While Drinking A Glass Of Flint Water, Obama Ripped The Heart Out Of The Republican Party

[Stellar]

More at the LINK.Politicususa.com

President Obama didn't just drink the water in Flint. Obama ripped the heart of the failed small government ideology of the Republican Party.

Obama said, “It doesn’t matter how hard you work, how responsible you are, how you raise your kids. You can’t set up a whole water system for a city. That’s not something you do by yourself. You do it with other people. You can’t hire your own fire department or your own police force, or your own army. They’re things we have to do together. Basic things that we all benefit from.”

President Obama attacked the heart of small government ideology, “Volunteers don’t build water systems and keep lead from leaching into our drinking glasses. We can’t rely on faith groups to reinforce bridges and repave runways at the airport. We can’t ask second graders, even ones as patriotic as Isiah Britt, who raised all that money, to raise enough money to keep our kids healthy. You hear a lot about government overreach. Oh, Obama, he’s for big government. Listen, it’s not government overreach to say our government’s responsible for making sure that you can wash your hands in your own sink, or shower in your own home, or cook for your family. These are the most basic services. There’s no more basic element sustaining human life than water. It’s not too much to expect for all Americans that their water is going to be safe.”

[highprincipleswork]

1. Bravo. Fighting Republican false ideas is the job of every good Democrat. This was great.

[rhett o rick]

2. Life was so nice when we could define Democrats as the good guys

and the Republicons as the bad guys. No more. Now the big money banksters, Wall Street and Koch Bros have coopted the Leadership of the Democratic Party. Rahmbo isn't doing so hot in Chicago and he calls himself a Democrat.

[central scrutinizer]

3. Yes! Debunk that libertarian bullshit!

Those assholes should move to libertarian paradises like Somalia or Honduras and see how long they survive.

[ReRe]

4. K&R

I just read those words out loud and I swear, they just sounded "Johnson-esque." Try it yourself and see if you don't feel the same thing in those words. Just basic facts, folks. Basics. No gold-diggin'. Just plain old basics of life.

[Akamai]

11. You're right! I tried reading it in LBJ voice, and although I failed miserably, I could almost hear

his voice saying this -- and his sentiment is sure with this statement.

Good call!

Go Bernie!!!

[ReRe]

12. I swear...

... it was like it was straight out of LBJ's mouth. Just give it a little whang, kind of slow with that old Texas drawl.

[OwlinAZ]

5. I worry so that Democratic Party has completely lost her way

We have a great President in Obama and the effing Republicans have made it their mission in life to thwart and denigrate him.

The Democratic Party and Corporate Media has done nothing but thwart and denigrate the man who has the great heart to lead this poor falling-apart country. (That would be Senator Sanders).

It is all very sad.

[Geronimoe]

7. Wake up

Obama is trying to fast track TPP that would end environmental protection. TransCanda is currently sing the US for $15 billion because we didn't allow them to risk our aquifers. And this was stopped by grass roots protestors. Hillary approved they XL Keystone PIpeline by allowing lobbyists to write the State Department's environmental impact statement

[PatrynXX]

9. After reading what TPP does to England

I sure can understand them wanting to leave. Forcing their better Environmental regulations than ours to meet our low Environmental regulations. And anyone knows the 1990's were not pro Environment as many groups had hoped... I see more of the same in the next 4 yrs

[zebonaut]

6. What Heart?

[ailsagirl]

13. HAH!!

[PatrynXX]

8. the Faith groups line is fun

We can’t rely on faith groups to reinforce bridges and repave runways at the airport. ----- ala Christian Scientists for roads. Hey God can you move that mountain? it's in my way . It doesn't work that way

[Akamai]

10. Wonderful, wonderful! Deeply important and all too often not made clear. Great, great sentiments!

I would really like to hear Obama attack "small government ideology" more forcefully. Maybe he does and I just don't encounter it. But Obama is one-thousand percent correct on this matter!

Go Bernie!!! (who loudly declares his belief in communitarian principles)

[Uncle Joe]

14. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Stellar.

[Stellar]

33. You're welcome!

[tclambert]

15. Republicans are willing to waste a trillion dollars on war with the wrong country, but they won't

spend millions, or in the case of Flint thousands, of dollars to improve people's lives.

[sheshe2]

16. Obama’s point...

was that the people of Flint were poisoned because Republicans money ahead of community.

Thanks Stellar. I am so glad Obama was there.

[Stellar]

32. Agreed!

And as old as I am he also reminded me (and others) that we had lead in our lives for many years...from the paint on our walls as well as in toys and in the water, before we knew any better. How many kid chewed on their toys?

[mudstump]

17. Its about time someone said this....

The push back on the republican "small government"....government can't do anything....has been silent. DWS and the dems should be driving Obama's point home every chance they get. The republicans have been shaping the narrative and talking points for 30+ years now. For Christ's sake....democrats speak up about what you stand for....tell the truth. DWS and the DNC have failed miserably. That's way we have a republican majority in Congress.

[Fast Walker 52]

26. Exactly. If the Dems can't win with the message of Flint, they are hopeless

[lostnfound]

18. Great stuff. Nt

[JDPriestly]

19. K&R.

[SunSeeker]

20. Well said. I am so proud of our President. nt

[JudyM]

21. Perfect argument against limiting government.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

22. K&R

This went beyond rhetoric and campaigning. Our President wants action, and he forcefully outlined a path toward results. Beautiful, and I hope with the coming summer weather, Flint residents get some quantifiable relief.

[Hekate]

23. It was a wonderful moment listening to Prez Obama go after them, from the governor on down...

He detailed how Flint's local elected government was squeezed dry and then overthrown and replaced by a City Manager with only one mandate: squeeze harder.

It was also wonderful listening to the governor being booed by the people he poisoned.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

24. Waaaaah! Stop politicizing the tragedy!

, obviously.

[Fast Walker 52]

25. well, duh! The Dems HAVE to nail this message home every day.

The government has a lot of important regulatory jobs to do. It's not just about "defense" and "national security".

[bigbrother05]

27. This is Obama's opening shot in the GE

This will be a recurring theme as he stumps across the country for all the down ticket candidates. He'll certainly come out for the Prez nominee, but it is critical to set the parameters for the Senate and House. He won't have to be too sensitive to GOP at the local levels.

[Javaman]

28. not having seen the press conference...

did Obama pour the glass of water from the tap of a local home?

[Geronimoe]

35. It doesn't matter

he didn't drink the water, just pretended to.

[muntrv]

29. Too many idiots think that because some towns have volunteer fire fighters,

we don't need gubmint.

[Blue_Tires]

30. Epic kick

[CanonRay]

31. Mental image of Karl Rove wriggling in a coffin with a stake through his heart

that's where the GOP is today.

[Geronimoe]

34. 90,000 Germans protesting Obama's free trade (race to the bottom) deal

and then he goes to Flint, MI to tell them Gov is working for them and their brain damaged children.

IT seems to me. a functional Gov would be serving some criminal indictments by now.

[ancianita]

36. Obama's three lessons in this speech are why we voted for him. Its truth brings tears.

Why and how to...

1. trust in big government, and

2. invest in the American people;

3. engage each other as citizens.

Obama knows more than anyone how to make America great again.

The secret is in being a lame duck president.

[Stellar]

39. hear, hear!

well said.

[Lodestar]

37. Then WHY is the Democratic Party so supportive of PRIVATIZATION????

Are they standing in the way of privatizing water and other public utilities? No.

[ffr]

38. Who here doesn't think Halliburton could do a better than city municipalities???