# Obama vs. Trump - Any overlapping opinions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 24, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056 "2018-04-24T18:23:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blood63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/1 "2018-04-24T18:23:44Z")
From what I know about American politics, it is very polarized. You either like Obama and hate Trump or the other way around. Personally, I liked Obama as a person. He seems to be a nice guy, very caring and smart. Mind you, that doesn’t always make the best leader. Trump seems like an absolutely detestable ass. But, I am willing to concede that his leadership skills, though very unconventional, might be effective long term. I wonder if there is any out there who likes both presidents or hates both of them. I am interested in any opinions about who is the better president. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/2 "2018-04-24T18:43:37Z")
Trump’s leadership skills are extremely and stereotypically conventional. It’s just not by the same convention as previous presidents. If you look at how Joseph McCarthy and Adolf Hitler handled things, Trump is the same old shit. See “demagogue”. Lots of German people supported Hitler because he was going to clean up the country’s politics and make Germany great again. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/3 "2018-04-24T18:49:43Z")
There have to be some folks who like both, or one or the other wouldn’t have been able to get elected. I’ve never met any of them, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/4 "2018-04-24T18:50:58Z")
Lying thin-skinned braggadocios conman is an unconventional leadership style? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/5 "2018-04-24T18:51:32Z")
Both Obama and Trump ran on a platform of “change” in 2008 and 2016, respectively, or at least represented “change” to their supporters. Both Obama and Trump have been bombing ISIS, etc. (Just like almost any POTUS would) Trump is one of the more pro-labor-union Republicans, and Obama probably no doubt supported labor unions. ---
**Author:** ![blood63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/6 "2018-04-24T18:52:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There have to be some folks who like both, or one or the other wouldn’t have been able to get elected. I’ve never met any of them, though. Good point but voting for someone and liking them can be two different things. Often, it is just choosing the best of the worst. Trump ran against Clinton and she was not popular. ---
**Author:** ![blood63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/7 "2018-04-24T18:54:24Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Lying thin-skinned braggadocios conman is an unconventional leadership style? Point taken but in my 54 year life, I have not seen it taken to such a depth. For those Americans who think Trumps behaviour is normal for a leader, I feel sorry for you. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/8 "2018-04-24T18:55:51Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > Trump’s leadership skills are extremely and stereotypically conventional… Leadership skills? Conventional? Stereotypical? I’m not seeing that. ETA, did you mean impulsive, irrational and immature? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/9 "2018-04-24T18:56:06Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Trump is one of the more pro-labor-union Republicans, and Obama probably no doubt supported labor unions. Well… Trump supports blue collar guys in a different way than Obama did. Obama did so by promulgating regulations on workplace safety and whatnot. Trump talks about how awesome coal and steel are. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/10 "2018-04-24T18:59:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There have to be some folks who like both, or one or the other wouldn’t have been able to get elected. I’ve never met any of them, though. This may be due in a large part to people who 1. liked Obama but weren’t motivated to vote in 2016 2. didn’t vote in 2012 but were energized by Trump 3. Liked Obama but hated Hillary so much that they decided to vote for Trump out of spite. I imagine that the overlap of people who were enthusiastic Obama supporters but are no enthusiastic Trump supporters is pretty small. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/11 "2018-04-24T18:59:47Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Trump is one of the more pro-labor-union Republicans, and Obama probably no doubt supported labor unions. Where is there evidence for Trump being pro-union? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/12 "2018-04-24T19:06:48Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I imagine that the overlap of people who were enthusiastic Obama supporters but are no enthusiastic Trump supporters is pretty small. Too late to edit, should be “were enthusiastic Obama supporters but are **now** enthusiastic Trump supporters” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/13 "2018-04-24T19:09:13Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Where is there evidence for Trump being pro-union? One of the paragraphs near the end of [this article](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-did-really-well-with-union-households_us_582367d0e4b0aac62488cc32) points out that Trump’s approach was almost unprecedented for a modern Republican - going to labor union members and fighting on their behalf. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/14 "2018-04-24T19:12:08Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Where is there evidence for Trump being pro-union? [No, Not so much.](https://thinkprogress.org/trumps-vegas-hotel-refuses-to-recognize-its-workers-union-15341ec58407/) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/15 "2018-04-24T19:19:53Z")
I’m betting on Obama for a TKO on Trump within ninety seconds of the first round. Definitely not worth the Pay-Per-View on ESPN+. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/16 "2018-04-24T19:26:11Z")
> [@blood63](#): > > From what I know about American politics, it is very polarized. You either like Obama and hate Trump or the other way around. > Personally, I liked Obama as a person. He seems to be a nice guy, very caring and smart. Mind you, that doesn’t always make the best leader. > Trump seems like an absolutely detestable ass. But, I am willing to concede that his leadership skills, though very unconventional, might be effective long term. Why, specifically, do you think that (emphasis added)? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/17 "2018-04-24T19:38:12Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I’m betting on Obama for a TKO on Trump within ninety seconds of the first round. Definitely not worth the Pay-Per-View on ESPN+. > > Stranger I’m betting it’ll be a win for Obama by forfeit. Trump’s too big a coward to step his fat orange ass into a ring. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/18 "2018-04-24T19:42:12Z")
> [@blood63](#): > > From what I know about American politics, it is very polarized. You either like Obama and hate Trump or the other way around. > Personally, I liked Obama as a person. He seems to be a nice guy, very caring and smart. Mind you, that doesn’t always make the best leader. > Trump seems like an absolutely detestable ass. But, I am willing to concede that his leadership skills, though very unconventional, might be effective long term. > I wonder if there is any out there who likes both presidents or hates both of them. > I am interested in any opinions about who is the better president. I definitely fit into the mold of liking Obama (voted for him twice) and detesting Trump (wouldn’t vote for him if this was a North Korea style system). I didn’t always agree with everything Obama did. He made plenty of mistakes, IMHO. But he was a very good president overall. Trump is an ass, and and ineffective and clueless one. To me, the few times he’s done something right have been almost by accident…and they have been few enough to make the blind squirrels and acorns thing a reality. As to who is the better president, it’s hard to even see a comparison, to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/19 "2018-04-24T19:51:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I’m betting it’ll be a win for Obama by forfeit. Trump’s too big a coward to step his fat orange ass into a ring. Does that mean that he forfeits the presidency? ‘Cause I’m perfectly happy to take odds on Obama vs. Pence, too. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056/20 "2018-04-24T19:53:00Z")
Well, there is a certain segment of Republicans who were and still are Never Trump-ers. Their numbers were, of course, larger during the primary campaign, but there are still a few knocking around. They would have been no fans of Obama during his administration. Maybe “hates both” is too strong, but I think they qualify based on the OP. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-trump-any-overlapping-opinions/813056.md?page=2)