# A lot of people like what Obama does until they are told that Obama is doing it. Then they hate it. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 13, 2015, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548 "2015-02-13T06:43:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/21 "2015-02-13T19:41:06Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > So you have evidence that it happened to Bush then? Did anyone do such a poll during the Bush Presidency? The results do not surprise me. I think I would have a similar reaction to a Bush…I don’t want to say idea…you know what I mean. Someone lists all the virtues of a proposed plan…and it all sounds good to me…then they tell me it’s being proposed by Dick Cheney? I would instantly regard it with suspicion. I would suspect it would be similar if the plan were proposed by Mittens Romney or Mike Huckabee. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/22 "2015-02-13T19:44:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Only if you think the pollsters accurately described EVERY part of his policy that the public opposes in general but supports in pieces. That is not at all what the polling was about. Whether certain parts of, e.g., the ACA are more or less popular than the whole would be an entirely different question and require differently structured polling. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/23 "2015-02-13T19:45:28Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Did anyone do such a poll during the Bush Presidency? > > The results do not surprise me. I think I would have a similar reaction to a Bush…I don’t want to say idea…you know what I mean. Someone lists all the virtues of a proposed plan…and it all sounds good to me…then they tell me it’s being proposed by Dick Cheney? I would instantly regard it with suspicion. I would suspect it would be similar if the plan were proposed by Mittens Romney or Mike Huckabee. And such suspicion, while it would not warrant automatic dismissal, would not be unreasonable, either. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/24 "2015-02-13T19:56:34Z")
At its core, it seems like a nuanced version of ad hominem - focusing on who, rather than what. A good idea proposed by Obama or Bush is just as good, logically speaking, as the exact same idea proposed by any Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or independent politician you can name. But ad hominem creeps in and the politician’s name instantly taints the policy’s reputation. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/25 "2015-02-13T19:57:37Z")
Of course, it could work the other way, too. An extremely popular politician could make even bad legislation look good by having his or her name associated with it. (He or she couldn’t do this many times, though.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/26 "2015-02-13T20:59:57Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > At its core, it seems like a nuanced version of ad hominem - focusing on who, rather than what. > A good idea proposed by Obama or Bush is just as good, logically speaking, as the exact same idea proposed by any Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or independent politician you can name. But ad hominem creeps in and the politician’s name instantly taints the policy’s reputation. See post #23. It is worthwhile to at least consider the source, just to make sure they’re not trying to pull a fast one. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/27 "2015-02-13T21:29:07Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Did anyone do such a poll during the Bush Presidency? Absence of evidence is not evidence. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/28 "2015-02-13T22:55:42Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > Can anyone come up with any theories why President Obama can have ideas and political positions and actions that are generally liked - until you say that it’s his idea and then they change their minds? Have you ever taken a Civics class, or a political science class in school? I can explain it to you so that you don’t have to do another OP when there is a Republican in office, since I know that you’ll be quite as shocked at this kind of activity then. 1. People are partisan. I imagine that you are a Republican, and you think that in a fair political system, everybody’s ideas should be judged on merits, and not political party, am I right? Somewhere, though,there are actually Democrats who think that their Democratic standard bearer is right, just because he’s head of their party, and that Republicans, such as yourself, think that he is wrong, regardless of what is done, because it is an opposition party. Crazy, huh? \*Jimmy Kimmel or Jay Leno went on the street and asked people if they were for or against President Obama’s plan to eliminate mental health (or some such goofiness). Democrats were for it, Republicans were against it. \* People identify too strongly with their political party, and that’s how they will vote. 2. If an end goal is good, it could be the performance/plan that engenders the hostility. Proposed Law: “Make everybody happy.” All will agree that that is a good law, even tho impossible. \*\*Republicans: \*\*Give everybody Rolls Royces and they will all be happy. BTW, we’ll hire Halliburton to provide the delivery services. \*\*Democrats: \*\*Give everybody Mercedes Benzes and everybody will be happy. BTW, we’ll fund ACORN to provide delivery services. Again, I’m sure that you’re a strong Republican, and when your party gets into office, you will be just as shocked at your candidate’s plans being dissed just as readily. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/29 "2015-02-13T23:03:05Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Pretty much this. > “So, what do you think of this new policy?” > “Looks good to me.” > “What if I told you it’s Obama’s policy?” > “Oh, now I hate it.” > “Why? What don’t you suddenly like about it?” > “I couldn’t say. But your not being fair to me.” > “Why am I not being fair?” > “You haven’t given me chance to find out why Fox News hates it.” From where did this quotation come? ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/30 "2015-02-13T23:05:13Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > I don’t recall this phenomenon occurring before either - was there similar results when it came to any past Presidents where their political positions polled so markedly different just because the guy’s name was invoked? Yes, something like for the last 220 years, or so. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/31 "2015-02-14T00:14:24Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Yes, something like for the last 220 years, or so. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/32 "2015-02-14T00:19:43Z")
People sure loved Obama when he first got elected and promised so much. Then, for some reason, things changed. Must be racism or [personal dislike](http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/most-americans-like-obama-not-his-policies-20110818). ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/33 "2015-02-14T00:35:25Z")
Racism and a concentrated political smear campaign, by a group of Republicans who made his failure their number one item of public policy. But, yeah, racism too. Does anyone really need links to pictures? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/34 "2015-02-14T02:43:05Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > I can explain it to you so that you don’t have to do another OP when there is a Republican in office, since I know that you’ll be quite as shocked at this kind of activity. So there’s never been a Republican president? Because it should be very simple to point to similar poll results to prove your point if there was one according to you. So please provide the evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/35 "2015-02-14T04:15:12Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > So there’s never been a Republican president? Because it should be very simple to point to similar poll results to prove your point if there was one according to you. So please provide the evidence. Are you taking the position that an absence of evidence is proof? You’re asking for a cite for a commonsensical conclusion, that people are prejudiced when they consider the source. You probably are too. For example, if you heard you were eligible for a monetary gift, you’d likely be interested. If you heard you were eligible for a for a monetary gift from your worst enemy, you’d likely be suspicious. I would be interested in similar polls on any politician, of any party, not just Bush II. My suspicion is that in Obama’s case, the effect is more pronounced, and I further expect that the variance is due to a popular misconception of Obama as strongly liberal. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/36 "2015-02-14T05:41:10Z")
I provided three polls by 3 different polling organizations about three different topics which showed that the mere mention of Obama changed perceptions. How come there’s not a single poll that is the equivalent from any president before? ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/37 "2015-02-14T06:40:33Z")
Dunno. How come there are (supposedly, I haven’t looked and might not find 'em if I did) no polls showing that other politicians do not suffer from partisan reactions? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/38 "2015-02-14T07:29:40Z")
Maybe because as much as some people disliked George W. Bush his detractors disliked him because his policies sucked, not because they were his? Seriously, I find it fascinating that in an age where we have polls upon polls that nobody finds it meaningful that Bush, Clinton or any of the other recent Presidents have never had polls that showed that their policies were liked unless their name was dropped. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/39 "2015-02-14T11:58:22Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > Adaher is such an expert on pollsters. Him and President Romney. Let’s keep the personal comments out of the discussion, please. That goes for everyone in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548/40 "2015-02-14T22:01:10Z")
So the poster’s history of being incredibly wrong about polling isn’t fair game in a thread where he is showing a fundamental lack of understanding about polling? _shrugs_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-people-like-what-obama-does-until-they-are-told-that-obama-is-doing-it-then-they-hate-it/712548.md?page=3)