# Trump Vs. The Boy Scouts: Much Ado About Nothing, or An Embarrassing Mess? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 25, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080 "2017-07-25T15:15:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/161 "2017-07-26T21:52:44Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Every day I wake up and feel shame that this pig represents our nation. Nationalism is a helluva drug. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/162 "2017-07-26T22:05:36Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m bothered by anyone who speaks about loyalty as something that only you give, and only they get. I’m bothered by anyone who speaks about loyalty as an inherent good thing, and more important than other, greater moral principles. If I have loyalty to you, it’s because you’ve earned it. You’ve shown yourself to have good judgement and the desire to do the right thing. The loyalty means that, if I see you doing something that seems bad, I’m gonna think “maybe I’m wrong” and try to stick up for you. It is not something you get just by existing. It is not something you get by having authority over me. It is something you earn by being good–both morally and at what you do. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/163 "2017-07-26T23:48:41Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I’m bothered by anyone who speaks about loyalty as an inherent good thing, and more important than other, greater moral principles. . Especially when it’s someone who has NO idea what loyalty is. Russia. Collaborator. Sell out. He has NO right to talk about loyalty. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/164 "2017-07-27T02:15:15Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > You need to dial it back. Do not personalize your arguments in this fashion. If you feel you must, the BBQ Pit is right around the corner. > > [/moderating] Wait, back up… this thread didn’t _start_ in the Pit? ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/165 "2017-07-27T03:31:23Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > You all are missing the point of the two scoops of ice cream: They were served with chocolate cream pie. Who the hell serves ice cream with cream pie? > > There are more than 600 calories in one slice of Marie Callender’s chocolate cream pie. I suspect the pie served at the WH is comparable. One scoop of premium vanilla ice cream has about 200 calories. So our fat president is scarfing down 1000 calories for his dessert. > > Who sets the menu for these WH dinners? Are they trying to give the guy a heart attack? (OK, I would, and I suspect Melania would, too.) I think he uses his power over the ice cream scooper as a bargaining chip. Hey, Jimmy Too Tall. You want some extra ice cream with your pie? I can take care of that for you, you know. Only I can fix it… My treat, my gift to you. Only I, Donny Two Scoops, can pick up that phone and make it happen. Remember this when the day comes when I need a favor. Today is that day, my friend. Just let Mercenary Mikey off the hook and go after Jake Tapper. Then we’ll have pie with ice cream and talk about how Paris isn’t what it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/166 "2017-07-27T03:57:55Z")
It’s much ado about nothing. However, the libs and the msm will blow it up out of all proportion. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/167 "2017-07-27T04:26:11Z")
It’s pretty trivial compared to how the Republicans are turning the US into an autocracy that serves Russia, but it does serve as a reminder that Trump is an awful person as well as an inept leader. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/168 "2017-07-27T14:13:47Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It’s much ado about nothing. However, the libs and the msm will blow it up out of all proportion. Nah, we’re already over it and on to the next in the series of horrors which has become part of our daily life here in Trumpistan. Mooch vs. Preibus, all trans people sacked from the military, etc., etc… ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/169 "2017-07-27T15:48:22Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It’s much ado about nothing. However, the libs and the msm will blow it up out of all proportion. LOL. I’m just trying to imagine your reaction if Obama had spoken to the Scouts about the necessity of passing the Affordable Care Act, or the need to shut down Guantanamo Bay, or the importance of not discriminating against LGBTQ people in the scouting organization. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/170 "2017-07-27T15:53:29Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > There will be a national crisis, terror attack, false flag, Reichstag fire, or something. The panic drums will be pounding and the Constitution “temporarily” suspended. I realize it may sound cuckoo, but it is impossible to overestimate the utter evil of this creature. MAY sound cuckoo? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/171 "2017-07-27T15:56:45Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > LOL. > > I’m just trying to imagine your reaction if Obama had spoken to the Scouts about the necessity of passing the Affordable Care Act, or the need to shut down Guantanamo Bay, or the importance of not discriminating against LGBTQ people in the scouting organization. I’m sure that if Obama had addressed a bunch of schoolchildren halfway through his first year in office and had included anything even vaguely political in his speech, **Clothahump** and other conservatives would have rightly considered it to be “much ado about nothing” and would not have completely lost their shit about it [oh wait, they totally fucking did](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obamas-school-speech-controversy/story?id=8506095). ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/172 "2017-07-27T16:35:28Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m sure that if Obama had addressed a bunch of schoolchildren halfway through his first year in office and had included anything even vaguely political in his speech, **Clothahump** and other conservatives would have rightly considered it to be “much ado about nothing” and would not have completely lost their shit about it [oh wait, they totally fucking did](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obamas-school-speech-controversy/story?id=8506095). To be fair, they have a point. If Obama had done what Trump did, it would have been the worst thing he did in his presidency, and would be rightfully criticized for it. For comrade in chief, it’s not even in the top 20 worst things he’s done _this month_. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/173 "2017-07-27T16:35:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Agreed. They didn’t have much choice beforehand…but I wonder how they would have reacted if they had had access to the speech beforehand. I wonder if in the future they’ll ask all President’s to give a recorded speech (as Obama did) just to forestall this sort of bullshit. ---
**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 27, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/174 "2017-07-27T16:44:23Z")
How would a recorded speech have forestalled this? Would the BSA not have shown the speech if Trump had gone off as he did in person? Would they have edited his speech? Doing either would be a diplomatic nightmare. (Although I suspect without a live audience, Trump might be more likely to stick to the script.) ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/175 "2017-07-27T16:48:06Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I wonder if in the future they’ll ask all President’s to give a recorded speech (as Obama did) just to forestall this sort of bullshit. Even if it is agreed to that the president doesn’t show up, any editing by the BSA would be considered to be political as well. It’s the president. Any other person would have been interrupted 30 seconds into the speech, ushered off stage, and given a lecture about what is appropriate for a 11 year old audience. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/176 "2017-07-27T16:50:06Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Even if it is agreed to that the president doesn’t show up, any editing by the BSA would be considered to be political as well. > > It’s the president. Any other person would have been interrupted 30 seconds into the speech, ushered off stage, and given a lecture about what is appropriate for a 11 year old audience. In this case, Trump was giving a speech to his elders. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/177 "2017-07-27T16:57:13Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m sure that if Obama had addressed a bunch of schoolchildren halfway through his first year in office and had included anything even vaguely political in his speech, **Clothahump** and other conservatives would have rightly considered it to be “much ado about nothing” and would not have completely lost their shit about it [oh wait, they totally fucking did](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obamas-school-speech-controversy/story?id=8506095). Yeah but Obama’s speech was all about personal responsibility and staying is school. How much more controversial can you get! :eek: If he’d just stuck to non controversial topics, like say calling his former opponent a loser who couldn’t even fly a plane without getting shot down, everything would be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/178 "2017-07-27T17:12:45Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > To be fair, they have a point. If Obama had done what Trump did, it would have been the worst thing he did in his presidency, and would be rightfully criticized for it. > > For comrade in chief, it’s not even in the top 20 worst things he’s done _this month_. Yet the Trumpeteers are split between [impersonating Kevin Bacon](http://imgur.com/gpoEU76) and whining (like broke-dick dogs) about Hillary’s “felonies”. ---
**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 27, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/179 "2017-07-27T19:00:57Z")
[The head of the BSA apologizes and clarifies.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/boy-scouts-trump-apology_us_597a28b3e4b02a4ebb73ea20?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009) _Much_ better. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080/180 "2017-07-27T19:01:26Z")
ICYMI - The head of the Boy Scouts apologized today for the partisanship of Trump’s address. Question – will Trump tweet about the unfair BSA criticizing him after he gave the best speech in the history of the world to the largest group of Boy Scouts ever amassed? (I’ll post link to the cite on the story if needed when I’m back on my computer.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-the-boy-scouts-much-ado-about-nothing-or-an-embarrassing-mess/792080.md?page=10)