August 7, 2008

Obama: I Want to Be President Because America Isn't What It Once Was

@ 12:38 pm by Hill Staff

In Elkhart, Indiana, a seven-year-old girl asked Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Wednesday why he wanted to be president. His response: Because America is going downhill.

“America is no longer what it could be, what it once was," Obama told her. "And I say to myself, I don’t want that future for my children.”

Obama has already drawn fire for the comment from conservative bloggers, who have compared it to his wife's remark that she was proud of her country "for the first time in [her] adult life."

-Katie Stapleton-Paff

Archived under: Campaigns, News, Presidential Campaigns
Tags: Barack Obama

23 Comments »

1. This is the most disgusting comment His Highness has made to date!! How dare he use a 7-year old to spew out his anti-American garbage. Just as he allow his children to sing along with the vile words of Ludicris and Snoop Dogg, now he will inculcate the children with his form of the perfect world. He wasn't even in this country until well past his formative years….and he is trying to bring his troubled youth to your children. This is what the schoold will be like under and Obama admistration. Reject this Marxist/Socialist Now!!!!

   Comment by Virginia — August 7, 2008 @ 2:14 pm

2. This is merely a downturn. Socialism will never make this county what it was. A real good start would be to stop breeding people on welfare. It appears most drop out of school and turn to crime or having babies on welfare. We have too many people now and should stop letting in people either legals or illegals.

   Comment by Jack Kinch(1uncle) — August 7, 2008 @ 2:16 pm

3. This is one of those things that you shouldn't say in an election cycle, but is pretty much right on point.

   No, America is not what it used to be. What did is used to be? We used to be the most powerful nation in the world. We used to be a nation of immigrants; the land of opportunity. Land of the free, home of the brave.

   No question our international clout has diminished. No, I don't think that it is a permanent event, but it will take some work to gain respect around the world again.

   And since when is saying that you want to make America better unpatriotic?

   Comment by SP — August 7, 2008 @ 2:36 pm

4. Interesting….

   If America was what it ONCE WAS, Obama would not
   be a presidential candidate.

   Comment by Jan in TX — August 7, 2008 @ 2:59 pm

5. Most of what is "not what it used to be is the result of all of the anti-American trash spewed out by the Obama left. I really don't get it in one speech old America, Jim Crow America, was bad and now the the new, multi-cultural, America is "going down-hill too! Why doesn't this guy just move back to where-ever the hell he came from and leave us to our 'decline"?

   Comment by william — August 7, 2008 @ 3:00 pm

6. I see nothing disturbing in Obama stating fact; this country is a shell of what it once was. We no longer lead the world economically or militarily, we are hated all over the globe,our private industries are driven by greed rather than producing a good product at a fair price (Hell, what am I saying! America doesn't manufacture anything anymore), our elected, appointed and religous leaders are corrupt and ineffective, the business districts of our largest cities are owned by foreign investors, etc. I'm no Obama fan but he's right. I truly fear for this country's future and the future of my kids and grandchildren. This country could very easily experience collapse.

   Comment by Chuck — August 7, 2008 @ 3:01 pm

7. Liberalism is a sickness; this simply proves it once again. What a shame, we can do better than this!

   Comment by Neal Callaham — August 7, 2008 @ 3:02 pm

8. Hey - SP
   So are you implying that we SHOULD be the most powerful nation in the world? Wow - that certainly makes the rest of the world love us, eh????

   One of the downsides of third world nations establishing democracies and stronger economies is they no longer worship America. They criticize our government and THEIR government.
   Ain't Freedom GRAND?????????

   Comment by Jan in TX — August 7, 2008 @ 3:02 pm

9. I'm sorry; I have lived all over the world. Don't believe the hype: the U.S. is not hated. A clear majority does not care for the U.S. president, but that does not affect their love for the States. I have but very, very rarely experienced any anti-Americanism and I have been all over the Middle East. Don't confuse a few images on TV of some crazy radicals burning effigies and flags in the streets with what the vast majority think.

   Comment by Jake in Belgium — August 7, 2008 @ 3:18 pm

10. Hey, Chuck. Yes we still are the World's major economic and military force. But when the Libs tax us out of business, and reduce our military to a joke, you will be right.

    Comment by lee kenty — August 7, 2008 @ 4:05 pm

11. Liberalism: Syphillis in the American Body Politic.

    Comment by john — August 7, 2008 @ 4:10 pm

12. America "ain't what it used to be"??? If that were true, then why is everyone trying to get to this country… STILL!? Why are we still the richest people? Why do we have the most powerful VOLUNTEER military force? Why do we have a higher educational system second to none in the world? Why is our medical services so good, people from 1st world countries come here for treatment? Why are our engineers and scientist still the smartest, brightest?

    My gawd, this man is the most arrogant moron I think I've ever seen.

    Comment by Bryan — August 7, 2008 @ 4:23 pm

13. Would Mr. Obama please tell us when it was better in America? When exactly is this better time? Was it before over 50% of minorities owned their own homes? Was it before a woman could make a serious run at the presidency? Was it before the Civil Rights Act? Before World War II? Would either Mr. Obama or one of his sheep tell us when this wonderful time was?

