View source for You didn't build that

'''from edit revision http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=You_didn%27t_build_that&oldid=522489809'''

<!-- Please do not remove or change this AfD message until the issue is settled -->
{{Article for deletion/dated|page=You didn&#39;t build that|timestamp=20121108171455|year=2012|month=November|day=8|substed=yes|help=off}}
<!-- For administrator use only: {{Old AfD multi|page=You didn&#39;t build that|date=8 November 2012|result='''keep'''}} -->
<!-- End of AfD message, feel free to edit beyond this point -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2012}}
{{POV|date=August 2012}}

"'''You didn't build that'''" is a phrase from an [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012|election campaign]] speech delivered by [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] on 13 July 2012 in [[Roanoke, Virginia]]. The phrase was publicized by his political opponents, and has been described as a [[meme]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/07/The-Rise-of-Romneys-You-Didnt-Build-That-Meme | title=The Rise of Romney’s "You Didn’t Build That" Meme | last=Weiner | first=Juli | date=July 18, 2012 | work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] | accessdate=September 14, 2012}}</ref><ref name="CohenGuardian">{{cite news | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/29/they-built-that-republicans-big-lie | title=They built that: how a Republican lie turned into an alternate universe | date=August 29, 2012 | accessdate=September 14, 2012 | work=[[The Guardian]] | last=Cohen | first=Michael}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/07/21/meme-of-the-week-you-didn-t-build-that.html | title=Meme of the Week: ‘You Didn’t Build That’ | work=[[The Daily Beast]] | accessdate=September 14, 2012}}</ref> Although the speech became known by that phrase,<ref>{{cite news |title=Putting ‘Context’ In Context: Obama’s ‘You Didn’t Build That’ Speech |author=Todd Domke |url=http://www.wbur.org/2012/07/26/obama-you-didnt-build-that |publisher=[[WBUR]] |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=21 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/schedule/complete/2012-07-13 |title=White House Schedule - July 13, 2012 |author= |date= |work=Briefing Room |publisher=[[White House]] |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Let me say this about 'that': Parsing the president's quote about business |author=Eric Zorn |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-07-20/news/ct-oped-0720-zorn-md-20120720_1_team-romney-president-barack-obama-mitt-romney |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=20 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> Obama was speaking about the ways in which successful businesses rely on both individual initiative and public infrastructure,<ref name="CSPAN">{{cite web |url=http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/307056-2 |title=President Obama Campaign Rally in Roanoke |author= |date=13 July 2012 |work=Road to the White House |publisher=[[C-SPAN]] |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="foxnews.com">{{cite news |title=Obama claims Romney 'twisted' his words on 'you didn't build that'|author= |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/24/obama-claims-romney-twisted-his-words-on-didnt-build-that/ |publisher=Fox News |date=24 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="LAT18JUL12">{{cite news |title=Republicans pouncing on Obama's 'you didn't build that' remark |author=Kathleen Hennessey |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-republicans-pouncing-on-obamas-you-didnt-build-that-remark-20120718,0,4148346.story |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=18 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="OB17JUL12">{{cite web |url=http://www.barackobama.com/truth-team/entry/fact-check-what-president-obama-actually-said-about-small-businesses |title=Fact check: What President Obama actually said about small businesses |author= |date=17 July 2012 |work=Truth team |publisher=Obama for America |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> stating in part: {{quote|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.<ref name="CSPAN" />}}

The line "If you've got a business—you didn't build that" generated controversy when [[Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2012|Mitt Romney's campaign]] and conservatives quickly disseminated it across the conservative political [[blogosphere]]. [[Conservatism in the United States|Conservative]] commentators were critical of what they viewed as Obama's support for [[big government]].<ref name="washingtonpost-problem">{{cite news|author=Aaron Blake |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obamas-you-didnt-build-that-problem/2012/07/18/gJQAJxyotW_blog.html |title=Obama's 'You didn't build that' problem |work=The Washington Post |date=2012-07-18 |accessdate=2012-07-26}}</ref> [[fact checker|Fact-checking]] organizations<ref name="EK24JUL12">{{cite web |url=http://factcheck.org/2012/07/you-didnt-build-that-uncut-and-unedited/ |title=‘You Didn’t Build That,’ Uncut and Unedited |author=Eugene Kiely |date=24 July 2012 |work=[[FactCheck|The FactCheck Wire]] |publisher=[[Annenberg Public Policy Center]] of the [[University of Pennsylvania]] |accessdate=12 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="PF25JUL12">{{cite web |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/26/mitt-romney/putting-mitt-romneys-attacks-you-didnt-build-truth/ |title=Putting Mitt Romney's attacks on 'You didn't build that' to the Truth-O-Meter |author= |date=25 July 2012 |work=Politifact |publisher=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | publisher = [[Associated Press]] | title = SPIN METER: Obama's 'You didn't build that' echoes | first=Philip | last = Elliott | date= 24 July 2012 | accessdate = 27 August 2012 | url = http://bigstory.ap.org/article/spin-meter-obamas-you-didnt-build-echoes}}</ref> and commentators were critical of what they viewed as misrepresentations of Obama's speech by the Romney campaign.<ref name="HP30JULY12" /><ref name="NYT27JUL12" /><ref name="TRMS24JUL12" /> 

