Paul Begala: How the GOP Helped Obama Win

[DonViejo]

Nov 9, 2012 10:00 PM EST

From the assault on ‘Mount Bain’ to Ted Kennedy’s prescient advice on Mitt Romney’s tactics, an insider’s view of how Obama won.

At his final rally, Barack Obama stood before 20,000 adoring Iowans, just yards from the Des Moines headquarters where his 2008 Children’s Crusade began. Something happened. Something we have rarely seen: Obama wept. A few elegant tears slowly descended from his left eye, perhaps in appreciation of the enormity—and the ­improbability—of what he was about to accomplish. Within 24 hours those tears had turned into dancing. The reelected president was more exuberant, more ­ideal­is­tic, even, than the sober, somber young ­president-elect of Grant Park 2008. And for good reason.

The economic current against President Obama this year was more like a typhoon than a tide. To put it into perspective, from Truman-era 1948 to Bush-era 2008, America experienced a total of 39 months during which the unemployment rate sat at or over 8 percent. In the 46 months that Barack Obama has been president, we have had 43 months over 8 percent. Median household income for the middle class has dropped by almost $5,000 since 2000. And median net worth—the total wealth of a middle-class family—dropped by a staggering 40 percent between 2007 and 2010.

Given those economic realities, it is amazing that Obama wasn’t impeached. The fact that he has been reelected is the surest sign that his parents gave him the right name: “Barack,” which means “blessed.”

How did he do it? Let me count the ways.

read more:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/11/09/how-the-gop-helped-obama-win.html

[oswaldactedalone]

1. Great article

I hadn't heard the info on Begala's visit to Senator Kennedy before his passing. Well done Mr. Begala.

[Coyotl]

2. If you like short stories

This topic should be a book.

[ancianita]

3. I can't stand Begala most of the time, but this is a helluva good essay.

I now respect him after learning about his PAC's relentless portrayal of the damage that Bain did to the middle class. I've thought of him as a weak strategist, but after his actual work for the campaign I guess I have to say that maybe he's back better than ever.

[John2]

4. Well

I disagree with everything in the article. There is no way the GOP would have elected Marco Rubio as their standard bearer. The only reason he won in Florida is because he is Cuban.

Number two, Screw Jeb Bush. It was his brother's Policies that created the mess that was handed to President Obama. So I definately reject Begala's insinuation.

Number three, The GOP of today is not the party of Lincoln. Get off that horse. It is the party of Southern Dixiecrats and state's rightists. A lot of these people are white supremacists which people like Begala seem to be apologists for. Has Begala ever had the guts to acknowledge the racist history of America, specifically the South where he hails people like Haley Barbour of Missippi. He is no different than Newt Gingrich. President Obama would have wiped the floor with him. Barbour couldn't win in any state in the North or West.

I could say more where Begala don't know what he is talking about but this is enough. President Obama won because he is a successful President. And this is the same guy that told CNN, president Obama conceded North Carolina. He didn't know what he was talking about then and he sure don't now!