Obama’s Biggest Debate Mistake. It’s Freedom, Stupid.
It wasn’t the looking down instead of looking Romney in the eye. It wasn’t the slumped shoulders. It wasn’t the rambling. It wasn’t the ineptitude of handling both the topics and his opponent.
In my opinion, the biggest mistake that Obama made, which sums up the problem with Big Government today, was his response to Jim Lehrer’s question: What is the role of government?
Obama’s Response:
“The first role of government is to keep Americans safe.”
“NO!” I screamed at my TV and our current president, “The first role of government is to protect our freedoms!”
Yes, that can involve military action against enemies that would like to see America diminished and our freedoms abolished. But the thwarting of enemies by our military, law enforcement and intelligence should only be used as carefully wielded tools to ensure that our constitution is upheld and our liberties protected.
Every trade agreement, every treaty, every military action, every piece of legislation, every regulation should be carefully monitored to ensure that the main objective–the preservation of our individual liberties– is upheld.
Of course Government and politicians do not follow that creed. What a great nation we really would be, if only! But the leader of the free world should at least acknowledge that preservation of our freedoms is the #1 role of government.
Obama doesn’t get it.
I do NOT want, our founders did NOT want, a government that believes its first priority is to keep us “safe”. I can get that sentiment in almost any country in the world.
What I can’t get and what I can’t find anywhere else except America is the US Constitution and a promise, no matter how poorly kept, to honor the principals of small government and individual liberty.
Americans who cherish freedom have another very big reason NOT to vote for Obama.
Wow! Freedom, you nailed it. When I heard Obama speak those words I thought well at least he got that part right. But you are so right. The key word is “freedoms”. Protecting Americans can mean telling them what they must eat, telling them what ther children sohould be taught, protecting Americans can mean creating a sfety net which becomes a cacoon where people become so comfortable they never want to leave.
Thank you, Freedom, for setting me straight.
e tu, COF?
But now you’ve just voiced what you already knew in your heart. “protection” can mean government control of your life–esp. with the likes of Obama in the WH.
Whoa Nellie !
Conservatives on Fire ?
I don’t want the government to control my life, schools, food, fuel, or anything else for that matter.
They need to provide for a military to protect US from the heathens across the world that would kill us in a heartbeat.
Beyond that, get the hell out of my way !
Freedom is not Free.
It costs lives, many many lives across the history of this Country.
The Patriots in this Country do not want a cocoon.
The very thought of a cocoon is abhorrent to them.
They want Freedom and Liberty.
Well stated, AFVET.
But he isn’t keeping Americans safe either, so even by his own standards he has failed.
Very true.
Someplace along the line I believe (not in this debate) he said that it was his role to keep our service people safe, which is exactly wrong, its to accomplish the mission with minimum casualties. Same thing here, the mission as we’ve said so often. You’re right, Freedom, although I missed it. More of that European nonsense
And let’s be candid. Obama is certainly not the first to make such a statement. Why would we have such outrageous liberty-busters like the Patriot Act? At least when Romney responded to that question, he did refer to the Declaration of Independence and the role of government to ensure that everyone could pursue their happiness.
So slippery, the words that come out of Obama’s mouth. And every time those words can have a harmless meaning (safety as national security) or a harmful meaning (controlling all aspects of our lives), you can bank on him meaning the harmful one.
Good catch, Freedom.
True that – especially with this administrations deceptive tendency toward misnomer.
Good post!
Thanks! And thanks for stopping by.
to paraphrase Ben Franklin (or Thomas Jefferson depending on which source you believe) Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little more safety deserve neither liberty or safety.
Thanks. I always thought that quote was attributed to Franklin. Perhaps that should be added to our dollar bills. to remind folks. But then again, that would be an oxymoron, wouldn’t it, since there is very little security these days in our currency.