# Where was Barack Obama, to stand for Democracy? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 12, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597 "2015-01-12T03:49:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/1 "2015-01-12T03:49:45Z")
Heads of state from all the largest democracies of the world, including Britain, Germany, France, and Israel–our closest allies–stood together in a gesture of solidarity and camaraderie in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks. And, yet, conspicuously absent was the leader of the country that prides itself as the “leader of the free world.” Evidently, his time is more valuable than that of every other world leader. The cause of solidarity, in the wake of divisive Islamic radicalism among one our strongest allies, is not up to par for him. It is obvious Europe is reeling from this. The potential for strong divisions and hateful rhetoric has never been stronger since the formation of the European Union. This episode will test the bonds of European solidarity. As countries from which we inherited our principles of “liberty and freedom for all,” they need our support. Not just words given from your bat cave, Mr. President, but to stand arm-in-arm with our fellow defenders of freedom. To show that terrorism, which seeks to divide and conquer, will only unify. You failed our allies, you failed your country, and, worst of all, you failed the cause of freedom. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/2 "2015-01-12T03:52:02Z")
You are an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/3 "2015-01-12T03:56:55Z")
Yeah, **dropzone** nailed it in one. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2015, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/4 "2015-01-12T03:57:31Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Heads of state from all the largest democracies of the world, including Britain, Germany, France, and Israel–our closest allies–stood together in a gesture of solidarity and camaraderie in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks. > > And, yet, conspicuously absent was the leader of the country that prides itself as the “leader of the free world.” Evidently, his time is more valuable than that of every other world leader. The cause of solidarity, in the wake of divisive Islamic radicalism among one our strongest allies, is not up to par for him. > > It is obvious Europe is reeling from this. The potential for strong divisions and hateful rhetoric has never been stronger since the formation of the European Union. This episode will test the bonds of European solidarity. As countries from which we inherited our principles of “liberty and freedom for all,” they need our support. > > Not just words given from your bat cave, Mr. President, but to stand arm-in-arm with our fellow defenders of freedom. To show that terrorism, which seeks to divide and conquer, will only unify. > > You failed our allies, you failed your country, and, worst of all, you failed the cause of freedom. You, too, can earn _Fox Freedom Points_ and win valuable prizes! Just Cut and paste the above “Glurge O’ The Day” to Facebook and your favorite message boards, and you could be earning those valuable points in no time!! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/5 "2015-01-12T03:59:18Z")
This is a parody, right? ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/6 "2015-01-12T04:01:59Z")
Yeah, that’s all extremists ever accomplish. Come in, trying to force their views and ways on others by despicable means and insane rhetoric, and end up with everyone united in solidarity against them. Kind of like something relatively close at hand. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/7 "2015-01-12T04:07:14Z")
Obama: Too \_\_\_\_ on France. No matter what you put in the blank, it will be a real right-wing criticism! ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/8 "2015-01-12T04:08:01Z")
And indeed, the tour of solidarity upon his inauguration is similarly worthy of ridicule. A complete waste of time. That is, if you wish to maintain some semblance of consistency, oh wise ones. So which time did the president screw up? Then or now? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/9 "2015-01-12T04:23:39Z")
**Stringbean** , you’re a clown and a moron. I have yet to see anything remotely interesting from you. So far, it’s been ditto marks, one-liners about liberals, and cut and paste Fox rants. Is that all you’re capable of? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/10 "2015-01-12T04:39:31Z")
If he’d gone, the same people would blame him for spending millions of dollars of jet fuel, security overtime, etc., for nothing more than a symbolic gesture. The “loyal opposition” has become a sick joke in this country. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/11 "2015-01-12T04:46:07Z")
This thread is dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/12 "2015-01-12T04:47:46Z")
Even given the bigoted nonsense the OP has posted elsewhere on this board, I’m disappointed in his opening shot in this thread. C’mon! Where’s the “He did not go because he is Muslim” or “He did not go because, as a ‘born and bred African’, he has no connection with the white victims” canards? String, ol’ fellow; just a word of advice for you: when you are already at the bottom, you do not need to keep running the race to get there. Moron. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/13 "2015-01-12T05:13:02Z")
If you think the European powers didn’t notice that the highest-ranking official sent by the United States was only the French ambassador, maybe you aren’t qualified to pass judgement on the mental acuity of others. Not to mention conservative pundit Fareed Zakaria, of that conservative leviathan CNN, called it [“a mistake”](http://http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/11/politics/obama-kerry-paris/) to not send any high-ranking official to the rally. But, please, continue to ignore what was said in favor of personal attacks. If casting Zakaria a Faux News conservative gets you to bed at night, then by all means. If it doesn’t, which it probably won’t, then take the easy path and continue to attack me. People can tell when you are afraid to address the topic and have to resort to ad hominem tactics. Unless, of course, they are too afraid themselves. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/14 "2015-01-12T05:26:05Z")
Sorry, I’m more about practical steps rather than symbolic gestures. The mass demonstration in Paris was emotional and moving, but whether or not the President was there doesn’t make a blind bit of difference to efforts to control terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/15 "2015-01-12T05:35:03Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > But, please, continue to ignore what was said in favor of personal attacks. Oh fucking please. If he had gone your rant would be “President caves and bow to the to the demands of socialist France!” ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Why\_Bother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19adc/32.png) [@Doctor\_Why\_Bother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Why_Bother)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/16 "2015-01-12T05:51:09Z")
Or he’d be accused of trying to make it all about him. ---
**Author:** ![Waymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Waymore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waymore)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/17 "2015-01-12T06:05:14Z")
**Stringbean** has a point about the personal attacks. There’s been five personal attacks for every example of a coherent rebuttal of his view. ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/18 "2015-01-12T06:20:25Z")
> [@Waymore](#): > > **Stringbean** has a point about the personal attacks. There’s been five personal attacks for every example of a coherent rebuttal of his view. This is the pit. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/19 "2015-01-12T06:33:53Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > If you think the European powers didn’t notice that the highest-ranking official sent by the United States was only the French ambassador, maybe you aren’t qualified to pass judgement on the mental acuity of others. The Ambassador of the United States of America to France is not “the French ambassador.” It is his job to represent the people of the United States of America in France. The Ambassador is the official presence appointed by the President of the United States, confirmed by the Senate of the United States and accepted by the President of France on behalf of the French people. US President Barack Obama was personally represented by Attorney-General Eric Holder. This was probably a good idea as Israeli Prime Minister took the opportunity of the rally to ask French Jews to leave France and took verbal shots at President Obama, as he usually does. This event was not about President Obama, and his attendance would have made it about him. ---
**Author:** ![Waymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Waymore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waymore)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/20 "2015-01-12T06:36:25Z")
> [@emcee2k](#): > > This is the pit. That prevents somebody from making a legit rebuttal? Maybe give a cogent argument as to why **Stringbean** is wrong, then call him an idiot at the end. Otherwise, it just seems like he’s being mauled for not respecting a sacred cow. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=2)