# Dutch destroy Obamas empty platitudes **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 27, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941 "2012-03-27T12:20:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/1 "2012-03-27T12:20:49Z")
> **[Sorry, Barack: How many countries punch above their weight?](https://www.dailyedge.ie/sorry-barack-how-many-countries-punch-above-their-weight-397100-Mar2012/?utm_source=thedailyedge)** > > A Danish broadcaster has had a look at Barack Obama’s comments that Denmark “punches above its weight”… More than a little embarassing for Obama - could he not have used his speechwriters to come up with some new platitudes? ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/2 "2012-03-27T12:31:22Z")
As far as foreign policy gaffes go, I think confusing Denmark and the Netherlands is more embarassing. As far as Obama’s speech–meh. It’s not like he said “Denmark/the Netherlands/Norway/the Philippines is the single most above-weight-punchingest country on Earth”. Presumably more than one country can “punch above its weight” in international affairs. (Presumably other countries merely punch _at_ their weights, while still others punch _below_ their weights.) ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/3 "2012-03-27T13:10:26Z")
Oh great googly moogly, Obama said similar phrases for similar conveyances of meaning. Slap that guy with a herring or something. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/4 "2012-03-27T13:38:08Z")
Obama critics are really starting to struggle for material, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/5 "2012-03-27T13:49:46Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Obama critics are really starting to struggle for material, aren’t they? Hey, any port in a storm. And anyway, this is precisely the type of stuff true-believers eat up. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/6 "2012-03-27T13:50:04Z")
At least there weren’t any people in them. Curse you Perry the platitude! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/7 "2012-03-27T14:08:39Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > As far as foreign policy gaffes go, I think confusing Denmark and the Netherlands is more embarassing. Bwahahahaahaa. OP fail. That said, he really does need some more creative speechwriters. “I am a Berliner” wouldn’t have had so much impact if it had been followed by “I am a Copenhagener”, “I am an Amsterdamer” and “I am an Olsoer”. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/8 "2012-03-27T15:18:13Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Curse you Perry the platitude! BWA - HA HA HA HA HA HA !!! .. goddam that was funnier than it shouldda been .. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/9 "2012-03-27T15:21:38Z")
A big deal? Obviously not. Obama’s speechwriters got a little lazy and gave him a fill-in-the-blanks generic spiel to be used in several different countries. A gaffe, but clearly it’s nothing serious. But let’s face it- this is the kind of thing Jon Stewart and Colbert would be using for months as proof of George Dubya’s stupidity, if HE had done it. This is a Jean Poutine moment for Obama. (Extra points to those who don’t have to Google to figure out who Monsieur Poutine is.) ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/10 "2012-03-27T15:23:12Z")
Remember, both sides (hypothetically) do it! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/11 "2012-03-27T15:59:20Z")
It’s unfortunate that practically nobody these days seems to be able to appreciate these kinds of things on their own comedic merits. It’s not the funniest thing in the world, but it’s funny. It doesn’t have to be an attack or Obama or proof that he’s some kind of idiot. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/12 "2012-03-27T16:16:00Z")
This is an issue now? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/13 "2012-03-27T21:24:36Z")
This is about as noteworthy as the President’s use of a Teleprompter. So what? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/14 "2012-03-27T22:08:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s unfortunate that practically nobody these days seems to be able to appreciate these kinds of things on their own comedic merits. It’s not the funniest thing in the world, but it’s funny. It doesn’t have to be an attack or Obama or proof that he’s some kind of idiot. Yeah, it’s a smoking gun, not a mushroom cloud. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/15 "2012-03-27T23:52:58Z")
I would just like to say that **Marley23** and **Vinyl Turnip** are two of the board’s greatest posters, and consisently punch above their weight. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/16 "2012-03-28T00:03:04Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > [Sorry, Barack: How many countries punch above their weight?](http://thedailyedge.thejournal.ie/sorry-barack-how-many-countries-punch-above-their-weight-397100-Mar2012/) > > More than a little embarassing for Obama - could he not have used his speechwriters to come up with some new platitudes? Wow - in The Netherlands, the cliche dumb American does not know the difference between Denmark and The Netherlands, but I always thought of that as something of a stereotype. Surely, people aren’t really so ignorant? and surely, they would not make such a gaffe while accusing pres. Obama of making gaffes? I guess I was wrong. Looks like Laudenum fought some of my ignorance there - thanks dude! (also, you’re a disgrace to this board for posting things that are so clearly wrong) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/17 "2012-03-28T00:16:07Z")
Eh, go back to Denmark, Sweden, Clogboy! I keed! I keed! ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/18 "2012-03-28T00:18:28Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s unfortunate that practically nobody these days seems to be able to appreciate these kinds of things on their own comedic merits. It’s not the funniest thing in the world, but it’s funny. It doesn’t have to be an attack or Obama or proof that he’s some kind of idiot. Well, I giggled. And then I went all :rolleyes: at the OP. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/19 "2012-03-28T01:48:20Z")
I thought **Laudenum** was Irish? ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941/20 "2012-03-28T02:59:44Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > A big deal? Obviously not. Obama’s speechwriters got a little lazy and gave him a fill-in-the-blanks generic spiel to be used in several different countries. A gaffe, but clearly it’s nothing serious. > > But let’s face it- this is the kind of thing Jon Stewart and Colbert would be using for months as proof of George Dubya’s stupidity, if HE had done it. > > This is a Jean Poutine moment for Obama. (Extra points to those who don’t have to Google to figure out who Monsieur Poutine is.) I agree. It WAS a pretty dumb thing to do. Like nobody was going to notice? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-destroy-obamas-empty-platitudes/616941.md?page=2)