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Obama’s Whining, Will it Work?

By Larry Johnson on September 26, 2008 at 1:25 AM in ACORN, Barack Obama, Christopher Dodd, Current Affairs, Economy, Fox News, Hank Paulson, Housing & Housing Crisis, John Kerry

As noted in previous posts I am in Europe finishing up work on a project related to national security. This gives me a great perch to observe the wave of financial news bearing down on the United States with the markets closing in Asia and the markets in Europe just getting started. So I am watching CNBC’s Europe version and there is Barack Obama on the tube whining about “this didn’t happen on our watch.”

Couple of observations. First, it doesn’t come off as Presidential as all. Finger pointing in such a hesitant manner looks weak. Second, you are dead wrong. The wheels came off when Democrats controlled the Congress and ignored repeated warnings from Bernake and Paulson about the impending crisis. Try to sell that.

Then there is the matter of the money you, Barack Obama, pocketed over the last four years. When Senators Dodd and Kerry, not exactly newbies on the Hill, are the only legislators who have taken more money than you from Fannie Mae, how do you maintain the lie that you had nothing to do with this? Fannie Mae just gave you money cuz you’re a nice guy?

What about the $600,000 plus from Goldman Sachs or the almost $400,000 from Citi Group? Dude, you’ve only been in the Senate for less than four years and you’ve pulled more money from financial lobbyist fat cats than any other Senator on a per annum basis. How long before the media catch on and ask you to explain?

Fox News has picked up the scent:

And now your buds at ACORN are trying to get their nose into the bailout trough to the tune of $140,000,000.00 Are you shitting me? One of the reasons we are in this mess is because your buds, Dodd and Frank, kept pushing to raise the amount of money that could be loaned to the low income housing efforts advocated by ACORN. I venture to say if ACORN had not been called out in the blogosphere for the corrupt thugs they are you might have pulled this off. But not now. The American people are awakening to the fraud perpetrated on them by the likes of ACORN and others. On this one we are saying no way, now how.

You can’t find a video of the head of Fannie Mae celebrating any Republicans. But Barack, the CEO is praising the Congressional Black Caucus while you are sitting there beaming. Not on your watch?

If you want to read more about ACORN’s complicity in this mess go here (hat tip Nancy).

  • WynterSkye

    How long before the media catch on and ask you to explain?

    Yea, right.

    • Obama is a bum

      How long can the media cover it up?

      I don’t want to throw Fox into the corrupt media, at least that network is putting in a reasonable effort.

      • Amy Crunch

        How long can the media cover it up?

        How long can people be so stupid and not see it? There are people who literally do not know where Iraq is. They think it might be in the Pacific Ocean. There are people who say they do not want to know any more about the issues – they implicitly trust all politicians. There are people who when asked what state Kentucky Friend Chicken comes from are stumped. How are these people going to see things in their true light? How are you going to get them to look?

  • Susan1968

    I heard that “not on our watch” comment and laughed.

    I also laughed when Obama criticized the terrible bankruptcy bill that hurts the little guy.

    I laughed because his running mate – Joe Biden – was a huge cheerleader of that bankruptcy bill.

    Joe fought hard to get it through so he could pay back his Delaware credit card industry fundraisers.

    Hypocrites.

    • fooj

      The first official vote from Obama in the US Senate was to VOTE AGAINST the 30% cap on credit card interest.

      Filthy scumbag.

    • Amy Crunch

      Joe fought hard to get it through so he could pay back his Delaware credit card industry fundraisers.

      Well of course! They buy all his booze for him.

  • pbsc

    The ACORN figure should read $140 million, not $140,000

    • jwrjr

      Are you sure that it isn’t $140 billion? They did say “20%”.

      • Mr. X

        Yeah, it’s $140 BILLION allocated for ACORN.

        • athena

          I believe it is 20% of the HOUSING aid portion of the bailout.

          • Zelda Crunch

            Yes that is correct. 20% of all funding must go to Obama’s friends neighbors and cronies.

