Are You an Obama Winner? Or an Obama Loser?

If there was one feeling that inspired almost a million Americans to come out for the Tax Day Tea Parties last month it was this: That our government, supposedly created of the people, by the people and for the people, is busy picking winners and losers.

The feeling that our politics are increasingly rigged against us didn’t begin with President Obama. Deciding to bailout Wall Street rather than let deserving companies go bankrupt began under President Bush.

But the Obama Administration has elevated rewarding some Americans and punishing others to a governing philosophy.

And as he has expanded the size and the scope of government, President Obama has only increased his ability to reach into our businesses, our communities, and even our homes to separate Americans into two groups: Those who will benefit from the new order, and those who will pay the bills.

What follows is just a partial list of the winners and losers of the Obama Administration so far, organized by the government policies that will decide their fate:

The Chrysler Bankruptcy Pt. 1: From the Rule of Law to the Rule of Politics

Winners: The United Auto Workers
Loser: The Rule of Law

Bankruptcy was once a legal process in which an insolvent company, an impartial judge and creditors voting in good faith worked together to make the best of a bad situation.

Under the Obama Administration, the Chrysler bankruptcy has become a political process in which government has bought off some creditors, demonized others, and predetermined a favorable result for an important political constituency.

What happened last week with Chrysler was an unprecedented case of executive branch involvement in a bankruptcy proceeding. The Obama Administration bullied smaller investors to fall in line with TARP-funded creditors in a deal that ultimately benefited the union bosses who bear so much of the responsibility for Chrysler’s downfall to begin with. In the end, the losers weren’t just the secured creditors and the taxpayers who have footed the bill for all these bailouts, but the rule of law itself.

The Chrysler Bankruptcy Pt. 2: America, Get Ready for the “Model O”

Winners: The People Who Are Evading Responsibility for Chrysler’s Bankruptcy
Losers: Consumers Who Want to Buy Good American Cars

The end result of the rigged Chrysler bankruptcy is that two political entities whose priority is winning votes (the Federal Government and the UAW) now have majority ownership of a commercial entity whose priority should be making good cars.

And despite his protestations that he wants to get out of the auto business, President Obama has some definite ideas about what kind of cars Chrysler should make. Announcing the bankruptcy, he blamed Chrysler’s troubles, not on its uncompetitive labor costs, but on its “failure to make the fuel-efficient cars like its foreign competitors.”

Politicians, not businessmen and women, are calling the shots at Chrysler. America, get ready for the Model O.

Cap and Trade: Punishing Americans With High Energy Taxes

Winners: Government Favored “Green Industries”
Losers: Anyone Who Heats a Home, Drives a Car or Has a Job

I’m in favor of doing all we can to protect our environment, but I have a fundamental difference with Democrats on Capitol Hill and in the White House: I believe in incentivizing Americans to produce the innovations that will protect our environment, not punishing Americans with taxes, regulation and litigation.

The Administration’s cap and trade legislation makes losers of the American people by imposing a $1 trillion-$2 trillion energy tax on an already struggling economy. And the winners? They’re the lobbyists for favored special interests and “green” industries who are already lining up in Washington to collect the spoils.

Closing Gitmo: Terrorists from Guantanamo Coming Soon to a Neighborhood Near You

Winners: Terrorists and Anti-Americanism Worldwide
Losers: The New Neighbors of Terrorists and The American Tax-Payers

You may have missed it in all the news of the week, but the Administration has a truly mind-boggling idea about how to solve the problem of the terrorists left homeless by closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay: Send them to a neighborhood near you.

That’s right. As many as 30 detainees at Guantanamo are slated for release into the United States, including a group of Chinese, al Qaeda-trained jihadists who are reportedly being encouraged to settle in Northern Virginia.

And not only is the Obama Administration releasing these terrorists into the United States, it’s proposing that the U.S. taxpayers foot the bill.

Here’s how Dennis Blair, President Obama’s Director of National Intelligence, rationalizes their plan for welfare for terrorists: "If we are to release them in the United States, we need some sort of assistance for them to start a new life," Blair said last month. "You can't just put them on the street."

