# Great diplomat Obama strikes again. "Ignorance and incompetence" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 30, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541 "2012-05-30T13:43:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/121 "2012-05-31T02:29:14Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > Suck my balls, you smarmy condescending fuck. Tell you what. [Go here.](http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/)Find the one you like best and shove it so far up your ass that you can taste it in the back of your fucking throat. I totally underestimated your username. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/122 "2012-05-31T02:41:14Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > The poles get revenge: [http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/\_news/2012/05/30/11955461-delta-loses-pole-vaulters-poles-athlete-calls-it-bummer-for-sure?lite](http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/30/11955461-delta-loses-pole-vaulters-poles-athlete-calls-it-bummer-for-sure?lite) [I am a Pole (and so can you!)](http://www.amazon.com/Am-Pole-And-Can-You/dp/1455523429/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338431985&sr=8-1) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/123 "2012-05-31T02:55:17Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > Suck my balls, you smarmy condescending fuck. Tell you what. [Go here.](http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/)Find the one you like best and shove it so far up your ass that you can taste it in the back of your fucking throat. Well, when you act stupid to insult someone, of course people are going to treat you like you are stupid. You found the website. Why not read it and figure out if anyone is doing anything wrong here? Or, even better, make a fucking argument to combat them! Even if there is a fallacy, there’s always a logical argument that beats the fallacy–you don’t need the fancy shmancy fallacies to argue something is illogical. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/124 "2012-05-31T03:07:59Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > Suck my balls, you smarmy condescending fuck. Tell you what. [Go here.](http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/)Find the one you like best and shove it so far up your ass that you can taste it in the back of your fucking throat. [Moderating] This is against the [Pit language rules](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858). Please avoid using this sort of language against other posters in the future. No warning issued. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/125 "2012-05-31T03:35:40Z")
Oh, give me a friggin break. Not only did the Poles encourage anti-Semitism since forever (my family was booted when parts of Poland was Prussia) but they also helped encourage pro-Zionism after WWII since being Jewish in Poland wasn’t the safest thing in the world. I guess now that the Polish government is in ‘Shoah Business’, it’s not very nice to point out that the Polish government had concentration camps. After all, Germany’s ‘Jewish Question’ happened largely because of Poland’s Jewish population. According to JVL, about 90 per cent of Jewish Poles were killed during the Holocaust. That’s three million Jews, or about 1/10th of Poland’s population. Warsaw was something like 1/3 Jewish before WWII. Fuck their feigned horror. In fact, Poland should be Pitted for not taking enough responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/126 "2012-05-31T03:55:54Z")
Are Poles actually outraged about this, or is the political fox news contributing correspondent reporting the incident just trying to make it seem like they are? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/127 "2012-05-31T04:30:45Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I totally underestimated your username. All I know is that after that Olive Garden remark, he’s lost the Italian vote. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/128 "2012-05-31T05:12:17Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Are Poles actually outraged about this, or is the political fox news contributing correspondent reporting the incident just trying to make it seem like they are? > **[Strona główna - Polishnews.com](https://polishnews.com/?option=com_content&view=article&id=3897%3Aobama-stuns-polish-americans-with-his-holocaust-mistake&catid=82%3Anews-from-usa-wiadomosci-z-usa-usa&Itemid=199)** or [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/30/3277223/poles-outraged-over-obamas-words.html](http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/30/3277223/poles-outraged-over-obamas-words.html) … Warsaw’s Jewish community also said it found the Obama’s language “deeply upsetting,” even though it is clear he meant no disrespect. “Though it should be obvious he referred to geographical location only, and no slur on Poland was intended, the phrase carries a potential (for) misinterpretation,” it said, adding that it is “injurious to the very values and accomplishments” of the Polish anti-Nazi resistance. “We expect President Barack Obama to personally rectify his choice of words,” the Jewish community added. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/129 "2012-05-31T05:15:43Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I totally underestimated your username. In other news, the mutilated remains of the Man with the Yellow Hat were discovered late Monday afternoon by a housekeeper whose name has not been released. Police say the remains were desecrated “in a sexual manner” but would not elaborate. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/130 "2012-05-31T05:21:59Z")