The Romney campaign used the phrase "you didn't build that", taken from Obama's speech, to create an election advertisement;<ref>{{cite news |title=Romney hammers 'you didn't build that' in new web ad |author= |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/19/romney-hammers-didnt-build-that-in-new-web-ad/ |publisher=[[Fox News]] |date=19 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012|The Obama campaign]] said that the statement was taken out of context, having "that" appear to refer to the person's business instead of "roads and bridges", and called the ads "flat out wrong".<ref name="foxnews.com"/><ref name="LAT18JUL12"/><ref name="OB17JUL12"/><ref>{{cite news |author=David Nakamura |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/obama-ready-to-fight-back-against-romneys-you-didnt-build-that-attack/2012/07/20/gJQAPYDVxW_blog.html |title=Obama ready to fight back against Romney's 'You didn't build that' attack |work=The Washington Post |date=20 July 2012 |accessdate=26 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obama-pushes-back-on-you-didnt-build-that-in-ad/2012/07/24/gJQAapLK7W_blog.html |title=Obama pushes back on ‘You didn’t build that’ in ad | work=The Washington Post | date=24 July 2012 | accessdate=30 July 2012}}</ref>

==Background==
In August 2011, while contemplating a run for the U.S. Senate, former White House financial reform adviser [[Elizabeth Warren]] gave a fiery defense of liberal economic theory at an event in Andover, Massachusetts.<ref name="HP20120730">{{cite news |last=Smerconish |first=Michael |title='You Didn't Build That!' in Context |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-smerconish/you-didnt-build-that-in-c_b_1721794.html |accessdate=2 September 2012 |publisher=The Huffington Post |date=30 July 2012}}</ref> On 21 September, a video of Warren making the case for progressive economics received attention on the Internet and became a [[viral video]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/class-warfare-elizabeth-warren-style/2011/03/03/gIQAeB2WlK_blog.html |title=Class warfare, Elizabeth Warren style |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=21 September 2011 |first=Greg |last=Sargent|accessdate=31 September}}</ref> In the video, Warren aggressively rebuts the argument that asking the rich to pay more taxes is "class warfare",<ref>Elizabeth Warren speaking in Andover, Massachusetts on [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htX2usfqMEs Debt Crisis and Fair Taxation]</ref> by pointing out that no one grew rich in America without depending on government services paid for by the rest of society.<ref name="PhilyInquirer20120730">{{cite news |last=Smerconish |first=Michael |title=The context behind Obama's ‘you didn't build that' |url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-30/news/32924415_1_elizabeth-warren-american-crossroads-president-obama|accessdate=31 September 2012 |newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=30 July 2012}}</ref> Warren said:<ref>{{cite web|last=Gabbay|first=Tiffany|title=Elizabeth Warren on class warfare: 'There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own'|url=http://www.theblaze.com/stories/elizabeth-warren-on-class-warfare-there-is-nobody-in-this-country-who-got-rich-on-his-own/|publisher=[[TheBlaze]]|accessdate=2 September 2012|date=21 September 2011}}</ref>

{{quote|I hear all this, you know, 'Well, this is class warfare, this is whatever.' No. There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own — nobody. You built a factory out there? Good for you. But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police-forces and fire-forces that the rest of us paid for. You didn't have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory — and hire someone to protect against this — because of the work the rest of us did. Now look, you built a factory and it turned into something terrific, or a great idea. God bless — keep a big hunk of it. But part of the underlying social contract is, you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along.}}

Obama later echoed her thoughts when he spoke in Roanoke about how private businesses rely on government investments in infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news |last=Robillard |first=Kevin |title=Scott Brown: Obama echoed Elizabeth Warren speech |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78951.html |accessdate=2 September 2012 |publisher= Politico |date=25 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Trumbull |first=Mark |title=Elizabeth Warren: What will Obama's 'you didn't build that' ally say to DNC? |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Senate/2012/0731/Elizabeth-Warren-What-will-Obama-s-you-didn-t-build-that-ally-say-to-DNC |accessdate=2 September 2012 |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor |date=31 July 2012}}</ref>

In her victory speech on November 6, 2012, Elizabeth Warren [[Callback (comedy)|made a callback]], stating it had been "an amazing campaign, and let me be clear, I didn't build that, you built that." <ref>[http://www.wbur.org/2012/11/06/elizabeth-warren-wins Democrat Warren Tops Brown In Mass. Senate Race] WBUR Fred Thys November 6, 2012 Updated Nov 07,</ref>

