# I pit the people giving the widow crap for NOT taking call from President Biden **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [July 16, 2024, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321 "2024-07-16T13:41:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/61 "2024-07-17T01:07:11Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > But she went to the press about it. There’s the run. You seriously think this grieving widow “went to the press”? If your perspective is that skewed, no wonder you’re being so harsh. I assure you it was the other way around. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I’m really surprised she’s not speaking at the Repub. Convention. This is kind of an asshole opinion. There is nothing, absolutely nothing suggesting she is trying to become famous about this, that she is trying to make herself part of the political process. Her husband was killed in a public way and she answered a couple of questions about it. And that’s it. You’re inventing some huge story about her to slander someone who just lost her husband. For fucks’ sake, what’s your problem?! At least we know who this Pit thread is targeted toward. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/62 "2024-07-17T01:09:49Z")
To me the “problem” is she refuses a condolence because she hates something/someone. Not that they had anything to do with her husband’s death. It is just spite on her part which seems a shitty thing to add to the memory of her husband. But, there is no rule she had to take the call. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/63 "2024-07-17T01:09:50Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > But she went to the press about it. There’s the rub. Did she seek out talking to the press about it? Or did the press (in this case, the tabloid New York Post) go to _her_? I would guess the latter (though, she certainly could have refused to talk to them). ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/64 "2024-07-17T01:10:50Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I would guess the latter (though, she certainly could have refused to talk to them). I mean, she isn’t the kind of person who would refuse to talk to a person… Oh wait. Okay, I have to concede that point. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/65 "2024-07-17T01:42:06Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > To me the “problem” is she refuses a condolence because she hates something/someone. Not that they had anything to do with her husband’s death. It is just spite on her part which seems a shitty thing to add to the memory of her husband. You’re assuming spite. All we know is that she didn’t feel like taking the call. If I were to put myself in here shoes I assume that she was doing what she reasonably thought that her just murdered husband would have wanted. Maybe you can list for us all of the other condolence calls that she did take while snubbing Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/66 "2024-07-17T01:49:45Z")
I’m sorry. She told someone. The press got it. We don’t really know. Do we? I don’t have a problem. I’m just saying it seems odd. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2024, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/67 "2024-07-17T01:58:51Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > The press got it. We don’t really know. Do we? No, we don’t, so why assume what you did instead of what was more likely-That the press sought her out and pestered her until she answered their questions? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/68 "2024-07-17T02:02:45Z")
There are a lot of assumptions made in this thread. There are a lot of assumptions I make everyday. You do it too. I get a bad taste in my mouth about this. I hope hope like heck I’m wrong. I hope they find peace. But…they are obviously Trumpers. Those peeps ain’t all normal in their division making. IMO. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/69 "2024-07-17T02:06:04Z")
I do it too? That’s the best you’ve got? Don’t you have a “Beck’s Bad Bad Bad Day Because I Almost Stubbed My Toe” thread to post? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/70 "2024-07-17T02:09:04Z")
Oh you. You made me laugh. I do have opinions you know. I’m sorry they differ from yours. It’s a big ol’ world and lots of folks think differently. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/71 "2024-07-17T02:12:38Z")
I don’t take calls from my _friends_, why would I take a call from the president? If he wants to talk to me he has to follow the proper protocol. Text me first, then _I’ll_ decide if it’s worth dropping everything I’m doing to to talk and I’ll call back…or not. Or schedule a time that works for both of us. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2024, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/72 "2024-07-17T02:14:25Z")
Thank you for reminding me of my favorite Harlan Ellison quote: “Everybody has opinions: I have them, you have them. And we are all told from the moment we open our eyes, that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Well, that’s horsepuckey, of course. We are not entitled to our opinions; we are entitled to our informed opinions. Without research, without background, without understanding, it’s nothing. It’s just bibble-babble. It’s like a fart in a wind tunnel, folks.” ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/73 "2024-07-17T02:15:19Z")
People do think differently. People who are grieving a murder aren’t thinking clearly. This is reminding me of Ann Coulter’s comment on the 9/11 widows. This turn of conversation is depressing me. Bowing out. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/74 "2024-07-17T02:16:42Z")
My opinions are valid. No matter what a over blown comic book writer tells you. You can’t take my opinion from me. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/75 "2024-07-17T02:21:15Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > No matter what a over blown comic book writer tells you. If you want people to think your opinion has worth, that ain’t the best way to go about it. But you do you. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/76 "2024-07-17T02:23:22Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > I don’t take calls from my _friends_, why would I take a call from the president? If he wants to talk to me he has to follow the proper protocol. Text me first, then _I’ll_ decide if it’s worth dropping everything I’m doing to to talk and I’ll call back…or not. Or schedule a time that works for both of us. There is a protocol; the White House operators call first and let you know that the president would like to talk to you. If you don’t answer the phone, they might call the local police or whatever, and tell them why they need to get you on the phone. BTW, doesn’t matter if your number is unlisted or unpublished. They can get _any_ number. My mother worked directory assistance for years, and once I went to work with her on an off-day to help her with, as I remember, some Microsoft Excel task. I was thumbing through a procedure manual that mentioned how to handle unpublished numbers. The procedure, as I remember (and this was perhaps three decades ago), was to refuse to provide the number. If you told them that you need to talk to the person because of a family emergency, the operators still wouldn’t give up the number. At best they would call the unpublished number and ask the owner if they wish to be contacted. They can call back the person trying to reach them, or the operator could make the connection without revealing the number. Except, the procedure manual said, if the call was from the White House, which was the only party that the phone company would provide the number to. Again this is a memory from three decades ago or more, so I may be wrong on the exact details. Though I kind of wish I’d photocopied that page from the manual. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/77 "2024-07-17T02:24:20Z")
[![](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/019/304/Old_Man_Yells_at_cloud_cover.jpg) ](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/019/304/Old_Man_Yells_at_cloud_cover.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/78 "2024-07-17T02:27:12Z")
Precisely. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/79 "2024-07-17T02:27:16Z")
That’s YOUR opinion. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321/80 "2024-07-17T02:31:06Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > There is a protocol; the White House operators call first and let you know that the president would like to talk to you. If you don’t answer the phone, they might call the local police or whatever, and tell them why they need to get you on the phone. That’s not MY protocol. I’d still much rather get a presidential text. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-giving-the-widow-crap-for-not-taking-call-from-president-biden/1004321.md?page=5)