August 21, 2009 1:31 PM
Obama: "everyone gets all wee-wee'd up"
Sheesh. This man is embarrassing. And the elites who make fun of Sarah Palin for saying"ya betcha" while praising Obama's use of colloquialisms should be ashamed of themselves for encouraging this man in his undignified, unpresidential and meaningless chatter:
Posted in Obama Nation | Permalink
Comments
Well, I would say that the "elites" who make fun of Sarah Palin for saying "ya betcha" are not making fun of the colloquialism itself, although maybe the media harps on it that way. What's objectionable is how she uses them to target a certain group of people "like her" who she then pretends are average Americans, kind of like Joe 6-pack. He's not that average, actually. But I guess the election and historically low GOP membership proved that.
Posted by: Curious | August 21, 2009 4:49 PM
Maybe he's trying to be "folksy." Except I've never met any folks who used the phrase "wee-wee'd up." Not even preschool folks. Was this teleprompted??!!
Posted by: Peony Moss | August 21, 2009 5:05 PM
Barbara, I thought you'd be interested to see the conservative alternative bill that's in the house right now.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-2520
Posted by: Lauren | August 21, 2009 6:35 PM
[Note from Barbara: talk about convoluted rationalizations. . . . This just shows what lengths Obamabots will go to to prop up Soros' designated hitter.
The following comment posted by someone who describes herself as "Teacher, writer, poet, lover, wine-drinker, chocolate eater, beach comber, traveler, Giants fan, San Franciscan."
Well that explains it.]
Ya betcha vs. wee-wee'd up - a debate in linguistics and rhetoric ready for the making.
Palin's usage of "ya betcha" reflects an appalling lack of vocabulary as well as a lack of thought - she uses the term ubiquitously, carelessly, and automatically. Obama's usage of "wee-wee'd up" is purposeful and isolated. Rhetorically, President Obama's usage is strategic; Palin's non-strategic. I can't give her credit for using the word to score folksy points. The word is too much a part of her standard lexicon.
Wee-wee'd up is slang - and not the kind of slang children would use at all. The term is similar to "suited up," "jacked-up," "liquored-up," and "ante up." Slang is not necessarily inappropriate to use.
Personally, I find the use of wee-wee'd up rather a delightful way to chide politicians as the phrase draws a comparison between politicians and very young children. Nothing unusual in young ones wetting themselves. Surely a politician should be far past that level of development, yet they often behave like toddlers.
President Obama's ability to code switch back and forth between various lexicons depending on his audience is impressive. I intend to add this phrase to my vocabulary, albeit in rhetorically strategic ways.
Posted by: Bird | August 21, 2009 6:42 PM
I agree, Barbara, this guy is embarassing !! What is "wee weed up" ? lol
Curious, I'm curious why you didn't mention anything about Obama's colloquialisms or how the media encourages and adores him . . . as he says and does objectionable things every day and pretends to care about average Americans. But then again I'm not "elite", just an average American.
Posted by: dee | August 21, 2009 7:00 PM
Bird, I think you are jacked-up ! I'm guessing you consider yourself "elite". I don't think Obama is in any position to "chide" other politicians. Not all of us are impressed with Obama but obviously you are. He's certainly not very impressive without his teleprompter and speech writers. He stammers and stutters and usually puts his foot in his mouth. Ohhhhh, impressive !! hahaha
Posted by: dee | August 21, 2009 7:50 PM
Dee:
Are "average American" and "elite" opposing concepts? Can you be both? Your statement also implies that "average Americans" do not approve of President Obama - only the media does.
Yet I read a lot of papers and view a lot of clips in which the media is less than adoring of Obama. I suppose it depends on where you get your news from. I'm guessing you watch Fox. Surely the talking heads on Fox are not enamored of Obama.
You think I consider myself "elite"? If by elite you mean well-educated and well-read then I guess I am elite - though there's nothing truly special in that - many Americans are well-educated and well-read (even "average" ones). I'm not sure when being well-educated and well-read became a flaw or something to be mocked. If by elite you mean I am interested in linguistics and rhetoric - then yes, I am elite - and I suppose there is something special in that as the majority of people are not interested in linguistics - though quite a few are interested in rhetoric.
If by elite you mean I try to engage in debate through logic and reason without name-calling or insulting others (as in telling someone they are "jacked-up") then yes, I am proudly elite and that quality is rare as far as I can see.
I approve of Obama, but I am not always pleased with what he does. But he is arguably, a powerful orator -that's one of the reasons he was elected - far too many people voted for him based on his charisma and rhetorical charm instead of actually researching his philosophy and politics. By the way, he writes or collaborates in the writing of many of his speeches.
Posted by: Bird | August 21, 2009 8:24 PM
Right, Bird. It is much classier to use the term "wee wee" than "jacked." You laud Obama's language, yet deride Dee. So much for consistency.
