For the last several days, I’ve been enjoying the Olympics, especially seeing USA win so many medals. I recently heard someone on the radio say that they were sick and tired of 
constantly seeing all the Olympians’ moms and dads on TV. Well, I’m not. I love seeing the families in the audience, getting excited about their son or daughter or brother or sister achieving their dreams. These young people work very, very hard, and only come to national attention for a few days once every four years. They deserve all the attention they can get—and that includes attention for their families, who have been so very supportive for so very long, sometimes making huge sacrifices. I like seeing that these stories are not just about individuals, but also about families.
Back in 2002, Mitt Romney shared my sentiments about the Olympians and their families when he said:“You Olympians, however, know you didn’t get here solely on your own power. For most of you, loving parents, sisters or brothers, encouraged your hopes, coaches guided, communities built venues in order to organize competitions. All Olympians stand on the shoulders of those who lifted them. We’ve already cheered the Olympians, let’s also cheer the parents, coaches, and communities.
I don’t know if Romney still feels the same way about the Olympians, but I’ve got to say I certainly don’t see how it is that he now objects to President Obama’s recent comments about business owners. Well, no, wait. Actually, I do know how it is he objects. He objects because he’s pulled that one line, “You didn’t build that,” out of context, conveniently ignoring what follows, when Obama added:
“If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive.”
Now somebody explain to me: are these two statements really so different? I don’t see that they are. I don’t see why it’s okay to tell the Olympians “you didn’t get here solely on your own power,” but it’s NOT okay to tell business owners that “somebody along the line gave you some help.” What’s true for Olympians is true for small business owners. Everyone who is involved in building something great deserves recognition for their contributions.
So bring on the happy parents! I know if one of my kids was in the Olympics, I would not want to be hiding in a corner. I’d be out there telling everyone I know “That’s my kid! That’s my kid!!”
But I’ll also say this: if I were Romney, I wouldn’t criticize my opponent for saying the same thing I’ve already said. And I also wouldn’t base an ad campaign on a single line taken out of context.
And I ESPECIALLY wouldn’t feature a business owner in that ad, criticizing the President for saying that the government helped him build his business, when in fact his company received millions of dollars in government contracts for work on numerous public schools. And I wouldn’t run another ad based on the President’s “You didn’t build that” remark starring another business owner who received $800,000 in tax-exempt revenue bonds as well as sub-contracts from the US Navy.
First Question: What the heck is Romney thinking? Guess what, Mr. Romney: We’re not stupid, and we are paying attention.
Second Question: Who among us has not had some help along the way? We all have. So let’s get over it, man up, and give credit where credit is due!
Credit where credit is due –it is not the same thing!
Let me start by stating that I am qualified as a parent of children and as a small business owner to comment on these statements.
It’s true, my children aren’t Olympians going for the gold, but rather just normal kids going through school and YMCA programs; but I can tell you that I have sat through countless hours of Friday night practice, Wednesday afternoon Ballet class, and Saturday morning flag football games to tell you that I don’t do it for monetary or financial gain, but rather for the love of my children. I expect NOTHING from them for my hours of dedication, I do this for the love of seeing them grow into beautiful individuals; We’ve celebrated their achievements as a family, and we’ve consoled each other over missed touchdowns and dance steps…never once was there a thought of what is in it for me, but rather I rejoice in the achievement AND failures that help my children grow to be better adults.
So allow me a moment to comment as a small business owner… two employees, Karin and I. Our business started on a whim of an idea, a few hundred dollars (of our own money), and an enormous amount of long and tiresome hours spent working on our own to develop what we have today. It’s not much, just a few hundred items in inventory, a 15×15 room, some office equipment, and some well worn furniture that we call our business.
BUT… I can say I BUILT THIS BUSINESS; It is mine, and mine alone. There was no Gov’t . grants, no small business loans , no outside assistance…. NOTHING. Night after night, many times up to 1 or 2 AM in the morning, wrapping items, shipping product, answering customer concerns, timing accounts payable –vs- accounts receivable payment s to make sure we don’t overdraft… literally thousands of hours of Karin and my time to make this business what it is today.
Not once was there anyone from the Gov’t. who came to help… no teachers or mentors from the past that we drew wisdom and intellect from. It was the “school of hard-knocks” for us…we learned by our mistakes, and repeated the events that were profitable. No one from the administration came to help carry upstairs the hundreds of pounds of books every night. No one from the state of Florida ever came to help me analyze a cost spreadsheet or profit-and-loss accounting statement…. We did this own our own.
You want to know when I see our friendly helpful Gov’t. friends… it’s every 3 months. They are there like clockwork holding out their greedy hands for their quarterly taxes; 20% to federal and 7% to the state of Florida. What did they do to help build this revenue stream?? Do they go into the warehouses of Tampa for packing supplies? Are they with us 7am Saturday morning planning our purchasing trips? No one is with me every day at lunch time when I quickly swallow down a sandwich on my way to a Pawn shop to make a purchase on bulk order DVD’s… where are all these people who helped me build my business???? I could use the help…
OK… I know all about roads and bridges that are needed to facilitate business. Like I said, I pay my taxes…27% right off the bat. Now add sales tax, gasoline tax, property tax, automobile registration tax, income tax, FICA…etc., etc., etc. You want me to sit back after my wallet has been raped by Gov’t agencies and smile and thanks to some 3rd grade teacher who made a difference in my life?….