==Speech==
On a campaign swing through Virginia, Obama stopped in Roanoke to speak to supporters.<ref>{{cite news |title=Obama campaign in full swing in Virginia |author= |url=http://www.sfgate.com/nation/slideshow/Obama-campaign-in-full-swing-in-Virginia-45934.php#photo-3193987 |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=13 July 212 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> In his remarks Obama noted that while he was willing to cut government waste, he would not gut investments that grow the economy or give tax breaks to millionaires like himself or Mitt Romney.<ref name="PhilyInquirer20120730" /> Obama went on to say that rich people did not get rich solely due to their own talent and hard work, but that, to varying degrees, they owe some of their success to good fortune and the contributions of government.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chait |first=Jonathan|title=How ‘You Didn’t Build That’ Violated Conservative P.C. |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/07/how-obama-violated-conservative-pc.html |accessdate=2 September 2012 |newspaper=New York (magazine) |date=20 July 2012}}</ref> Obama said in this context:
{{quote|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.

The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don't do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/07/13/remarks-president-campaign-event-roanoke-virginia |title=Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event in Roanoke, Virginia |author= |date=13 July 2012 |work=Office of the Press Secretary |publisher=[[White House]] |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref>}}

Obama then cited the funding of the [[G.I. Bill]], the creation of the middle class, the construction of the [[Golden Gate Bridge]] and [[Hoover Dam]], [[History of the Internet|creation of the Internet]], and [[Apollo 11|landing on the moon]] as examples of what he was talking about.<ref name="PhilyInquirer20120730" />

==Response==
{{overly detailed|date=September 2012|section=yes}}

Although the remark was not initially seen as significant, it soon gained traction,<ref name="WP18JUL12AB">{{cite news |title=Obama’s ‘You didn’t build that’ problem |author=Aaron Blake |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obamas-you-didnt-build-that-problem/2012/07/18/gJQAJxyotW_blog.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=18 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> and it became a [[hashtag]] on [[Twitter]].<ref name="LAT18JUL12" /> According to [[David Weigel]] of ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', the first news story regarding the speech was done by [[Fox News]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Memewatch: Did Obama Say That Successful People Didn't Earn What They Have? |author=David Weigel |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/07/16/memewatch_did_obama_say_that_successful_people_didn_t_earn_what_they_have_.html |publisher=Slate |date=16 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Obama to business owners: 'You didn't build that' |author= |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/15/obama-dashes-american-dream-suggests-nobody-achieves-success-alone/#ixzz20oonsjop |publisher=Fox News |date=16 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref>

Additionally, the statement "You didn't build that" has become a [[meme]] with multiple images using it on the internet.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Rise of Romney’s "You Didn’t Build That" Meme |author=Juli Weiner |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/07/The-Rise-of-Romneys-You-Didnt-Build-That-Meme |newspaper=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=18 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref>

===Fact-checking===
[[FactCheck.org]] said that the Romney campaign and Republicans have used quotations from the speech out of context, failing to include Obama's remarks about how infrastructure and education promote business success. In an update to the post, responses from the Obama campaign were added, explaining the president's intended meanings of infrastructure and education. FactCheck.org said "We don't know what the president had in mind when he uttered those words, and his intent is not clear. Regardless, our conclusion is the same: Taking snippets of his speech ignores the larger context of the president's meaning that a business owner does not become successful 'on your own.'" Romney was commended, however, for acknowledging Obama's wider context in a 17 July campaign speech Romney gave criticizing Obama's "You didn't build that" remark.<ref name="EK24JUL12"/>

[[Politifact]] also criticized Romney advertisements, saying that the Romney campaign, "cherry-picked a quote that made it sound like Obama was dismissive of businesses when in fact he was making a point that success comes from the combination of 'individual initiative' and the fact that 'we do things together'", and that by doing so "Romney and his supporters have misled viewers and given a false impression."<ref name="PF25JUL12"/>

===Political commentators===
{{Undue|section|date=September 2012}}
An opinion piece in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' on 17 July 2012 stated that the speech is a "burst of ideological candor" and that the statement meant that "the self-made man is an illusion".<ref>{{cite news |title='You Didn't Build That' |author= |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304388004577533300916053684.html |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=17 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> In another ''Wall Street Journal'' piece, [[James Taranto]] wrote that "The president's remark was a direct attack on the principle of individual responsibility, the foundation of American freedom."<ref>{{cite news |title=You Didn't Sweat, He Did |author=James Taranto |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444873204577535053434972374.html?mod=googlenews_wsj |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=18 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> Later [[Kimberley Strassel]], wrote that the portion of the speech that spoke about Obama's views on the relationship between business and government was similar to statements made by Massachusetts Senate candidate [[Elizabeth Warren]] and that the effect of the speech was to "suck away the president's momentum".<ref>{{cite news |title=Four Little Words: Why the Obama campaign is suddenly so worried |author=Kimberley A. Strassel |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443931404577551344018773450.html |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref>