Picking a New Supreme Court Justice: Playing Favorites Through the Courts

Winners: Anyone the President Deems Deserving of Judicial “Empathy”
Losers: Everyone Else

President Obama has announced that his criteria for picking a Supreme Court Justice to replace the retiring David Souter are jurists with the proper “empathy” and those who don’t regard justice as “abstract legal theory.”

Empathy for the less fortunate should have a central place in our public policy. But feeling the people’s pain is the job of the people who make the laws. The job of judges is to interpret the laws without regard to the race, color, creed or station of the individuals involved.

When we start picking judges based on their “empathy” for certain groups, the rights of favored groups inevitably collide with the rights of others. That’s why we have – or should have – equal justice before the law.

Demonizing Wall Street: Putting Talent and Resources Where Washington Wants Them

Winners: Professional “Community Organizers” and Other Government Activists
Losers: Young Americans Who Want to Chose Their Own Careers

President Obama frequently urges young Americans to emulate him by making the choice to forgo a lucrative career in finance or law and choose public service instead. But now he’s put the full power of the federal government behind his favored career path for young Americans.

Speaking last week to the New York Times, President Obama said that his anti-business, high-taxing, and high-regulating crusade against Wall Street “means that more talent, more resources will be going to other sectors of the economy. I actually think that’s healthy."

The message will not be lost on young Americans: Do what the President thinks is “healthy.” Be an Obama winner, not a loser.

What is at Stake Isn’t Just Tax Dollars and Jobs But Freedom

The list could go on and on.

What is at stake isn’t just the tax dollars, the jobs and the opportunities of those Americans who come out on the losing side of the Obama Administration’s policies -- as important as these things are.

What is at stake are moral issues of fairness and freedom. As Arthur Brooks, the President of the American Enterprise Institute, wrote last week, it’s immoral for the government to “confiscate more income from the minority simply because the government can. It's also a moral issue to lower the rewards for entrepreneurial success, and to spend what we don't have without regard for our children's future.”

Americans don’t mind working hard and competing to win. We don’t even mind losing sometimes.

What we mind is government making the call. That was the real message of the Tea Party movement, and it’s one President Obama and his aides would do well to hear.

Remembering Jack Kemp

I end today on a note of sorrow and remembrance of a great man.

Callista and I were deeply saddened to learn of Jack Kemp’s passing last Saturday.

America knew Jack Kemp as a public servant of boundless wisdom, energy, optimism and compassion. Callista and I were fortunate to know him as a friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in this painful time. You can read our full statement here.

Your friend,

Newt’s Quick Links

•   Last week, I spoke to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) about the threats facing America, Israel and the entire civilized world. I spoke about finding the political courage to confront the challenges we face with actions, not just words. This is an opportunity for the United States to once again show real leadership by following the examples of Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II: Confronting evil directly, calling it by its name, and acting to defeat it. You can watch my speech here.

•   Callista and I joined Greta Van Susteren last week to go “On the Record” from Mount Vernon where we were filming the sequel to our movie “Rediscovering God in America.” Our new movie will explore how religion and faith in God shaped America from its very beginning, when the first settlers erected a cross of thanks at Cape Henry for their safe passage of the Atlantic. You can watch our interview here.
•   The American Enterprise Institute has launched The Enterprise Blog, a new blog dedicated to defending free markets and our nation’s founding principles. You can view it here.
•   My daughter, Jackie Gingrich Cushman, and I have written a new book. It’s called 5 Principles for a Successful Life: From Our Family to Yours. Jackie and I had a lot of fun working with people like Rush Limbaugh and General David Petraeus to share our thoughts on how to live a successful and happy life. 5 Principles for a Successful Life won’t be out until May 12, but you can pre-order now here.

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Comments

By karlbecker @ Monday, May 11, 2009 11:45 PM

First time poster here.
I give Obama credit for adhering to a consistent fiscal policy--I just happen to think it is terribly wrong. At least he has a consistent fiscal policy, unlike the Republicans of the last 8 years.
But I also happen to think that calling our President anti-American and anti-Christian (earlier post) is inaccurate and divisive. President Obama is a compassionate man, and in a few cases (like education) that compassion is properly focused.
I fear America's only hope is the foundation of a new "Party of Principle" based strictly on the Rule of Law. I can't think of a better leader than Newt.

