Ray Gaster has been in the news because of the sign he posted outside his business.
The sign was called to my attention by a carpet cleaner working in our house who, though not the business owner, shared Mr. Gaster’s sentiments. I did a short post about it, The “you didn’t build it” meme has permeated deep.
I was very pleased when Ray Gaster himself (yes, it’s him, he registered with an email address at his business) posted a comment. Here’s the comment in full:
A friend sent me the link to this site today and I thought it would be useful commenting on what Obama said and my reaction.
His saying that “You didn’t build it. Someboday else did that.” was an insult to every person that ever started or built a business.
My reation was intended to be both strong and understandable to anyone from the streets of southside Chicago. Obama is collectivist at best and one who doesn’t believe in Free Enterprise. He has never experienced it first hand, only from the outside.
The left claims his remarks were about the roads, bridges and infustructure. Those roads go in many directions and are available to all. They can lead to success or failure, mediocrity or government dependence. I have yet to see a bridge make a payroll.
ALEX in his comments above is right, the greater insult by Obama was said later when he mockingly chided businessmen that they always talk about working hard.
Then ginning up the crowd with there are a lot of people that work hard. “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.”
Nothing like tearing down achievement.
Just remember, all this controversy arose during the 2012 Olympics. It’s ironic that Obama chose to deride personal achievement at that very moment.
Why would anyone trash personal initiative and hard work when it comes to business. Our nation is built on millions of small businesses that incrementally contribute to the great econmomy we have.
Free Enterprise should be supported, not mocked.
Mr. Gaster is aware I’m promoting this from comment to post, so if you have any questions or comments, maybe we’ll see him again in the comment section.
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Comments
Good on ya, Ray.
People who venture into business are like folks standing out on a bald hill, I’ve always said.
There is no shelter, and nothing to stop or slow the elements assaulting them.
I appreciate the work of anyone who earns their way in life, but a wage-earner is not a risk-taker. Not everyone can be, by constitution, which is fine.
People like Ray are the people Obama’s fascist economics cannot stand. Entrepreneurs are poison to a fascist system…and vise versa.
but a wage-earner is not a risk-taker
Unless, of course, he/she stands a fair risk of going into combat.
But I never confuse a wage-earner with a member of our armed services.
Thank you, btw, for your service.
Very gracious response, Rags.
Kudos to Mr. Gaster for speaking out so eloquently. I hope more businessmen and women will follow his lead. Hard work and success should be things we encourage and celebrate, not things we mock and belittle.
We built it — and we’re not going to let Obama and his statist minions tear it down!
As the owner of a small business, in Chicago (!), I couldn’t agree with your statements more! Well said, the analogy to the Olympics. This man belittles, berates, and vilifies success. How people did NOT see through this sham is beyond my ken.
From last night, Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH):
“President Obama has never even run a lemonade stand. And, you know what? It shows!”
excellent comment.
and even more affirming is the bravery to show it and not just capitulate to thought police.
One can only hope that because he is proving to be a public and clear voice for showing how offensive Obama’s view of success can be to those who invest so much of themselves, that the radicals who are offended any time Obama is criticize don’t come after him with destruction in their hearts. They have so many times before. Whether boycott or other more aggressive anarchic activity, they too have proven to be a clear voice for the other side. If they disapprove they feel emboldened to strike back in any way they want, even if illegal or immoral.
I understand he lives in Savannah. I certainly hope there are few of such vengeful extremist around in that part of the country.
Consider the difference in the groups of people who respond to reason and experience as opposed to rhetoric and theory. The former group takes note and turns back to their production. The latter checks the mailbox for the government check on the way back to watch MSNBC.
Mr. Gaster, we have your back, not virtually, nor figuratively, but literally!
Way to go, Mr. Gaster
It takes great courage to do what you have done, Mr. Gaster. From another small-business owner, Thank you!
insult by Obama was said later when he mockingly chided businessmen that they always talk about working hard.
Coming from someone who has worked single digit numbers of hard days in his life and loves to take credit for others effort, we should expect nothing less.
Well, spiking the football can be exhausting sometimes.
In my mind, those words came from someone whose ‘success’ has always depended on the collective at a minimum and the government in general. It isn’t that he might not have worked hard as a ‘community organizer’ or an attorney/instructor. From what I understand (no research, just press and media – to be fair…), every role he has held had partial or full dependency on public funds. So, to him, success really is a matter of finding your version of the ‘proper’ role/job within the collective. He has no first hand experience, it seems, with what the juncture of working hard, being smart, and being lucky is about. And certainly he has surrounded himself mostly with academics and activists that have the same experiences and outlook. They have almost always relied on public money in their work. Your ‘rewards’, or pay, have little to do with how hard you work as your productivity isn’t linked to profit. Hence, the negative view of profits as a primary focus.
hey rotator cuff injuries from spiking it can hurt….
“Free Enterprise should be supported, not mocked.” And, “You didn’t build that”, should be mocked, not supported. You accomplished both when you put up that sign. Thank you.
“… this controversy arose during the 2012 Olympics. It’s ironic that Obama chose to deride personal achievement at that very moment.”