          • PamFlorida

            Sen. Lindsey Graham said $140 BILLION or 20% of the $700 Billion.

        • Annie Oakley

          That is just insane. I guess mighty oaks to grow from small seeds of corruption.

  • Chicago

    Is Obama going to make it work the same way he made this grant work:

    http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/1184049,CST-NWS-watchdog25.article

    A $100,000 state grant for a botanic garden in Englewood that then-state Sen. Barack Obama awarded in 2001 to a group headed by a onetime campaign volunteer is now under investigation by the Illinois attorney general amid new questions, prompted by Chicago Sun-Times reports, about whether the money might have been misspent.

    The garden was never built. And now state records obtained by the Sun-Times show $65,000 of the grant money went to the wife of Kenny B. Smith, the Obama 2000 congressional campaign volunteer who heads the Chicago Better Housing Association, which was in charge of the project for the blighted South Side neighborhood.

    Smith wrote another $20,000 in grant-related checks to K.D. Contractors, a construction company that his wife, Karen D. Smith, created five months after work on the garden was supposed to have begun, records show. K.D. is no longer in business.

    Attorney General Lisa Madigan — a Democrat who is supporting Obama’s presidential bid — is investigating “whether this charitable organization properly used its charitable assets, including the state funds it received,” Cara Smith, Madigan’s deputy chief of staff, said Wednesday.

    In addition to the 2001 grant that Obama directed to the housing association as a “member initiative,” the not-for-profit group got a separate $20,000 state grant in 2006.

    • Mr. Natural

      At the beginning of that article it mentioned Obama’s pledge of unending support for what had been originally billed as a million dollar boondoggle project.

      The taxpayers are actually lucky that ATDD OBama got bored and lost interest in the scam.

  • WildChild

    well Larry, BOBO’s whining might work if he dropped a load in his pants first. Other than that, I’d have to say no :)

  • bayareavoter

    Larry–it’s interesting to hear how BO’s portrayed overseas since they seem to love him more than we do.

    here’s a good cartoon from the Detroit Free Press about Barry and the crisis by a guy who’s usually in the tank for BO

    http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080924/BLOG24/80923052/1048

    G’night all.

    • HARP

      Larry…..Our European correspondent..lol.

  • American Woman

    Obama is ineligible PLEASE Check out the Latest Texas Darlin Post!!
    He has admitted that he is a dual citizen.

    Larry if you are reading this, please forgive the change of Subject…But it is important that Berg et al have this info ASAP and that it moves through the net.

    http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com

  • Diana

    Larry, FOX said today that Johnson is still working for Obama. There is a write up about it also on Politico. Also today Zogby said even though the race is tight, he’s predicting a landslide for McCain. I posted both these links in other threads, but here they are again.
    http://tinyurl.com/4cu74g
    http://tinyurl.com/3mpkhz

    • http://JohnMcCain.com Chockablock “Hillawee can you change my diapy pwease?” Opampers

      Zogby is not pre-blaming racism if a landslide to McCain. That is refreshing for a change!

      Regarding Obama the article on the Zobgy prognostication states:

      Despite the books Obama has written, Americans are still asking, “Who are you, where are you from?,” Zogby said.

      Producing the proper documentation that he is eligible to be President might be a good start?

  • http://JohnMcCain.com Chockablock “Hillawee can you change my diapy pwease?” Opampers

    Larry, regarding the present whining and related hypocrisy: With the MSM largely in the tank for Opampers I feel McCain has to score big during the debates. In addition to the obvious I hope he weaves in the MSM bias if he is not asked about it. That is becoming a huge sore spot with many in the electorate and could be a powerful tool. Mocking it might be a tact he could take.

  • VRWC – Jump ball Dept.

    Whining? Whining and sniveling!

    Sniveling worse than the bass line in “Nights in White Satin.” (No offense intended, hooray for the Moody Blues)

    Sniveling worse than I am, a Republican, not just agreeing with Larry Johnson but cheering him with high decibels. (No offense intended against myself, and that’s – okay, I’m okay, you’re okay, he’s okay, but Al Franken’s a suckfish.)

