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Subscribe to RSSPresident Obama is seen speaking at a conference held at Loyola University in October 1998 about city government and public policy, in which then-Illinois state senator talked about making government more efficient.
Updated 11:29 p.m. — Mitt Romney's campaign this week has pounced on a 14-year-old clip of Obama speaking about "redistribution" in October 1998 at a conference in Chicago, in which the future president seems to extol the virtues of redistributing wealth.
Yet NBC News has obtained the entirety of the relevant remarks, which includes additional comments by Obama that weren't included in the video circulated by Republicans. That omission features additional words of praise for "competition" and the "marketplace" by the then-state senator.
In the whole clip, Obama says:
I think the trick is figuring out how do we structure government systems that pool resources and hence facilitate some redistribution because I actually believe in redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure that everybody's got a shot. How do we pool resources at the same time as we decentralize delivery systems in ways that both foster competition, can work in the marketplace, and can foster innovation at the local level and can be tailored to particular communities.
Obama continues in a few words after that to describe the use of tax credits in setting public housing development policy in Chicago as an example before concluding.
The video circulated by Republicans, which has used as fodder for an attack on Obama, includes a longer reflection by Obama about talking about how government action can be effective. But the clip has been cut short after the word "shot;" Obama's words about competition, the marketplace and innovation are omitted from the clip.
Romney has nonetheless seized upon this clip as his campaign looks to regain its footing after the release of a surreptitiously-recorded video of the GOP presidential nominee speaking at a private fundraiser in May. Romney's campaign has been bogged down in criticism from conservatives and Democrats alike since the release of the clip, in which Romney talks about how he couldn't count on the support of 47 percent of Americans, since they pay no taxes, and are "dependent" on government.
The Republican candidate has used it as campaign fodder as recently as Wednesday.
"This is how America works. It does not work by a government saying, become dependent on government. Become dependent upon redistribution. That will kill the American entrepreneurship that’s lifted our economy over the years," Romney told donors at a fundraiser this afternoon in Atlanta. "The question of this campaign is not who cares about the poor and the middle class? I do. He does. The question is who can help the poor and the middle class? I can! He can’t!"
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Watch Romney's latest clip in its entirety and you can see that he is vile and has no interest in any of the struggling American's he claims to want to represent. The funny thing is, at first he was saying that he wanted the clip from the dinner party put out in full, and now that it is he wants to just use little snippets to defend himself.
Same thing happened a while back to Shirley Sherrod..remeber her? The African American woman who was accused of being "racist" when a bigoted man sent a "clip" into Fox/Cnn/MSNBC and they ran with it, only to find out that the clip was purposely misleading. Here it is in full if you want a refresher http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9NcCa_KjXk
Watch then Senator Obama's full response and THEN decide what you think. I think the earlier statement is right in line with his current message. A moderate amount of "redistribution" is necessary, even in a Capitalist economy. That is not socialism, that is logic. Romney seems to believe in redistribution too, but from the poorest to the richest.
At this point, Mittens and the Republicants will do anything to foster the belief that Romney has any kind of chance in this election. Sorry . . . but it ain't gonna happen. Can't you all see this? If you don't then I truly feel sorry for you . . . as sorry as you seem to be while watching your fellow American's dreams evaporate. Some of us still belief in the United States of America . . . not ready to give into the United Corporations of America. Not yet.
So, once again, the Romney slash and lie tactics are brought to light. How many times can America ask "can this guy get any sleazier" and then he does!
So today a report that "The average net worth of the 400 wealthiest Americans rose to a record $4.2 billion, the magazine said. (Forbes Magazine) Collectively, this group's net worth is the equivalent of one-eighth of the entire U.S. economy, which stood at $13.56 billion in real terms according to the latest government data." That's right! 1/8th! 12% of annual value of goods and services produced by 312,000,000 million Americans in the USA!
People think that this is right? That 400 people control the equivalent 1/8 of annual value of the US economy? Maybe a little redistribution is in order!!!!!
Bill Gates didn't build Microsoft by himself. He bought the first DOS system from someone else. He cheated Steve Wozniak who did the actual original technical work. He cheated and double-crossed IBM on their "partnering" for a Intel 286 chip. Hundreds of thousands of Microsoft employees built the company and technologies. Gates was the marketing face. For that he "deserves" $66 billion? Oh gee. I forgot! He got to appoint the Board of Directors that awarded him the money!