In the US, athletes may have the gall to believe they did it on their own, with help from self derived friends or coaches. In communist China and Russia, the athlete seems to be the child of the state, drafted and molded.
The “animal energy” of personal success must be sublimated and directed “forward” for the state (in Obama world), rather than for family or church or one’s personal business. But yeah, he’d probably prefer all the athletes get medals, since there are plenty of athletes that trained hard and smart.
So “why would anyone trash personal initiative and hard work when it comes to business?”
Why wouldn’t anyone, if they’re a Marxist?
And as an infantile narcissist, Obama cannot give credit to anyone for something he can’t lie or delude himself about taking credit for: “If I didn’t build that, you didn’t build that!”
I think you have it. A concise statement of Obama’s world view: if he can’t take credit for it personally, then no one can.
To Ray Gaster,
Your public call-out is a breath of fresh righteous air.
Hope you register at Twitter.com.
-VotingFemale
Many thanks, Mr. Gaster, for your clear and explicit sign, and for your articulate comment. I hope that there are ten million like you out there.
Thanks Mr. Gaster! The blow back on Obama’s remarks have awakened a lot of sleepy voters. And….government did not build those roads and bridges!!! Taxpayer’s paid for and built those roads and bridges for all Americans to use. Last time I looked – small businesses pay all sorts of taxes to support infrastructure. Remember – businesses charge you sales tax on your purchases and then those businesses in turn 100% of those taxes over to the state. I have actually had people question where that sales tax money goes – some actually thought that businesses keep it for themselves – DUH!!!
I too own a business, and we are proud to be celebrating our twentieth year this year! A rare thing in todays America.
Anyway, building this business is something we work hard on every single day. And I wish we could somehow communicate to the Democrat leaders, and especially President Obama, what it’s like.
Not a one of them understand, and not a one of the collectivist scum has ever done it. I admit it: I hate listening to them (Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, President Obama and his little side-kick, Biden) with a passion when they belittle what I do, and I am a very mild person as a rule.
So thank you for speaking up, and for doing so with language the Democrat tough guys might just understand.
This is the BS in the media we’re up against. From Yahoo! News:
She also allowed herself a dig at Obama “I can tell you Mitt Romney was not handed success. He built it.” (Republicans have built a campaign theme out of the president’s contention that entrepreneurs have government to thank for the investments in infrastructure and education, having taken his message to business owners that “you didn’t built that” out of context).
—Out of context?? Really Yahoo! News?
Is this a result of some notorious fact checking you’ve done? The kind of fact checking that almost always is to the Democrats’ advantage. Funny how many people have watched the entire clip (aka in context) and think it’s even more damning!
Thank you for your brave stand, Ray Gaster!
Hope you stick around and make your voice heard.
Whoops! Forgot the link to the Yahoo! News piece:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/ann-romney-chris-christie-mitt-romney-heart-spine-035016531.html
The projection from the desperate left is becoming pretty pitiful. I heard what Ann Romney said as a counter the snipping media’s meme about Mitt being a part of the silver spoon/1%/everything given to them crowd. Many in the media, not just political hacks, have droned on about that for a long time. Of course the left is now projecting their insecurities on the right. This Yahoo writer projected his emotion onto Ann’s words. Perhaps he feels Obama’s lack of work experience is a drag on him now? Don’t know.
It’s not “b.s,” nor “mischief,” nor “bias:” it is corruption.
“I have yet to see a bridge make a payroll.”
And if you find one who does, I have a bridge to sell ya! 😉
I might consider buying your bridge, if it is a “Bridge Over Maxine Waters.”
I am so happy that a friend sent me the link to LI as your reaction to my post is indicative of the responses I have been receiving over the last month. Yes, it’s running 95%+ in favor of both the banner and the language used. I have heard from almost every state, received over 1,000 phone calls, 1,000 emails, and about 200 cards and letters. It is a humbling experience to be praised so much; to be called a patriot, a man of courage, a real American, and every other accolade of praise and honor. The point of my actions had none of this in mind. The act was one of addressing a slander that cut so deep that it deserved an answer. A lot was at risk. But maybe, having the courage of one’s conviction would spark a rallying point for other businesses to follow. Indeed this has happened. The gasterbanner.com website has shipped banners and bumper stickers to over 40 states. I have received emails of similiar banners from about a dozen businesses in as many state. One of my favorites is from the Midland TX oilfield area saying, “Obama can Kiss my Derrick.” with a picture of an oil derrick on it.
This fight is not over. Over the years we have been told that individuals are really not responsible for their failure, their bad decisions or actions. Our society is responsible and it is not your fault. Our parents or others have let us down. You are a victim of all this. Now comes Obama talking about individual not being responsible for their successes in business. Why the government built these roads, provided water and sewers, along with regulations for companies, zoning, buildings, and ad nauseam to the point that success is no longer earned but is granted by higher authority. That is not the America I know. Nor is it the one I will accept. What has made this county economically great is the freedom to take an idea, mix it with initiative, plus opportunity; then devote the time and energy to succeed. For those who are fortunate enough to succeed, they can then look back and whisper with pride, “I built that.” No one can take that away.
Regards, Ray