A response to "You didn't build that!" being taken out-of-context (taking some of Romney's words out-of-context)

On July 17th of this year, President Barack Obama made a campaign stop in Roanoke, Virginia and it appeared to be like any other campaign stop - one where the president attempted to rile the base and persuade undecided voters that he was the superior of the two main options come the November election. However, according to the Romney team, this speech was unlike any other, as it was the shortest in recorded history - lasting all but fourteen words.

Yes, according the Romney team, the president said only the following: "If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."

One can only imagine how perplexed and irritated the Roanoke crowd was, some having waited for several hours to hear the president speak and only receiving five seconds of his time in return. It reminds me of an Alice Cooper concert I attended where the band played "School's Out" and then left the stage. No, that didn't happen and neither did Obama's five-second speech. The fourteen words the Romney team focused their attention on were spoken by the president, but what they're not discussing is the surrounding context of those words, which is why fact-checking site Politifact.com scored Romney's "You-didn't-build-that" attacks as false. Factcheck.org and the Washington Post fact-checker agreed.

Here's what Obama really said:

"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. 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.

The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires.

So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country, you know what, there are some things we do better together. That’s how we funded the G.I. Bill. That’s how we created the middle class. That’s how we built the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. That’s how we invented the Internet. That’s how we sent a man to the moon. We rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, and that’s the reason I’m running for President -- because I still believe in that idea. You’re not on your own, we’re in this together."

Humorously enough, Mr. Romney said the following just a week prior during a speech in Ohio: "I know that you recognize a lot of people help you in a business. Perhaps the bank, the investors. There is no question your mom and dad, your school teachers. The people who provide roads, the fire, the police. A lot of people help. But let me ask you this. Did you build your own business? If you did, raise your hand. Take that, Mr. President!"

Take what exactly? He kind of proved the president's point right there. Take out the "build-that" or "didn't-build-that" nonsense and it would read something like this:

Obama: "It was a team effort. The defense stood its ground. The offensive line gave the quarterback time. The quarterback didn't turn the ball over. The running backs made nice reads. The special teams also contributed mightily to the victory."

Romney: "It was a team effort. The defense stood its ground. The offensive line gave the quarterback time. The quarterback didn't turn the ball over. The running backs made nice reads. The special teams also contributed mightily to the victory. Take that, Mr. President!" Yeah, that's powerful stuff right there...

The speech in Ohio wasn't the only time Romney offered similar insights as Obama did in Roanoke. During his speech at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics, the human Android - Mitt Romney - said the following:

"You Olympians, however, know you didn't get here solely on your own power. For most of you, loving parents, sisters or brothers, encouraged your hopes, coaches guided, communities built venues in order to organize competitions. All Olympians stand on the shoulders of those who lifted them. We've already cheered the Olympians, let's also cheer the parents, coaches, and communities. All right! [pumps fist]."

Yes, take that, Mr. President indeed! Excuse me one moment while I remove my eyes from the Linda Blair-position due to rolling them so hard. Thanks.

As can be plainly seen, the Romney team took President Obama's words out-of-context as much as stoners dream about Doritos and Ho Hos and in light of this, I've decided to have a little fun taking some of Lord Romney's words out-of-context. I'll provide a few quotes by Romney which will be taken out-of-context, as well as a hypothetical commercial by the Obama team attacking Romney over these words. While reading these ads, keep in mind that the narration is being done by one James Earl Jones. Here we go...

In a speech given in early March, Willard Mittens Romney said, "What a -- Ann (his wife) said it right. What -- what a great night."

Obama Attack Ad:

Earl Jones: "Whether you believe marriage should be between one man and one woman, that gay couples should be granted equal marriage rights or that Wal-Mart and Chic-fil-A should be permitted to make out under a mistletoe, shouldn't the leader of this country keep his or her sex life to themselves? Listen to what Mitt Romney said at a speech..."

Romney: "What a -- Ann said it right. What -- what a great night."

Earl Jones: "As Americans, we deserve to know what this man's plans for us are, do we not? We want to know how he plans to create jobs, prevent terrorist attacks on our soil, erase the national debt. A president's State-of-the-Union Speech shouldn't include this..."

Romney: "What a -- Ann said it right. What -- what a great night."

Earl Jones: "Yes, I'm sure it was - the two of you watching 'Lord of the G-Strings,' before messing around with handcuffs, whips and a toy you call 'Sergeant Girthman,' while listening to Kenny G's Greatest Hits album. America, please don't subject this country and especially the children to this kind of disgusting chatter. So that our children are not traumatized for life, vote Obama 2012."

Obama: "I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message."


