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The Republican National Convention's organizers probably thought they were being clever. They announced this week that on the second night of the gathering -- with local, state, and federal officials standing by to help in the event of a hurricane -- they'd host a "We Built It" day.
The idea, of course, is to mock President Obama's belief that public institutions and government investments help create a society in which the private sector thrives. Republicans intend to host their "We Built It" day in an arena largely financed by taxpayers.
Wait, it gets worse.
On the day that the GOP convention will tout Fox-fueled myth "We Built It" as its primary theme, Delaware Lt. Gov. candidate and small business owner Sher Valenzuela is slated to deliver a speech about small business issues. But contrary to the evening's theme, Valenzuela's company, First State Manufacturing, has received millions of dollars in federal loans and contracts. Valenzuela has not only attributed her success in part to this outside assistance, but urged other small business owners to follow the same strategy of seeking government funds.
Media Matters found that Valenzuela even gave a presentation earlier this year on her small business success, crediting the use of "millions of dollars in secure government contracts." She encouraged other entrepreneurs to take advantage of public institutions and government investments to help their businesses get ahead.
Making matters slightly worse, a featured guest at a Paul Ryan event yesterday boasted about getting government funding to help build his business, and in a new op-ed on his private-sector background, Mitt Romney boasted today about the success of many Bain businesses, several of which have benefited from government largesse.
As attacks go, this out-of-context smear has always been problematic. Romney was desperate to prove that American free enterprise thrives without the support of government, but when he pointed to examples, they all thrived thanks to the support of public institutions and tax dollars. This happened over and over and over and over again, ultimately proving that the entire line of attack is self-defeating.
And the problem will apparently continue, as if self-awareness no longer matters at all.
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But how do we convince Joe Public that he really DIDN'T build that himself? Are there any commercials refuting this meme, or building the case that small businesses don't do it alone?
And the problem will apparently continue, as if self-awareness no longer matters at all.
When was the last time "selrf awareness" mattered to a majority of White America? White Americans (particularly working class males) being the most un-self-aware people on the planet.
And I say that as a white male who came from the working class.
“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”
-- Carl Sagan
Imma steal this. Kthxbye
The whole idea of using this as a theme is truly bewildering. It shows the complete lack of planning that has apparently gone into both the convention and the Romney campaign.
Obama made this remark on July 13. It would therefore appear that, as of 45 days before their convention, Republicans didn't have a clue about the central theme around which their entire gathering would be organized. This is astounding, though not entirely surprising.
Republicans have known for months who their nominee would be. They've known for several years that they would be running as the "anti-Obama option."
Having established those facts, a well-organized and managed political convention should highlight the contrast between Romney and Obama, focusing on the candidate's accomplishments, vision, and policy prescriptions. Of course, Romney has few accomplishments (at least that he's willing to discuss), NO vision, and only vague, mostly discredited ideas about what he'd do if elected.
So I guess it's no wonder that Republicans are grasping for straws when it comes to a convention theme. Basing it on a misrepresentation of an idea that's self-evident to anyone with a functioning cerebral cortex seems very much in keeping with the way Romney's entire campaign has been run.
"Republicans have known for months who their nominee would be. They've known for several years that they would be running as the "anti-Obama option."
Very astute observation. Unfortunately for them, they chose the unwise option.
Ultimately, I think the net result of the GOP's strident enforcement of anti-intellectualism leads to embarrassing examples like this of unconscious public stupidity.
Sort of like someone who has crapped their pants and is walking around and doesn't know it.
We probably should feel sorry for them. That is, if there weren't a real risk that the seats of power might still shift to that Idiocracy.
"We Built this Mess" would be better met with widespread acceptance by the American middle class.
It would be especially appropriate with regard to the economy. We're still digging out after the Bush "tax cuts and deregulation" debacle.
Yes, every time the government wants to build something, it should hire the workers itself for the government payroll and then lay them off. It's a much more efficient way to do business.
Apparently you are completely clueless about the life of a carpenter/construction worker , imagine that
Not sure what response you are trying to elicit.
What I was getting at in a sarcastic way. is that government contracts to private companies are not a one way street that benefits the companies as if it were a form of welfare. Obama's comment was reasonable. The defense of his comments however are ridiculous.
And everything you post is ridiculous. Imagine that.
And the theme does not even make sense. Who is this "we" they are talking about? The Republicans? What did *they* build? What is this "it" that they built? My head hurts.
RoMoney is just telling the faithful what they want to hear. You could sit them down and play Pres. Obama's full speech to them and stop it and replay over and over the part that has been misrepresented and 99% would stick to their guns and say they built their businesses all by themselves.
The basis of this claim would be that it was through their hard work, sweat and tears that the business developed and succeeded. The fact that they had a government loan, or that the sewers and paved roads or sidewalks, internet, etc. played any part in growing the business is irrelevant. It was them; all them! (Probably dint need no steenking customers either!) Whatever. . . . ;-/
It's this same pig-headed blindness (it's like a form of self-hypnosis) that causes them to not see what the RePUGnicant agenda really is - Corpmocracy; USA, Inc. - oh, make that USA, LLC (cause you know they can't like be totally responsible; only "limited liability" if any at all). You know how that works I built it all by myself; but it failed because of big guvmint.
So, like how many of these "I built it myself" RePugs will be filing claims with FEMA after Isaac blows the roof off that business next week?
