Obama: 'If you've got a business - you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen'

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
7/16/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

President Obama makes some bold statements in a speech at Roanoke, Virginia

U.S. President Barack Obama made some bold statements at a speech in Roanoke, Virginia. Many of the statements fly in the face of the notion of the American self-made man and the concept of the American success story. One chief quote is "If you've got a business - you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."

'There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me - because they want to give something back. They know they didn't - look, if you've been successful, you didn't get there on your own,' President Obama said in a speech delivered in Roanoke, Virginia.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - In essence, the president said that successful Americans "didn't get there" on their own.

"There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me - because they want to give something back. They know they didn't - look, if you've been successful, you didn't get there on your own," the transcript reads.

"You didn't get there on your own. I'm always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something - there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there.

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business - you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn't get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet."

Elizabeth Warren made news after she said last September that "there is nobody in this country who got rich on his own - nobody." Her speech was hotly criticized, and now Barack Obama seems to be saying almost exactly the same thing.

The official transcript can be read here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/07/13/remarks-president-campaign-event-roanoke-virginia

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Keywords: President Obama, Roanoke, Virginia, business

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1 - 10 of 59 Comments

Judy Claar
9 months ago
Rob, Yes. I think I have answered this question by way of other posts to you on other articles. I just think we do not really have much of a choice when it comes to voting for a president. Jo Ann's post on filling Congress and Senate as well w/Rep. is Right on. All this must be done for Real accomplishment. IF it is, I should think, that the Rep. will do the things as it has always done, and been doing: Dems. spend, spend, spend, and Rep. have to get us out of the mess. And you know my feelings on Obama Abortion. I think the people have raised their voices loud enough, that if we do get a Rep. president, senate and congress, that we might stand a good chance of some reversals in this country. "Sacred Heart Of Jesus, Immaculate Heart Of Mary, Pray For Us"....
Rob
9 months ago
Judy, I sure do wish that the GOP, instead of show vote after show vote, actually did something tangible with the ACA. While they are in the position of not being able to repeal, why on earth can they not work to remove, alter and change the parts of the law that are terrible. If they had the will to do this I really do think it would happen. But I am absolutely convinced that the politics of the bill is far more preferrable than actually doing something for the American people. It's far more important than these guys actually doing their jobs.
Judy Claar
9 months ago
Anita A.: I am sorry I did not address the lovely Parks, etc. built during the Depression Era. Yes. God granted FDR what he needed to put America back to work and to create JOBS. Those jobs indeed helped the USA as well as beautify it immensely! Obama is Not President Roosevelt. Prayerful Blessings...
By this post to you, I am polite.I am not unkind to you. And state facts which are backed up w/stats. When I type, I usually have a lot to say, with only so much time to respond in. Therefore, I tend to be concise.
Rob
9 months ago
Judy, I understand your angst about the Affordable Health Care Act. I state it's real name to be technically precise (we Catholics are about the truth right?). I think it's a misnomer to say this was crammed down our throats. It went through the legislative process and was signed into law. Maybe we all didn't agree, but it was not crammed. And this same legislative process will be used to over turn it if the will of the people dictates it. As we all know and live everday, elections have consequences. This one had this consequence. The next one will have some too.