In ''[[The Washington Post]]'', [[Jennifer Rubin (journalist)|Jennifer Rubin]] wrote that the statement showed that Obama "revealed a level of resentment toward the private sector that was startling, even to his critics", and that the speech reflects that "the anti-business assaults ''become'' the campaign. Meanwhile, his affection for government becomes a chip on his shoulder, prompting him to dare those private-sector wise guys to deny the centrality of government in their success."<ref name="JR24JUL12">{{cite news |title=Obama is losing his message like nobody’s business |author=Jennifer Ruben |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/obama-is-losing-his-message-like-nobodys-business/2012/07/24/gJQAy1yK6W_blog.html?wprss=rss_right-turn |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=24 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> Later, [[Glenn Kessler (journalist)|Glenn Kessler]] said that the Obama statement was taken out of context and that he was speaking about infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news |title=What did Obama mean when he said, ‘you didn’t build that’?—Gaffe Check Video |author=Glenn Kessler |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/what-did-obama-mean-when-he-said-you-didnt-build-that--gaffe-check-video/2012/08/09/988bf7d6-e260-11e1-a25e-15067bb31849_video.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=13 August 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref>

In ''[[The Atlantic]]'', [[Andrew Cline]] wrote that what Obama said was an "enormous controversy – a philosophical rewriting of the American story" and that "With his Roanoke speech, Obama turned Jefferson on his head. In Obama's formulation, government is not a tool for the people's use, but the very foundation upon which all of American prosperity is built. Government is not dependent upon the people; the people are dependent upon the government." This, Cline writes, is fundamentally non-[[Jeffersonian democracy|Jeffersonian]].<ref name="AC10AUG12">{{cite news |title=What 'You Didn't Build That' Really Means—and Why Romney Can't Explain It |author=Andrew Cline |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/08/what-you-didnt-build-that-really-means-and-why-romney-cant-explain-it/260984/# |newspaper=The Atlantic |date=10 August 2012 |accessdate=17 August 2012}}</ref> Earlier in the same publication, [[Clive Crook]] wrote that Obama's statements did not mean what his critics wrote they meant, but that the caricature resonates due to it being recognizable as part of his theme of the "rich aren't paying their fair share".<ref>{{cite news |title=There's No Such Thing as Building a Business |author=[[Clive Crook]] |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/07/theres-no-such-thing-as-building-a-business/260157/# |newspaper=The Atlantic |date=22 July 2012 |accessdate=17 August 2012}}</ref> [[Jonah Goldberg]], in the ''[[National Review]]'', wrote that Obama's "gaffe" was at best [[truism]], and the reason for Obama's supporters attacking others, for taking Obama's words and [[Progressivism in the United States#Contemporary progressivism|progressive]] roots seriously, is because they do not portray Obama as a [[Pragmatism|pragmatist]] and a [[moderate]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Co-sponsoring Your Success |author=Jonah Goldberg |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/310080/co-sponsoring-your-success-jonah-goldberg |publisher=National Review Online |date=20 July 2012 |accessdate=28 August 2012}}</ref>

[[Guy Benson]], on [[Townhall.com]], wrote that the Romney campaign did not take Obama's words out of context since "Obama essentially posits that no private or individual success is possible in America without the government's help."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2012/07/19/no_conservatives_arent_taking_you_didnt_build_that_out_of_context |title=No, Conservatives Aren't Taking 'You Didn't Build That' Out of Context |author=[[Guy Benson]] |date=19 August 2012 |work=[[Townhall.com]] |publisher=[[Salem Communications]] |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref> [[Rachael Larimore]], in [[Slate (magazine)|''Slate'']], wrote that it does not matter what Obama meant to say, as conservatives heard "You didn't get credit for your hard work" and even with the context of the entire speech, the reaction would be largely the same, more importantly it resonated with small-business owners.<ref>{{cite news |title="You Didn’t Build That" Isn’t Going Away |author=Rachael Larimore |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/08/_you_didn_t_build_that_it_doesn_t_matter_what_obama_meant_to_say_but_what_people_heard_.html |publisher=Slate |date=30 August 2012 |accessdate=4 September 2012}}</ref> [[Rush Limbaugh]] has commented that business owners did build the roads and bridges through their taxes, and that Obama wants to [[Socialization (economics)|socialize]] private profit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/07/23/an_incomprehensible_defense_of_obama_s_you_didn_t_build_that_philosophy |title=An Incomprehensible Defense of Obama's "You Didn't Build That" Philosophy |date=23 August 2012 |work=RushLimbaugh.com |publisher=[[Premiere Radio Networks]] |accessdate=20 August 2012 |quote=Right. Roads and bridges. The fact is, they did build the roads and bridges. It was their taxes who built the roads and bridges. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/07/24/the_most_telling_moment_of_obama_s_presidency_you_didn_t_build_that |title=The Most Telling Moment of Obama's Presidency: "You Didn't Build That" |date=24 August 2012 |work=RushLimbaugh.com |publisher=Premiere Radio Networks |accessdate=20 August 2012 |quote=This roads-and-bridges stuff is just liberal claptrap. What he's doing, what he's setting the stage for is trying to socialize profit so that he can claim it. What he wants people to conclude is that profit was not possible, is not possible, without government first making it possible. And, therefore, government owns it. It's government's profit. He wants to socialize the profit, and that's then the vehicle for going after everybody's money via higher taxes, a wealth tax, or whatever technique that he tries. }}</ref> [[Mark Levin]], in reaction to the speech, said that Obama was "disrespecting the American people" and that "he despises the capitalist system."<ref>{{cite video |people=Mark Levin |year=2012 |title=Romney Goes On Offense, Mark Levin Reacts |url=http://townhall.com/video/romney-goes-on-offense-mark-levin-reacts |publisher=Fox News |location=New York |archiveurl=http://video.foxnews.com/v/1739918677001/ |archivedate=18 August 2012 |accessdate=28 August 2012 |time=1:30 }}</ref> Josh Barro, in ''[[Bloomberg]]'', wrote that Obama's speech was needlessly insulting, and that the statement resonates badly with people of all income levels; later he quoted Sam Seaborn in the television show ''[[The West Wing]]'' in regards to [[progressive taxation]].<ref name="Bloom30JUL12">{{cite news |title=Why ‘You Didn’t Build That’ Resonates |author=Josh Barro |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-30/why-you-didn-t-build-that-resonates.html |publisher=Bloomberg |date=30 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref>

