you’re pretending Obama is asking the question “Why do some businesses succeed, and others fail?”

Well, that is your interpretation. I interpret his words differently.

look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own.

That is what he said. NOW you can argue that he meant something different. You can dissect and reword it.

I still think it sounds pretty bad.

It is not dishonest to hear what I and a lot of people heard. It is not racist.

“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.”

finding it noteworthy by people who think. I think that is a stretch.

You only find it noteworthy, but also have to correct them.

Fine, that is not how I read it. I think he is saying surprised and shocked.

HOWEVER if you put the word “Struck” to replace the word “shocked” in my post, it would not diminish the meaning.