On April 9th's "The Kudlow Report," Romney responded to a question with the following words, "...we don't put Americans to work."

Obama Attack Ad:

Earl Jones: "Want to know Romney's plan for improving the economy? Here, let him tell you himself..."

Romney: "...we don't put Americans to work."

Earl Jones: "What was that?"

Romney: "...we don't put Americans to work."

Earl Jones: "That's right, America. If this man is elected, he'll see to it that you don't work. He'll put Egyptians to work, Guatemalans, Australians, stuffed animals, robots, animated characters and emus. Are you American and want a job? Just remember what Mitt Romney said before casting your vote..."

Romney: "...we don't put Americans to work."

Earl Jones: "Now go to work for the president and elect him to a second term! Obama 2012."

Obama: "I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message."


When asked a question on April 12th, Romney responded with, "Everybody is on my list."

Obama Attack Ad:

Romney: "Everybody is on my list."

Earl Jones: "...and just what 'list' is that? A blacklist? A hit list? A bong-party list? A I-wanna-taser list? A grocery list? Ah, yes, that's probably what it is. You see, my friends, this Mitt Romney believes that corporations are people and people are more products than people. He, himself, is an android and with him as their leader, machines will finally have the capability to take over the world from us humans. Are you on his list? Yes, you are... and you too... and you as well. Everybody is. What is this list? I don't think anyone knows, but is it worth the risk of voting this robot into office and having to bear witness to a fourth 'Matrix' film, entitled, 'Romneylution'? I sincerely hope not. Don't be subject to the risks with the list. Vote human. Vote Obama 2012."

Obama: "I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message."


At a speech given in St. Louis on April 13th, Romney said, "Obama has not; I will."

Obama Attack Ad:

Romney: "Obama has not; I will."

Earl Jones: "Raised taxes on the lower and middle class?"

Romney: "Obama has not; I will."

Earl Jones: "Married multiple women?"

Romney: "Obama has not; I will."

Earl Jones: "Taken babies skydiving without parachutes?"

Romney: "Obama has not; I will."

Earl Jones: "Spread herpes?"

Romney: "Obama has not; I will."

Earl Jones: "It's quite clear what Mitt Romney's agenda is - to destroy the youth of this country by taking them skydiving without parachutes, to fornicate with a great number of women whom become his wives, to become the face for Valtrex. Do you want your next president to say in a commercial, '...and thanks to Valtrex, I don't itch or burn down there anymore'? Neither do I. Vote Obama 2012."

Obama: "I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message."


Following Romney's April 24th Republican Primary victories in the states of: Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, he said the following in his speech: "And that rumor is true."

Obama Attack Ad:

Romney: "And that rumor is true."

Earl Jones: "Did he not pay his taxes?"

Romney: "And that rumor is true."

Earl Jones: "Did he bully kids in school?"

Romney: "And that rumor is true."

Earl Jones: "Did he used to be a woman?"

Romney: "And that rumor is true."

Earl Jones: "Ladies and gentlemen, don't you see what is going on here? Mitt Romney isn't who he says he is. His name used to be Matilda and if he's elected president, he will force all men to become women and women to become men. I will go from what you hear now to the voice of Princess Leia. For me? Please? Don't vote for Matilda. Obama 2012."

Obama: "I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message."

So the next time someone utters the words "You didn't build that" when in reference to Obama's speech, I'd recommend countering with Romney's own out-of-context quote, "...we don't put Americans to work". I'm Craig Rozniecki and I approve this message.


Sources

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/26/mitt-romney/putting-mitt-romneys-attacks-you-didnt-build-truth/

http://factcheck.org/2012/07/you-didnt-build-that-uncut-and-unedited/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/an-unoriginal-obama-quote-taken-out-of-context/2012/07/20/gJQAdG7hyW_blog.html?wprss=rss_fact-checker

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/23/12904508-romney-to-olympians-you-didnt-get-here-solely-on-your-own?lite

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/romney-makes-obamas-own-case-for-public-investment.php

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9225046/US-election-2012-Mitt-Romneys-speech-in-full.html

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/04/13/transcript-read-mitt-romneys-speech-on-freedom-given-at-nra-convention-in-st-louis/

http://www.politicalruminations.com/2012/04/morning-quote-mitt-romney-2.html

http://www.cnbc.com/id/42499996/CNBC_EXCLUSIVE_CNBC_TRANSCRIPT_FORMER_MASSACHUSETTS_GOVERNOR_MITT_ROMNEY_SPEAKS_WITH_LARRY_KUDLOW_ON_THE_KUDLOW_REPORT_TONIGHT

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/mitt-romney-super-tuesday-speech-transcript-video/2012/03/06/gIQAUPntvR_blog.html