In researching the [[2002 Winter Olympics]], [[NBC News]]' Domenico Montanaro found that Romney made a similar statement during his speech during those game's opening ceremony, where he said:
{{quote|Tonight we cheer the Olympians, who only yesterday were children themselves. As we watch them over the next 16 days, we affirm that our aspirations, and those of our children and grandchildren, can become reality. We salute you Olympians – both because you dreamed and because you paid the price to make your dreams real. You guys pushed yourself, drove yourself, sacrificed, trained and competed time and again at winning and losing. <br/>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. All right!|Mitt Romney<ref>{{cite news |title=Romney to Olympians: 'You didn't get here solely on your own' |author=Domenico Montanaro |url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/23/12904508-romney-to-olympians-you-didnt-get-here-solely-on-your-own?lite |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=23 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref>}}

In ''[[The Huffington Post]]'', [[Michael Smerconish]] wrote that the Romney campaign did take the words out of context, and that the message of the importance of [[social contracts]] were better worded by Elizabeth Warren.<ref name="HP30JULY12">{{cite news |title='You Didn't Build That!' in Context |author=Michael Smerconish |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-smerconish/you-didnt-build-that-in-c_b_1721794.html |publisher=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=30 July 2012 |accessdate=12 August 2012}}</ref> [[Nelson Davis (businessman)|Nelson Davis]], president of Nelson Davis Productions, rebuked the conservatives' take on what Obama had said in Roanoke, saying that the reason why the United States has become great is due to business and government working together.<ref>{{cite news |title=We Did Build That |author=Nelson Davis |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nelson-davis/we-did-build-that_b_1703997.html |publisher=The Huffington Post |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> Keeping with the "You didn't build that" meme, [[Alan Colmes]] wrote that Romney will not have sewed his [[Suit (clothing)|suit]], would not have built the [[Stage (theatre)|stage]] used during the [[2012 Republican National Convention]] in [[Tampa Bay, Florida]], and that his success at [[Bain Capital]] would not have been possible without government assistance.<ref>{{cite news |title=I Didn't Write This |author=Alan Colmes |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-colmes/romney-republican-convention_b_1834278.html |publisher=The Huffington Post |date=27 August 2012 |accessdate=28 August 2012}}</ref> Additionally, Anthony Gregory of [[The Independent Institute]], wrote that the implication of the speech was "The state protects business interests so taxpayers have a partial claim on the wealth produced."<ref>{{cite news |title=Then, Who DID Build It, Mr. President? |author=Anthony Gregory |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anthony-gregory/obama-business_b_1687374.html |publisher=The Huffington Post |date=24 July 2012 |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref> Michael Cohen writing for the Guardian stated that the Republican's usage of the phrase exemplifies that they "not only toil in their own narrowly and misleadingly constructed world, but really are just ''making stuff up.''"<ref name="CohenGuardian" />

