Snoopy's hot dog grill, a Raleigh fixture since 1978, is now at the center of a national political debate. At least on Twitter, anyway.
The Republican National Committee, Arizona Republican Party and even a Mitt Romney campaign consultant retweeted a photo of a Snoopy's sign on Wake Forest Road in Raleigh that takes issue with President Barack Obama's recent speech about business owners.
Steve Webb, the owner, wrote on his marquee: "Mr. Obama, I did create this business."
Webb's sentiment riffs on recent remarks from Obama in which the president said: "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 hashtag #youdidn'tbuildthat has been trending on Twitter along with the photo of Steve Webb's Snoopy's sign taken by the GOP.
Democrats contend the GOP is taking the president's remarks out of context. But Webb disagrees. "I do not think it is taken out of context," he said. "I think that's his philosophy. He's anti-business, and he's trying to create class warfare."
--Rosella Age, staff writer
Comments
Suddenly hungry for hotdog
July 24, 2012 - 11:29am — BeccaJI have never been to Snoopy's and will now make a point of eating there. The fact that they are being villified for expressing their opinion after feeling attacked by government is enough for me to support their business.
When you read the transcript of the president's speech, it is clear he was asking to raise taxes on the wealthy because they owe other people for helping them build their business. People who are significant influences on successful people get rewarded by the people who they helped. The government doesn't need to step in and take more from businesses to pay anybody back.
He also said, “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." So, why don’t all those other smart and hard working people have a business when they benefitted from government just as much (if not more) than successful business people? Why don't they have businesses if the help of government is what makes you successful? What about those whose businesses failed? The point is that it is clear what he meant and business owners are right to respond as they are. Small businesses are the lifeblood of this country and the realization of the American dream.
The spirit of free enterprise
July 21, 2012 - 6:54am — inandohThe spirit of free enterprise has done much to make this country great. Class warfare should not extend down to the family business. The President should be praising small business and individual accomplishment!
Individuals are still important, even in a big and all powerful government. It's not all about the government!
SO LONG, AND THANKS FOR ALL THE HOT DOGS STEVE!
July 22, 2012 - 12:26pm — sam933It's clear from the context of President Obama's speech what he meant by the comment you make reference to on your sign. You don't operate your business in a vacuum. You depend on decent roads so customers can get to your business. You depend on the City of Raleigh's water utility to deliver clean water to your business. You depend on the City of Raleigh's police force to keep your business safe from criminals.
Yes, you've created a successful business and you deserve a lot of credit for that. But the government services your business depends on are the result of the combined efforts of many people. This is what President Obama was referring to in his speech.
Your sign is just a cheap shot at the President. But thanks for putting it up. I now have the motivation to avoid your hot dogs. Like a relative told me once, "There's some good in everything".
Edit: I changed my characterization of the nature of Snoopy's hot dogs. Nothing wrong with them in moderation, although I have had my last one.
The actual quote was from
July 20, 2012 - 2:45pm — molly518The actual quote was from this speech:
"We’ve already made a trillion dollars’ worth of cuts. We can make some more cuts in programs that don’t work, and make government work more efficiently…We can make another trillion or trillion-two, and what we then do is ask for the wealthy to pay a little bit more …
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.
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.
So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country, you know what, there are some things we do better together. That’s how we funded the GI Bill. That’s how we created the middle class. That’s how we built the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. That’s how we invented the Internet. That’s how we sent a man to the moon. We rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, and that’s the reason I’m running for president – because I still believe in that idea. You’re not on your own, we’re in this together.”
With all due respect....
July 20, 2012 - 9:43am — dubiousRoast Grill's hot dogs are better than Snoopy's any day.
why does romney put his
July 20, 2012 - 8:24am — WilmingtonDemocratwhy does romney put his money in banks in switzerland and the caymens - is he not proud to put them in US banks - is he not proud of our country?
Hey - I think I say the Tillis staffer who was sleeping with all the married lobbyists on my last trip to Snoopys.
Small business has been beneficial to many
July 20, 2012 - 8:28am — inandohThere have been many who lost a job in this economy. Some of these unemployed started their own businesses and have found success. Many have hired other unemployed. These brave souls did not turn to the government for a handout but started their own small business. They should be applauded for their spririt in the same way as the founders of this great country.
I question how well President Obama understands business if he cannot see the value of business start-ups by individual citizens.
We've found the job creators!
July 20, 2012 - 7:35am — Jackson_TybeeIf the owner of Snoopy's intent was to illustrate that millionaires are inded "job creators" than he can keep his lousy jobs. The people who work there look about as miserable as I did last time I ate one of their runs-inducing hot dogs.
except...
July 20, 2012 - 7:33am — Jackson_TybeeObama never attacked small business. What are you smoking?
Absolutely no reason to besmirch the good name of business!
July 20, 2012 - 7:31am — cooldelaPres. Obama was wrong to attack independent small business. Millions of people have started small businesses and have become successful due to their sweat and hard work. It is one thing to want to redistribute the wealth but another to ridicule small business. Who do you think, Mr. President, is creating these jobs that have been so elusive to your administration? Get off the back of small business and give them a chance to prosper. As they prosper so will the country.
wilmingtondem, thanks
July 20, 2012 - 6:40am — johnwillwilmingtondem, thanks for moving your business to chargrill; when visiting Snoopy's for lunch now, there's no chance I'll hurl on your Obama bumper sticker adorned vehicle!
