Fwd: Morning Bell: Obama's Second Inaugural Address, Translated

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: "The Heritage Foundation" <morningbell@heritage.org>
Date: January 22, 2013 8:36:26 AM GMT-06:00
To: Bobby Martin <bobbygmartin1938@gmail.com>
Subject: Morning Bell: Obama's Second Inaugural Address, Translated
Reply-To: morningbell@heritage.org

To ensure email delivery directly to your inbox, please add
morningbell@heritage.org to your address book now.

If you're having trouble viewing this message, please view it online.

01/22/2013 Obama's Second Inaugural Address, Translated Members of Congress—who are about to debate raising the debt ceiling tomorrow—should have paid attention yesterday. The President was very clear that he sees no urgency about reducing the debt and cutting the deficit. In fact, in his second inaugural address, President Barack Obama was honest about his intentions to grow government in order to remake our country along his progressive vision. To sell his agenda, the President borrowed imagery and terminology from America's first principles. But he twisted the American founding idea of "We the people" into the liberal "It takes a village." His rhetoric on the issues only thinly disguised his true meaning. Let's translate some of his key points. Obama on "we the people": "For the American people can no more meet the demands of today's world by acting alone than American soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism with muskets and militias. No single person can train all the math and science teachers we'll need to equip our children for the future. Or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores." Translation: In case you didn't hear me the first time, you didn't build that. He may have surrounded these words with lip service to the Constitution and America's promise of freedom, but the President revisited his core message here: It takes a taxpayer-subsidized village to build things. According to his philosophy, entrepreneurs don't create jobs—the government does. Obama on the fiscal crisis: "We, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it….We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit. But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future." Translation: I will continue to push for more tax increases instead of reforming Medicare and Social Security. On this point, the President followed up his promise that he will not negotiate on the debt ceiling by digging in his heels on taxes and entitlement programs. The "hard choices" he refers to on health care and the deficit are more tax increases—because he "reject[s] the belief" that entitlements must be reformed if they are going to stay around for the next generation. The debt limit showdown continues this week: The House will vote tomorrow on a plan that would extend the debt ceiling for three months while forcing Congress—specifically, the Senate—to pass a budget. If they do not pass a budget by April 15 under this plan, Members of Congress would stop getting paid. If House Republicans so much as blink, the President and his allies will steamroll them. Obama on green energy: "We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But American cannot resist this transition." Translation: I will continue to increase regulations on the energy sources we use and throw taxpayer money into "green" energy companies. Despite the ever-growing Green Graveyard of companies like Solyndra that took taxpayer money only to go bankrupt, the President clings to this unworkable and expensive policy. And his linking of climate change to "more powerful storms" points to a renewed push for policies like a carbon tax to punish people for using energy—a policy that would harm the economy and produce no tangible environmental benefits. Obama on foreign policy: "We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war….We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully. Not because we are naive about the dangers we face, but because engagement can more durably lift suspicion and fear." Translation: The terrorists are on the run, and I still think we can negotiate with nuclear bullies like Iran. Even as Obama pulls troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, the hostage crisis in Algeria shows that al-Qaeda is alive and well. Though Iran continues to rebuff international inspectors and basically do whatever it wants, Obama seems perpetually optimistic that more talks with this hostile regime—and others like it—could make them change their behavior. The President said yesterday that "fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges." Though the plans he laid out are not new, they definitely require a response if we are to preserve the founding principles we cherish, including our individual right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Congress has been warned, and by the President no less, that he is in no mood to compromise. If they give in, a liberal agenda like we've never known before will be implemented, while needed reforms to our entitlement programs will not take place. Holding the line is more important now than ever. Print | Comments | Forward FEATURED POSTS Chart of the Week: Each American's Share of Debt Is Skyrocketing A Housing Finance Market Without Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Will Debt Ceiling Baby Step Lead Toward a Balanced Budget? A Year Later, Keystone XL Still a Good Decision Algeria Crisis Confirms Al-Qaeda Not "On the Run" QUICK HITS President Obama isn't the only one focused on spending money on global warming. The World Economic Forum is looking at a plan for a $14 trillion "greening" of the global economy. Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision in the Supreme Court that legalized abortion. Since then, more than 55 million babies have been aborted. Israelis are voting today in an election for prime minister, and Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to win a third term in office. Taxes are so high in France now that former president Nicolas Sarkozy is reportedly thinking about moving to England. Only 30 percent of Americans agree with President Obama's demand to raise the debt ceiling without addressing spending at the same time. Today on Istook Live!, Ernest talks with Larry Pratt, president of Gun Owners of America. Tune in online from 9 a.m.-noon ET. Know anyone who shares your conservative values and principles and may want to receive the Heritage Foundation newsletters?  Please refer them to Heritage today! Connect with Heritage Facebook Twitter YouTube Kindle Flickr The Heritage Foundation 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002-4999 Call us at (202) 546-4400 Add morningbell@heritage.org to your address book to ensure that you receive emails from us.

You are subscribed to this newsletter as bobbygmartin1938@gmail.com. If you want to receive other Heritage Foundation newsletters or opt out of this newsletter please click here to update your subscription preferences.