Thread: Obama seeks to blunt Republican attack over comment

Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Monday he should not have used the word "enemies" to describe his political opponents as Republicans sought to make an issue of the comment a day before congressional elections.

Obama, in an interview with talk radio host Michael Baisden, said, "I probably should have used the word 'opponents' instead of enemies."

He was backtracking from a comment he made a week ago in an interview with Univision radio in which he sought to persuade Hispanics to vote for Democratic candidates instead of Republicans.

"If Latinos sit out the election instead of, 'we're going to punish our enemies and we're going to reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us' -- if they don't see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it's going to be harder," Obama had said.

Republicans in hot pursuit of control of the House of Representatives in Tuesday voting were drawing attention to Obama's "enemies" comment in hopes of encouraging more turnout by Republican voters.

Hammering home the issue was John Boehner, the Republican who would oust Democrat Nancy Pelosi as House speaker if Republicans win control of the House on Tuesday as most pollsters believe will happen.

"Today, sadly, we have president who uses the word 'enemy' for fellow Americans ... fellow citizens. He uses it for people who disagree with his agenda of bigger government ... people speaking out for a smaller, more accountable government that respects freedom and allows small businesses to create jobs," Boehner planned to say in Cincinnati.

"Mr. President, there's a word for people who have the audacity to speak up in defense of freedom, the Constitution, and the values of limited government that made our country great. We don't call them 'enemies.' We call them 'patriots,'" he planned to say.

Obama told Baisden that he was talking about opponents of a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. immigration system. Hispanics have been disappointed that Obama has not pushed ahead on immigration legislation, which Republicans oppose.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69929420101101

"Enemies" is how Obama really feels about us, he regrets letting that slip out, he doesn't regret feeling we are his enemy.

"If Latinos sit out the election instead of, 'we're going to punish our enemies and we're going to reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us' -- if they don't see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it's going to be harder," Obama had said.

I need a translator for this statement. What is going to be harder if WHO does not see WHAT kind of upsurge (in what?). HUH? Just words...but do they mean anything?

Too late, can't take those words back. He must have been off his teleprompter that day.

Obummer Is an Elitist Idealogue that could care less about American citizens concerns. He Is more worried about how to please Piolin and all of his Illegal alien followers. He has actually become a joke of a president. You can see In his speeches lately that he has lost confidence In himself. He does not act Presidential at all. He acts like a spoiled rotten little kid If he does not get his way. I am very worried for our country with two years to go for this Idiot..... TS

This man scares me.... he seems to get more overbarren as he slips more and more into "Obama land".

we're going to punish our enemies and we're going to reward our friends

The use of the word "our" puts Obama clearly on the side of illegals and against the American people.

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