Obama: If You're Not Rich, You're SOL

Obama: If You're Not Rich, You're SOL  by John at 7:17 PM

We have yet to comment on one of the most outrageous moments of Barack Obama's Presidency: his ridiculing of a citizen who expressed concern about rising energy costs:

Obama needled one questioner who asked about gas prices, now averaging close to $3.70 a gallon nationwide, and suggested that the gentleman consider getting rid of his gas-guzzling vehicle.


"If you're complaining about the price of gas and you're only getting 8 miles a gallon, you know," Obama said laughingly. "You might want to think about a trade-in."

Could the President possibly be more tone-deaf or more arrogant? He had no reason to think that the questioner is driving a "gas guzzler." (Is there a single 8 mpg vehicle on the road these days?) In fact, it is not unusual for Americans who drive normal vehicles to spend ten percent of their disposable income on gasoline. When the price of gas doubles, as it has during the Obama administration, those families are badly hurt.

As many have pointed out, Obama's suggestion that the questioner buy a new car demonstrated his lack of understanding of those who are not wealthy. If the man has a hard time filling up his tank, does Obama really think he can afford a new car?

Obama's flippant answer comes ill from a man who, when he travels by land, employs a convoy of Chevy Suburbans.

But that is typical Obama: worries about mundane matters like the price of gasoline are for the little people.

There is one other aspect of Obama's foolish response that I have not seen commented upon. Rising energy costs do not just affect the price of gasoline at the pump. Every product and every service that the man who asked the question buys, requires energy. When the cost of energy rises, the price of every commodity and service rises with it--which is to say that we all become poorer. Obama says the man should trade in his car--even though, for all he knows, the man is driving a Prius--but what is he supposed to do about, for example, rising grocery prices? Stop eating? Or trade in his bread for...you know, pointing out the absurdities in Barack Obama's logic has gotten to be too easy.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/04/028777.php