Silence, peasant!

President Thinskin strikes again: While in Iowa at the end of last month to hear from the common folk in their own backyards, Obama was met with unwanted honesty from one of the little people. So, what’s an enlightened being to do when one of the mundanes says something other than praise? Why, cut off his mike, of course:

Trying to sell his economic record in Iowa yesterday, President Obama got an earful from a successful businessman who pleaded with him not to raise taxes.

“One of the things that concerns me is the repeal of the Bush tax cuts,” said David Greenspon, referring to Democratic plans to raise taxes on individuals earning more than $200,000 a year and on families and certain businesses earning more than $250,000.

“The repeal — I don’t care if it is 5 percent — that’s 5 percent that would create a job,” he told Obama during a meeting with about 70 people in a couple’s back yard in Des Moines.

“Five percent on millions of dollars of profit creates many jobs . . . As the government gets more and more involved in business and more and more involved in taxes, what you’re finding is you’re strangling those job-creation vehicles.”

Before Greenspon could complete his question, his microphone was cut off and taken out of his hand.

You’d have thought, after the Joe the Plumber incident, that the President would be more careful when wandering into people’s neighborhoods. Americans, after all, have a habit of speaking their minds even to big shots with big titles – and maybe especially to them. One of the skills a politician needs is being able to react with grace even to those who disagree with him. Instead, as the article relates, Obama showed petulance and frustration.

And, of course, incidents like this just reinforce the image that Obama is an out-of-touch elitist who only hears what he wants to hear. A leader, especially in a democratic republic, needs to hear contradictory views if he is to govern effectively. Cutting off Greespon’s mike, on the other hand, is a symbolic slamming of the doors to the ivory tower. It’s a “Kodak moment” that captures the essence of the progressive attitude: “We know best, so be quiet  and do as you’re told. You’re welcome.”

Way to bond with the common man, sir.

Via Hot Air.

(Crossposted at Public Secrets)