# What are Obama's biggest flaws? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 8, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842 "2008-11-08T21:05:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/1 "2008-11-08T21:05:11Z")
Most people here are happy to see Obama be elected as our next president. But every president makes mistakes, major ones. And these are often seen, in retrospect, as because of some inherent flow in the man himself. We can generally look back and see the flaw as apparent, even during the capaign. Clinton’s libido lad him astray, which surprised no one. Bush’s stubborness of seeing only what he wanted to see probably led to the Iraq debacle. So what are Obama’s flaw that will most likely lead to errors down the road? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/2 "2008-11-08T21:10:45Z")
He already told you, at the Al Smith dinner: sometimes, he’s just a little TOO awesome. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/3 "2008-11-08T21:15:23Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > He already told you, at the Al Smith dinner: sometimes, he’s just a little TOO awesome. [It’s totally a legitimate flaw.](http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/11/12/) ETA: Obama talks a lot about reaching across the aisle, and bridging the gap - I just hope that he doesn’t sacrifice actually getting things done, in lieu of that (i.e., realize when you’ve got about as good a compromise as you’re going to get). ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/4 "2008-11-08T21:20:24Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > Obama talks a lot about reaching across the aisle, and bridging the gap - I just hope that he doesn’t sacrifice actually getting things done, in lieu of that (i.e., realize when you’ve got about as good a compromise as you’re going to get). This, in my opinion. Frankly, I have my doubts that the Republicans are going to be willing to compromise at all. I think that they’ll either demand that Obama do everything their way or they’ll oppose every proposal, or that they’ll concentrate solely on trying to sabotage his Presidency. Cooperation and compromise needs to be two ways for it to work. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/5 "2008-11-08T21:34:39Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > This, in my opinion. Frankly, I have my doubts that the Republicans are going to be willing to compromise at all. I think that they’ll either demand that Obama do everything their way or they’ll oppose every proposal, or that they’ll concentrate solely on trying to sabotage his Presidency. Cooperation and compromise needs to be two ways for it to work. But how is the Republican’s behavior a flaw of Obama? ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/6 "2008-11-08T21:36:41Z")
> [@autz](#): > > But how is the Republican’s behavior a flaw of Obama? The flaw is: sacrificing progress in the name of bipartisanship. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/7 "2008-11-08T21:37:15Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > He already told you, at the Al Smith dinner: sometimes, he’s just a little TOO awesome. Yes, but that flaw is completely offset by his greatest strength, his humility. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/8 "2008-11-08T21:52:14Z")
> [@autz](#): > > But how is the Republican’s behavior a flaw of Obama? The flaw being that I think he’ll go along with it; that he’ll essentially concede to most of what they demand. Because that’s what happens when you “compromise” with people who refuse to compromise themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/9 "2008-11-08T21:52:27Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > This, in my opinion. Frankly, I have my doubts that the Republicans are going to be willing to compromise at all. I think that they’ll either demand that Obama do everything their way or they’ll oppose every proposal, or that they’ll concentrate solely on trying to sabotage his Presidency. Cooperation and compromise needs to be two ways for it to work. Given his history in both Senates, I have a great deal of confidence in his ability to recognize when a deal is acceptable to him and both sides in Congress, and when he’s not done negotiating yet. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/10 "2008-11-08T22:12:26Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The flaw being that I think he’ll go along with it; that he’ll essentially concede to most of what they demand. Because that’s what happens when you “compromise” with people who refuse to compromise themselves. While I think his desire for consensus is legit, I don’t think he’s so stupid that he doesn’t know his own bargaining position. There were a handful of times on the campaign trail where Obama got a little full of himself. It didn’t sink his campaign but it lead to a few missteps, like “You’re likeable enough, Hillary,” which came across as dismissive. He’s an intellectually curious guy, seems very stable and doesn’t have any big personal vices that the public is aware of right now, so that’s about all that stands out. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/11 "2008-11-08T22:14:11Z")
He can’t get Clintonized in his first few months in office. Don’t pick gays in the military as an issue. Make sure you don’t have an attorney general who has an illegal nanny. Also, don’t put Michelle in charge of reforming health care. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/12 "2008-11-08T22:16:29Z")
Subject-verb disagreement? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/13 "2008-11-08T22:30:57Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Subject-verb disagreement? So can’t you correct it? It hurts every time I scan the threads in GD. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/14 "2008-11-08T22:36:16Z")
Seconded. Correcting the the thread title would be a mitzvah. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/15 "2008-11-08T22:44:35Z")
> [@autz](#): > > So what are Obama’s flaw that will most likely lead to errors down the road? You really have to scratch to come up with something. But the clinging to guns and religion episode and calling a female factory worker “sweetie” (a self admitted bad habit") is indicative of being out of touch with the core feelings of the lower middle class who are sensitive to how they are spoken to by higher ups. So far no problem,but I expect this issue might come up several times in the next four years and start getting spun relentlessly by the media after the honeymoon. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/16 "2008-11-08T22:54:13Z")
Yes, please fix my title. Either "What are Obama’s biggest flaws? " or “What is Obama’s biggest flaw?” I don’t care which, but make it pretty. ---
**Author:** ![ManiacMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@ManiacMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ManiacMan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/17 "2008-11-08T22:56:51Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The flaw being that I think he’ll go along with it; that he’ll essentially concede to most of what they demand. Because that’s what happens when you “compromise” with people who refuse to compromise themselves. So he isn’t going to be a good leader in your opinion. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/18 "2008-11-08T22:56:56Z")
Looks like **Marley23** beated me to the punch. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/19 "2008-11-08T23:39:58Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > …calling a female factory worker “sweetie” (a self admitted bad habit")… That was actually [a local TV reporter and he called to apologize afterward](http://www.wxyz.com/news/story.aspx?content_id=13d1f66a-488b-46d3-9d3b-6632e0a8f1f7). ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842/20 "2008-11-09T01:01:50Z")
Smoking. I don’t believe he’s quit, he’s just hiding it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-obamas-biggest-flaws/471842.md?page=2)