Obama Uses “The Departed” Reference to Explain DC Dysfunction
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The White House(AUSTIN, Texas) — For months President Obama has been slamming Republicans for obstructing his efforts to boost the economy. But on Thursday, he found a new, creative way to explain the problem.
Speaking in Austin, Texas, Obama invoked the violent Martin Scorsese thriller The Departed to explain Washington dysfunction. The president compared himself to the no-nonsense character played by Mark Wahlberg (aka Marky Mark) as he ripped Republicans planning to sue him for his use of executive authority.
“There’s a scene in the movie where Mark Wahlberg — you know, they’re on a stakeout. And somehow the guy loses the guy that they’re tracking. And Wahlberg’s all upset and, you know, yelling at the guy. And the guy looks up and he says, well, who are you? And Wahlberg says: I’m the guy doing my job. You must be the other guy,” Obama explained.
“Sometimes I feel like saying to these guys: I’m the guy doing my job. You must be the other guy,” he said, to laughter and applause from the crowd at the Paramount Theatre.
Instead of waging “another political stunt that wastes time, wastes taxpayers’ money,” Obama urged Republicans to work with him to grow the economy.
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