    Sniveling worse than Al Franken will be if he ever PO’s Jesse Ventura (which I hope is soon and often afterward). (I know you Democrats want to retain Congress but can you please do it while simultaneously destroying Al Franken and making him walk in humiliation for the rest of his days?)

    Sniveling worse than the news media will be if Americans ever notice their biases AND remember them later! (And remember them later! – there’s the rub – devoutly to be wished!)

    • http://JohnMcCain.com Chockablock “Hillawee can you change my diapy pwease?” Opampers

      No problem anymore being a Republican. Pre AD (Arrival of Douchebag) I would not give the time of day to a Republican. Now thanks to Douchebag you are all my best pals. ;) Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows.

      • VRWC – Jump ball Dept.

        I was trying to post something on another thread and somehow it wouldn’t take, but here’s a small excerpt. Let’s see if it takes.

        Songs of exultation.

        “Candles in the Rain” (Melanie) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7741230889103069135 (Kind of a Puma song, no?)

        “The Ocean” (Led Zep) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp85oSiX_NI

        • socalannie

          I loved that old song of Melanies back when I was a kid. She was so pretty. Thanks for the blast from the past. (it does sound like a puma anthem)

      • Perry Logan

        Keep in mind that if Hillary were our candidate, our Republicans “friends” would be lying through their teeth about her. ;-)

        • kgirl1028

          yeah well now they are telling the truth about Obama. Perry did i ever tell you i love your videos, they are very unique

          • Denise

            My husband and I are Republicans and so is our entire extended family.

            We all voted for Hillary. Republicans love Hillary and it wasn’t us being sexist toward Hillary only Obama.

        • HC

          And apparently so would half of the Democrats.

  • IndieDogg

    Would someone do the math, please.

    Comparing Obama’s take to Dodd and others makes no sense. It’s being reported as TOTAL dollars. Obama just GOT TO THE SENATE!!

    Does anybody have the ability (I don’t have the totals in front of me) to break it down on an ANNUAL BASIS and extrapolate Obama’s totals so that they’re comparable to Dodd’s (and put them in present value dollars, if you can, just to be fair).

    For the amount of time BHO has been in the Senate, his take from Fannie and her sister DWARFS anybody else’s.

    Unless I missed something.

    We have to count apples and apples and BHO has been sitting under an apple tree compared to the rest of them.

    • Mr. X

      And Obama has been running for POTUS for what? 2 years just about?

  • Obama is a bum

    This makes the Democrats and Obama look pretty bad. McCain should be able to win the election on this issue alone if it were not for a corrupt media.

  • audacity

    Larry

    exactly one year ago i was in europe for a month. the best dollar exchange was on a small street in Brussels 1.4 dollars for i euro. (that because i was exchanging 1000 at a time.

    what’s the exchange now. just curious. thanks

    • http://JohnMcCain.com Chockablock “Hillawee can you change my diapy pwease?” Opampers

      1.4643 Euro for $1.

      • audacity

        thanks all

    • http://NoQuarterUSA.net Larry Johnson

      ditto to chockablock. can’t find a bad meal in Germany and the yogurt is simply amazing.

      • socalannie

        Lucky Larry! I wish I was in Europe.

        • beebop

          The dollar isn’t going very far there right now so hopefully he is there on someone else’s nickle and their money is not at WAMU ….

      • audacity

        funny that i exchanged in my first week. after that for a 2 weeks jumped to like 1.52. for the last part of the trip it was back to 1.4

        at the same time, charging on the credit card gave us even a better exchange, even during the low period.

        anyway, my question is: we know that american economy is not great. but seeing this rate does not look like is so bad. 7 cents in one year, does not feel like it is going down the drain. maybe the economy in europe is as bad as here.

        they just don’t sell houses and they did not IMPORT ACORN yet.

