George Will picks up his pick and shovel

I have a friend who claims that George Will is "honest" even though he disagrees with the man almost all the time.

Well, how's this? In today's column, Will writes:

In his Denver speech, Barack Obama derided the "discredited Republican philosophy" that he caricatured in four words -- "you're on your own." Then he promised to "keep . . . our toys safe."

Now, those parents whose children have been injured or made sick by imported toys might actually want the government to keep them safe - it's a little beyond the average person's ability to control imports. That sneer is bad enough. But here's the whole context that surrounds that little four-word quote (emphasis mine). (Hell, if he'd just filled in the ellipsis it would have shot his argument down.)

What is that American promise?

It's a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect. It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, to look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road. Ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves -- protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools and new roads and science and technology.

Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.

So, George Will has joined the quote-mining brigade. How do you like him now?