# To Russia with love. President sends openly gay athletes to Sochi. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 18, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645 "2013-12-18T14:40:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![burunduk34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burunduk34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burunduk34)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/21 "2013-12-20T14:02:34Z")
Obama’s just a bit peeved, since Putin has been slapping him around for the past couple of years (see Snowden, Syria, Ukraine, etc). No surprise there, of course, if you compare a flaming metrosexual ([http://gillreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/obama\_rides\_bicycle.jpg](http://gillreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/obama_rides_bicycle.jpg) ) with a black belt in judo ( [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Vladimir\_Putin\_in\_Japan\_3-5\_September\_2000-22.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Vladimir_Putin_in_Japan_3-5_September_2000-22.jpg) ) With that being said, I don’t think anyone in Russia would care or “get” this “message”. ---
**Author:** ![burunduk34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burunduk34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burunduk34)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/22 "2013-12-20T14:16:01Z")
Now, is it just me or is anyone else shocked by the blatant hypocracy on display here? “I have no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them”–Barack Hussein Obama. Let’s see here… Saudi Arabia punishes homosexuality with imprisonment, corporal punishment and capital punishment (wikipedia). Russia does nothing of the sort, homosexuality (wrong as it may be) is completely legal. How long do you think we’ll have to wait till the current administration sends gays to Saudi Arabia on any sort of sporting, cultural, political, etc mission, and actually announces that they’re gays and are sent there for that reason, and for that reason only? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/23 "2013-12-20T14:28:42Z")
> [@burunduk34](#): > > Barack Hussein Obama. Really? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![burunduk34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burunduk34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burunduk34)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/24 "2013-12-20T14:32:23Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > They could either not be allowed in or they could be arrested for being gay. Would you care to have a little bet on both these statements? ---
**Author:** ![burunduk34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burunduk34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burunduk34)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/25 "2013-12-20T14:33:24Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Really? :rolleyes: Yes, the quote does indeed come from the current president of the USA. I can find the exact source, if you think I’m mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/26 "2013-12-20T14:37:15Z")
You know darn well that’s not what he’s rolling his eyes about. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/27 "2013-12-20T14:43:57Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > I bet he’d do a dude or two! That’s what Brian Boitano’d do. Dammit, that’s way catchier than what I would have come up with. ---
**Author:** ![burunduk34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burunduk34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burunduk34)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/28 "2013-12-20T14:48:16Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > You know darn well that’s not what he’s rolling his eyes about. No, I don’t know darn well what he’s rolling his eyes about. Here’s the exact quote, as reported by Politico: “I have no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in a way that intimidate them or are harmful to them.” [http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/barack-obama-russia-anti-gay-laws-95266.html](http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/barack-obama-russia-anti-gay-laws-95266.html) I especially liked this little tidbit: “Obama…urged Russia to ensure the games remain about the performances of the athletes, not about their sexual orientation” Which is actually exactly what Russia’s been doing (ensuring that the games are about performances of the athletes), while the current administration’s been trying to ensure that the games ARE indeed about the athletes’ sexual orientation. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/29 "2013-12-20T15:27:03Z")
> [@burunduk34](#): > > a flaming metrosexual ([http://gillreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/obama\_rides\_bicycle.jpg](http://gillreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/obama_rides_bicycle.jpg) ) For the record, I wish to note that this image is not even close to illustrative of the concept of “metrosexual.” ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/30 "2013-12-20T15:29:34Z")
> [@burunduk34](#): > > No, I don’t know darn well what he’s rolling his eyes about. Why did you use Obama’s middle name when attributing the quote? It wasn’t necessary for clarity. It is not a convention to use his (or almost any other president’s) middle name when referring to them. So the fact that you chose to use the middle name in this case signals that you’re intending to communicate something by doing so. What is it you’re communicating? ---
**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:** [December 20, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/31 "2013-12-20T15:32:36Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Breaking news! Former men’s figure skater and member of the US delegation to Sochi, [Brian Boitano, announces that he is gay](http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/sochi/2013/12/19/brian-boitano-announces-he-is-gay-sochi-delegation/4125427/). Wait… I’m completely gobsmacked at this. He came out _this week_? I mean… who did he think he was hiding it from? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/32 "2013-12-20T15:39:23Z")
Why dump on Russia? Any Islamic country has laws against homosexual behavior…and SA’s are especially harsh. Complete hypocrisy. Way to go, Obama! ---
**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:** [December 20, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/33 "2013-12-20T15:44:44Z")
_Pssst, Ralph: Russia is hosting the upcoming Winter Olympics, not Saudi Arabia._ ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/34 "2013-12-20T16:12:54Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > _Pssst, Ralph: Russia is hosting the upcoming Winter Olympics, not Saudi Arabia._ Ah, but Barack **HUSSEIN** Obama is a secret Muslim. You know 'cause he’s a **HUSSEIN** and is black. This also means he’s gay 'cause being gay is terrible and it’s insulting to call someone gay, amiright? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/35 "2013-12-20T16:24:42Z")
It’s a great response, and I hope more countries do the same. > [@Zebra](#): > > I’m wondering why we just don’t boycott the whole thing? It wouldn’t do very much except for penalizing the athletes. Even gay-rights advocates haven’t been very supportive of the idea. > [@ralph124c](#): > > Why dump on Russia? [http://lmgtfy.com/?q=sochi+olympics](http://lmgtfy.com/?q=sochi+olympics) ---
**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:** [December 20, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/36 "2013-12-20T16:27:52Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > 1976? Do you mean 1984? I did mean 1984 - that was a slow pitch right down the middle of the plate and I swung 4 years too early. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/37 "2013-12-20T17:18:24Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I was wondering what Brain Boitano would do. > [@DoctorJ](#): > > I bet he’d do a dude or two! That’s what Brian Boitano’d do. Hooray! 😃 Thanks for this; I needed it. And yeah, nobody in the history of ever was surprised by Boitano’s announcement. At all. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/38 "2013-12-20T17:27:15Z")
> [@burunduk34](#): > > Now, is it just me or is anyone else shocked by the blatant hypocracy on display here? > > “I have no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them”–Barack Hussein Obama. > > Let’s see here… > Saudi Arabia punishes homosexuality with imprisonment, corporal punishment and capital punishment (wikipedia). > Russia does nothing of the sort, homosexuality (wrong as it may be) is completely legal. > > How long do you think we’ll have to wait till the current administration sends gays to Saudi Arabia on any sort of sporting, cultural, political, etc mission, and actually announces that they’re gays and are sent there for that reason, and for that reason only? I’m thinking _a damned long time_, as Saudi Arabia isn’t planning on hosting the Winter Olympics in, like, ever. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/39 "2013-12-20T17:33:49Z")
Dubai, however, might. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645/40 "2013-12-20T17:34:07Z")
I’m thinking that **burunduk** needs to [educate himself on Russian anti-gay legislation.](http://www.policymic.com/articles/58649/russia-s-anti-gay-law-spelled-out-in-plain-english) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-russia-with-love-president-sends-openly-gay-athletes-to-sochi/676645.md?page=3)