By Wayne Allyn Root
Derek Jeter aka “The Captain” of the New York Yankees played his last game a couple of weeks ago. He ended his career with an RBI single in Boston, after ending his career at home in Yankee stadium with a game-winning, walk-off, RBI single. Jeter defines a leader. He has the 6th highest hit total in the history of baseball. He was the captain of five World Championship teams. But his qualities go so much deeper.
Jeter never bragged. He never used words like “I.” He gave credit to others for his achievements. He never demeaned or denigrated others. He always made the people around him feel better. He always played like a gentleman- never cheating or trying to gain unfair advantage (which is why Jeter is beloved by even his opponents). He refused to accept defeat. He therefore made the people around him better.
The result? In 20 years as a Yankee…over 2700 games played…over 11,000 at bats…he played in exactly FOUR games where his team was not in playoff contention. FOUR games in 20 years. FOUR games out of almost 3000 games played. Basically every single game he ever played in, in 20 years, his team was in the hunt for a championship. For virtually every single game he played in, in a 20 year career he was a winner. For virtually every single game in 20 years, Jeter’s team had a chance to be the world champion. Amazing.
Oh and once he got there to the postseason, he rose to the occasion. His 200 postseason hits happen to be the most in baseball history. When it counted, when all the chips were on the line, Jeter played at his best. That’s leadership.
Now let’s compare Derek Jeter’s attributes to President Obama’s leadership skills and attributes. Obama brags incessantly. He uses the “I” word dozens of times in every speech. He denigrates and demonizes his opposition every chance he gets (“You didn’t build that”). He plays dirty- he uses the IRS and other government agencies to intimidate and destroy the lives of his critics and scare the biggest donors of his opposition. He divides people into class, race, gender, religion, political affiliation. He lies (“If you like your insurance, you can keep your insurance”). He encourages hatred, jealousy, bitterness and strife. Obama’s rhetoric has led to more racial strife and division than any modern President.
The American people have noticed. In polls Obama is rated the worst president since World War II. Lower than Jimmy Carter or George W. Bush. Lower even than Richard Nixon, the disgraced ex-president.
Now let’s compare the actual record of Jeter vs. Obama:
Jeter’s 5 world championships, 200 record-setting postseason hits, and the streak of 20 straight years of being a winner in virtually every game he played in…
Versus…
Obama.
Has America been a champion in anything, on any day in past 6 years of Obama’s presidency?
Has our economy been a winner in any category for 6 straight years?
Have we been a leader in middle class job creation in any day in 6 straight years (as opposed to the few crappy low-wage, part-time jobs created)?
Has there been a day that middle class Americans were better under Obama than before?
Have we been a world leader on any day in past 6 years- respected, feared, considered a role model or moral beacon?
Do we feel like world champions? Does Obama make us feel as if anything is possible?
Name the category. I dare my liberal friends. I double dare you.
Of course all Kool Aid-drinking Democrats will immediately recite one answer- the stock market.
That’s it. That’s all Obama’s got. In six long years the stock market is the only thing Obama can claim as a winner.
Except it’s not true. It took almost $8 trillion in new debt to make the stock market go up. That’s the most debt in world history. That’s just about double the debt added by George W. Bush. That’s more debt by the time he leaves office than all previous presidents combined.
All that fake money printing has to be paid back….by our children and grandchildren. The rising stock market was all a mirage. All achieved by “cooking the books.” Take away almost $8 trillion in debt…and trillions printed by the Fed and sprinkled over Wall Street…and the stock market would never have gone up. We’d have been in an Obama Great Depression. Instead it was all covered up by fake money printing and deficit spending with money we didn’t have.
Now we are left with $8 trillion in new debt to pay back. It was like using a credit card to buy $100,000 in toys. But now you’re broke, jobless and owe back $100,000 at 18% interest rates. It was all short term instant gratification. Everything you bought will be confiscated by your creditors. The party is over.
Obama created Reagan’s “peace dividend” in reverse. Reagan spent billions on national defense and military buildup to bankrupt the evil Soviet Empire and end the threat of Cold War. As a result, we enjoyed 20 consecutive years of his “peace dividend”- thereby allowing Bill Clinton to reduce military spending and take credit for success and prosperity. Reagan set the stage for years of success. That’s leadership.
Obama has done the reverse. He has spent trillions of dollars to make himself look good, while the next guy holds the bag. He turned the stock market into a rigged craps game, thereby enriching his biggest donors (billionaires and unions) and pension funds- who in turn dipped into this piggy bank to fund Obama’s re-election. Obama took credit but the middle class is stuck with the bill. Quite a Ponzi scheme.
Obama’s actions will destroy our children’s and grandchildren’s quality of living. His debt will destroy the American Dream. This is “the murder of the middle class.” Obama’s legacy is the opposite of Jeter’s (or Reagan’s). Obama has left destruction, debt, failure and misery in his wake.
Derek Jeter defines a leader, winner, champion and role model. There isn’t an owner in all of sports, anywhere in the world who wouldn’t build a team around Derek Jeter. He is everyone’s first pick.
Would any owner build a team around Obama? Make him “The Captain?” Keep him as manager after six straight losing seasons?
Barack Obama was my college classmate (Columbia University Class of ’83). One thing I can tell you:
Barack Obama is no Derek Jeter.
