# "Wait, what?" Actual or potential Obama disillusionment **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 28, 2008, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-actual-or-potential-obama-disillusionment/474778 "2008-11-28T07:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-actual-or-potential-obama-disillusionment/474778/81 "2008-12-02T18:21:15Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > My second “Wait … what?” moment was today, when MSNBC reported that Obama is buying Michele a $30,000 diamond ring. [Which the Obama transition team denies.](http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Obama_aide_denies_ring_story.html) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-actual-or-potential-obama-disillusionment/474778/82 "2008-12-02T19:04:07Z")
Well all right then. I guess I’m gonna need to start filtering what I hear on MSNBC like I do for FOX. Damn. Life was so easy before. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-actual-or-potential-obama-disillusionment/474778/83 "2008-12-02T19:16:05Z")
> [@shallora](#): > > I might have got the original exact words wrong, but you and I both know what Obama really meant when he said “spread the wealth” and it’s \*\*\*not \*\*\*Goolsbee’s definition. That’s two things to deal with: (1) whether it matters what people actually say, as opposed to what someone makes up; and (2) whether he meant what his chief financial advisor at the time was telling him. As to (1), how would you feel if I reworded what you wrote and responded to my paraphrase instead of responding to what you really said. And as for (2), you practically have to shit on Ockham’s grave to disregard the context of his economic philosophy. > [@](#): > > If you remember, Obama was talking to a guy who feared taxes may prevent him from taking over a small business [note: save the tar-and-feathering of the plumber for another thread, because Obama didn’t know whom he was speaking to at the time, either]. If you mean that he didn’t know he was talking to a McCain campaign operative, you’re right. I don’t blame Joe for that, anymore than I blame Sarah Palin for being lipsticked by McCain’s highest paid staffer. > [@](#): > > But how Obama answered his question about higher taxes possibly preventing the small business owner from taking over the shop was essentially to shrug it off as "_Thems the breaks, kid. You are fortunate enough to be able to buy a business, therefore I deem you wealthy enough already and I must now penalize you for your success. So a few more taxes I’m sure you’ll see are good for America."_ Ah, so you’re saying this: “I now understand what Obama was saying, and I regret having been so ridiculously uninformed.” A reasonable paraphrase, right? > [@](#): > > But, in a rare moment where Obama let his polish down, it came out of his mouth as “\*We’e got to spread the wealth around . . . \*” Any capitalist will tell you the same thing. > [@](#): > > You and I – and everyone listening – knew exactly what he meant. It was a gaffe worthy of Biden-hood. You can try to revise the meaning of it all you want, but it’s on YouTube for everyone to see for themselves. “The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend”. Henri Bergson > [@AuntiePam](#): > > Well all right then. I guess I’m gonna need to start filtering what I hear on MSNBC like I do for FOX. Damn. Life was so easy before. I’m afraid it’s true that you can believe MSNBC only from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM and between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM ET weekdays. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-actual-or-potential-obama-disillusionment/474778/84 "2008-12-04T10:50:40Z")
Before he was elected, I was somewhat disillusioned by his vote on one of the national security bills that had to do with survellance. But he wrote an intelligent well considered response to the backlash about it on his website, explaining his reasons and I was satisfied that even if I didn’t 100% agree with his choice, I felt he made a judgement call using sound reasoning, and holding himself accountable to us by explaining things. So I actually feel more secure now about him, having been briefly disillusioned and then reassured, than if I had never disagreed with him. ---
**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:** [December 4, 2008, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-actual-or-potential-obama-disillusionment/474778/85 "2008-12-04T11:09:50Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Do I really need to repost what people have claimed about Hilary Clinton? > > And still, Obama picks her to be third in line for the Presidency, and instantly, she is as pure as the driven snow, and deeply respected by exactly the same people who were screaming about how horrible she was not three frigging months ago. I’d be interested to know **which** people were saying horrible things about Clinton three months ago who are now “deeply respecting” her. Could it be that you’re thinking of two different groups of people? There are still loads of Dems who think HRC is an appalling choice for SoS. There are loads of Dems who think that HRC was a poor choice for President but could potentially be a good SoS (which is not hypocrisy; I think Condoleeza Rice would be a horrible President but is a capable SoS, even though I disagree with her on many policy points). There are loads of Dems who supported Hillary and are thrilled that she’s got a seat at the big table, especially as it could launch her next presidential campaign in eight years’ time. There are loads of Dems who supported Hillary and think she should shun Obama for “stealing” the nomination from her. And there are loads of Dems who don’t really care one way or the other, as long as they don’t fuck up the country. It’s a big tent and as I said, I’d be interested to hear about those specific people who have gone from excoriating Clinton to adoring her. Off the top of my head I’m guessing it’s a pretty small group. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-what-actual-or-potential-obama-disillusionment/474778.md?page=4)