# If you criticize our President, you're attacking our country... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 3, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246 "2002-07-03T20:11:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/1 "2002-07-03T20:11:18Z")
Today’s John Birch Society Award goes to the woman on CNN’s Talk Back Live who expressed these sentiments toward George Michael. Indeed, she particularly took umbrage that someone who’s “not even an American” would dare to criticize George W. Bush. Whether or not you agree with George Michael’s political viewpoint, it is patently absurd to equate someone’s criticism of an American politician with an attack on America as a country. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/2 "2002-07-03T20:30:04Z")
Hey, we’ve got vice-Presidents and Attorney Generals in office who think that when their _own_ citizens criticize the President, it’s akin to helping terrorists attack the country. So does that mean that Messrs. Cheney and Ashcroft are “patently absurd”? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dieter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@Dieter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dieter)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/3 "2002-07-03T20:46:29Z")
“If you criticize our President, you’re attacking our country.” Then Bush helped the terrorists when he attacked Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/4 "2002-07-03T20:54:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Hey, we’ve got vice-Presidents and Attorney Generals in office who think that when their own citizens criticize the President, it’s akin to helping terrorists attack the country. > > So does that mean that Messrs. Cheney and Ashcroft are “patently absurd”? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/5 "2002-07-04T00:53:29Z")
I agree with **peasea**. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/6 "2002-07-04T01:04:13Z")
Well, George Michael sucks. We are talking about the singer, right? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/7 "2002-07-04T01:18:50Z")
Yes, Guin, but leaving that unfortunate incident out of it - what? ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/8 "2002-07-04T01:24:03Z")
I pledge my support to **peasea** and **Kat** on thier valiant cause. May the force be with you. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/9 "2002-07-04T01:35:35Z")
Huh? I’m talking about his music. It sucks. Unless there’s another George Michael I’m not aware of. In which case :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/10 "2002-07-04T03:13:20Z")
Well, hold on there **Guin**. I thought “Faith” was pretty good. And on that basis, I think that George Michaels should have a lot of attention paid to him. I mean, if he’s good at one thing, he must be good at everything right? I believe that Socrates felt that way about poets. But the woman is nuts. I bet she was southern. ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/11 "2002-07-04T03:14:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Unless there’s another George Michael I’m not aware of. > > In which case :smack: \*\* Haven’t you ever seen **The Sports Machine with George Michael?** So yes, go ahead and :smack: yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/12 "2002-07-04T03:18:43Z")
A lot of the criticism leveled at Bush makes me roll my eyes. Not all, but a lot. However, there is not much more American than criticizing the president. Think about all the countries on this planet where doing so would get you imprisoned, tortured and/or killed. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/13 "2002-07-04T03:23:36Z")
Damn. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/14 "2002-07-04T08:19:26Z")
Good Lord I am so fucking confused I could dance and do a jig. What the fuck were we talking about again? ---
**Author:** ![JDM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90db22/32.png) [@JDM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDM)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/15 "2002-07-04T08:25:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Huh? I’m talking about his music. It sucks. > > Unless there’s another George Michael I’m not aware of. > > In which case :smack: \*\* I think Matt was referring to [this.](http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,2817,00.html) JDM ---
**Author:** ![JDM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90db22/32.png) [@JDM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDM)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/16 "2002-07-04T08:57:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JDM \* > \*\* > > I think Matt was referring to [this.](http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,2817,00.html) JDM \*\* OTOH, having read the article after posting it (always a good policy) I see that it says: > [@](#): > > Police refused to elaborate on the alleged “lewd act.” They said only that: (1) Michael was **alone** ; (2) he was doing something; (3) the cop watched him do that something; (4) the cop arrested him. So if that _is_ what Matt was referring to, all I can say is that George Michael is either _really_ flexible, or _really_ um… impressive. JDM ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/17 "2002-07-04T09:49:19Z")
No. It’s about his new single - _Shoot the dog_, to be released soon. On his official webpage [http://www.aegean.net/](http://www.aegean.net/) there is a link or pop-up with pictures and lyrics to the song. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/18 "2002-07-04T10:19:12Z")
Let us just take this moment to comiserate with George Michael on the death of his musical career. Rumour has it that he is going to give a once off interview on his “political views” with Trevor McDonald. A sad end to a good career. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/19 "2002-07-04T10:23:52Z")
Well, the Wham! Rap is somewhat political. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246/20 "2002-07-04T10:34:59Z")
In my opinion, the CIA should have taken care of that guy the first time MTV showed the video for “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-criticize-our-president-youre-attacking-our-country/117246.md?page=2)