By For_The_Gipper @ Thursday, May 07, 2009 6:02 PM

Interesting Devolpment. So they try and blame us with a propaganda campaign? That is smart. I wonder is Econmic Devolpment efforts paying off? Although the Sharia Law is troubling, does this mean they are worried about this?

I must admit I never expected this from a rag-tag group. Although their complexity and they are highly highly dedicated. If they adapt, we adapt. This sounds crazy how about humanitarin airdrops and relief efforts?

The only way to win is minimize. Although their barbarism will make this hard. Kindness, god bless us all.

By PASTOR DAVID @ Wednesday, May 06, 2009 11:05 PM

There is no mistake that Republicans have a share in this economic meltdown. President Bush should have never, ever bailed out the banks or Wall Street. In life there is a birth and there is a death. When one goes others are born to replace it. It is the nature of life. But let’s be real, Obama is very anti American and anti Christian. There is no debate in these two issues. All one has to do is listen and see the fruit of his labor. As far as the car companies, why didn’t they make an effort to sell out their entire inventory at a very attractive price? Why did they seem to think they needed a bailout? I’ll tell you why, they wanted profit more than they wanted stability. With the entire inventory out there they all could have stayed in the black. And who made Obama the great financier of America or the world? This guy can’t even read a speech without the teleprompter. And one more thing, you do not get into the black by getting more into debt. I don’t know any American family that was in debt that got out of debt by borrowing more money, has anyone? It is really hard to trust a guy who says we need to spend more to get out of debt.

By m3masson @ Wednesday, May 06, 2009 6:02 PM

Jack Kemp was a friend and GREAT AMERICAN who helped shape the conservative movement and inspire young people to get involved! We will all miss him !!
M3

By ericrobinson @ Wednesday, May 06, 2009 2:49 PM

As someone who [worked] in the American motorcycle industry, and someone who enjoys all forms of outdoor recreation, boats, RVs, etc., and a native Californian, I've been losing freedom and money to Democrats for decades. Now that BHO is in power, anyone/everyone who drives a car, SUV, RV, motorcycles, owns a boat, enjoys off roading, fishing, hunting, grilling at home, mowing their lawns, you-name-it, are going to get a bitter lesson in Democrats forcing their beliefs on them, and in losing their freedom. OH, and they can learn what Californians have always known, that Democrats will bankrupt us, and kill our jobs.

By aitepaeapaea @ Wednesday, May 06, 2009 11:18 AM

As a LeCarre villain said disdainfully, "You don't get it. This is bigger than right and wrong. It's politics." We had the last of the Keating Five run for president. I even voted for him, given the choices. The Friends of Fannie are firmly seated on Capitol Hill. We blithely add another couple trillion to the national debt.

It's a Punch and Judy show. Demonize one group or another, but it's entertainment. The audience enjoys it. The actors all get paid.

Those who point out the artificiality of the act are not applauded. Getting real would be, well, too realistic to be entertaining.

By steve_wiggins @ Wednesday, May 06, 2009 9:34 AM

Newt, I find it frustrating that folks like me can't sit in a debate with you. Topics: rewriting recent history, minimizing the Republican culpability in today's economic mess, and deriding Obama's best efforts at cleaning it up.

By dori36 @ Wednesday, May 06, 2009 9:33 AM

Needless to say, those of us who live in the "rust belt" states are appalled and saddened by the Obama Administration's handling of the auto company mess. No doubt, the industry must take some responsibility for its choice of product and old ways of treating customers. But, just when they, and particularly GM, finally got it right, the financing dried up and drove the final nail into the coffin. I can't believe that the UAW and the Fed. Gov't will end up owning 90% of GM! I personally know salaried people who have been notified that all their GM stock holdings in their 401K's are to be liquidated with no choice. A very sad day! Do you think in 4 yrs the people of the country who believe in the principles upon which we were founded will have a chance to overturn these deadly edicts?

By Hot @ Wednesday, May 06, 2009 9:17 AM

Winner or loser, Obama's voters got BHO, HBO and foodstamps so who cares.

The rest of the small businesses just need to charge an Obama voter 50% more for merchandise. Then we will all be an BHO winner

You elected these people SO YOU MUST BE HAPPY.

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