Opinion: Obama clearly is not the man for the job anymore

Debate underscores candidates' differences 

By Pat Henri

Chairman

Ansonia Republican Town Committee

There was a presidential debate last night but the President forgot to show up.

Instead, he send a tired, disinterested, withered substitute who was clearly out of his element. 

Barack Obama was finally exhibited in his true light. 

America saw the man for what he is when the media isn’t spoon-feeding him softball questions followed by standing ovations. 

Without his best friend the teleprompter, he was a lost farm puppy in the middle of a metropolitan intersection. He was a minor league second-stringer during a World Series game. 

He made it very obvious what his record clearly shows, that he is not the guy to be the President of the United States anymore.  

Mitt Romney was fresh, bold, finely tuned and even, happy. As radio personality Vinnie Penn of WELI 960AM put it, “it was the chairman of the board versus the bored.”

Obama was challenged for the first time in almost four years by someone with the facts; highest sustained unemployment, highest food stamp recipients, highest gas and grocery prices, 30 percent decrease of property values and personal worth, increase in government, a $16 trillion debt and on and on.      

Obama’s response was to ask to go on to the next topic. I guess that was better than phoning a friend or polling the audience.

Topics that Romney could have challenged Obama on were border security, “you didn’t build that” anti-capitalism, “spread the wealth” socialism, and operating without a budget during the last three years. If he had, I think it would have been a complete embarrassment for Obama. 

Romney may have actually held back out of pity. Romney repeatedly discussed job creation. Obama could add nothing. Romney mentioned keeping our country secured through a strong military. Obama said nothing. 

One point of substance I would like to mention has to do with Obamacare. Romney talked about how employers are not hiring because they will not be able to provide employees with healthcare because Obamacare will drive up costs. Employers who now offer healthcare will drop it because the Obamacare increases will be cost prohibitive. Instead, they will pay the penalty tax, which is the lesser of the two costs. 

As a result, most workers will have to buy into the inferior government run Obamacare that most medical providers will not accept because of their low reimbursement rates. Apparently, Obama thinks doctors and hospitals will work for minimum wages. Obamacare is a medical and financial disaster for the people and the country.

Last night, America and the world got to see for the first time, a true and honest comparison between the two candidates. 

Hopefully it had an impact and will be useful to those who have been undecided up until now. Today, all across the U.S., Obama photos are coming down off the walls in homes and work places. 

I imagine that during the wee hours of the morning, disillusioned Obama supporters were peeling off their 2008 Hope & Change bumper stickers before their daily commute. That’s alright. He promised so much but couldn’t deliver. It happens.

The election in 2008 was an exciting time of historical precedence but the thrill has passed and reality is slamming us in the face. America can’t afford Obama anymore, literally. Paint his portrait, shake his hand and send him off on a political speaker’s circuit, addressing small auditoriums.

It’s time to cut our losses and move on. The election is Nov. 6; get out there and exercise your rights.