Cheney's Halliburton
July 20, 2012 - 12:18am — slimjimCheney's no bid contracts helped build Halliburton just as business benefited when Reagan authorized the sale of weapons to IRAN. US business thrives when government lends a hand.... Duke Power was just handed a monopoly. They are not complaining. Nor did the banks when they took bail outs.
Techmonkey, I'll let the
July 19, 2012 - 9:59pm — JumpInTheFireTechmonkey, I'll let the Wall Street Journal's James Taranto respond to your parroting the Obama campaign's nonsense on trying to explain away what he clearly said.
"That's bunk, and not only because "business" is more proximate to the pronoun "that" and therefore its more likely antecedent. The Truth Team's interpretation is ungrammatical. "Roads and bridges" is plural; "that" is singular. If the Team is right about Obama's meaning, he should have said, "You didn't build those."
Barack Obama is supposed to be the World's Greatest Orator, the smartest man in the world. Yet his campaign asks us to believe he is not even competent to construct a sentence."
Steve Webb for VP!
July 19, 2012 - 9:42pm — concerned53Steve Webb is my hero as he represents all of us small business people.... Don't let Wilmington Dem and other leeches stifle your voice as you are what this country is supposed to be all about.... free speech and working hard to leverage our God given talent.
Steve Webb
July 19, 2012 - 9:00pm — Jeff_morseYou have Earned my Business Forever!
Well Said. You are a brave man. Many more Americans agree with you then with the Socialist in the Oval Office.
wilmingtonweaselcrat
July 19, 2012 - 8:38pm — kellyperryRomney is going to stomp a Switzerland sized mudhole in obummers arse, and then fill it in with all of the weasels like you who will die from a broken heart.
Maybe if you build a
July 19, 2012 - 7:49pm — WilmingtonDemocratMaybe if you build a Snoopy's in the Caymen Islands or Switerland, Williard Mitt Romny might stop by for a pepsi on the way to make his deposits.
If you build one in Myers Park, Myers Park Pat might stop by on the way to his lobbying firm where he gets paid hundreds of thousands of dollars representing special interests.
Sign
July 19, 2012 - 7:13pm — kellyperrySame great Steve. I worked for Mr Webb when he first started Snoopys in the late 70's. I was a very poor kid. Mr Webb and his team worked endless hours to provide Raleigh residents with the very best fast food and service in town. I learned a lot from him. After years of working two or three jobs, and sacrificing a great deal, I am now happy to report that I will be calling in soon with a huge order so that I can feed the best to everyone at my lake home party. Thank God for America. Keep It Real, Keep It True, Keep It Free.
Bravo Mr. Webb
July 19, 2012 - 7:08pm — mountainmanThe president's comments will continue to be echoed by his campaign and like minded liberals as some of the previous posts here prove. This is a political tactic, to try and move the American voter to a "I can't do anything alone, without government help" mentality. This is a part of the socialist agenda to deceive the people with repetitive speech and propaganda. The paid bloggers on this site practice the same tactic, by repeating the same hogwash about McCrory over and over and over. They attack McCrory over where he lives, where he was employed, they speculate about all these things, but have got no facts what so ever. They just have repetitive hogwash!!! I challenge each and every voter who reads this post, to check Wally Dalton's record and you will find, as I did, that even after years of spending the taxpayers money like there was no tomorrow.....He has no record!!!! He has done nothing except filled his pockets, while emptying ours.
Learn to read, please!
July 19, 2012 - 6:18pm — TechmonkeyC'mon folks. It's perfectly obvious what was intended--"that" refers to the bridges, roads, teachers, internet, schools, our armed forces, and everything else that makes up the USA.
Yeah, Webb made the Snoopy's business (which I like). And he keeps it running. But he didn't make the road I drive to get there to buy the dogs. Or the schools that taught me how to read the menu.
There's an awful lot that goes into the American way, and none of us can claim that we got where we are on our own. If you give credit to nothing else, think of our soldiers. That's the point.
Regardless of Obama's anti-business stance
July 19, 2012 - 6:09pm — inandoh...............I will continue to spend my money and eat the excellent food at Snoopy's! And I support those who have started private business. They are the backbone of our economy and should not be subjected to scorn. Show your support by trading with local small business.
Mr Webb, I will now be....
July 19, 2012 - 5:32pm — AgentPierceOn the heels of WilmingtonDemocrat's harumphing dismissal of you, be not alarmed. I will come by TWICE/week to more than cover his departure.... and encourage all my associates to do likewise. :-)
So much for WilDem's class warfare strategy.
Mr. Webb, I am a weekly
July 19, 2012 - 4:54pm — WilmingtonDemocratMr. Webb,
I am a weekly loyal Snoopy's customer. I will now be hitting the Char Grill!
You think Williard "Mitt" and my 20 homes and wife with fancy horses Romny gives a ______ about you. I bet Mitt "I am the preppiest guy alive" Romney would no more touch a Snoopy's dog than be caught drinking a Miller High life.
What a team the GOP has, Mitt "the preppiest guy in history" and Myers Park Pat!
Never heard in acceptance, "I want to thank the government!"
July 19, 2012 - 4:54pm — concerned53I can't wait for Lebron James or George Clooney or Beyonce or Frank Stella or even one of the US Olympians to hopefully win gold to say, "I want to thank the government". Not one will, which is no different than Steve Webb at Snoopy's. What happened to hard work, focus or even God given ability or talents. Is Obama against all of these in addition to American entrepreneurship?
Good Job Steve!
July 19, 2012 - 4:38pm — Conservative1You did create this business, and it is a great one. I want two dogs, chili and onion, and I need them now. Barry still thinks he can win NC, sorry, we've got guys like Steve Webb.