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 Michael Medved

Obamas "Have My Back"

April 12, 2012 @ 12:08 pm

Guest blog by Diane Medved

What is all this about "have my back?" It seems the phrase is everywhere, including where it shouldn't be. President Obama uses it to plead for donations, and Rick Perry considered it a request for his presidential bid.

And now it's Michelle Obama's turn, in a "poor baby" email describing her husband's sleepless nights as he responds to your letters and works so hard for you, and oh, needs your money--why? To "have his back."

Many who had his back in 2008 are now ready to give his back back.

Why is it that educated people insist on resorting to ridiculous slang? Answer: to seem hip. To seem cool. Have my back. Please.

Let's look at this a moment. On the day of the 2010 elections, the President told Chicago TV: "You can make a difference today and how well I'm able to move my agenda forward over the next couple of years is gonna depend in part on folks back home having my back."

The erudite pronouncement of a law professor.

In January, just before the Iowa caucuses, Gov. Rick Perry told audiences in Sioux City, "If you have my back tomorrow at the caucuses, I'll have your back for the next four years in Washington, D.C." Not that he'll work diligently on the serious issues confronting our nation and the world; he's more interested in back story. Apparently Iowans had little interest in Gov. Perry, forward or backward. He earned 10% of the vote.

And this week, in an email signed "Michelle," the First Lady asks for a donation of a mere "$3 or more" to repay our President for his ceaseless, selfless devotion to you. "Every night in the White House, I see Barack up late poring over briefings, reading your letters and writing notes to people he's met. He's doing that for you--working hard every day to make sure we can finish what we all started together."

Then the clincher: "This week, I need you to have his back."

The phrase, I thought, means to watch behind him to guard against a threat. I think people intend the term "back me up." Like in the old cop TV shows, where they're always calling for back-up. (Not "backin' up," as in the internet meme.) Michelle wants you to back up her husband so after November he can get back up for another four years. Or maybe he's just begging, "take me back," given his deficit expansion, soon-to-be rejected Obamacare and failure to make the nation group hug.

A very hard rock Australian group has addressed the issue appropriately. In what I consider a hilarious series of hoarse shouts, the group Carpathian offers lyrics that begin, "I want to know who's for real. All this talk of having my back has been overdone. I have no compassion for this f---ing trend." They end two-and-a-half minutes of throat-scraping with the scream, "Don't! Have! My! BAAAAACK!"

Not to disappoint the Aussies, but "have my back" is everywhere. Often used incorrectly. And if I'm wrong, you can get back to me.

More Michael Medved

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Comments (9)


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  • messiah101 wrote...
    But the Far Right insists
    April 12, 2012 11:34 am
    That Obama does NOT have Israels back
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    as Crocodile Dundee said.. "That's not a knife - This is a Knife"
    April 13, 2012 3:38 pm
    Obama has changed the entire meaning. Used to be, 'I've cot your cover', but with this president, especially toward Israel, watch out for the knife in the back.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    ron p
    April 15, 2012 2:14 pm
    US Aid has increased under Obama from $2.5 Billion to $3.1 Billion in 2012 we have pledged $30,000,000,000 in Military aid over the next 10 years ALL BORROWED money and Israel is hurt that we aren't emptying what ever Gold is left in Ft Knox for them.Israel is a parasite to our country nothing more.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    as Obama says, I'll have more flexability after the election...
    April 15, 2012 4:53 pm
    Obama seems to need to be 'supportive' to insure the last few Jews in the democrat party still vote for him. .. But voters DO get testy if you keep supporting Israel, regardless of your own gut feelings (........."...I have to put up with him every day."). Obama goes through the motions.. .. Israel may be the tail wagging the dog, but..............
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    ron p
    April 15, 2012 8:26 pm
    "supportive" to ensure the last few Jews in the Deocrat part vote for him" Thats an interesting comment because about a week or two ago I heard Medved on the Boze show comment that a recent survey of Jews showed that they heavily supported Obama and that a majority felt that US support of Israel is way over the top of where it should be. I have seen no mention of the poll that Medved referred to on any media Left or Right and frankly surprised that Medved even mentioned it. He did mention that the poll upset him
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    can you spell......
    April 16, 2012 7:11 am
    Facetious ? .................. Of course most Jews are still democrats, but apparent over-support of Israel, regardless of surveys, is never 'wrong' for a president. The 'over the top' people are way, way softer that dedicated Zionists. If you don't believe that, watch way would happen if support were reduced.
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Why hasen't the Dear Leader
    April 15, 2012 3:14 pm
    cut off Israel? I wish that he would along with Palestine Hezbollah etc etc.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    correction, Ha Ha
    April 15, 2012 4:57 pm
    Hezbollah is based in Lebanon. And Shi'a. There may be only 5 or so PALESTINIAN Hezbollah in existence. An no president will work with them until somehow an understanding is ever found with Iran.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    "O-Guy" wants us to have his back
    April 16, 2012 2:15 pm
    , the whole time he is squeezing our balls....or ovaries
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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