“I’m the guy doing my job, you must be the other guys!” President Obama quoted a line from the movie “The Departed” when he compared his job performance to the contrary and obstinate GOP with whom he has struggled to find a middle ground with for both of his terms in office. An incredulous but cool Obama was specifically referring of course, to recent calls from the GOP for his impeachment. Alternately, they would accept the consolation prize of a lawsuit against him, that Republicans want Speaker Boehner to push through.
The very irony of a call for impeachment from the same party which staged a walk out (to the tune of $29 billion dollars), and refused to cooperate under any circumstances, is not lost on the President. It is not lost on many voters either – a fact, which the Party of Denial surely blames on President Obama. The old joke is that if Obama walked on water, just as Jesus is reported to have done – the GOP would say ‘he can’t swim.’ If he healed the sick, he would be ‘against physicians earning a living.’ It has taken him a very long time to admit, “Maybe it’s just me they don’t like.” I think we’ve known that all along. The man can’t win according to the sore losers in DC. In reality, he can ‘win.’ For years, President Obama has invited and cajoled Republicans to play nicely together, so as to accomplish mutual goals, the kind that aid the voters…But their stated goal is not to cooperate, under any circumstances! Their actions show that they only wish to act to benefit wealthy conservative contributors such as the NRA and the Koch Brothers. Americans aren’t as dumb as the loudest of us would have you believe. If Republicans can’t convince voters that they’ve had a big change of heart, they will lose in the 2014 Midterms.
It is fantastic to see Obama taking the gloves off with grace and humor, while imparting some home truths to Republicans. It’s way past time…But boy howdy is it therapeutic to watch! Although I’ve included a transcript, I encourage you to watch this relatively short clip, and see if you don’t agree that as good as it is, much is lost without seeing his expressions, and the reaction of the crowd.
In his own words:
“As long as Congress will not increase wages for workers, I will go and talk to every business in America if I have to. There’s no denying a simple truth: America deserves a raise, and if you work full-time in this country, you shouldn’t live in poverty. That’s something that we all believe.Now, here’s where it gets interesting. There are a number of Republicans, including a number in the Texas delegation, who are mad at me for taking these actions. They actually plan to sue me. Now, I don’t know which things they find most offensive — me helping to create jobs, or me raising wages, or me easing the student loan burdens, or me making sure women can find out whether they’re getting paid the same as men for doing the same job. I don’t know which of these actions really bug them.
The truth is, even with all the actions I’ve taken this year, I’m issuing executive orders at the lowest rate in more than 100 years. So it’s not clear how it is that Republicans didn’t seem to mind when President Bush took more executive actions than I did. Maybe it’s just me they don’t like. I don’t know. Maybe there’s some principle out there that I haven’t discerned, that I haven’t figure out. You hear some of them — ‘sue him,’ ‘impeach him.’ Really? Really? For what? You’re going to sue me for doing my job? Okay.
I mean, think about that. You’re going to use taxpayer money to sue me for doing my job — while you don’t do your job.
There’s a great movie called ‘The Departed’ — a little violent for kids. But there’s a scene in the movie where Mark Wahlberg — they’re on a stakeout and somehow the guy loses the guy that they’re tracking. And Wahlberg is all upset and yelling at the guy. And the guy looks up and he says, ‘Well, who are you?’ And Wahlberg says, ‘I’m the guy doing my job. You must be the other guy.’ Sometimes, I feel like saying to these guys, ‘I’m the guy doing my job, you must be the other guy.’
So rather than wage another political stunt that wastes time, wastes taxpayers’ money, I’ve got a better idea: Do something. If you’re mad at me for helping people on my own, let’s team up. Let’s pass some bills. Let’s help America together.”