“Folks, there is one more thing — one more thing that our Republican opponents are just dead wrong about.  America is not in decline.  America is not in decline.  I’ve got news for Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan.  Gentlemen, never, ever –it never makes sense, it’s never been a good bet to bet against the American people. Never.”[1]

So powerful were these words that none other than Obama himself decided to borrow them in a campaign speech given during his two day Florida bus tour:

“When our opponents say this nation is in decline, they are dead wrong – this is America,”[2]

Obama was reportedly responding to a remark allegedly made by Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan, that our growing federal debt puts our country in decline.

Obama’s fans are beside themselves with pride.  Here is their president pushing back hard against the idea that America is in decline – Surely, he’ll show them!  Regrettably, while their candidate may be responding strongly to a narrowly focused economic comment by Paul Ryan, it is he, who long ago, began heralding the decline of America and then with a one-two punch, started pushing us in that direction.

First, there was the famous Obama “apology” tour.  Then were the Obama comments about America and about the:

“manic and self absorbed” “mood of the country,” ^[3] 

It was Obama himself, who reminded us:

 “…we went off course…”^[4]

“…great country that had gotten a little soft…”^[5]

It was Obama who scolded America, noting that:

“Anybody been to Beijing Airport lately? Or driven on high-speed rail in Asia or Europe? What’s changed? Well, we’ve lost our ambition, our imagination, and our willingness to do the things that built the Golden Gate Bridge and Hoover Dam and unleashed all the potential in this country.”^[6]

And while he said all of these things, he was spending – always spending – until finally, our Credit Rating was gone.  But, even that wasn’t enough.  He was also dividing us – Poor against Rich, Blacks against Whites, immigrants against Republicans, citizens against police.  Was this the same guy who gave the 2004 Keynote Address for John Kerry?

“There’s not a liberal America and a conservative America – there’s the United States of America.  There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America.”

 Are you the same man who once called our Country “Mean-Spirited” and ungenerous?  Are you the man who has attacked and apologized for your country as President?

America is a strong, proud and exceptional nation with a history of achievement and generosity.  It is not a line in a campaign speech…Especially yours.

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[1] Joe Biden, (Sept. 6, 2012), FoxNews web-site, Transcript of Joe Biden’s speech at the DNC, retrieved September 10, 2012 from http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/06/transcript-joe-biden-speech-at-dnc/