# Obama and Divisiveness **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 8, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286 "2016-03-08T15:38:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/101 "2016-04-26T16:20:04Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > Many people have said that President Obama has been divisive. What’s y’all’s take on that? That those who say so are about at [this](http://www.salon.com/2016/04/26/yes_a_florida_republican_actually_said_this_congressional_candidate_mark_freeman_accuses_obama_of_creating_racial_divide_by_giving_blacks_free_stuff/) very low level of mentality. ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/102 "2016-04-26T17:10:42Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > And I’m a little teapot on the left of the Queen of England. Ever think that not every Democrat buys into Critical Theory as the more vocal internet set? > [@wolfpup](#): > > Maybe if he was whiter, more jingoistic, much much further to the right, and changed his first, last, and middle names to something _ **American** _ There you go, making everyone into a racist who has some problem with Obama. And people wonder why Democrats have lost so much ground outside of liberal circles. Also, what is “jingoism?” What does that have to do with race? Why can’t Obama be as overtly patriotic as Ben Carson and Herman Cain, who are black like Obama too, and thus have experienced the same racial discrimination? Obama is as American as them, Bill Clinton, GW Bush, Reagan, even Carter, who all, as POTUS, said more patriotic things? Why can’t you both oppose pollution and climate change, oppose tax cuts for the rich, support abortion rights, but still be patriotic? > [@](#): > > As for the discussion you wanted about Tubman, happy to oblige. If it was time to cycle Jackson off the $20 bill, he should at least have been replaced by a proper white guy, right? How about not replace Jackson at all, and make a new denomination for Tubman? We could use a new denomination given inflation since Nixon eliminated the $500 and $1000. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/103 "2016-04-26T17:14:50Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > How about not replace Jackson at all, and make a new denomination for Tubman? We could use a new denomination given inflation since Nixon eliminated the $500 and $1000. First, inflation is a non-issue, second, nobody uses cash for \>$100 purchases and third…sure, let’s just update every cash drawer and change machine in the country to accept a new bill. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/104 "2016-04-26T17:17:17Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > Why can’t Obama be as overtly patriotic as Ben Carson and Herman Cain . . . Because they ain’t patriotic. Spouting American-exceptionalist bullshit is not patriotic. ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/105 "2016-04-26T17:17:32Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > First, inflation is a non-issue, second, nobody uses cash for \>$100 purchases and third…sure, let’s just update every cash drawer and change machine in the country to accept a new bill. Tubman is worth the change right? It would also create some new jobs too. Also, ever think more people would use cash if it were more convenient for higher transactions? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/106 "2016-04-26T17:20:03Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > Ever think that not every Democrat buys into Critical Theory as the more vocal internet set? I’m fairly certain most Democrats have never heard of Critical Theory. I’m also fairly certain most Democrats are far to the left of you politically. ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/107 "2016-04-26T17:21:34Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > That those who say so are about at [this](http://www.salon.com/2016/04/26/yes_a_florida_republican_actually_said_this_congressional_candidate_mark_freeman_accuses_obama_of_creating_racial_divide_by_giving_blacks_free_stuff/) very low level of mentality. I don’t think Obama is giving “blacks free stuff.” I actually like Obamacare; it helped simplify the labrynthine process of getting health care. I do think tho that Obama thinks hes gonna use his bully pulpit to fight racism, but gets so carried away in his ivory tower mentality he forgets that he does need to more effectively talk to the non-black ultramajority of this country and not come off bitter. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/108 "2016-04-26T17:23:51Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > I do think tho that Obama thinks hes gonna use his bully pulpit to fight racism, but gets so carried away in his ivory tower mentality he forgets that he does need to more effectively talk to the non-black ultramajority of this country and not come off bitter. But, he does not come off bitter. All things considered, with Pub obstructionism and mindless Obama-hate dogging him the past seven years, it’s amazing how bitter he ain’t. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/109 "2016-04-26T17:25:15Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > Also, ever think more people would use cash if it were more convenient for higher transactions? Definitely not, and that never even would have occurred to you if you weren’t desperately groping for something. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/110 "2016-04-26T17:31:47Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > There you go, making everyone into a racist who has some problem with Obama. Then why do you constantly reference his middle name? Why do you so frequently say false things about him? > [@](#): > > And people wonder why Democrats have lost so much ground outside of liberal circles. Have you noticed how high Obama’s approval rating is lately? > [@](#): > > Also, what is “jingoism?” What does that have to do with race? Why can’t Obama be as overtly patriotic as Ben Carson and Herman Cain, who are black like Obama too, and thus have experienced the same racial discrimination? Obama is as American as them, Bill Clinton, GW Bush, Reagan, even Carter, who all, as POTUS, said more patriotic things? Why can’t you both oppose pollution and climate change, oppose tax cuts for the rich, support abortion rights, but still be patriotic? Obama is as patriotic, overtly or otherwise, as any of these men. Why do you constantly assert borderline conspiracy theory craziness about Obama? What is it about him that makes you think he’s not patriotic? > [@](#): > > How about not replace Jackson at all, and make a new denomination for Tubman? We could use a new denomination given inflation since Nixon eliminated the $500 and $1000. We’ve changed our money many, many times before. Why is this change such a big deal to you? Is it never acceptable to you to put a black woman on our money if it displaces a white man (Jackson isn’t being replaced – he’s just moving to the back), or is it just not acceptable when a black President is in charge? If President Clinton had proposed this, would you have a problem with it? Do you think our money should never ever change? Based on the many, many false things you’ve said about Obama, and the nature of the aspersions you’ve cast (which allude to something un-American or unpatriotic about him), I’m led to believe that you have a personal problem with something intrinsic about Obama as a man – not with anything he’s actually said or done as President, which has been pretty damn mainstream Democratic. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/111 "2016-04-26T17:48:54Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > First, inflation is a non-issue, second, nobody uses cash for \>$100 purchases and third…sure, let’s just update every cash drawer and change machine in the country to accept a new bill. And let me add to that. Fourth, other nations are eliminating paper currency denominations for cost reasons, not adding new ones. Low-denomination notes like dollar bills are being replaced by durable coins due to significant cost savings to the treasury, and high-denomination ones eliminated entirely because they’re rarely used any more. Fifth, high-denomination notes (as low as $100) are heavily utilized for criminal purposes and [a Harvard study](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/mrcbg/publications/awp/awp52) recommends they be phased out. So inventing a new denomination just so Andrew Jackson’s mug could remain on the front of the $20 bill would be an extraordinary level of stupid. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/112 "2016-04-26T17:56:19Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > So inventing a new denomination just so Andrew Jackson’s mug could remain on the front of the $20 bill would be an extraordinary level of stupid. Put him on the new $14.37 bill. He stays on the paper money but no one will use it. Win-win. 😃 ---
**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:** [April 26, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/113 "2016-04-26T18:25:31Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Put him on the new $14.37 bill. He stays on the paper money but no one will use it. > Win-win. > 😃 That would only set the stage for demanding the inevitable “$5.63 bill with a picture of another white guy on it”. My fervent wish would be for the ubiquitous $1 bill to feature a picture of Barack Hussein Obama. I’m imagining the name in an ornate semicircle under the image, with “Hussein” prominently centered right underneath. The OP and millions of his friends (presumably all “left of center Bill Clinton type Democrats”) would suddenly discover the benefits of the Cashless Society! 😉 Presumably that would include Bill Clinton himself, who I understand has been regretting endorsing Obama ever since he found out that his middle name is “Hussein” and that he is apparently a divisive bastard, a fact which has left “Clinton Democrats” profoundly confused and wandering around in a daze. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/114 "2016-04-26T18:29:07Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > Tubman is worth the change right? It’s not necessary to choose: we can have Tubman without changing any cash infrastructure. Wait a minute… that’s exactly what’s happening! How about that! And all it took was to move Jackson to the back of the $20. BFD. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/115 "2016-04-26T18:45:20Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > My fervent wish would be for the ubiquitous $1 bill to feature a picture of Barack Hussein Obama. I’m imagining the name in an ornate semicircle under the image, with “Hussein” prominently centered right underneath. Well, it’s illegal for any living person to be portrayed on a bill, and, no, don’t go giving them any more ideas there. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/116 "2016-04-26T18:47:46Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > It’s not necessary to choose: we can have Tubman without changing any cash infrastructure. Indeed – the Treasury has made numerous updates to U.S. paper currency over the past two decades, in part to make forgery more difficult. To wit: [$20 bill, 1995](http://jfj-art.com/thepresidentsseries/images/US-Series-1995-$20-Obverse.jpg) [$20 bill, 1996](https://cbsboston.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/20dol2.jpg) [$20 bill, 2006](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/US_$20_Series_2006_Obverse.jpg) Those changes will undoubtedly continue to be necessary, anyway, and thus, changing who and what is depicted on the $20 (or any other currently-used denomination) is effectively not adding any additional cost to the process. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/117 "2016-04-26T19:07:21Z")
All in all, Tubman on the $20 is a quite incredibly lame issue to bump this thread for, **Derek.** ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/118 "2016-04-26T19:33:29Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > All in all, Tubman on the $20 is a quite incredibly lame issue to bump this thread for, **Derek.** To be fair, the OP set the bar pretty low. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/119 "2016-04-26T19:44:34Z")
Maybe they can make a $16 dollar bill for Tubman. That’s 3/5 of $20, right? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286/120 "2016-04-26T19:45:13Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Maybe they can make a $16 dollar bill for Tubman. That’s 3/5 of $20, right? …no? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-divisiveness/748286.md?page=7)