        :)

        • Mr. Natural

          they just don’t sell houses and they did not IMPORT ACORN yet

          It’s only a matter of time. For whatever reason, ACORN now has branches in Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.

      • http://JohnMcCain.com Chockablock “Hillawee can you change my diapy pwease?” Opampers

        Larry are you sure you are not really in Europe shopping for a new country? ;)

  • http://www.hillaryorbust.com Hillary or Bust

    Am I the only one who is getting nervous that if Obama wins or steals the election, and we enter into an economic recession/depression, that his violent supporters are going to try to create some sort of fascist/communist/dictatorship with Obama at the helm?

    I don’t mean to sound paranoid. I am just feeling like if Obama wins and this financial meltdown continues, I may seriously be thinking about getting a job out of the country for a while.

    • athena

      New Zealand is on my radar….

    • csuzeq

      I’ve been home shopping on the net! I don’t really know how I’d manage it, but I am afraid of many things Obama, including the obliteration of our county (Obama will let us be attacked while he is abroad and give no orders for the military to fight back) and the depression to come. I read 18 economists articles during the primary. All said clinton was the best candidate, bar none, for the econmy and all said that Obama equals economic depression. I kid you not! I see Obama will mean no gas, no food. America as we know it gone forever. I am not willing to go there!

  • Mr.Murder

    Every now and then even a lucky squirrel finds an ACORN, just ask John Edwards.

  • Mr.Murder

    Enter a recession? We’re in one already.

    In fact, Dubya had a recession before 9-11 as well. They tried to recalculate the info going into the election w/Kerry so they would draw less attention to just how damaging the tax cuts for billionaires really were to the rest of our revenue balance sheet.

    Should get the ass hats running the Fed, Treasury, and OMB for damaging Presidential records, etc.

  • HopeisinArkansas

    Time for those good strong patriots who hold their guns and ammo close to their hearts to go huntin for Ayers. The good strong patriots have just been given their first target thanks to Obama.
    Ayers, who enjoys the liberal high acadamia life of chi towm, will be dragged behind a pick up and treated like he deserves………treatment that is fitting for a terrorist who bombed our nations capitol and other parts of our nation and lived to brag about it to this very day.
    Then, there is Rev Wright, Father Pleger, Rezko, Michelle Obama, all the anti-American, anti-Jew pals of Obama who will no doubt get their asses kicked.
    If the government is not gonna control these freaks, then it is up to the people starting with Pelosi, brazille, reid, Obama, now we can add Barney Frank to the list as he has become a big pain in the ass.

  • Foxx

    So why DID Obama get all this money just as soon as he arrived in the Senate?

    The fix was in A LONG TIME AGO. The people giving him the money knew what was going to happen.

    • Foxx

      By which I mean, they knew he was going to be nominated for prez.

  • http://COMMENT thierry

    IF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE RESPONSIBLE OF THE MESS AS DEMOCRATS USED TO CHANTING IT ALL ROOFS,WHY ARE THEY THE FIRST TO APPROVE THE 700BILLION BAILOUT PLAN? WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ALL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG TO LEAD US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.A TRUE DIAGNOSTIC OF THE PROBLEM WILL BRING A LONG TERM CURE OF IT.WHAT DID THE CONGRESS AND THE SENATE DO TO AVOID THIS ECONOMIC TURMOIL? DID THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO AVOID THIS? IF YES WHY DIDN’T THEY USE IT ?

    • Perry Logan

      My friends, a child can see the pattern. A low-grade moron can see the pattern.

      Republicans get into power and apply their crackpot economic policies. The policies pull a boner, as Republican policies always do, and we need a billion-dollar bail-out to save the economy. Remember the banking crisis of the 80s?

      Then the Republicans set about blaming the Democrats for their screw-ups. It happens every time.

      If you fall for this scam again, you may have a serious memory problem.

