# 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:** 15
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/281 "2015-01-13T19:46:04Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > (paraphrasing) even Hitler thought it was important to get to Paris. 😃 That was Rep Weber of Texas in a tweet last night. And he’s already taking knocks from Jewish groups, Texans (who generally aren’t Obama supporters as a matter of course), and by various Republicans, including Boehner, who realize it was a potential PR nightmare. ETA: There’s some fucked up priorities when this kind of crap gets a free pass but a completely innocuous non-event is a matter of global importance. ---
**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, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/282 "2015-01-13T19:47:47Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > That was Rep Weber of Texas in a tweet last night. > > And he’s already taking knocks from Jewish groups, Texans (who generally aren’t Obama supporters as a matter of course), and by various Republicans, including Boehner, who realize it was a potential PR nightmare. It was still funny, in an irreverent, late-night tv show sort of way. ---
**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, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/283 "2015-01-13T20:03:51Z")
> [@Asympotically\_fat](#): > > benghazi That’s so gay. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/284 "2015-01-13T20:16:42Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Does there have to be “long term negative impact”? Short term Obama looks like he doesn’t care. When you add that to the other diplomatic stupidities he has committed, from the Winston Churchill bust return to the incompatible DVD set gift to calling the Nazi concentration camps “Polish Death Camps” in a speech etc. etc. etc. - the image is of a tone-deaf amateur who doesn’t know what he is doing. And that is how most of the world treats him now. A dangerous amateur, to be sure. As someone actually living in Europe and among Europeans: LOL. You have no idea what you’re talking about and this is actually almost diametrically opposed to the reality on the ground. Remember “old europe”? Also, on a side note, it’s perhaps worth mentioning that those other leaders weren’t quite as heroic as some articles would make them out to be. [http://www.huffingtonpost.de/2015/01/13/charlie-hebdo-staats-regierungschef\_n\_6460672.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063](http://www.huffingtonpost.de/2015/01/13/charlie-hebdo-staats-regierungschef_n_6460672.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063) ---
**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, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/285 "2015-01-13T20:17:11Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > It was still funny, in an irreverent, late-night tv show sort of way. Unfortunately, Weber is supposed to be a member of congress. ---
**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, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/286 "2015-01-13T20:21:16Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Unfortunately, Weber is supposed to be a member of congress. I dunno, being an irreverent late night comic worked for the junior Senator from Minnesota. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/287 "2015-01-13T20:39:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And tone deaf? What about Netanyahu, who more or less thrust himself into the situation? Did he? I believe all 4 Jews who were killed ended up being buried in Israel. Seems like he had at least as much business there as the British PM, if not more. I did think his recruitment speech\* was kinda tacky, to say the least, but just his presence? Not seeing it. \*Didn’t he say something like all the European Jews are welcome to come live in Israel? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/288 "2015-01-13T20:42:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > \*Didn’t he say something like all the European Jews are welcome to come live in Israel? “Any Jew who chooses to come to Israel will be greeted with open arms and an open heart, it is not a foreign nation, and hopefully they and you will one day come to Israel.” That’s definitely worthy of condemnation. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/289 "2015-01-13T20:44:50Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > That’s so gay. ben-gay ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/290 "2015-01-13T20:51:28Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > “Any Jew who chooses to come to Israel will be greeted with open arms and an open heart, it is not a foreign nation, and hopefully they and you will one day come to Israel.” > > That’s definitely worthy of condemnation. I think it’s rather tactless to exploit the tragedy by using it as a recruiting tool. Every Jew in France knows he can move to Israel if he wants-- they don’t need Bibi to remind them. ---
**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, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/291 "2015-01-13T21:07:35Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > I dunno, being an irreverent late night comic worked for the junior Senator from Minnesota. :smack: The difference is that Franken is funny and doesn’t hoot to rile up low information imbeciles like you. ---
**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, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/292 "2015-01-13T21:15:12Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > The difference is that Franken is funny Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/293 "2015-01-13T21:17:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Did he? I believe all 4 Jews who were killed ended up being buried in Israel. Seems like he had at least as much business there as the British PM, if not more. I did think his recruitment speech\* was kinda tacky, to say the least, but just his presence? Not seeing it. François Hollande[had asked him (and Mahmoud Abbas) to please not come](http://mondoweiss.net/2015/01/netanyahu-crashes-french), as it would/could have distracted from the whole solidarity and national unity message (as the Palestine/Israel conflict is pretty divisive). Abbas had agreed, Bibi said “nah, fuck that, I’ll be there” - prompting Abbas to come along. As for his recruitment speech at the Grand Sinagogue, [he got served](http://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/100000003443029/netanyahu-visits-paris-synagogue-crowd-breaks-into-national-anth.html) pretty badly :p. ---
**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, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/294 "2015-01-13T21:19:51Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > The difference is that Franken is funny and doesn’t hoot to rile up low information imbeciles like you. Oh, as though that’s the only difference. But analyzing it is playing into D’ **Anconia** ’s game. He knows it’s a bullshit comparison. But if someone engages him, he wins. Weber’s tweet about Hitler is OK because Al Franken used to be an SNL writer. ---
**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, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/295 "2015-01-13T21:21:40Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Weber’s tweet about Hitler is OK because Al Franken used to be an SNL writer. Franken was just a writer? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/296 "2015-01-13T21:27:09Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > François Hollande[had asked him (and Mahmoud Abbas) to please not come](http://mondoweiss.net/2015/01/netanyahu-crashes-french), as it would/could have distracted from the whole solidarity and national unity message (as the Palestine/Israel conflict is pretty divisive). Abbas had agreed, Bibi said “nah, fuck that, I’ll be there” - prompting Abbas to come along. OK. I didn’t know that. > [@](#): > > As for his recruitment speech at the Grand Sinagogue, [he got served](http://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/100000003443029/netanyahu-visits-paris-synagogue-crowd-breaks-into-national-anth.html) pretty badly :p. I heard this on the news and was not really paying attention, so the context did not sink in. One might even say: _touchĂ©_! ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/297 "2015-01-13T21:28:54Z")
He’s good enough. Smart enough. People like him. ---
**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, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/298 "2015-01-13T21:30:28Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > He’s good enough. Smart enough. People like him. Doggone it! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/299 "2015-01-13T21:31:14Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > I dunno, being an irreverent late night comic worked for the junior Senator from Minnesota. :smack: So, let me see if I have this right. You offer a totally bogus quote, but that’s OK because Al Franken was on _Saturday Night Live_? Well, here’s a genuine quote
 > [@](#): > > 
“I’m struck by what an incredibly capable, hard-working guy he is,” Stein told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Thursday. “He’s a very smart liberal, he’s a thoroughgoing patriot, and I would feel better with him in the Senate.”
 Ben Stein, on why he donated $2,000 to Al Franken’s campaign. ---
**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, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/300 "2015-01-13T21:37:37Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So, let me see if I have this right. You offer a totally bogus quote, but that’s OK because Al Franken was on _Saturday Night Live_? What bogus quote? I didn’t quote anyone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=16)