In the ''[[New York Magazine]]'', [[Jonathan Chait]] wrote that Romney use of the words from the Roanoke speech as a "plan of blatantly lying" about it, and the reason why it works is because of a "broader subtext" of the speech due to Obama not using his normal voice, but speaking with a "black dialect".<ref name="NYT27JUL12">{{cite news |title=The Real Reason ‘You Didn’t Build That’ Works |author=Jonathan Chait |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/07/real-reason-you-didnt-build-that-works.html |publisher=New York (magazine) |date=27 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> In ''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]'', Charles Kenny of the [[Center for Global Development]] also criticized the Romney campaign for taking the word out of context, and went on to state that American businesses benefit from infrastructure, and other elements of the "system" that Obama was speaking about in the speech.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sorry, Mitt: Businesses Aren't Built on Their Own |author=Charles Kenny |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-22/sorry-mitt-businesses-arent-built-on-their-own |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=22 July 2012 |accessdate=17 August 2012}}</ref> [[Media Matters]] has made several post targeting Fox News,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/08/17/fox-hypes-romney-campaign-attack-on-obama-based/189426 |title=Fox Hypes Romney Campaign Attack On Obama Based On Deceptively Edited Comments |author=Andy Newbold |date=17 August 2012 |work=Blog |publisher=[[Media Matters for America]] |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/25/fox-claims-to-offer-context-for-obama-comments/187323 |title=Fox Claims To Offer "Context" For Obama Comments -- Then Airs Another Deceptively Edited Clip |author=Justin Berrier |date=25 July 2012 |work=Blog |publisher=Media Matters for America |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/16/fox-amp-friends-deceptively-edits-obamas-commen/187146 |title=Fox & Friends Deceptively Edits Obama's Comments On Small Business |author=Remington Shepard |date=16 July 2012 |work=Blog |publisher=Media Matters for America |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref> and other news source who they view as using Obama's words out of context through "deceptive" editing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mediamatters.org/research/2012/07/27/local-news-outlets-help-push-bogus-build-that-a/187372 |title=Local News Outlets Help Push Bogus "Build That" Attack Against Obama |author=Mike Burns |author2=Marcus Feldman |date=27 July 2012 |work=Research |publisher=Media Matters for America |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref> [[Ezra Klein]], on [[The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)|''The Rachel Maddow Show'']], said that the political statements made in the Roanoke speech, were not particularly controversial and that people rely on others and themselves.<ref name="TRMS24JUL12">{{cite news |title=Romney apparently didn't build bogus attack on Obama |url=http://video.msnbc.msn.com/the-rachel-maddow-show/48294948#48294948 |publisher=MSNBC |date=24 July 2012 |accessdate=28 August 2012 |quote= in the annals of controversy political statements, this should not be a particularly controversial one. it's the idea that human beings rely on each other as well as themselves. that they rely on the societies as well in order to succeed. }}</ref>

===Comedic commentators===
On ''[[The Daily Show]]'', a [[news satire]] program, [[Jon Stewart]] said that the Romney campaign was centering its campaign on a grammatical misstep taken out of context;<ref>{{cite news |title=WATCH: Jon Stewart Nails Mitt Romney For Basing His Entire Campaign On Obama's Out-Of-Context Quote |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/jon-stewart-mitt-romney-obama-out-context-you-didnt-build-that-2012-7 |publisher=[[Business Insider]] |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jon Stewart Chips Away at 'You Didn't Build That' |author=Serena Dai |url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/07/jon-stewart-chips-away-you-didnt-build/55044/ |publisher=[[The Atlantic Wire]] |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=20 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Stewart Rushes To Obama's Defense Over 'You Didn't Build That' Meme |author=Christian Toto |url=http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2012/07/26/stewart-rushes-obama-defense |publisher=Breitbart.com |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jon Stewart Slams You-Didn't-Build-That-Gate In Romney, Fox News' Faces (VIDEO) |author=Carol Hartsell |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/jon-stewart-you-didnt-build-that_n_1705264.html |publisher=The Huffington Post |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref> he additionally said that both campaigns are guilty of focusing on [[Political gaffe|gaffe]]s.<ref name="LAT26JUL12MB">{{cite news |title=Late Night: Jon Stewart rips Romney, Fox on Obama 'misrepresentation' |author=Meredith Blake |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-jon-stewart-romney-obama-you-didnt-build-that-20120726,0,2347436.story |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=20 August 2012}}</ref> On ''[[The Colbert Report]]'', another news satire program, [[Stephen Colbert]], keeping with the theme of the Obama quote used by the Romney campaign, attempted to do a segment of the program as a [[one man show]] using an [[iPhone]], desk lamp, and a [[whiteboard]].<ref name="LAT26JUL12MB" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Colbert's One-Man Show Proves Obama Wrong: Host Does 'The Word' By Himself (VIDEO) |author= |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/colbert-one-man-show-proves-obama-wrong_n_1706685.html?utm_hp_ref=comedy |publisher=The Huffington Post |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=21 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Colbert Jabs Romney for Defending Obama's Business Sentiments |author=Debra Pangestu |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/television/NATL-Colbert-Jabs-Romney-for-Defending-Obamas-Business-Sentiments-163832516.html |publisher=[[WMAQ-TV]] |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=21 August 2012}}</ref> On ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno|The Tonight Show]]'', [[Jay Leno]] during his opening monologue made a play on Obama's statement in regards to [[unemployment]].<ref>{{cite video |people=[[Jay Leno]] |year=2012 |title=Monologue, Part 1 (7/19/12) |url=http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/Monologue-Part-1-71912/1410526 |publisher=[[NBC]] |accessdate=17 August 2012 |time=1:04 |quote=Jobless claims rose again by 35,000 last week. Not good. But it does show that if you're unsuccessful in this country, you didn't do it on your own. You had help. Thank you, President Obama. Thank you. You're not alone, you didn't do it alone. }}</ref> Additionally, the controversy created by the speech has become the subject of numerous [[editorial cartoons]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cagle.com/news/obama-defines-success/ |title=Obama defines success |author1=[[Gary Varvel]] |author2=[[Michael Ramirez]] |author3=[[Steve Kelley (cartoonist)|Steve Kelley]] |date=11 August 2012 |work=Political cartoonists index |publisher=Cagle Cartoons, Inc. |accessdate=17 August 2012}}</ref>

