Come on, President Obama, it's time to defend yourself...

[billky]

The president finally needs to stand up, in plain English, not political rhetoric, and defend himself. He needs to finally say he's sick and tired of being disrespected, afterall, he is the president. He's been called every name, from Muslim to Kenyan, and worse...finger wagged in his face by this damn stupid woman, called out during State of Union address..come on, enough is enough..I want to hear him speak out, call it what it is, these people have worked against him because he's an intelligent black man and they've had diarrhea since he got elected. Please defend yourself!

[PAMod]

1. The president defends himself everyday by being presidential.

To complain about he is treated by his enemies would be decidedly unpresidential, IMO.

[lillypaddle]

2. Agree

It would feel good for a minute, but then what?

[billky]

3. Remember John Kerry?

He kept his mouth shut and didn't defend himself, anymore questions? Other people defending him didn't help him at all.

[Inuca]

7. He was not president

Unfortunately.

[lillypaddle]

9. Uh, of course I remember John Kerry

President Obama HAS been fighting back, but he hasn't stood up and presented a litany of attacks on him, saying he's "sick & tired" of the attacks. Sounds really squirrelly. He has more class than that - but he IS fighting back without sounding like a whiner.

[mac56]

13. +1000

[DFW]

27. Agree totally

And I heard this from the man himself two and a half weeks ago (in different words, but same context).

[Surya Gayatri]

5. Got it in one...whining is decidedly un-presidential.

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. +1000

[geckosfeet]

4. With all the nonsense thrown at him, none of it has stuck. I'd say he has

done a pretty good job of keeping his eye on the ball and letting the attacks roll off his back. Let the pukes punch themselves out. They got nuthin.

People aren't stupid. They know and see the hate motivated racial attacks for what they are. Even the people perpetrating them. In the end they lose.

[JoePhilly]

10. Absolutely right ... and that makes Romney's shrill "Obama is mean" cries more hilarious.

The right wing has been smearing the guy endlessly, and it has not worked. Now Mitt thinks he'll be able to use the same strategy to beat Obama.

Not working.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

25. Romney is made to look like a fool

which of course he is

[BelieveMe3]

6. I was feeling good

I was feeling pretty good going into the Ryan pick-Obama up in several polls--and yes, Romney can expect bump from Ryan, but I don't like that the first medicare attack came from Romney. Obama's camp had to be prepared for the Ryan pick as a possibility. Palin was disqualified in week one and I wish Obama had done the same with Ryan and gotten on the air first. Romney/Ryan seem to be gaining some traction via the media who are peddling this b.s. about Ryan as some "fix it" guy. He's as extreme as it gets and Obama needs to push back hard. It's also starting to be a medicare fight and it's about much much more than medicare.

[Inuca]

8. We are still in week one

of the R/R ticket. Barely half way through it. Want to bet that a strong counter-attack will come before the week's end? $10,000 ?

[JoePhilly]

11. The Obama camp started to hit Romney/Ryan just 2 or 3 HOURS after Ryan was named.

[NYC Liberal]

15. Obama campaign was prepared for weeks for Ryan. They had their first ad out and ready

as soon as he was officially announced.

[RBInMaine]

32. Team-Obama had the first attack ad out post-Ryan, and there are also others, targeted calls, etc.

[BelieveMe3]

12. True

It's true-Obama certainly hasn't NOT attacked Ryan. I'm hoping some of it starts to stick.

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. God, I hope you two aren't political strategists, especially not Dem strategists. (nt)

[Democat]

14. A lot of "worried" people here recently

When Palin joined the ticket, it looked good for McCain. We all know how that worked in the long run.

[NYC Liberal]

16. Obama has been on the offense the entire campaign.

It's been one of the best-run campaigns I've seen in a good while. And of course, Romney's is one of the worst.

[jenmito]

17. Have you seen this ad on Romney/Ryan's medicare plan?

[meow2u3]

18. Barack Obama is the Jackie Robinson of the 21st century

There seems to be a racist double standard that puts Obama in a no-win situation, whether he defends himself against the rank hatred and disrespect or not. If he were white, he wouldn't have to mince words (that's how come he has Joe Biden as veep--Biden can get away with being blunt).

If he uses political rhetoric to fight back, he's accused of being a slick politician, but if he defends himself against these racist attacks by teabagger, the rethugs are going to try to claim he's whining. In the eyes of the teabaggers, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't, and their hatred has everything to do with his race.

[BelieveMe3]

20. Time.com

Halperin is listing thing that haven't happened today and #1 is Obama not on the air (TV) with a medicare ad. They are keeping their powder dry possibly. I don't doubt for a minute that they have a plan.

[progressivebydesign]

21. The President and his campaign have beem masterful fighting back... unlike any Dem I've seen.

So I'm not concerned. He's been looking like the winner every day.

[Tarheel_Dem]

23. You seem "concerned". I hope you get over it soon.

[budkin]

24. He's in a tough situation and must be careful

He'll be labelled as an "angry black man." Just wait until after the election... he'll be a total badass.

[Freddie]

26. Pres. Obama should make 10 years of his tax returns public

Watch Romney squirm.

[handmade34]

28. he has

edit to add link to Pres Obama's tax returns

http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/web/presidentialtaxreturns/

[Tx4obama]

30. Obama has already released 12 years of tax returns. n/t

[Doctor_J]

29. Agree...but it's not in his nature

As you've noticed for 4 years, he just doesn't have any fight in him. His first, second, and third instincts are to appease his attackers and then speak wonkishly. That attitude cost him dearly in both accomplishments and in voter enthusiasm in 2010. And while everyone here will be voting for him in November (and I assume straight Dem), I personally have little hope of any major accomplishments during his second term, for the same reason.

[RBInMaine]

31. Um, he made Trump-The-Birther look like an idiot, and in fact makes them ALL look like IDIOTS.

[dsteve01]

33. No!

Don't go on the defense!
Attack! Attack! Attack!

Attacking is working!
Romney is an awful candidate.

Get on top of churches and shout

Paul Ryan would destroy you medicare!
He has become DESTROYER OF WORLDS

[Whisp]

34. Please don't insult him.

There are plenty of people who do that, we don't need one more.

[CobaltBlue]

35. Relax, billky ..... !

billky's opening remarks lacks some sense. First of all, no incumbent president wants to be on the defense. Secondly, any belief in this "referndum on the president" fails to recognize that, for a challenger trying to unseat the incumbent, he has to persuade the country to fire the commander in chief because he would make for a better choice with his policies. That doesn't happen off from the opposition party after they lost the White House with the previous presidential election.