# 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:** 13
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/241 "2015-01-13T12:52:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > He’s also taking credit for the oil production increase he opposed. He’s got chutzpah, I’ll give him that. > > Basically it goes like this: when things are good, it was him. When things are bad, it was an unnamed official. Politician takes credit for good things and deflects credit for not good things. Film at 11! ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/242 "2015-01-13T13:01:45Z")
Usually it’s done more skillfully. “Someone else made that call.” “Who?” “Can’t tell you.” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/243 "2015-01-13T13:07:29Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Usually it’s done more skillfully. “Someone else made that call.” “Who?” “Can’t tell you.” Undoubtedly the great “sent-the-ambassador-not-the-VP-or-SoS-to-Paris-gate (even though ambassadors in-country are actually considered ‘higher-ranked’ in military protocol and honors than cabinet members, and even though France doesn’t care at all)” scandal will serve as the spark for Congress to impeach Obama. Hopefully, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/244 "2015-01-13T13:17:42Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Usually it’s done more skillfully. “Someone else made that call.” “Who?” “Can’t tell you.” Remember, it only has to be more skillful than a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/245 "2015-01-13T13:20:08Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Undoubtedly the great “sent-the-ambassador-not-the-VP-or-SoS-to-Paris-gate (even though ambassadors in-country are actually considered ‘higher-ranked’ in military protocol and honors than cabinet members, and even though France doesn’t care at all)” scandal will serve as the spark for Congress to impeach Obama. > > Hopefully, anyway. It’s not a scandal. He was just wrong, that’s all. I believe “tone deaf” is how the NY Times labelled it. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/246 "2015-01-13T13:21:21Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Remember, it only has to be more skillful than a Republican. Or more ballsy. The Bush administration tended to just power through this stuff with a “Whatcha gonna do?” vibe. The problem with “I didn’t know” and “that wasn’t my decision” is that it lacks balls and honesty at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/247 "2015-01-13T14:48:06Z")
This lacking of honesty is an interesting concept. Perhaps you could tell us more about it? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/248 "2015-01-13T16:16:26Z")
Watch any politician speak. There ya go. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/249 "2015-01-13T16:18:37Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Or more ballsy. The Bush administration tended to just power through this stuff with a “Whatcha gonna do?” vibe. The problem with “I didn’t know” and “that wasn’t my decision” is that it lacks balls and honesty at the same time. You have a childish view of how the presidency works. He doesn’t sit at a desk and think about every issue in the world. He has people to handle the silly shit. Like marches that are impossible for him to go to because it would involve security issues that are unsolvable in the timeframe. In any case, your objections are the same mewling queefs of rage that are typical for you. Keep fucking that chicken, adaher. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/250 "2015-01-13T16:25:13Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Watch any politician speak. There ya go. You would have more credibility on the subject if you called out all Republicans who were dishonest, instead of just Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/251 "2015-01-13T16:33:25Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > You have a childish view of how the presidency works. He doesn’t sit at a desk and think about every issue in the world. He has people to handle the silly shit. Like marches that are impossible for him to go to because it would involve security issues that are unsolvable in the timeframe. My view of the Presidency is informed by reading more books on the subject than you’ve probably read on any subject. I know what the President handles and what he doesn’t, and what he’s responsible for and what he’s not. There is no way in HELL that a march attended by 40 world leaders would not be considered by the President. This is just yet another time where a mistake was made and they are amateurishly trying to shield him from having to admit that he screwed up. Since there are some otherwise intelligent people who believe him, they keep on going to that well. Stop it. You’re enabling bad behavior. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/252 "2015-01-13T16:39:22Z")
What was your favorite? _See Dick and Jane go to the White House_? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/253 "2015-01-13T16:45:00Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > You’re enabling bad behavior. There is not _one_ American who actually cares about whether Obama attended this rally. There are obviously lots of people who care about opportunities to criticize him, but nobody has posted even a slightly persuasive reason why he should actually have been there. Moreover, there’s not one French person who cares if he was there, either. You claimed the French press were critical but never actually provided a citation when called on it. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/254 "2015-01-13T16:47:20Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > My view of the Presidency is informed by reading more books on the subject than you’ve probably read on any subject. Nonsense. Your view is based on partisan delusions and outright lies that fit whatever point you’re trying to make at that second. You’ll flip what you’re saying on a dime if it allows you to craft a partisan dig that you think is compelling to an uninformed audience. You’re a lying, dishonest piece of shit and you say whatever it takes to buttress the nonsense you’ve decided to advocate. As for how many books you’ve read, shit by Dinesh D’Souza doesn’t count. 😃 > [@](#): > > I know what the President handles and what he doesn’t, and what he’s responsible for and what he’s not. There is no way in HELL that a march attended by 40 world leaders would not be considered by the President. If it wasn’t important for him to be there, which it demonstrably it wasn’t, it’s certainly not something he’s likely to hand-pick who would show face. Cartoonish nonsense. Just made up so you can serve the random partisan point you’ve decided to dishonestly champion right now, because attacking Obama is more important than you being an honest person. > [@](#): > > This is just yet another time where a mistake was made and they are amateurishly trying to shield him from having to admit that he screwed up. Since there are some otherwise intelligent people who believe him, they keep on going to that well. Stop it. You’re enabling bad behavior. KFTC. \<3 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/255 "2015-01-13T16:50:29Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > My view of the Presidency is informed by reading more books on the subject than you’ve probably read on any subject. _ **Please** _ share with us what those are. Are you counting _Obama Nation_? _Where’s the Birth Certificate_? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/256 "2015-01-13T16:53:27Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You would have more credibility on the subject if you called out all Republicans who were dishonest, instead of just Democrats. Why should he? Practically no one on this board bats an eyelash when posters fail to call out Democrat misdeeds. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/257 "2015-01-13T17:01:20Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Why should he? Practically no one on this board bats an eyelash when posters fail to call out Democrat misdeeds. I, for one, am against misdeeds, no matter who does them. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/258 "2015-01-13T17:04:50Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > My view of the Presidency is informed by reading more books on the subject than you’ve probably read on any subject. Your lips must be very tired. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/259 "2015-01-13T17:06:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > My view of the Presidency is informed by reading more books on the subject than you’ve probably read on any subject. I know what the President handles and what he doesn’t, and what he’s responsible for and what he’s not. There is no way in HELL that a march attended by 40 world leaders would not be considered by the President. This is just yet another time where a mistake was made and they are amateurishly trying to shield him from having to admit that he screwed up. Since there are some otherwise intelligent people who believe him, they keep on going to that well. Stop it. You’re enabling bad behavior. It will almost be worth a Republican victory in 2016 if it will suspend your relentless JAQing about every peccadillo the President commits and what sort of doom it will inevitably spell for his/other Democrats’ chances for re-election and in what ways such an unprecedented misstep by the White House will surely shake the very core of our system of government and damage our international reputation for ages to come. ---
**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 13, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/260 "2015-01-13T17:11:43Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Your lips must be very tired. I can’t imagine how many boxes of crayons **adaher’s** gone through. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=14)