===Romney campaign===
The following Monday, 16 July, former [[Governor of Massachusetts|Massachusetts governor]] [[Mitt Romney]] spoke about the "you didn't build that" statement in a campaign stump speech.<ref name="LAT18JUL12" /> The following day, Romney rebuffed Obama's statement in [[Pennsylvania]] by saying:
{{quote|To say that Steve Jobs didn't build Apple, that Henry Ford didn't build Ford Motors, that Papa John didn't build Papa John Pizza ... To say something like that, it's not just foolishness. It's insulting to every entrepreneur, every innovator in America,|Mitt Romney<ref name="WP18JUL12AB" />}}
This was followed by campaign events with [[small business]] owners in multiple states (Pennsylvania, [[Wisconsin]], [[Virginia]], Ohio, Iowa, [[Missouri]], North Carolina, [[Michigan]], [[New Hampshire]], [[New Mexico]], and Nevada);<ref>{{cite news |title=Romney Camp Continues ‘You Didn’t Build That’ Attacks with Swing State Events |author=Sushannah Walshe |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/romney-camp-continues-you-didnt-build-that-attacks-with-swing-state-events/ |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=25 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> two small business owners who spoke at one of the campaign events in Florida have government contracts.<ref name="tb-times-built">{{cite news | work = [[Tampa Bay Times]] | title = Two local businessowners tapped by Romney to speak out on Obama have bios that contradict message | first = Michael | last = van Sickler | url = http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/two-local-businessowners-tapped-romney-speak-out-obama-have-bios-contradict-message | date = 25 July 2012 | accessdate = 23 August 2012}}</ref> A new part of the Romney campaign website was created,<ref>{{cite news |title=Romney Doubles Down On "You Didn’t Build That" With New Website |author= |url=http://www.talkradionews.com/news/2012/07/26/romney-doubles-down-on-you-didnt-build-that-with-new-website.html |publisher=Talk Radio News Service |date=26 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://builtbyus.mittromney.com/ |title=Built By US |publisher=Romney for President, Inc. |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref> and merchandise related to the statement was produced.<ref>{{cite news |title=Romney's son plugs 'Built By Us' merchandise jabbing at Obama remark |author= Kevin Bohn |author2=Gregory Wallace |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/28/romneys-son-plugs-built-by-us-merchandise-jabbing-at-obama-remark/ |publisher=CNN |date=28 July 2012 |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref>

The second day of the 2012 Republican National Convention was themed "We Built It" as both a celebration of small businesses and an attack on Obama's comments.<ref>{{cite news |title='We Built This' |author=Wes Barrett |url=http://nation.foxnews.com/republican-national-convention-2012/2012/08/21/we-built |publisher=Fox Nation |date=21 August 2012 |accessdate=1 September 2012}}</ref><ref name="SFC27AUG12">{{cite news |title=Say it in Song |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/SAY-IT-IN-SONG-3819051.php |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=27 August 2012 |accessdate=1 September 2012}}</ref> [[Salon (website)|''Salon'']], ''[[Political Wire]]'', and a humor website later commented on the fact that the [[Tampa Bay Times Forum|stadium]] where the GOP hosted the "We Built It" theme at the convention was constructed using 62% [[Stadium subsidy|taxpayer financing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailydolt.com/2012/08/22/gop-announces-convention-theme-we-built-this-in-stadium-built-with-62-government-funds/ |title=GOP Announces Convention Theme "We Built This" In Stadium Built With 62% Government Funds |author=Linda |date= |work=The Daily Dolt |publisher=Linda |accessdate=30 August 2012}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/08/22/gop_convention_held_in_stadium_built_with_public_funds.html |title=GOP Convention Held in Stadium Built With Public Funds |author=[[Taegan D. Goddard]] |date=22 August 2012 |work=Political Wire |publisher=CQ Roll Call |accessdate=30 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/2012/08/29/the_four_biggest_convention_stories_you_wont_hear_about/ |title=The four biggest convention stories you won’t hear about |author=David Sirota |date=29 August 2012 |work=Salon |publisher=Salon Media Group, Inc. |accessdate=30 August 2012}}</ref> [[Country music]] singer [[Lane Turner]] also performed a song at the event inspired from the speech called "I Built It".<ref name="SFC27AUG12" /><ref>{{cite video |people=Lane Turner |year=2012 |title=Song At RNC: "I Built It" |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPvSGcXYKDE |format=480p |publisher=TPMTV |location=Tampa, Florida |accessdate=1 September 2012 }}</ref>