I guess all I can say about Romney, given his record, is that at least he's flip flopping the right way. I would rather have someone become pro-life than otherwise. Although the guy just strikes me as someone who will say and become whatever he has to to win this office. I think Gingrich had this part right.
Judy Claar
9 months ago
Anita A. I agree. Anyone who thinks that they have accomplished something all on their own is arrogant. And I think that is the point. We should all know it. From our Church. From the Celestine Prophecy. W h y? did Obama even have to say it? To anyone listening to him or reading his words it was a matter of perception. It could be taken as an insult to one's intelligence, or, a bad blunder and choice of words by the American president. One that proved to be a bad reflection of image. Those who wish to coddle and protect Obama from "the Big Bad Others who disagree", have yet to grow up. These people who "disagree" have not used bad language, have spoke their own truth, (which you and I have also done),and to my knowledge, have done no name calling.,,perhaps you can enlighten me? It is my assumption, that others writing in like you, who appear not to be regulars on CO, need, as Bill Sr. and Rub said, for us to invite you to break bread w/us. Here and at Church.We are a community of Love. Catholics of Good Conscience will vote Romney instead of Obama because he and his Obamacare package support Abortion=Murder and everything that goes w/it. Let alone, Health Mandates against the Catholic Church. Planned Parenthood is not womens health care.THAT is an insult to my intelligence! So you see Anita, from my Catholic perspective, we sometime have healthy debates, healthy opinions, thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc., And sometimes, we have questions needing answered. Sometimes one posts politely as a sounding board. And sometimes we just need to BE. Anita, Jesus and His disciples were the same way. What is even more, they lived in a Pagan world. Most of us here are filled w/Love for their Brother and Sister. We invite you to join us here, as well as Church. Set yourself Free. Christ is the Way. "Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray For Us".
Prayerful Blessings...
Jim W
9 months ago
I am not a fan or politically supportive of this president. However the headline sound bite of this article is not representative of the message Mr. Obama was delivering and is a blemish on the credibility of any organisation that distributed it. It is this type of cherry picking sound bites, out of context, by both parties and all their offshoot caucuses and supporters that feeds the flame of no cooperation, deadlock on important issues we all want solved and a general lack of respect, courtesy, empathy, credibility and high human codes of conduct in government as defined by Christians or most any religious or secular philosophy. It is fine and even patriotic to be critical and voice opposing views with the president or any others we don't agree with, but please have the integrity, credibility and courtesy to your listeners to do it candidly and without injecting misleading messages and views into the mouths of others. Many of us want real change from what is in place now, but if we can't accomplish it with integrity and honest dialogue we will end up repeating our tendency to only have the choice of the least worst candidate and laws when we vote.
Anita Andazola
9 months ago
For starters, let's have more faith in God than in business, politics and name calling. I recall the thousands of Depression Era poor who built some of the sweetest examples of masonry we have in our National Parks. They built bridges and schools, they made art. This is not socialism, this is democracy, the decision to craft a nation on the golden rule. Anyone who thinks they can do anything alone is pretty arrogant. Let's have a little realism. If you eat dinner tonight, it's not just the money you've earned that has provided it. Think of all the steps that occurred to get it to your table, many of which you and your wallet had no control over.
Judy Claar
9 months ago
Jolanda K: In your opinion. At this stage of the game most minds are made up: Romney v. Obama. For Catholics of Good Conscience, Romney is the natural pick hands down. Why? He is a Pro-Life President. He is against Obamacare, which, in a Free country, is NOT FORCED down your throats. Some of us see Life and Liberty slowly ebbing away... Like a diminished wave, once on the shore. And it saddens us. So much so, that tears remain full, in our eyes, until a cup runneth over...and still, the eyes are filled to capacity. Why? Because we are in Full mourning. (You seem to not know this? Abortion is the killing of innocent soul babies. Even if you do not believe in souls, what about Life? Science acknowledges this. Yet Obama and evidently you, do not. Jolanda, from the bottom of my heart, I do not understand how one can believe science, DNA,etc., and be for the Obamacare the supports Abortion and its package. I do not further understand the further evil he projects on the Catholic Church with the HHS. Jolanda, please answer nicely what I do not understand.Blessings..
Jolanda Kenyeres
9 months ago
President Obama and professor Warren are correct.
No men is an island of itself. The US is like a big community where there is an infrastructure which makes today,s life possible. We got educated, cared for, used many support system in order to create a business. To say otherwise is truly arrogant.
I used this website for my reading and prayers, and did not read other segments on this site. Today I have looked at all the content, and I was shocked and ashamed. How can my church became a platform for spreading propaganda, half truth; to forget the basic teachings of our faith. This is what Catholic Church and faith stands for today. Jesus would come today and turn over the table holding all this merchandise of propaganda and would chase them off the Internet if it was done in his name.
Yes, our society is sick today, when only money rules, when everything is a merchandise when daily we are bombarded with lies, wants not for the good of the people, but for the few. This website has sold its soul to those few.
Stephany
9 months ago
No, Everett Mann, it was not said "perfectly". Obamas tone of voice and posture were part of his speech. He was telling off the American people once again, and belittling any success or satisfaction one might feel for having built ones own business.

You can sugar coat anything, but truth be told, Obama does not like the American people, and it shows in the way he conducts himself on a daily basis, especially when "campaigning" which he does incessantly. His campaign voice is a bellow. That is our president! Look at how he treats those of the other party. They gave him a chance and they tried to work with him, but they were shut down with "we won". End of discussion.

Look how he treats the Catholic Church. Look how he treats life in the womb. Listen to his sarcasm.

We need a president to restore dignity to the office, to lead the American people back from the edge of disaster that he has led us to with all the spending It appears he thinks we all belong to him as slaves or something.

No, Mr. Mann, we heard him, so don't call his speech "perfect". After all, we didn't fall off the proverbial turnip truck.

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