Two Views of Work
During the 2008 campaign, Michelle Obama had this to say about her husband's work ethic:
Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.
This past Tuesday evening, Ann Romney painted a contrasting picture of Mitt Romney's approach:
This is the man who will wake up every day with the determination to solve the problems that others say can't be solved, to fix what others say is beyond repair. This is the man who will work harder than anyone so that we can work a little less hard.
Which vision do you prefer and why?
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Sep '10
Re: Two Views of Work
Mitt Romney leads from the front:
"Follow me"
Barack Obama leads from behind:
"Follow me but don't look back or you'll see my teleprompter"
May '12
Re: Two Views of Work
Ann Romney, of course.
Obama assumes we're stupid and need to be told what to do. Romney assumes that we're smart and just need encouragement to do what is best. Obama will make you do what he thinks is right. Romney will figure out what is best, and if you don't want to do it, well, the consequences are on you.
May '11
Re: Two Views of Work
If what MO said about BO was even halfway true, I would be fine with it. It is so patently false, however, that no one can take it seriously. AR's comment was very believable.
Aug '11
Re: Two Views of Work
When Michelle Obama said "Barack Obama will require you to work," she meant in the sense that Occupy Wall-Streeters 'work'. To make demands and agitate for government goodies. To work like Sandra Fluke works for free contraception. To work the room for handouts. To work your congressman to pass more entitlements.
May '10
Re: Two Views of Work
BHO's 100+ plus golf outings and sparse daily WH schedule show that MO was either fooled or a liar.
Or both.
Ann knows what her husband's work ethic is like. We are about to find out.
Re: Two Views of Work
I'm not fine with Michelle's comment, especially if heartfelt. We elect a president to do a job, to work, not to require you, the citizen, to work. If a voter wants to hang onto his cynicism--and results these last few years have confirmed the wisdom of this attitude as it pertains to the President--that's his own business.
Jun '12
Re: Two Views of Work
Michelle Obama is laughable, the most divisive people are themselves. But still there is a lot of truth in between the lines. Maybe when she meant isolation and comfort zones, she was referring to our house and our jobs. Yeah right, everyone else needs to "push" , "better" and "engage" except her husband. She is at least honest when she said "Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual". And yes, the phrase "my husband will work" or its synonym not seen in this whole passage. Thanks for posting this interesting piece.
Edited on August 30, 2012 at 9:17pmAug '12
Re: Two Views of Work
Great point.
Edited on August 30, 2012 at 8:32pmJun '11
Re: Two Views of Work
MO speaks like the wife of a dictator, or maybe a crushingly overbearing mother-in-law.
"You WILL work. You WILL do this! You WILL do that!"
Get bent, lady! liberty means I'll do what I want.
Ann speaks of someone like me -- who will do the work, not demand that you do the work for me.
Re: Two Views of Work
A quick perusal of the President's Daily Schedule reveals that Barack Obama does very little work on behalf of his employers, the American people. But Michelle never promised that Mr. Obama would work on our behalf, only that he would require us to work.
Re: Two Views of Work
...assuming we can find a job.
May '11
Re: Two Views of Work
George Savage
I'm not fine with Michelle's comment, especially if heartfelt. We elect a president to do a job, to work, not to require you, the citizen, to work. If a voter wants to hang onto his cynicism--and results these last few years have confirmed the wisdom of this attitude as it pertains to the President--that's his own business. · 19 minutes ago
My reading of her comment is that she has expressed a very conservative, even libertarian, vision of citizenship. A much smaller government would require a realignment like she describes. Maybe I misinterpreted her words.I think she and her husband use words a lot that sound good but mean something very different from what they mean.
Nov '11
Re: Two Views of Work
All Praise Barack Obama!
Before Barack, we were lazy . . .
Before Barack, we were cynical . . .
Before Barack, we were petty, stubborn, and divisive . . .
Before Barack, we were provincial hicks . . .
Before Barack, we were timid . . .
Before Barack, we were complacent . . .
Before Barack, we were out of touch . . .
Before Barack, we were self-satisfied, self-absorbed, and ignorant.
Barack perfects us. Without him, we would be nothing.
All Praise Barack Obama!
Oct '10
Re: Two Views of Work
To repeat in my own words what's been said above, It's the difference between a haranguing nanny and leading by example.
Pseudodionysius: Mitt Romney leads from the front:
"Follow me"
Barack Obama leads from behind:
"Follow me but don't look back or you'll see my teleprompter"
I'd add that Obama can only lead from behind because a whip doesn't work from the front.
May '10
Re: Two Views of Work
"...and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
-Matthew 20:27
I have been blessed with a few leadership roles so far in my life (father, manager, Sunday school teacher), and one common factor so far is that the more I work, the better the success of the enterprise. Setting an example works better than cracking the whip.
Edited on August 30, 2012 at 9:16pmJun '12
Re: Two Views of Work
Southern Pessimist
George Savage
I'm not fine with Michelle's comment, especially if heartfelt. We elect a president to do a job, to work, not to require you, the citizen, to work. If a voter wants to hang onto his cynicism--and results these last few years have confirmed the wisdom of this attitude as it pertains to the President--that's his own business. · 19 minutes ago
My reading of her comment is that she has expressed a very conservative, even libertarian, vision of citizenship. A much smaller government would require a realignment like she describes. Maybe I misinterpreted her words.I think she and her husband use words a lot that sound good but mean something very different from what they mean. · 31 minutes ago
That was how they got elected. Using fluid words that can take different shapes in different minds. But evaporates in the heat of true challenges.
Dec '10
Re: Two Views of Work
But isn't that what a community organizer does? They convince others to do the work & they get a check from some idiot foundation or govt agency.
May '10
Re: Two Views of Work
I prefer the woman who doesn't lie about her husband's agenda. Since Obama is now on record as reducing the work requirement for welfare that Bill clinton signed, he has simply made a liar or fool of his wife.
Dec '10
Re: Two Views of Work
I hate to say anything good about the Obamas, but it sounds a lot like: Ask not what your country can do for you...
Re: Two Views of Work
George, this is a no-brainer. The man Michelle Obama depicts is a busy-body intent on telling me what to do. The man Ann Romney describes is a fellow intent on doing his job. If Barack Obama had left us alone and had dedicated himself to doing his job, he would not now be doomed to defeat.