‘Cheesecake Factory’: Obama trashes Trump despite numerous failures

Ex-President Obama is unloading on current President Trump, in support of Democrats vying to take back the Senate. He had some line about the Cheesecake Factory, which people thought was funny, for some reason. Why exactly? I’m not sure. Maybe you can tell me. Let’s watch.

“Like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.” Huh. I don’t get it? What’s the catch?

Saddam Hussein, may I remind you, was a reprehensible dictator of Iraq, who was overthrown by America, under Republican leadership. Obama, then a state senator, objected to this very thing, you may recall. If he didn’t like Hussein’s industrial policy, he certainly failed to speak up about it. But that’s fine, whatever. Now it’s a punch line.

Now he says Trump, who is carrying out much needed and entirely reasonable renovations of the White House, is akin to a dictator for that reason? Well that doesn’t make sense.

Let me remind you that every president has made changes to the White House grounds, and often they are needed. The ballroom is something the president absolutely has the right to build, and it serves a vital function. Who does Obama think he is? This man loves to be the center of attention. He adores the attention he receives from mainstream and liberal media.

And also, excuse me, why is the Cheesecake Factory suddenly an object of ridicule? This is a wonderful American institution. There is something for everyone, and that’s great. Variety is an essential component of the free market system. It’s a good thing. We celebrate it.

Honestly, I’m not surprised that Obama would make fun of it. He is a spokesperson for the far left, for an anti-capitalism economic system, in which choice is undervalued. Let the central committee decide what main course you get, screw the menu. That’s his whole philosophy. I don’t miss it — do you, fellow voters? Do we really want to elect the most radical, far-left pro-socialist majority to ever aspire to hold power in American history? That sounds far more dangerous to me than letting Donald Trump add a new wing to the White House — a space that will be enjoyed by Republican and Democratic administrations for years to come.

Robby Soave is co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising” and a senior editor for Reason Magazine. This column is an edited transcription of his daily commentary.