"I am an ardent believer in the free market"

That statement from Obama yesterday:

"Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, I am an ardent believer in the free market," Obama said in prepared remarks.

Obama said his efforts to enact sweeping legislation to overhaul financial regulations and set caps on carbon emissions to fight climate change were not aimed at thwarting businesses.

"We have arrived at a juncture in our politics where reasonable efforts to update our regulations, or make basic investments in our future, are too often greeted with cries of 'government takeover' or even 'socialism'," Obama said.

"Getting this balance right has less to do with big government or small government than it does smart government. It's not about being anti-business or pro-government; it's about being pro-growth and pro-jobs," he said.

We should next expect Al Gore today to step before the microphones and proclaim his support for scientific inquiry, for Nancy Pelosi to announce her love of filibustering and the nuclear option, for Harry Reid to sing the praises of bipartisanship and Jeremiah Wright to reveal his love for Israel.

Would make as much sense and garner as much credibility as Obama's pronouncement.

These people really believe we're idiots.

They really do.

Crossposted(*).

Comments

[Dennis De]

What part of "free market" does Obama not undertand? Free means that the market makes the descision as to who succeeds and who fails. The market will always make a better decision than government planning.

[Matteo]

What Obama spends most of his time saying, in essence, is this:

"These aren't the droids you're looking for."

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

"I am an ardent believer in the free market”… even though I’ve taken control of GM and trying to take control of the health care industry, have set pay for executives of private companies, have vilified and denigrated Wall Street and numerous other private sector industries and companies, have hired numerous self proclaimed Communists/Marxists/Socialists for my administration, my mentor was a communist, my father was a communist, my autobiographies contain numerous references to socialism tendencies, there are various video taped interviews over the years verifing my socialistic beliefs and lastly, I told Joe the Plumber “I want to redistribute the wealth”…but pay no attention to that.

[locomotivebreath1901]

Very well said, Mr. BH. May I quote you?

[Jim Shearon]

I'm a firm and ardent supporter of open competition. It encourages business to trim fat and look for the best ways to be competitive in the marketplace. The government is a machine, and as such, is subject to tremendous maintenance and invitable breakdown. Obviously the people in Washington have not learned this most basic concept. Less government regulation and control will bring the American economy back. Until the selfish politicians come to know this and renounce their ways nothing will change. Just look a Barack Obama. Need I say more?

[Mommynator]

To quote and paraphrase The Princess Bride, "I do not think you understand what those words mean."

[ZZMike]

What he does speaks so loudly I can't hear what he says.

[Chris Vehr]

"These people really believe we're idiots.

They really do."

They have good reason to believe it. We ELECTED them!

[PackerBronco]

Bambi believes in a free market that is controlled by the government

[Puma Outlet]

Does it not depend on the method by which the $100/$120 is paid? Someone who values their time is more likely to settle for $100 instantly rather than go out of their way in 3 days' time to pick up an extra $20... once the subject has to go away and come back to pick up money, it makes little difference how long they have to wait so they opt for more. So they're willing to give up $20 to avoid wasting time in the future - would that make sense?