Posted by: Lauren | August 21, 2009 9:04 PM
Bird, by elite I mean thinking too much of yourself, which you obviously do. And I thought you said "Slang is not necessarily inappropriate to use." But only for Obama not for me ? You enlightened us on the meaning of "wee wee'd up" and said you thought Obama's use of that slang was delightful, not so for me ? I just used a different term which you had in your post. You even said about "wee wee'd" that "I intend to add this phrase to my vocabulary, albeit in rhetorically strategic ways." That's acceptable for you but not for me ? I was only using "jacked-up" in a rhetorically strategic way. Sounds like your feathers got ruffled . . . get over yourself.
After reading your take on "elite", I guess you would consider me an elite, average American !
Posted by: dee | August 21, 2009 9:22 PM
By 'elites' do you mean educated, smart people?
It's really sad that in America, it's considered by so many to be an insult to insinuate that somebody is intelligent and educated. How DARE you study hard, have interests in far-flung subjects, and dare to try and learn things?? Sort of like 'feminist' being a bad word - how dare women identify with a movement for equal treatment of women? Or liberal. Those liberals are SO awful, wanting to help their fellow man instead of standing by a system that has repeatedly failed a huge % of the population.
Seriously. Elite? Obamabot? Meaningless chatter (you want meaningless chatter, Palin provides much more of it). And you wonder why we 'elites' don't have any respect for the other side? We're sick of rhetoric, sick of hyperbole, sick of being demonized for having views that disagree. Just sick of it.
Signed,
Elite Feminist Liberal
[What conservatives mean by "elites" is not that you are better educated or more intelligent - you're not. I myself am a National Merit Scholar and one of my kids is also. If you spent any time at this blog you might be surprised by exactly how far-ranging and comprehensive my cultural outlook is. You'd be surprised because Leftists tend (need?) to view conservatives as stupid rather than as intellectual peers with a different point of view.
Which is why you probably won't spend any time browsing this blog :)
I was a radical leftist myself for 20 years so I have an insider's view. When it comes to politics, the Left is more concerned with imposing its vision on "the masses" whom they mistakenly characterize as inferior. Ever read Animal Farm?
Now as a conservative, I find conservatives to be much more rational, logical and with more respect for their fellow man. There is absolutely nothing on the Right to compare with Daily Kos or to the send-ups of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live invoking incest for laughs.
And btw, in many ways this Second Wave feminist has not changed on major cultural issues while watching my sisters declare abortion a sacrament that trumps any mistreatment or sexual objectification of girls and women. I happen to have changed my view on abortion - but I wonder why "elite feminists liberals" gave up on securing genuine respect for women as who they are - not as sexual objects and toys.
And conservatives don't believe in a making a "system" - as you call it - do the work that individuals are called to do - spiritually, ethically and morally. Conservatives are on the record as far more generous in helping others. We just don't want to give our money to a wasteful, inefficient and unaccountable "system."
Anyway, thank you for your comment.
You certainly illustrated my point - thinking that when we say "elites" we are referring to those who are better educated and more intelligent. We're not. We're referring to those who THINK they are. And also those who don't listen.]
Posted by: elite feminist liberal | August 22, 2009 8:02 AM
You know, I think the elitist thing has really eaten away at the Democratic party. My mom has 2 masters degrees, yet she was looked down upon by other Democrats because she supported the "common man" candidate, Hillary Clinton.
Obviously I didn't support Hillary, but it was really interesting getting an insiders view at how snide supposedly tolerant people were even to those who shared their worldview!
I've been spending some time over at the Whole Foods website after the kerfuffle over the CEO's op-ed. It is amazing how many comments sound something like "Don't worry, those stupid, fat Republicans wont shop here. They're lazy and ugly and wont get their pork rinds!"
Let us all bow to the alter of liberal tolerance.
Posted by: Lauren | August 22, 2009 9:05 AM
Elite feminist liberal: Amazing. Being pro-life means we get on a terrorist list but heck, we're not demonized. Not like liberals, right?
Only smart and educated people are liberals? Again, amazing. Never heard of an educated, smart conservative? Perhaps you're not as educated as you think you are. You need to broaden your horizons a bit. We're out there and we're growing.
Your quote: "Those liberals are SO awful, wanting to help their fellow man instead of standing by a system that has repeatedly failed a huge % of the population."
Exactly how we feel. We want to help our fellow man instead of standing by a system that has repeatedly failed 50 million souls. (That's the pro-life movement. Check it out.)
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | August 22, 2009 11:33 AM
I thought it was crass and disgusting. I wouldn't let my children use that phrase. Why is it "delightful" when the President of the United States uses it on national television? Yuck.
Posted by: Wendy in VA | August 22, 2009 12:27 PM
Wow, Bird and Elite Feminist Liberal, how amazingly well you proved our point about elitism. No one here thinks you are elitist because you are smart, well-educated, well-read, interested in linguistics, logical, or rational. You're an elitist because you assumed, right off the bat, that we aren't. Good job!
Posted by: Michelle Potter | August 26, 2009 10:19 PM
