# Do you believe that Barack Obama has the country's best interest at heart? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 4, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627 "2010-02-04T02:42:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/61 "2010-02-05T16:26:44Z")
Ok, sorry ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/62 "2010-02-05T16:34:38Z")
Somewhere between #1 and #2. He has good intentions, but I think that he has also been going overboard in trying to appease the unions and other interest groups or individuals. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/63 "2010-02-05T16:44:10Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Somewhere between #1 and #2. He has good intentions, but I think that he has also been going overboard in trying to appease the unions and other interest groups or individuals. What unions? That is a so wrong. Unions are not a force in America. They are now under 7 percent of the work force. You can sleep well at night. The evil unions will not harm you. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/64 "2010-02-05T17:19:26Z")
This isn’t **Great Debates** , and so I am not going to take that bait, friend. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/65 "2010-02-05T17:28:17Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > What unions? That is a so wrong. Unions are not a force in America. They are now under 7 percent of the work force. You can sleep well at night. The evil unions will not harm you. [Moderator Warning]Infraction for violating the No Debating instruction.[/Moderator Warning] ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/66 "2010-02-05T17:56:41Z")
> [@E.Thorp](#): > > OK if I correct that misstatement in parentheses? Obama is not a Muslim. That was a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/67 "2010-02-05T18:01:22Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Yeah, I agree fundamentally, but the wording of #4 doesn’t say anything about intent IMHO. Well, I meant it to. According to the poll I linked to in the OP, 1 in 4 Republicans think that “President Obama wants the terrorists to win.” To me, these people believe that President Obama is knowingly and actively trying to hurt or weaken the United States. So, while I might not have phrased it perfectly, that option is all about what people think about President Obama’s intent. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/68 "2010-02-05T18:13:30Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#): > > Well, I meant it to. According to the poll I linked to in the OP, 1 in 4 Republicans think that “President Obama wants the terrorists to win.” To me, these people believe that President Obama is knowingly and actively trying to hurt or weaken the United States. So, while I might not have phrased it perfectly, that option is all about what people think about President Obama’s intent. Thank you for the clarification. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/69 "2010-02-05T19:33:21Z")
Perhaps these types of threads ought best be moved to GD, even if that requires enabling the polling feature in that forum. I think that would be a better option than having them here, where they will inevitably require two or three moderator admonitions per page, and are likely to be (eventually) locked. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/70 "2010-02-05T19:36:40Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#): > > That was a joke. Whew! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/71 "2010-02-05T20:18:45Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > Perhaps these types of threads ought best be moved to GD, even if that requires enabling the polling feature in that forum. I think that would be a better option than having them here, where they will inevitably require two or three moderator admonitions per page, and are likely to be (eventually) locked. And perhaps people can just vote, make a comment as to their vote, and not debate. If it helps any, pretend that you just voted at a polling place and the constable is standing right beside you, ready to dispense justice if you decide to harass the other voters. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/72 "2010-02-05T21:15:05Z")
I didn’t vote for Obama, and likely would not vote for him in a second race, but I believe he’s a genuinely good person who does believe his vision of America is the best for everyone. Whether or not he’s correct in that belief is something which sadly cannot be discussed on this message board. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/73 "2010-02-05T21:54:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And perhaps people can just vote, make a comment as to their vote, and not debate. I think my idea is way, way more plausible. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/74 "2010-02-05T21:56:52Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > I think my idea is way, way more plausible. You’re doing it again. 😉 > [@](#): > > I didn’t vote for Obama, and likely would not vote for him in a second race, but I believe he’s a genuinely good person who does believe his vision of America is the best for everyone. Whether or not he’s correct in that belief is something which sadly cannot be discussed on this message board. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/75 "2010-02-05T21:57:45Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > I think my idea is way, way more plausible. Then you should start a new thread in ATMB on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/76 "2010-02-05T22:14:58Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > :dubious: You simply must do better than that. Always try to be your best. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/77 "2010-02-05T22:43:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Then you should start a new thread in ATMB on the subject. [Your proposal is acceptable](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12083060#post12083060). ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/78 "2010-02-06T01:33:32Z")
I voted for the 1st option, and think Obama is trying to do his best for the country, under hard circumstance. [This week’s _This Modern World_](http://www.salon.com/ent/comics/this_modern_world/2010/02/01/this_modern_world/index.html) strip seems nicely on topic here. Marvelously twisted and funny. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/79 "2010-02-06T04:48:56Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I voted for the first option. > > If not for traitorous Republicans, he would have already simultaneously lifted up America’s image, regained our superior moral stance, passed health care, and ended gay discrimination. That is some seriously impressive shit. > > Instead, we have evil traitors in Congress calling him a liar to his face, supporting extremists, questioning his fucking birth place, cheering him to fail, and opposing everything he proposes even though they themselves supported it a few years ago. For the whole first year of the Obama administration, Democrats controlled \*BOTH \* the House and the Senate (a super majority, filibuster proof!) AND the White House. In other words, they could have passed any legislation they wanted, regardless of what _traitorous Republicans_ wanted, but they _didn’t_. Why blame Republicans? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627/80 "2010-02-06T12:40:05Z")
Closing thread-will decide future of political polls in IMHO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-that-barack-obama-has-the-countrys-best-interest-at-heart/527627.md?page=3)