“Monkey semen? Good Lord, man, where?” “In him, on him, his clothes, the floor, the ceiling, all the doorknobs. Oh, and the parakeet’s dead.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/131 "2012-05-31T05:24:24Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Every single state on that list save Florida and perhaps Ohio will go for Obama in the fall. Don’t write off Florida. Governor Rick Scott (R) ain’t too popular right now, and it might rub off . . . and [the bastard’s vote-suppression efforts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=653037) are a sign he’s worried. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/132 "2012-05-31T05:25:01Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > [http://www.polishnews.com/index.php?option=com\_content&view=article&id=3897:obama-stuns-polish-americans-with-his-holocaust-mistake&catid=82:news-from-usa-wiadomosci-z-usa-usa&Itemid=199](http://www.polishnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3897:obama-stuns-polish-americans-with-his-holocaust-mistake&catid=82:news-from-usa-wiadomosci-z-usa-usa&Itemid=199) > > or > > [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/30/3277223/poles-outraged-over-obamas-words.html](http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/05/30/3277223/poles-outraged-over-obamas-words.html) > … > Warsaw’s Jewish community also said it found the Obama’s language “deeply upsetting,” even though it is clear he meant no disrespect. > > “Though it should be obvious he referred to geographical location only, and no slur on Poland was intended, the phrase carries a potential (for) misinterpretation,” it said, adding that it is “injurious to the very values and accomplishments” of the Polish anti-Nazi resistance. > > “We expect President Barack Obama to personally rectify his choice of words,” the Jewish community added. “We understand it was an honest mistake and he already apologized, but the black guy didn’t grovel enough, so robble robble robble.” Yeah… nah. Fuck 'em. If Obama loses, it won’t be due to the wrath of a few drama queen Polish Jews. You enjoy your little fantasy scenario, though. It’s really precious. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/133 "2012-05-31T05:26:32Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > Suck my balls, you smarmy condescending fuck. Tell you what. [Go here.](http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/)Find the one you like best and shove it so far up your ass that you can taste it in the back of your fucking throat. Ooh! Ooh! [I know the answer!](http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/personal-attack.html)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/134 "2012-05-31T05:28:33Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > That’s it- double down on the stupid. That’ll get the votes. It worked for the TP in 2010. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/135 "2012-05-31T05:32:11Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > Oh, give me a friggin break. Not only did the Poles encourage anti-Semitism since forever (my family was booted when parts of Poland was Prussia) but they also helped encourage pro-Zionism after WWII since being Jewish in Poland wasn’t the safest thing in the world. I guess now that the Polish government is in ‘Shoah Business’, it’s not very nice to point out that the Polish government had concentration camps. After all, Germany’s ‘Jewish Question’ happened largely because of Poland’s Jewish population. According to JVL, about 90 per cent of Jewish Poles were killed during the Holocaust. That’s three million Jews, or about 1/10th of Poland’s population. Warsaw was something like 1/3 Jewish before WWII. > > Fuck their feigned horror. In fact, Poland should be Pitted for not taking enough responsibility. I’ve heard more than once that antisemitism is **still** powerful in Poland. Which is rather amazing in a country where practically nobody born since WWII has ever met a live Jew. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/136 "2012-05-31T05:34:54Z")
It’s safe to say Mitt Romney will carry Poland’s electoral votes come November. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/137 "2012-05-31T05:39:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s safe to say Mitt Romney will carry Poland’s electoral votes come November. > **[Strona główna - Polishnews.com](https://polishnews.com/?option=com_content&view=article&id=3897%3Aobama-stuns-polish-americans-with-his-holocaust-mistake&catid=82%3Anews-from-usa-wiadomosci-z-usa-usa&Itemid=199)** ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/138 "2012-05-31T05:40:08Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s safe to say Mitt Romney will carry Poland’s electoral votes come November. Yes, Dems always seem to **forget** Poland . . . ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/139 "2012-05-31T05:44:51Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I’ve heard more than once that antisemitism is **still** powerful in Poland. Which is rather amazing in a country where practically nobody born since WWII has ever met a live Jew. [50,000 Jews in Poland today.](http://articles.cnn.com/2008-09-30/world/poland.jewish.revival_1_lauder-foundation-jewish-life-poland-s-jews/2?_s=PM:WORLD). And yes, anti-semitism is strong in Poland. And France. And Holland. And Britain. etc. etc. Oh and for your education: [A Jewish renaissance in Poland | Poland | The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/07/jewish-renaissance-poland) ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541/140 "2012-05-31T05:57:07Z")
First, the Prime Minister of Poland should read the newspapers. In other news this week, there were several stories about how Obama keeps a ‘kill list’. So Mr. Tusk, protest if you must but you may want to keep that in mind before you piss Obama off. Not a ‘wish list of folks we’d like to kill’ but a ‘Kill List with names crossed out’. Just saying. Second, the United States isn’t really like Europe when it comes to holding nationalist grudges. Poland may downplay the camps, Turkey may deny that they ever as much as touched an Armenian, and 1,000 years from now Serbs will still long for Kosovo. That seems to be how it is. Not so much in the United States. “Remember the Maine” - well, do we? Not really. I mean we know what that refers to, but we really don’t harbor any long term grudges against Spain. So while Polish-Americans will obviously take an interest in this story, they really won’t care too much because they are Americans now, not Poles. And the ones that do care and actually may be influenced by this are the ones old enough to remember that far back. So, not as many as you may think. New York may have close to 1 million Polish-Americans, but not all 1 million give a damn one way or the other. Finally, there is a good chance that if you are Polish-American, you or your family ended up in America as displaced persons after the war. Which means that you possibly weren’t welcome in Poland. In other words, you or your family suffered in Poland. A few posters here identify with this group. I doubt they will fault Obama for his words. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-diplomat-obama-strikes-again-ignorance-and-incompetence/623541.md?page=8)