The right: "Obama said exactly what he meant to say." My response: DAMN STRAIGHT!
Obama said exactly what he meant to say. And that was the simple, common sense idea that nobody is an island. Everybody benefits from being part of a society that educates people and builds infrastructure to facilitate commerce. When people say that this is the "land of opportunity," they are correct. And opportunity does not just fall off a turnip truck. The right conditions need to be in place -- that includes roads, the rule of law, and an educated population.
Put him in Congo during the same era when he lived here and Sam Walton does not build Walmart. He might gain some measure of success, but not on the same scale.
Obama understands that there is something special about the USA that makes big things possible. It used to be patriotic to say things like that. But in the Bizarro World of our public debate now, "patriotism" is claimed by those who denigrate our institutions -- government especially, but also public education, universities, and the entire notion of community. It's sick.
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