# How would Obama, if elected President, tear this country apart? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 14, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802 "2008-10-14T00:20:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/21 "2008-10-14T13:55:13Z")
Obama is clearly going to give black people ALL the breaks after elected. I expect nothing less than slavery reparations, and free crack for welfare mamas. It’s all a bunch of BS. If Obama wins, he’s going to be a damn good uniter, I feel. Throughout his career he has a history of having the other side impressed with him and willing to go along with him. I think it probably has to do with the fact that he appears to care more about the result than the politics leading up to it. Throughout his career you have people saying stuff like this. Maybe he is a far-left liberal in heart, but if that is true, he’s also smart enough to take whatever he can get. I think he personally would like UHC, but realizes that any way to get the foot in the door is better than nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/22 "2008-10-14T13:57:04Z")
1. He’ll immediately tax the fuck out of white people to give reperations to blacks 2. Christianity will be outlawed, and Islam will become the official (and mandatory) religion in the US 3. Abortions and gay marriage will also become mandatory 4. He’ll use his magical negro powers to make white penises shrink to half their current size ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/23 "2008-10-14T13:59:50Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > [obama the cowboy | Presidential candidate Barack Obama tips … | Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattwright/400394507/) > > Man looks darn good in the hat, I tell you what. He looks like the black dude from _Walker, Texas Ranger_ in that picture. > [@Revtim](#): > > 1. He’ll use his magical negro powers to make white penises shrink to half their current size Why not just use his magical powers to double the size of all black penises? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/24 "2008-10-14T14:01:10Z")
That kind of talk is utter foolishness. Obama is a decent man and a skilled politician. There are some people who are fairly described as “shameful they were elected to Congress” (paging Maxine Waters and Duke Cunningham, to pick two off the top of my head). CLaims that he will “tear the country apart” are simply desperate people who don’t know how to argue – they cannot simply disagree on issues with their opponent; he must be said to represent the end of the world in fire and brimstone. It’s nonsense that’s seen on both sides. And Armeggedon sick of it. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/25 "2008-10-14T14:04:37Z")
Maybe he’s planning on losing another couple of wars, trashing America’s standing in the world whilst presiding over an economic crash on a scale not seen for a century or so? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/26 "2008-10-14T14:04:58Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I’m thinking Bill Ayers as Secretary of Defense. Arlo Guthrie as Secretary of State. Oprah as National Security Advisor. Tommy Chong as Secretary of Agriculture. Reverend Wright as Director of the CIA. > > Something along those lines. Check out the video in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=487795). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/27 "2008-10-14T14:05:17Z")
Although the general fear that a black leadership in America would treat white people as badly as previous generations treated blacks is a concern for said white people, a more realistic concern is that people making this argument have “but we’ve always done it this way” as part of their credo. Any radical change in personnel at the top, in their way of thinking, _has_ to cause a radical change in the way leadership is done, the way the country is run, and how things work. Any such radical change would seem to them to be like pulling the motherboard out of a PC and putting in a Mac motherboard. You would have heard this same statement if Hillary were the democratic nominee, or somebody of Asian descent, or Native American. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/28 "2008-10-14T14:17:32Z")
According to my stepmother, Obama is part of a “sleeper cell” of moslem agents who were inserted in the US during the 60’s with the intent of overthrowing the American Way of Life. No shiite. However, it’s going to be OK because more and more people are coming to realize that, get this, _Obama isn’t even a US citizen_. Apparently his birth certificate was faked and Obama is actually a citizen of the fine country of Kenya. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/29 "2008-10-14T14:26:04Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > 1. Abortions and gay marriage will also become mandatory > 2. He’ll use his magical negro powers to make white penises shrink to half their current size I’m supposed to get by with only 8 inches? What gay man will want to marry me then? 😕☹ ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/30 "2008-10-14T14:27:16Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And Armeggedon sick of it. You’ve been waiting weeks to use this line, haven’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/31 "2008-10-14T14:31:23Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > Actually, I think Arlo should be the head of EPA. He knows a bit about why proper waste disposal is important. No, no, Arlo Guthrie is the obvious choice for [Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection](http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/about/organization/commissioner_basham.xml). Don’t touch my bags, if you please! ---
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/32 "2008-10-14T14:31:34Z")
The white women of america will finally discover that “its t’woo, it’s t’woo!” ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/33 "2008-10-14T14:31:52Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > According to my stepmother, Obama is part of a “sleeper cell” of moslem agents who were inserted in the US during the 60’s with the intent of overthrowing the American Way of Life. > > No shiite. > > However, it’s going to be OK because more and more people are coming to realize that, get this, _Obama isn’t even a US citizen_. Apparently his birth certificate was faked and Obama is actually a citizen of the fine country of Kenya. > > 😃 What these people, if they’re serious, don’t seem to get is that they’re presenting us with a choice: either they’re better at doing background checks than the NSA, or they’re a bunch of idiots. They also don’t seem to get that that is a pretty easy choice to figure out… ---
**Author:** ![lucky\_henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@lucky\_henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucky_henry)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/34 "2008-10-14T14:44:00Z")
To answer the title question, I’d say that if he makes good on his desire to “spread the wealth around” it would certainly go far towards tearing the country apart. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/35 "2008-10-14T14:46:50Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Check out the video in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=487795). What an intriguing tease - no YouTube at work. I did read the thread though, I think I know what’s coming when I do get around to viewing it. I’ve seen a few other doozies. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/36 "2008-10-14T14:53:58Z")
I’ll answer this with my opinion. I don’t think his being elected will tear the country apart. But I do think you will see a rise in home grown terrorists, trying to tear it apart. I imagine it will be the same as every President I remember, coming in with high hopes only to find out they do not have as much power as the voters think. So some voters become pissed off that everything isn’t magically fixed and start saying “Should have been McCain or Clinton we elected” And by time his first annual address to the nation the Republican candidate will already be campaigning for 2012 to start all this shit again. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/37 "2008-10-14T14:55:10Z")
> [@lucky\_henry](#): > > To answer the title question, I’d say that if he makes good on his desire to “spread the wealth around” it would certainly go far towards tearing the country apart. What does “tearing the country apart” look like? Exactly what are you envisioning? Protests? Riots? The downfall of the United States? Mass exodus? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/38 "2008-10-14T14:57:11Z")
Regardless of what the wingnuts say, (after Obama wins) a few people may mumble a few sentences of discontent, then they’ll go back to worrying about paying their bills. Tear the country apart? Hardly. Edited to add… I’m not referring to anyone’s relatives with that wingnut statement. More a reflection on the “He’s an Arab” crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/39 "2008-10-14T14:58:38Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > What an intriguing tease - no YouTube at work. > > I did read the thread though, I think I know what’s coming when I do get around to viewing it. I’ve seen a few other doozies. Suffice it to say that you were surprisingly accurate in your mock prediction. You got at least two right. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802/40 "2008-10-14T15:01:19Z")
> [@lucky\_henry](#): > > To answer the title question, I’d say that if he makes good on his desire to “spread the wealth around” it would certainly go far towards tearing the country apart. I’m not sure I understand this. From [here](http://www.truthandpolitics.org/top-rates.php) the top marginal tax rate in 1963 was 91%. I don’t recall the country being “torn apart” in any realistic since of the word (even accounting for the presidents assassination). It was 50% as recently as 1986. Why would increasing the tax burden on the top wage-earners to a rate less than either of these cause the country to “tear apart”? And what would this mechanism be? Tax revolt? Domestic terrorism? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-obama-if-elected-president-tear-this-country-apart/467802.md?page=3)