The truth is that both Obama and Romney are wrong. This isn't "free market" capitalism. The government, and Ben Bernanke, pick winners and losers. It's not socialism either, in the "you didn't build that" philosophy. It is a Plutocracy, an Oligarchy or the Uber Rich and Corporations, neither of which gives a damn about ordinary Americans. The 99.999999% are here to pay taxes and to consume goods at a cost. Once you are retired and not earning/buying, then you are no good to them at all. A cost only! "Death Panels" won't be long in coming under either of these candidates!
CORRECTION - Meant to say "Paul Allen", not Steve Wozniak, who co-founded Apple
May these Romney operatives burn in hell......well when they lose, they will feel like they are there.
You have to give it to Santorium , when he said " The Smart people are not with us" NOW THAT, I AGREE WITH! LMAO
Who gives a crap about HIS tax returns!
About 47 percent of Americans at least, I'd say by now.
That would mean 53% don't give a crap. Majority rules so now what? The man earns a living, and he does it legally and legit as does our Dumbass in Chief Obama. Who cares about their personal wealth! Doesn't mean dick to We the People!
The Problem is the 43 percent that he's talking about, are MOSTLY REPUBLICANS, LOL,
You take math in school? Might want to think beyond your common sense.
27 red states take back more money from Uncle Sam than they pay. There are your real welfare queens, and they vote republicon.
So many sad right wing comments here.
And on this extreme left website, there isn't any by the left wing right? Always pointing the finger at someone else. The Democrat way of life.
Yeah, I haer that they got kicked out of the faux noise site. Imagine that! They are too crazy even for faux noise!
same old crap just 4 years latter. you would think he would come up with better lies. yes he should go back home and that is not Chicago, not unless Chicago has moved to Africa.
So, Fox News lies. Oh gee, what a shock.
.
Btw , this is not the first time Obama has been taken out of context. The infamous " you didn't build that " speech was actually " if you have a business , there are ROADS AND BRIDGES THAT LEAD TO YOUR BUSINESS , YOU DIDN'T BUILD THAT!" The problem with Obama , he actually thinks that most people will use COMMON SENSE. He is mistaken. When He adopted Rommney Care , His theory was , "surley Republicans wouldn't be against something they bragged about , something that they fought for, surley they wouldn't do that. Ha! He didn't know he was dealing with Palin, Bachman, Perry , etc.
He clearly said, "If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." There is no context missing. He did not say, "if you've got a business, there are roads and bridges that lead to your business, you didn't build that."
Hey OBUMMBLER.
WE "The People," are sick and tired of your lies and misdirections. You, however unfortunately, are our CinC. If you fail to fulfill your obligations according to the oath of office that you took; you will suffer consequences. Take note sir. You have been warned.
Hmmm...sounds very close to a threat against our President.
Your view does not represent mine, so please do not speak as though you represent "We the People". Your views are your own, and while some may agree, I assure you that few would be this disrespectful to a sitting President who has done what he could to keep promises despite a "just say no" group of GoP politicians who have been hounding him since the first day he took office.
@!$%# off douchebag. You can imply whatever the @!$%# you want, but there was absolutely no threat that is legally provable there. I cant wait til we get to start shooting each other.
Hey GOOFYFOOT the Secret Service will be paying you a visit tomorrow, you threatened the President of the United States, you may want go on vacation soon.
you chose your name wisely Sir, lol
goofy foot The new Republican Party. I think we found the missing 2 minutes of Romney's speach. Someone in the crowd said "Mitt, it sounds like you are dismissing 47% of Americans, many of whom are Republicans" Mitt replies: "@!$%# off douchebag. You can imply whatever the @!$%# you want"
I blame Reagan for cutting funding for mental institutions.
I'm very surprised Goffyfoot still has a Vine account. i don't think there is any way he has not badly violated the user agreement. Perhaps they are just keeping him around long enough for the secret service to get around to tracking him down? What a sad excuse for a US citizen. Glad to see others are stepping up and not letting hatred like his go unchecked.
too bad obama thinks his office is the golf course.
republicans, here's a news flash, it's over! the country has once again rejected your policies.
and here's the thing, even if you think obama is the worst president ever, just vile. think about this for a moment, the country would rather have him than you! until you get rid of the nuts , you will always be on the losing end
The Republicon con men are even too stupid to tell a lie properly and edit a video they must have gotten the video editing professionals at FOX to do it for them. They may have gotten away with the Bull Manure 40 years ago they have nothing and are desperate the SS Romnuts is taking on water and listing heavily and is about to go under.
