Opinion

Op-Ed: Let Americans hope for Obama’s failure

By Michael Craft

Posted on April 13, 2009, at 12:00 a.m.

Last week, I was entrenched in a conversation with a good acquaintance. We started talking about Rush Limbaugh. Because this conversation happened on campus, please accept that our location will be kept secret, as to not endanger anyone. Like Anne Frank, we must be as invisible as possible. The conversation turned into a debate about decency and civil discourse – whether or not commentary, especially Rush’s, is constructive toward debate. Rush’s comment – that he wanted “Obama to fail” – came to mind after our conversation.

For the last month or so, the Obama Administration – also known as the “Teleprompter of the United States” – has been on the warpath against those with whom it disagrees. While the overriding message from the administration has been against Rush’s comments, it has also gone after Rick Santelli of CNBC for suggesting the administration is deepening the recession with plans for taking over banks and mortgages.

It is plain to see the Obama administration is not alone in this fight. The administration’s daily chorus at CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS and Comedy Central has been fine-tuning its vocals for vilification of Rush and his first amendment right. Lest the left forgets, here are some lefty comments from yesteryear that seem to sing the “Ave Maria” of hoped-for failure – not only for the Bush administration, but for America herself.

“You can’t go head to head with the president until you take him down. Take him down, make him pay, and then we can have a conversation.” Nancy Pelosi, to The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 31, 2006.

“Democrats begin waiting for George W. Bush to fail,” the title of a column by syndicated liberal columnist EJ Dionne Jr., Jan. 9, 2001.

“I think this guy [Bush] is a loser.” Sen. Harry Reid, speaking to Nevada high school students about “civics” on May 6, 2005.

“The idea that we are going to win this war is an idea that, unfortunately, is just plain wrong.” Howard Dean, December 5, 2005.

“Let me be clear: There is no military solution in Iraq, and there never was.” Barack Obama, Sept. 12, 2007.

Isn’t it amazing how no one said these comments were nonproductive toward the previous administration? Yet the most amazing aspect of these previous comments is that the constant Rush-bashing does not deflect from the fact that, based on America’s history, Rush is right to hope for Obama’s failure.

The Great Depression was extended by seven years because of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal policies. Remember when Obama said that we all must sacrifice? It sounded very similar to Roosevelt’s first inauguration speech in 1933, “If we are to go forward, we must move as a trained and loyal army willing to sacrifice for the good of a common discipline.” Roosevelt goes on to state, “We are, I know, ready and willing to submit our lives and property to such discipline, because it makes possible a leadership which aims at the larger good.” To liberals like Obama, the ends justify the means. This slanted concept undermines individual freedom and liberty.

If Obama succeeds, our national identity will be in jeopardy. The talk of transnationalism through a global currency, taxation of industrial carbon footprints and international boards to regulate American markets is one example. The Obama world-apology tour is another. Domestic policies like universal healthcare, hiring and firing of CEOs, union card check and regulations relating to planting private gardens are a few examples of an Obama success.

Let all of us hope for Obama to fail, because if he doesn’t, America will be a distant memory of freedom and liberty.

Michael Craft is a history student and a conservative.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 13th, 2009, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.