"The fact that they had a government loan, or that the sewers and paved roads or sidewalks, internet, etc. played any part in growing the business is irrelevant"
The remarkable thing is that businesses which fail have all these things too. Your suggestion that this is why businesses succeed is the same as saying that a certain team wins because it plays half of it's games on it's home field, despite the fact that every other team does so as well.
I'm not saying a business succeeded because of those things. I'm saying - because those things already existed you were able to build your business.
Perhaps an example - So you want to start a auto repair shop - are you going to find an acre of land smack in the middle of say 1000 acres with no access roads, sewer/water pipes, electricity, etc. and build a shop?
See - the word "succeed" is quite different from the word "build." If someone wants to say that his business is a success because of his hard work, I would say "Good on you!"
"o you want to start a auto repair shop - are you going to find an acre of land smack in the middle of say 1000 acres with no access roads, sewer/water pipes, electricity, etc. and build a shop?"
I'm going to go where a large enough number of people have cars that aren't brand new and a comparatively low number of auto dealers. The above is irrelevant because there is no such area where I would find customers.
Exactly - and you are going to go to a place that has running water; sewers for toilets; electricity for power tools and lights, and connection to the internet for diagnostics and a website and you will find cars where there are paved roads.
Just like that home team - without the home field there is no home team because there are no customers to buy the tickets and no customers will buy tickets without cold beer and toilets. You didn't build that! That's what POTUS said.
Joe,
bb will continue to babble nonsense in an attempt to be "right."
Joe:
We just disagree, but thank you for the polite conversation.
I certainly hope Mitt receives government support when he goes to federal prison for tax evasion and perjury. Of course the prison could be privatized and he would probably miss the amenities it used to have.
According to a chart over at Ezra Klein's Wonkblog, small business profits have rebounded to almost pre-crisis levels: they were at 31 (indexed graph) reporting profits over losses in Jan. 2009 and today that number is 131. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/24/mitt-romney-says-big-business-is-doing-fine-hes-right/
Big business is doing even better. Obama made no gaffe...
How quickly can "Fast Signs" make new banners for RNC? Let's see… add Yes We Can Build it with a Sharpee… no
How about altering the 2008 signs to "Frack Baby Frack"?
No, they'll just leave it like that and pretend that the building they're in wasn't built using taxpayer money.
When you are shoveling BS, you don't have time to check facts.
And Twitt made his millions ripping off government insured pension funds.
I have been out and about today running errands. I drove over to get my car inspected, then I drove out in the country a ways to a store that sells special yarn (had a very nice chat with the owner), drove back to town stopping at a roadside stand to get some home-grown produce (yum!), a stop at the pet store for hairball stuff for the cat, then a stop at the grocery store for something for dinner.
And as I was driving, I looked at the roads, bridges, overpasses stop lights (etc) and thought "I helped BUILD this!!!"
I worked for a number of small businesses that depended on my skills and hard work to build their client base. I was the one going out at 4am to provide service for our clients. I am the one whose paycheck bounced because the boss didn't go to the bank in time. I always thought that I helped build that business. My Dad worked for a small pipeline company, after he saw his best friend blown up, he thought that his friend was the one who took the biggest risk to build that business. I bet most small business owners have had employess who helped build that.
@Donita
Interesting perspective - I had not thought about it that way.
Thanks!
Mitt's colors are white and green.
Gee I wonder what will happen to the arena/stadium if Hurricane Issac hits? Remember what happen to the stadium in New Orleans when Katrina hit it? Will the Republicans want to sat "We Built That" then?
I swear the first time I heard "you didn't build it", or something like that, came out of Elizabeth Warren's mouth, but no matter who said it, it's still very true. The GOP is indeed the "stupid Party", but one I'm afraid will prevail if the Dems don't stop soft balling the right and take them on for their lying, say anything BS.
There is no point in being nice., not when the possibility of them assuming power is too close to call. Send money, defend the President and vote. Use your voice to point out that being proud to be stupid is down right stupid!
I'm scared. Anyone else afraid that these jerks will lie their way into the White House?
If only I had some extra money in an off shore account I would send a big donation to some progressive Democrats and Obama.
My true hope is that the money will be proven ineffective and make Citizens United moot and irrelevant.
Yes William S. Chiverton, I share your fear. I've been watching politics for a long time now and never have I been so afraid of a political movement. The two parties used to be pretty similar, but things have gotten completely out of hand with conservatives today. The passing of Citizen's United may be the nail that sealed the fate of our coffins as Americans. Once Republicans gain control of everything with their money, expect corruption, greed and poverty everywhere. Then expect the 2nd Great Depression. Aren't we supposed to learn from our mistakes? “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” said Sir Winston Churchill.
“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” said Sir Winston Churchill.
sholly that was actually said by the Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana Also the actual quote is
Libya has very small government and high military expenditure . Sounds like a right extremist dreamworld. I think a young ambitious conservative can set up shop there and build their business by themselves. As an added incentive, Health care costs are non-existent (Red Cross takes care of that). :)
"And the problem will apparently continue, as if self-awareness no longer matters at all."
So keep bringing it up in forums where the right wing is present. And keep bringing it up and again and again until it begins to sink in. While we aren't going to convince anyone whose whole being is supported by and depends on the right wing outlook (think cognitive dissonance here), we will bring the subject to the attention of other people who are amenable to logic and facts.
As Adlai Stevenson once said, "If my opponents will stop lying about us, we'll stop telling the truth about them."