The video came from youtube Einstein. Just another uninformed Obama supporter.
Good God, I dont know why I bothered posting here, every poster is foaming at the mouth. Where I live, we KNOW how to deal with rabid dogs. It dont involve no dogcatcher.
goofy foot, you may express you opinion here, you may disagree with our president, but you need to respect office of the president of USA. Like it or not, he was elected by majority of the people of USA. I would classify your post as a threat on presidents life and I hope that someone from government is already peaking trough you basement window, you know it is relatively easy to hack in to your computer and find your location. The avatar is not amusing.
Goofus, You are free to stop posting at any time. I would actually recommend it. Love the barely veiled threats of shooting people that don't agree with your twisted reality.
Let him post, he is just building more evidence against himself. Every venomous word is aimed at violence and lack of civility. he will have more than just a banned account to deal with once this is said and done.
Let's see. NBCNews comes to the defense of Obama's video, while assaulting Romney over his video. Can you say liberal freaking puppet?
Hey Personal... Obama video 14 years ago (they couldn't dig out anything else), Romney video recent, get the difference?
The video is only relevant to the cult following left. Most of us have already determined where Obama is taking this country and put up the red flag! We don't care if Romney pissed in Obama's face at this point. We know what "recent" events that are happening in this country and want it stopped. The approval ratings speak volumes. Odumbo will sink in the debates.
Even re-edited by the Romney campaign it sounded like a perfectly reasonable comment by a moderate politician. These people are freaking clueless.
frankelee... reasonable comment? You are obviously the lucky 35 years old one still living with your parents. Romney is offending people who do not pay taxes for various reasons, like retirees, disabled veterans, hard working people who do not make enough to pay taxes and more, to numerous to mention. He is not considering those people like him who evade paying taxes using low life schemes. If you do not see the contradiction, you are probably blind; pun intended, but then you would be disabled and you would not pay taxes, so he is talking about you.
Traveler, he was referring to Obama's comment. LOL Obama's comment sounded reasonable. Anyone who can grasp the concept of "redistribution" would agree. Fox and Rush have convinced people the word means "seize your bank accounts and give the money to welfare people"
we could use a few dogcatchers here, there is plenty of obama puppies around.
Dude, there's no way you can tick anyone off that's for Obama, watching Romney is like watching a comedy act, you can bash Obama all you want , it's your right but it's like the nerd talking about the cool guy with the girl, You bash but in the end , we'll be at the party and the Republicans will be blaming each other
I will take a "comedy act" as you state over the current destruction financially and militarily of this nation under the current Douchebag in Chief. Hope your kids are real hard workers. They have an awful lot of debt to make up. Obama will have this country at 22 trillion by 2016 and to the point of no return! China owns us. How does that feel?
Cain, Bachman, Perry, Gingrich, Romney, lol , If you really think about it , it's very funny
I have a better joke, obama 2012 lol
Yeah, and we'll be laughing all the way to another Inauguration, lol
You may be laughing, but your children and grand-children won't, 16 trillion dollar debt is nothing to laugh about!!!
94% of that debt come from three people.
Reagan
Bush
Bush/cheney.
ReaganBushDebt.org
Do you remember Star Wars? Hundreds of Billions wasted.
How about the Iraq Abortion? Or the tax cuts? The republicon deregulation that caused the Great Recession? The Bushvilles?
Do you know that if the Democrats had done what they did and the republicons had balanced their budgets we would have almost no national debt today?
The last Presidents to pay down on the national debt were President Clinton and President Carter.
Dear GOP,
You know what this is a sign of...WEAKNESS...how dare you conjured up a FOURTEEN YEAR old video and try to use it in your campaign..lmao! Desparate calls, for desparate measures I guess...they are scrambling because their time has run out
You are the weakest link Romney, they should kick you out of the GOP lol
Obama/Biden 2012
and if that happens you can kiss you country good by.
"YAWN" This video isn't even worth commenting on. But it is certainly an indicator of how very desperate the Romney people are getting. Pew shows Obama ahead by 8 points! The strongest lead shown at this same point in an election in YEARS!? They'd bettter do better than this, or the cooked up Kenya story. Give me a break! Don't insult my intelligence! Get used to it. President Obama is smarrter, more accomplished, more likeble and honest, than Mitt Romney could ever pray to be.
bbi.. ever pray to be in Mormon church.