    Comment by MinniePearlJam — August 7, 2008 @ 5:03 pm

14. Once again the quote from Breit Bart (whose brightness I am beginning to doubt) is not complete and has the effect of cutting off the truth of what the man has said.
    We are not what we were 8 years ago. We are on the ropes, on the brink of catastrophe. We are broken economically our intfrastructure is falling apart. and we face the huge mess created by two wars. Neither executed the way they should have been.

    Our health system cannot take care of those who need help most.
    30 million Americans live in poverty. The poverty rate for children in 2006 was 21.9% which is the highest chld poverty rate in the developed world and it continues to widen. The U.S. has the highest likelihood of a child not surviving to age 60 in the developed world; the third highgest percentage of adults lacking functional literacy skills and the highest percentage of persons living on less thatn 50% of the national median income–all this in the wealthiest nation in the world.
    I could go on but the truth of the matter is–the United States is not what it was. And George W Bush has helped to pound a few nails in the coffin ,he and his oil cronies have bled us dry. We cannot support our own country and meet its needs. And it has nothing to do with Barack Obama and everything to do with fat cats sitting on the wall thumbing their noses and their pocketbooks at those who are in need.

    Comment by Namaste — August 7, 2008 @ 5:36 pm

15. Namaste:

    Sorry, but even if this is the correct "longer" quote your guy is still wrong, wildly wrong. "We were not what we were 8 years ago, we are on the ropes, we are on the brink of a catastrophe"? Give me a break. None of that is true. Could we be better? Sure, but when the unemployment rate is less than 6%, mortgages are less than 7%, inflation, while a little higher than the average of the last 15 years, is still relatively low and in the meantime the country as a whole is substantially richer than ever before? And as to some of the negative statistics, even if you have the numbers right, here is the key: the paramount value of this country is freedom. That includes the freedom to do stupid things, not to get an education, to get pregnant as a teenager, not to learn to read and write. What you want is a nanny state to MAKE sure all of us do all of the things that we should do, even if it requires a little (or even a lot) of coercion. But once the state starts down that path, where will it end? Socialism, high taxes, high regulation, a European socialits nanny state with the anemic growth rates that they have now. But wait! Even Europe is starting to figure that out, which is why they are moving in our direction. For example, their corporate tax rates are now below ours. Maybe instead of making all of their mistakes on our own we should learn from what they have done wrong.

    Comment by Oregon Republican — August 7, 2008 @ 5:58 pm

16. "what the world needs now is love sweet love…" Obama is the product of liberal anti-american indoctrination. How can you help someone or something you don't like? He doesn't want to help America, he wants to change America into a socialist nation. He wants to be the KING of the world! And scary, he thinks he already is destined for that divine calling!

    Comment by rae22 — August 7, 2008 @ 7:43 pm

17. I repeat "Obama spent his youth in other countries". Will he please let us know which "era" of America he refers to as being worthy his appoval. We would all be very happy to make the statistical evaluation for both him and Michelle (who is just now "proud of her country". These are actual statements by these people. Shall we change the "Star Spangled Banner to a rap song by Ludecris and/or Snoop Dogg?? Perhaps the "Internationale" is more to his liking.

    Comment by Virginia — August 7, 2008 @ 9:47 pm

18. Regarding Chucks comment…

    "We no longer lead the world economically or militarily"

    Chuck, why dont you actually LEARN something before saying something that is outrageously, obviously, incredibly, and sorry to say, IGNORANTLY wrong!

    Can you REALLY be that stupid to say exactly the OPPOSITE of what we are?

    WE are the bread basket for MOST of the world's countries.
    WE are the users of 25% of the worlds energy such that we can produce products for the REST of the world! Obama hates that we do that by the way…
    WE are the military force that prevents China from invading Taiwan, North Korea from attacking Japan, Iran from doing deadly Russian deals, Libya from becoming a moving force, Israel from being decimated by ALL of the other neighboring countries… need I go on? You are a fool. Get your facts straight before you come here and embarrass yourself again…
    Ron

    Comment by Ron Spectre — August 7, 2008 @ 10:44 pm

19. You are some of the most foul-mouthed m0therf$ker$ and wh0re$ that I have ever heard.

    You are the very reason Senator Obama made that statement.

    Comment by BillForObama — August 8, 2008 @ 6:55 am

20. BillForObama: I doubt if you even realize just how your use of gutter talk proves everyone's point. I shudder to think that you could have children; they have to be taught to hate. You would be an excellent example of pathetic loser.

    Comment by Lorraine — August 8, 2008 @ 12:29 pm

21. i guess america will feel less guilty about slavery with obama in the limelight.

    Comment by Albert Howard — August 8, 2008 @ 1:06 pm

22. How is this any different than Reagan implying that America was worse off after four years of Jimmy Carter? Heck, Obama is just saying he wants to return morning to America?

    Comment by Travis — August 8, 2008 @ 1:50 pm

23. Obama and his left wing cronies continue to bash America, while insisting that he is the messiah who will restore our country to it's former greatness … and restore our status with the international community … however, the international community continues to hold back aid to hungry and under privileged countries, while America continues to give much more foreign aid than other countries … even the oil rich countries … see the stats at:
    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,403182,00.html

    Comment by Gina — August 13, 2008 @ 2:42 pm

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