# Fittingly, Obama votes "present" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 25, 2016, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593 "2016-12-25T09:52:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/1 "2016-12-25T09:52:59Z")
In probably his last major act as President, Obama directed the US to abstain on a vote to condemn settlements in the West Bank. What a cowardly act. He could have at least voted with the majority if that’s how he feels about Israeli settlements. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/2 "2016-12-25T10:09:04Z")
It’s called “nuance”. Of course, it requires being a sentient being to get it, so that lets you out. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/3 "2016-12-25T10:10:38Z")
Obama voted at the UN? Wow, the dude really gets around! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/4 "2016-12-25T10:16:43Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > In probably his last major act as President, Obama directed the US to abstain on a vote to condemn settlements in the West Bank. What a cowardly act. …said the judgmental guy who posts anonymously on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![HeweyLogan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heweylogan/32/547_2.png) [@HeweyLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeweyLogan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/5 "2016-12-25T11:26:38Z")
What a fucking prick. Thanks Obama. Glad you’re out of here. Don’t let the door slam you in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/6 "2016-12-25T11:39:00Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > It’s called “nuance”. Of course, it requires being a sentient being to get it, so that lets you out. Nuance is a great thing, when it’s nuance, rather than just splitting the baby. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/7 "2016-12-25T11:40:00Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Obama voted at the UN? Wow, the dude really gets around! I know, I know, he probably only found out by reading the newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/8 "2016-12-25T11:41:37Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I know, I know, he probably only found out by reading the newspaper. Didn’t he check his twitter account? I thought thats where Amercians conducted their business these days? ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/9 "2016-12-25T12:14:58Z")
The use of Abstenations is a long tradition of the Americans on the issues related to the Israel where there is the criticism, when there has been the decision not to veto. You should be pitting yourselves for your own gross ignorance of your own historical practices and extremely stupid habits of ignorance of history in partisan criticism… ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/10 "2016-12-25T12:16:23Z")
> [@HeweyLogan](#): > > Glad you’re out of here. Don’t let the door slam you in the ass. Wish I could say the same. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/11 "2016-12-25T13:31:19Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > It’s called “nuance”. Of course, it requires being a sentient being to get it, so that lets you out. The “nuance” is that he doesn’t have to worry about an election. Do you honestly think he would have directed our vote this way had it taken place in October of this year? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/12 "2016-12-25T13:59:55Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The “nuance” is that he doesn’t have to worry about an election. Do you honestly think he would have directed our vote this way had it taken place in October of this year? Abstention seems like a pretty wishy-washy tactic for someone allegedly empowered to extremism by not having to worry about an election. It seems much more rational to believe that abstention reflects the contradictory nature of the situation: on one hand, strategic support for Israel, and on the other hand, established US bipartisan support for a two-state solution which the settlements are undermining. A vote either way would have made it much more difficult for the US to have any future role as a fair-minded arbitrator in two-state negotiations. Naturally, the Orange Peril has a different viewpoint, but then again, he’s also starting a nuclear arms race with Russia. The way his policies are evolving, it’s anybody’s guess where war will break out first. The only thing reasonably certain is that it will be preceded by an angry tweet. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/13 "2016-12-25T14:16:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The “nuance” is that he doesn’t have to worry about an election. Do you honestly think he would have directed our vote this way had it taken place in October of this year? The nuance is that he does not have to worry about an election or save powder for his wife/brother as the last two US President did. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/14 "2016-12-25T14:24:14Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Abstention seems like a pretty wishy-washy tactic for someone allegedly empowered to extremism by not having to worry about an election. It seems much more rational to believe that abstention reflects the contradictory nature of the situation: on one hand, strategic support for Israel, and on the other hand, established US bipartisan support for a two-state solution which the settlements are undermining. A vote either way would have made it much more difficult for the US to have any future role as a fair-minded arbitrator in two-state negotiations. Why is this vote different from every other vote? > [@](#): > > Naturally, the Orange Peril has a different viewpoint… He’s not alone. A veto vote has broad, [bipartisan support.](https://www.democraticwhip.gov/content/hoyer-statement-us-abstention-un-resolution-vote-israel) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/15 "2016-12-25T15:07:15Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Why is this vote different from every other vote? Because not every other vote involves such a strong intrinsic contradiction between supporting an ally and condemning something stupid and counterproductive that the ally is doing. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > He’s not alone. A veto vote has broad, [bipartisan support.](https://www.democraticwhip.gov/content/hoyer-statement-us-abstention-un-resolution-vote-israel) Not sure that one press release from Hoyer constitutes proof of how broad the bipartisan support is. Regardless, you can hardly claim that abstention is some sort of reckless extremist position. What if Obama had directed the US vote to support the rest of the Security Council members? How would that have gone over? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/16 "2016-12-25T15:47:18Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Because not every other vote involves such a strong intrinsic contradiction between supporting an ally and condemning something stupid and counterproductive that the ally is doing. Just to be clear, you honestly think Obama would have voted the same had this vote taken place in October instead of January? > [@](#): > > Not sure that one press release from Hoyer constitutes proof of how broad the bipartisan support is. How many press releases does the [Minority Whip](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whip_(politics)) have to issue before you think it’s significant? If you haven’t read about this, then here are [some more.](http://thehill.com/policy/defense/311712-obama-faces-widespread-backlash-after-abstaining-from-un-israel-vote) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/17 "2016-12-25T16:05:39Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Just to be clear, you honestly think Obama would have voted the same had this vote taken place in October instead of January? I have no idea, and that isn’t what I said. I said that I can see the logic of an abstention from a resolution that puts the US in a conflicting situation, and a vote either way would have undermined its credibility as a negotiator in future peace talks. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > How many press releases does the [Minority Whip](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whip_(politics)) have to issue before you think it’s significant? If you haven’t read about this, then here are [some more.](http://thehill.com/policy/defense/311712-obama-faces-widespread-backlash-after-abstaining-from-un-israel-vote) It says “Republicans and some Democrats” condemn the abstention. I have no particularly strong position on it myself, TBH, and am generally pro-Israel, but I’m also pro-peace. I don’t see how a US veto would advance the cause of peace, or enhance the status of the US as an impartial interventionist in the region. It would simply be the kind of one-sided militancy and sabre-rattling that Republicans seem to love. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/18 "2016-12-25T16:27:44Z")
There is another problem for politicians. There are now estimated to be nearly as many Muslims in the U.S. as Jews. As they gain citizenship and vote - and their kids grow up, they will turn into a significant voting block. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/19 "2016-12-25T16:48:02Z")
What makes you think they would be a cohesive and unanimous voting block, as regards Israel and her policies, when American Jews don’t? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593/20 "2016-12-25T17:42:51Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > What makes you think they would be a cohesive and unanimous voting block, as regards Israel and her policies, when American Jews don’t? I suspect they will be a more cohesive voting block than American Jews are on this matter. Much like the post Castro generation Cuban Americans were a pretty cohesive voting block - and it wasn’t for fifty years that the voting block dissolved on that issue. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fittingly-obama-votes-present/775593.md?page=2)