  • educatedwhitewoman

    O.K. – I’ve had it! Just say Joe Lieberman on Fox – he said there was absolutely no deal yesterday, except between a few members of the Banking Cmte (you know, Barney Frank & Dodd – the two who brought us the Fannie/Freddie debacle). Lieberman said that he was in the Senate Caucus and NO deal was brought to them. (This echoes what House Republican leadership was saying yesterday.) He said it was a fiction when Reid, Dodd,Frank, et. al., had the press conference and said a deal was worked out before McCain came to Washington. They were playing politics, pure and simple.

    • educatedwhitewoman

      Correction: just “saw”

      The thing that drives me nuts is the total corruption of the MSM on this issue. All of the “pundits” parroting the lie that a deal was worked out and John McCain was inserting himself into a process that was completed. Right. In less than a week, a deal has been brokered giving the Sect. of the Treasury close to a trillion dollars, with no guarantee that the bailout will work, many legislators on both sides of the aisle have serious questions and Dodd, Frank, Reid, and Pelosi are trying to ram this down not only our throats, but down the throats of their fellow Senators and Congressman, when many of them have serious concerns and haven’t even seen the fine print! This is NUTS.

  • yttik

    Hey Larry, hope you’re enjoying your trip. Bring us home some euros and a loaf of bread, things are looking glum over here, LOL!

    I sure don’t like Dick Morris, but he’s been spot on lately. He calls McCain’s move brilliant and believes this will be real game changer. I felt the same way, McCain has made a risky but incredibly clever move, just like when he chose Palin. I’m still not sure what’s going to happen in the debates tonight, but I have to admit a certain admiration for McCain who has certainly been full of surprises. He’s an incredibly savvy politician.

  • bert

    Does anyone know who owns and/or controls Acorn? Do they have a Board of Directors? Who serves on this Board? What are their back grounds? I want names and research on these folks. Who are they? Who gets the money from their illegal activities? I had heard of them prior to this year, but only in passing. This year they are in the news all the time. Anyone out there have any info on this?

    And another thanks to Larry for helping to sort all this out and keep us well informed. Now when some of my Obama friends (fast becoming used to be friends) say anything or praise Obama I have ready facts and figures and sources to challeneg them.

  • McCain rox!

    i was in germany and poland during the two conventions (late aug/early sept) – and the european version of cnn was surprisingly pro-McCain/Palin. obama really did come across as immature and petulant.

  • http://hickeysite.blogspot.com Pat Hickey

    Obama will lose by the biggest margin in American History.

    Rezko is singing an Aria from the Chicago Metro Detention Center to Paddy Fitz the Fed. Prosecutor; More ACORNS are falling from the trees; McCain hit Kid Hope between the horns and starched him on Fed Bailout; Palin ain;t even warmed up; Biden is being Biden; Bubba is sitting on his hands; Hillary is taking High Holy Days Off and Jewish Easter!; Americans are smart!

    Frank,Dodd, Reid and Schumer (as well as CNN and MSNBC) got outted by Stephen Hayes of the Wekly Standard – Obama is hitting the canvas and he ain’t getting up!

    http://hickeysite.blogspot.com/2008/09/mccainpalin-stephen-hayes-real-story-on.html

  • csuzeq

    Let’s all not panic! Let’s trust in McCain and clinton! I just cannot believe that they aren’t just as mad as the rest of us, if not more so. They love this country and will not allow this coup to happen. I just do not believe they will. I believe any of them, John, Hillary or Bill can and will throw themselves on the landmine and risk all before letting Obama win this election. There is no reason to think they won’t. I think they will just wait and see if it comes out on it’s own so they don’t have to. The week or so before the election will be fascinating to say the least if Obama isn’t doomed before that!

  • http://mybluecountry.googlepages.com/whattheobamademocratsaresayingposter Linda

    I called my Congress critters and just told them I’m rethinking voting down ticket Dem’s if they don’t straighten out and remove these friggin’ earmarks.

  • http://mybluecountry.googlepages.com/whattheobamademocratsaresayingposter Linda

    Thank you. Great to hear and a good piece.