Yes, there have been people who have made a difference in my life…people like my Father, who I saw understood the value of work, and the fact that a man was measured on his ability to support his family. And my wife, who taught me that nobody owes me anything… it’s up to me to make my destiny.
Forgive me for being rude, but my response to Mr. Obama when he says I didn’t build this on my own… XXXX you Obama, I did build this on my own; you and your ilk can go to XXXX… I don’t owe you anything more than what you get today. And of the rest of the liberal dirtbags standing there with your hands held out waiting for your “entitlement” of my earnings… pick up a tool and get to work. This country is broken because of XXXX like you….
OK, it’s 10:45pm, I have to get back to work because there are orders to ship. Sign me out.
John Hodyl – Sole Proprietor
John, I think you missed my point about the Olympic parents. In regards to supporting your own kids efforts in sports, you say “I don’t do it for monetary or financial gain, but rather for the love of my children,” and “never once was there a thought of what was in it for me.”
Go back and read my first paragraph. I don’t believe I ever suggested the parents of Olympians have an attitude other than the exact same attitude you have with your kids. But your comments made me feel like you THOUGHT I said the parents EXPECTED personal gain of some kind. Sorry if I was not more clear. I only said that I understand that parents do a lot to help their kids succeed, and that I enjoy seeing the parents getting excited about their kids’ achievements.
Now in regard to politics, I know you and I are on different sides of the fence, and that’s okay. This is my blog, so I’ll express my opinions, but at the same time, I have no problem hearing the opinions of others. Where I do have a problem, however, is with some of the language you use to express your opinions.
We don’t have to agree politically, but we do have to treat each other with civility. Foul language is not permitted on my blog. Therefore, I’m XXX-ing out some of your inappropriate language. ‘You’re always welcome to comment here, I only ask that in the future you observe the conventions of polite society. This is, after all, a lady’s blog…not a truck stop! 🙂
By the way, I agree with you totally that Dad taught us all a lot about the value of work and supporting your family and managing your money well. In this way, I think I might consider him a “mentor.” My third grade teacher did not make a big impression on me, but I’ve had several teachers in high school and college that made a very big impression on me.
I’m not a successful business owner, but in whatever way I may experience some small measure of success, I’m always grateful to all the teachers and mentors who helped shape me into the person I have become, and always ready to give them credit for their influences on my life.
OK, I’ll censor myself for all the ladies, children, and non-truckers in the room… 🙂
What I disagree with is your synopsis of how Romney portrayed Obama’s comments, and how it could appear to be contrary to his prior statements in regards to Olympic parents and coaches.
So we agree on this: Parents love their children and love to see their children excel…either at the YMCA and school playgrounds, or on the forefront of the Olympics with the world watching.
However, I believe Romney’s review of Obama’s speech was not out of context. After first hearing the Obama Virginia speech, I did go back and review very carefully what he said so I fully understood on my own the context of the speech.
I fully agree with Romney’s interpretation.
Forgive me for filling up your blog with rhetoric, but here are the transcripts of the two paragraphs that I question; I noticed you only focused on what came after the infamous “you didn’t build that” line.
“There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me — because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t — look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. (Applause.)
If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.”
Don’t know if I classify myself as wealthy or successful just yet, but I do know I got here on my own. I believe Romney interpreted this statement as clearly as I did. This is the Obama agenda of wealth redistribution; Obama’s agenda for higher taxes on the wealthy. This statement clearly and boldly states that Obama’s straw-man (those wealthy and successful who want to give something back – notice no one ever named) agrees that they are not paying enough into the system. The straw-man feels guilty about his success and now at his hour of enlightenment feels the need necessary to make reparations to all those souls who helped him along the way… down to the last teacher and road-worker who ever had the good graces to be within his eye sight.
OK, we can have disagreements – and our ability to disagree and see two side on many political issues is what makes us so strong; but I would hope (and I pray) that on the fundamentals, the core principals, the very crust that makes America such a different and beautiful country; we would agree. American exceptionalism, American greatness, American’s who are willing to risk it all and then reap the reward of their labor to never be in question or doubt. This country was built on the backs and hands of men like our father and grandfathers. They asked for nothing but the chance to prove themselves, and to take what they could earn. They did not have their hands out waiting for someone else to give them a piece of the pie…they worked hard and bought their own pie.
But wait, I’m thinking… what if you are right. What if Obama is right..everybody deserves something because of somebody else. Last year I started teaching 5th grade students…had 16 in my class. Maybe I should keep close tabs on these kids in case they ever do become successful. I can always tap them on the shoulder later in life and remind them what an influence I was… might be in for some additional revenue streams in the near future! 🙂
Wait… I see what said, you said give them credit, not give them money. Maybe Obama could learn something from you.