Obama: 'Nobody envies rich people'

[beNder]

(CNN) - President Barack Obama hit back Friday at a charge lobbed at him from Republican presidential candidates, saying the suggestion he's inciting class warfare was flat wrong.

Speaking to Democratic lawmakers at a retreat on Maryland's Eastern Shore, Obama said he would actively rebut that charge in the coming election year.

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"This is one of the biggest things I'm going to be pushing back on this year, this notion that this is somehow class warfare, that we're trying to stir up envy," Obama said.

"Nobody envies rich people, everybody wants to be rich. Everybody aspires to be rich, and everybody understands you've got work hard to be successful. That's the American way."

Candidates seeking the 2012 GOP presidential nomination have accused Obama of pitting 'haves' against 'have nots,' saying his rhetoric and policies amount to redistribution of wealth.

In his victory speech the night of New Hampshire's primary, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Obama was a "leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy," suggesting his proposals boiled down to an indictment of free enterprise.

Fellow candidate Newt Gingrich has also made the argument Obama is engaging in class warfare, saying in December the president has a "European radical attitude toward class warfare."


Source (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/27/obama-nobody-envies-rich-people/)

[C.Puffs]

Yeah, that's bullcrap. That's why he keeps pouring gasoline on the whole matter. But I guess if he tells you he's not that's good enough eh?

[Jurinko]

Envy and stupidity are two main cornerstones of leftism. What is he babbling about?

[toad]

He is insipid when he spinning....

(I know what you are thinking, that is all the time!) But he has some serious moments.

But Puuuhhhhleaese... his policies are class warfare. The majority of his policies are divisive.

/maybe a nice guy
//maybe a nice golf partner
///maybe a mistake

[mshnell]

Envy, another word for greed.

[C.Puffs]

Envy, another word for greed.

Yeah, kindof ironic the fleabaggers accusing the rich of being greedy.

[Laconian]

Envy, another word for greed.

Not in any Thesaurus or dictionary that I have does envy = greed. Covetous maybe begrudging, but greed no.

[Corrupt]

Noone jumping on him for describing working hard to be successful as "the American way."?

[California Joe]

Not really sure when wanting a level playing field became unAmerican. I always thought it was a strength of our society.

[LineDoggie]

Yeah!!! let Special Olympics capitalism. Like a gold star on everyones forehead lets make sure even is even steven. Those who have more dont play well with others.

[California Joe]

Are you drunk?

[C.Puffs]

Not in any Thesaurus or dictionary that I have does envy = greed. Covetous maybe begrudging, but greed no.


Granted it's just Wiki but, "Greed is an excessive desire to possess wealth, goods, or abstract things of value with the intention to keep it for one's self."

The central theme of the 99% movement is that someone else has what they feel they should have. They want to take what others have (by dressing it up as "taxes") and are screaming like spoiled children to get it. They're not saying, "tell me how to be more successful" instead it's, "gimme, gimme, gimme".



Not really sure when wanting a level playing field became unAmerican. I always thought it was a strength of our society.

I don't really get the impression that those demanding their student loans be forgiven etc. would be too happy if the playing field were actually level. Saying buh-bye to every form of government handout and loop hole IMO would only make the disparity larger. A level playing field seems to imply a flat tax as well. I always felt the American Way was to better one's position through hard work and determination, not by dragging someone else down for daring to be more successful.

[Euroamerican]

Equal opportunity and "everyone should have a 'fair go'"? Yes.
Guaranteeing equal outcomes? No

[DaveDash]

Glued to their TV watching rich spoilt brat families living lives they'll never have, then out protesting the next day asking for rich peoples money?

On the contrary Mr President I think many people are envious of the wealthy, always have been, and always will be.

[kimujnr]

I'm sure we all understand the context of his words but just choose to misconstrue them. I am certain he meant nobody is envious in that most folks don't despise or harbor ill will upon the rich, they just wish they could get a fair shot at joining the club.

[beNder]

Glued to their TV watching rich spoilt brat families living lives they'll never have, then out protesting the next day asking for rich peoples money?

On the contrary Mr President I think many people are envious of the wealthy, always have been, and always will be.

If that is how you view people other than the rich then you have lived a sheltered life.

[C.Puffs]

I'm sure we all understand the context of his words but just choose to misconstrue them. I am certain he meant nobody is envious in that most folks don't despise or harbor ill will upon the rich, they just wish they could get a fair shot at joining the club.

Not everybody can be rich. It's kinda like asking, "why isn't everybody an Olympic gold medalist". Granted, there are a few who start out in a family with money but the majority don't. So most do have the same "fair shot", but like anything else some are more likely to achieve than others. I know two people personally who were multimillionaires in their early 30s. Neither one came from money. One guy literally started his business in his basement and the other started off while living in an apartment with his mother who he was supporting. I also know several people with the attention span of a gnat and sense of responsibility of an infant. They're not millionaires.

[Ought Six]

Not really sure when wanting a level playing field became unAmerican. I always thought it was a strength of our society.Enforced economic equality is not "a level playing field", nor is it equal opportunity. It is, however, absolutely unAmerican.

[Ought Six]

I'm sure we all understand the context of his words but just choose to misconstrue them. I am certain he meant nobody is envious in that most folks don't despise or harbor ill will upon the rich, they just wish they could get a fair shot at joining the club.But if you look at the rhetoric of the Occupy movement, which the Dems and Obama praise and encourage, hatred of the rich is their central theme. Obama's primary campaign tagline is that the rich 'do not pay their fair share'. This is all pure class warfare.

[Flagg]

For an understanding of wealth I would strongly encourage folks to read up on a dude named Thomas Stanley and his books like "Millionaire Mind" and "Millionaire Next Door", as well as about another 6-8 titles focused on aspects of affluence/wealth in America.

It's not "get rich quick" stuff.......

It's factual data on wealth in the US...specifically on who has it, who earns it, and how they earn it.

Most people think someone driving around in a Porsche and wearing a Rolex is wealthy......Stanley proves that to be incorrect in most cases...usually high income, low net worth individuals

Most people think that someone driving a Ford F150 and having a Sears credit card in their wallet would be poor or middle class....Stanley proves that the majority of the wealthy in the US drives vehicles like a Ford F150 and shop at Sears.....more often middle to high income, high net worth individuals(wealthy segment demographics).

1st Generation Russian Americans possess a much higher than average likelihood of achieving affluence/wealth than most other immigrant groups.

The majority of the wealthy(say tangible net worth between $5-10 million or so) in America most people wouldn't recognize as wealthy....they are affluent/wealthy small to medium sized business owners.....the seedcorn of the US economy and job creation machine.

The President makes comments about "jet owners" to focus and shape anger away from his administration and towards an easy target the wealthy.

You can't grow a record bounty economic crop next season and the season after, if you eat your seedcorn this season.

Those who create jobs, value, and equity in their businesses(and who also often share the bounty fairly) should be put on a pedestal to be honoured and emulated.....rather than crucified by a new Spanish Inquisition against the wealthy.

[IconOfEvi]

Ive harbored a theory for a while about wealth, namely that the people who demand action against the wealthy should themselves be made wealthy. Why?

Because they would find themselves doing the exact same, or worse.

Consider it an economic version of the Damocles Sword story. Without the sense of death, and more a sense of shame, irony, or lack of it.