===Obama campaign===
On 17 July 2012, the Obama campaign stated that the statement was taken out of context,<ref name="OB17JUL12" /> and as the statement gained traction the campaign ran new ads in multiple states (Virginia, [[North Carolina]], [[Florida]], [[Ohio]], [[Iowa]], and [[Nevada]]) where the President directly counter's Romney's claims.<ref name="AP29JUL12">{{cite news |title=SPIN METER: Obama's 'You didn't build that' echoes |author=Philip Elliot |url=http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/perspective/spin-meter-obama-s-you-didn-t-build-that-echoes/article_e6f8589f-871a-5ac9-bc63-94d629f93545.html |newspaper=[[North County Times]] |date=29 July 2012 |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite video |people=Barack Obama |year=2012 |title="Always" - Obama for America TV Ad |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0yK5NakN2o&feature=player_embedded |format=360p |publisher=BarackObamadotcom |accessdate=14 August 2012 |time=0:31 }}</ref> In the ad Obama says while looking directly at the camera:
{{quote|Those ads taking my words about small business out of context? They're flat out wrong, ...Of course Americans build their own businesses.|President Barack Obama<ref name="AP29JUL12" />}}
While speaking at the [[Oregon Convention Center]] in [[Portland, Oregon]], on 24 July,<ref>{{cite news |title=Barack Obama in Portland campaigns right down the middle |author=David Sorasohn |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/david_sarasohn/index.ssf/2012/07/barack_obama_in_portland_campa.html |newspaper=[[The Oregonian]] |date=28 July 2012 |accessdate=28 August 2012}}</ref> Obama rebuked the Romney campaign by saying:
{{quote|And Mr. Romney disagrees with this, and he is entitled to his opinion. But the approach that he is talking about is not going to help small businesses and it's not going to create more markets for large businesses. He is wrong. We did not build this country on our own. We built it together. And if Mr. Romney doesn't understand that, then he doesn't understand what it takes to grow this economy in the 21st century for everybody.|President Obama<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/07/24/remarks-president-campaign-event-0 |title=Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event |date=24 July 2012 |work=Office of the Press Secretary |publisher=White House |accessdate=27 August 2012}}</ref>}}

Debra Krause-McDonnell, who owns a business used in the Obama ad, requested that footage of her store be removed from the ad; its TV run ended, but the footage of her store in the ad can still be viewed on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Deli owner wants store removed from Obama ad |author=Byron Tau |url=http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/08/deli-owner-wants-store-removed-from-obama-ad-131540.html |publisher=Politico |date=9 August 2012 |accessdate=25 August 2012}}</ref> At a campaign event in Iowa, a caterer of the event wore a t-shirt saying "Government Didn't Build My Business, I Did," later explaining, "No one from the government was there when we were sweating it, when we were building this business."<ref>{{cite news |title=Caterer at Obama Iowa Event Wears Pro-Romney Shirt |author=Mary Bruce |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/caterer-at-obama-iowa-event-wears-pro-romney-shirt/ |publisher=ABC News |date=15 August 2012 |accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Iowa deli co-owner caters for Obama visit, but his T-shirt tells another story |author=Amy Gardner |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/iowa-deli-co-owner-caters-for-obama-visit-but-his-t-shirt-tells-another-story/2012/08/15/abde5208-e71e-11e1-936a-b801f1abab19_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=15 August 2012 |accessdate=25 August 2012}}</ref> Due to the speech at Roanoke, a small-business bakery in Virginia declined [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Joe Biden|Biden]]'s request to make a campaign stop there.<ref>{{cite news |title=Virginia Business Owner Shuns Biden Over Obama’s 'You Didn't Build That' Remark |author=Laura Matthews |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/374454/20120816/joe-biden-virginia-business-mcmurray-obama-build.htm |newspaper=[[International Business Times]] |date=16 August 2012 |accessdate=25 August 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/307056-2 C-SPAN video of entire speech]
*[http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/07/13/remarks-president-campaign-event-roanoke-virginia White House transcript of entire speech]

{{Barack Obama}}
{{United States presidential election, 2012}}

[[Category:Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012]]
[[Category:Speeches by Barack Obama]]
[[Category:American political slogans]]
[[Category:American political catch phrases]]
[[Category:Deleted Wikipedia articles]]