The president didn’t say that

By The Cranky Housewife -

"You didn't build that." 

That's the phrase of the week which has stirred up a hornet's nest of controversy and distress as people begin to wonder – some for the very first time, "Is that seriously what the President of the United States thinks about me? Is that what he is saying about all of my hard work and sacrifice? I didn't build that? Excuse me, Mr. President. I most certainly did."

Who would have thought that one throw-away phrase could have so much staying power – that one teleprompter-free moment could so rapidly erode the president's already waning popularity? And we now have mounting evidence that the heartfelt indignation which likely voters are experiencing is a source of consternation for Barack Obama and his reelection committee. So concerned are they about the impression that Barack Obama's perceived contempt for business leaders and entrepreneurs left with voters that Obama's campaign has sent the president's deputy campaign manager out to put the record straight.

The President of the United States believes that he is being taken unfairly out of context and here's Stephanie Cutter translating for the American people… who are apparently just not bright enough to figure this all out for themselves… exactly what the president meant when he said that now infamous phrase, "You didn't build that."

Just a quick sidebar which has nothing to do with today's topic, but I can't stop thinking about Ms. Cutter's pointed question, "Does [Romney] even understand how the economy works?" You know, readers. That's the problem with these career politicians who have never experienced the private sector as a working participant – who have never been responsible for balancing the books or making a payroll or turning a profit. They just don't get it. They have no clue about how the real world works.

What's that you say? Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I'm getting confused between the two candidates or something. You're telling me that Mitt Romney did work in the private sector? He did have to balance the books? You can't be serious. You're actually trying to tell me that he did have to make a payroll and he was responsible for turning a profit?

Well then, I guess he does kind of know how the private sector works, and I think we're having one of those "things that make you go hmmm" moments. So let's just take the opportunity to enjoy the glow of Ms. Cutter's non-sequitur because some things are just too good to not savor.

But back to the point at hand. Gosh. It's such a shame that we live in the 1920s. How awful that there's no way to tell for ourselves what Barack Obama actually said – that we have to either take Mitt Romney's or President Obama's word for it. It's too bad we can't see for ourselves if Romney is taking Barack Obama out of context. If only we had some kind of…I don't know…like a recording device that would allow us to play back that moment in time – over and over again – like video evidence or something to prove once and for all what the president said and the way he said it.

*grin* What exactly did the President say to a crowd of supporters in Roanoke, Virginia on July 13, 2012?

And how did Mitt Romney respond?

So I ask the readers, "Did he? Did Mitt Romney take Barack Obama out of context?"