is the one that turned the event political.