# 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:** 33
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/641 "2015-01-22T16:36:17Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > You asked for a cite for this statement: “The Secret Service was never asked if it was feasible to go to the demonstration.” Because anyone with two brain cells to rub together doesn’t _need_ to ask whether it’s feasible for the leader of the free world to participate in an open-air rally in a densely populated urban area in a foreign country (in a city which, according to Fox News, is full of Muslim enclaves ruled by Sharia extremists where French law does not apply and law enforcement dares not go), on 36 hours notice. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/642 "2015-01-22T17:03:09Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Cite? [http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/01/president\_obama\_regrets\_not\_attending\_unity\_march\_in\_paris\_to\_denounce\_the.html](http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/01/president_obama_regrets_not_attending_unity_march_in_paris_to_denounce_the.html) Earnest went on to note that Obama didn’t make the decision about which U.S. official would represent America at the event because the request wasn’t brought “to the president’s attention,” the Journal reports. An unnamed White House official made the decision to have Hartley represent the U.S. at the march. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/643 "2015-01-22T17:08:15Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > [http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/01/president\_obama\_regrets\_not\_attending\_unity\_march\_in\_paris\_to\_denounce\_the.html](http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/01/president_obama_regrets_not_attending_unity_march_in_paris_to_denounce_the.html) > > Earnest went on to note that Obama didn’t make the decision about which U.S. official would represent America at the event because the request wasn’t brought “to the president’s attention,” the Journal reports. An unnamed White House official made the decision to have Hartley represent the U.S. at the march. “The decision of what US official would represent America at the march” is not the same thing as “the decision that the president ought to attend”. You’re not very good at this, are 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 22, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/644 "2015-01-22T17:16:20Z")
**Terr** is right and **Smapti** is wrong (on the issue of what the WH said – on all other issues, my intimate friend **Terr** is wrong 🙂 ). But Earnest was obviously lying. Of course the President, ultimately, decides whether to go somewhere or not. Even if he was advised not too, he could have said “we’re going anyway”, and they would have gone. I just don’t think it matters – whether he chose to go or whether Earnest is lying (and he is lying). I like Obama, I like his team, I recognize they lie – I just think they lie less and I agree with them more than the alternatives. I don’t care that he sent the ambassador to some big-deal photo op. That’s one of the things ambassadors are for. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/645 "2015-01-22T17:37:38Z")
So the Archduke Ferdinand and his lovely bride have decided to take a quick little motoring tour of Serbia? Well, really, what could possibly go wrong? ---
**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 22, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/646 "2015-01-22T17:47:56Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So the Archduke Ferdinand and his lovely bride have decided to take a quick little motoring tour of Serbia? Well, really, what could possibly go wrong? He wanted to send the ambassador, but he was worried about the criticism from лисица\* News. \*Serbian word for fox. ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/647 "2015-01-22T17:55:56Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > So hey, is this a scandal yet? “Get me Darrell Issa on the phone-that guy can get to the bottom of anything!” ---
**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 22, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/648 "2015-01-22T18:05:50Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > So hey, is this a scandal yet? It’s not looking good. Even Fox News seems to have forgotten about it. Good thing we’ve got the OP, **Terr** , and **Adaher** to keep the flickering flame alive. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/649 "2015-01-23T08:37:41Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > It’s not looking good. Even Fox News seems to have forgotten about it. Good thing we’ve got the OP, **Terr** , and **Adaher** to keep the flickering flame alive. I actually retired from the thread once the White House proved me right… ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/650 "2015-01-23T08:55:56Z")
Some people just don’t comprehend or listen. Who has been saying it’s a scandal, or even that the story would have legs? It’s just an insignificant little mistake that the administration still couldn’t resist shifting blame for. Because it’s a tick with 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 23, 2015, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/651 "2015-01-23T09:02:38Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > I actually retired from the thread once the White House proved me right… It didn’t. Read what you wrote, imbecile. > [@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. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/652 "2015-01-23T09:28:22Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Were there any Germans killed? Poles? Irish? Czechs? Swedes? Georgians? > Couldn’t find it yourself? > > [Here’s a list](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/List-of-leaders-to-attend-Paris-rally/articleshow/45843350.cms). Except Eric Holder is listed and of course he couldn’t be bothered to attend. Er, are you completely missing the point that they are EU countries? And no, I couldn’t find the link myself; I actually said so in the post you’re responding to. Also, when someone else makes a claim it is standard form to require them to provide a cite. You’re pretty hot that yourself. So, from that link, nobody at all from the Americas or from Asia or Australasia went and many of the other “world leaders” were not actually their countries’ leaders. It was mostly Europe, the Middle East (who still got accused of not condemning the event) and former French colonies in Africa. Obama not going is not a big deal at all. ---
**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 23, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/653 "2015-01-23T14:43:01Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Some people just don’t comprehend or listen. Who has been saying it’s a scandal, or even that the story would have legs? It’s just an insignificant little mistake that the administration still couldn’t resist shifting blame for. Because it’s a tick with them. To you it might be an insignificant mistake. To the OP it was apparently THE END OF AMERICA AS THE SHINING CITY ON THE HILL THAT STANDS UP FOR JUSTICE AND FREEDOM(!) ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/654 "2015-01-23T14:58:58Z")
Well, even if he had gone, you know that Obama would’ve worn the tan suit while ignoring Bengaaaazi! again. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/655 "2015-01-23T15:36:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > To you it might be an insignificant mistake. To the OP it was apparently THE END OF AMERICA AS THE SHINING CITY ON THE HILL THAT STANDS UP FOR JUSTICE AND FREEDOM(!) This is indeed a worser crisis than Bangazeee! I hope Fox news continues to cover it extensively for the next 6 months. This deserves ALL of our attention now! ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/656 "2015-01-23T20:51:43Z")
> [@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. If I’m not mistaken, the five largest democracies in the world are India, the US, Indonesia, Brazil, and Pakistan. And if I’m not further mistaken, none of them sent their heads of state, or indeed, anyone else who didn’t already happen to be in France. ---
**Author:** ![Donald\_Rump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/657 "2015-01-23T21:10:24Z")
> [@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. Also, Israel is not an [ally](http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/collectivedefense/). ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/658 "2015-01-24T18:28:40Z")
Can’t wait for the OP and the usual suspects to tell us how horrible it is that Obama is heading to Saudi Arabia for King Abdullah’s funeral. Should not be hard for them to whip up some outrage or other. Just a tip for them though… better put it in a new thread, otherwise it will be too obvious what ridiculous douchbags you are. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/659 "2015-01-24T18:51:44Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Can’t wait for the OP and the usual suspects to tell us how horrible it is that Obama is heading to Saudi Arabia for King Abdullah’s funeral. Let’s spin the Wheel of Outrage, shall we? A) “How dare he cut short his trip to India? Why does he have no respect for the world’s largest democracy!” B) “Of course he has time to attend a memorial in a MUSLIM country!” C) “We can’t afford to spend this much money on attending funerals when our economy is such a mess!” D) “Why isn’t he in Washington engaging in bipartisan dialogue with our new Congress?” E) “I guess it wasn’t worth his time to talk with our Saudi allies while the king was _alive_!” F) “He didn’t even MENTION the Charlie Hebdo attack in his memorial speech!” G) “How DARE he mention the Charlie Hebdo attack in his memorial speech!” H) “He’s only doing this to distract all of you from Benghazi!” There you go, **Terr** and **adaher** and **Stringbean**. I’ve done your job for you. You can all go home now. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/660 "2015-01-24T19:09:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Let’s spin the Wheel of Outrage, shall we? [John Mace](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18078414&postcount=15), just for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=34)