# 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:** 37
**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:** [February 11, 2015, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/721 "2015-02-11T11:14:23Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Karl: That deli was attacked because it was a kosher deli. It was just not any random deli. It was a kosher deli. > > Earnest: No, Jon. No, Jon. Obama’s original statement was (should have been) uncontroversial and needed no clarification. I don’t know exactly what “No, Jon” means in this context–there’s a lot of crosstalk and the very next second Earnest says the president has acknowledged in other statements that the deli was targeted because it was Jewish–but Earnest assing up a presser is irrelevant to what Obama said. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2015, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/722 "2015-02-11T12:21:47Z")
Earnest followed up with this tweet (as I noted above): “Our view has not changed. Terror attack at Paris Kosher market was motivated by anti-Semitism. POTUS didn’t intend to suggest otherwise.” So **Terr** is making hay about crosstalk during a presser. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/723 "2015-02-11T19:20:40Z")
Does anyone have a recording of the actual exchange, or a longer transcript? Cutting it off after “No, Jon No, Jon” really seems very odd and possibly purposefully taking the exchange out out context. Presumably Ernest said something to clarify what he was trying to say after contradicting Jon. For example it could have been Earnest: No, Jon. No, Jon. I totally agree, the deli was targeted because it was Jewish, I was just pointing out that these terrorists seemed to have no qualms with killing non-Jews as well. ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/724 "2015-02-11T19:58:23Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Does anyone have a recording of the actual exchange, or a longer transcript? > > Cutting it off after “No, Jon No, Jon” really seems very odd and possibly purposefully taking the exchange out out context. Presumably Ernest said something to clarify what he was trying to say after contradicting Jon. > > For example it could have been > > Earnest: No, Jon. No, Jon. I totally agree, the deli was targeted because it was Jewish, I was just pointing out that these terrorists seemed to have no qualms with killing non-Jews as well. [Here is the transcript:](http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/02/10/press-briefing-press-secretary-josh-earnest-21015) The question was asked and answered earlier in the presser: > [@](#): > > Q Let me ask you one final thing. In that interview with Vox – Vox – that the President had and that was put out yesterday, there was one comment that raised some eyebrows that I just want to ask you about – I’m sure you’re aware of it and you may have a response to it – but the President said at one point, “My first job is to protect the American people. It is entirely legitimate for the American people to be deeply concerned when you’ve got a bunch of violent, vicious zealots who behead people, or randomly shoot a bunch of folks in a deli in Paris.” Just to be clear, though, that shooting at the deli in Paris was not random, correct? Did the President misspeak there? > > MR. EARNEST: Jim, I believe the point that the President was trying to make is that these individuals were not specifically targeted. These were individuals who happened to randomly be in this deli and were shot while they were there. And that is – > > Q They were randomly there, but the people who randomly shot them – > > MR. EARNEST: So if you want to question the President’s placement of the adverb in the sentence, the adverb in this case being “randomly,” you can. But that’s the point the President was trying to make. > > Q Okay. I just wanted to go back and check on that. > > MR. EARNEST: It’s all good. Later on, Jon Karl asks again: > [@](#): > > Q Well, back to the question Jim was asking about – his description of the shooting at the Kosher deli in Paris as being a bunch of – randomly shoot a bunch of folks in a deli in Paris – I mean, this was not a random shooting of a bunch of folks in a deli in Paris. This was an attack on a Kosher deli. Does the President have any doubt that those terrorists attacked that deli because there would be Jews in that deli? > > MR. EARNEST: Well, Jon, it is clear from the terrorists and some of the writings that they put out afterwards what their motivation was. The adverb that the President chose was used to indicate that the individuals who were killed in that terrible, tragic incident were killed not because of who they were but because of where they randomly happened to be. > > Q They weren’t killed because they were in a Jewish deli, though? They were in a Kosher deli. > > MR. EARNEST: Jon, these individuals were not targeted by name. This is the point. > > Q Not by name, but by religion – were they not? > > MR. EARNEST: Well, Jon, there were people other than just Jews who were in that deli. > > Q Does he have any doubt that that deli was attacked because it was a Kosher deli? This is not any random deli. This was a Kosher deli. > > MR. EARNEST: No, Jon. No, Jon. I answered the question once. No. > > Ed. > > Q So then why didn’t the President acknowledge that? If he knows that and it’s obvious, why didn’t he say that? > > MR. EARNEST: The President has acknowledge that on many occasions when he has had the opportunity to speak about this incident. For greater context, [here is a video of the exchange with Jon Karl](http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4527255/white-house-spokesman-responds-questions-presidents-vox-interview) (begins at 1:15). Basically, when he says “No Jon”, he is cutting him off and moving on to the next reporter (Ed). ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/725 "2015-02-11T20:47:51Z")
And Terr gets played for a fool by the right-wing media once again… They must just love to watch all these legs jerk when they pull on the string. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/726 "2015-02-11T22:18:19Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > And Terr gets played for a fool by the right-wing media once again… Wrong. Just because they tried to cover their ass with later twitters doesn’t mean that the original comments were not ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/727 "2015-02-11T22:23:15Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Wrong. Just because they tried to cover their ass with later twitters doesn’t mean that the original comments were not ridiculous. Watch out. Someone from the Obama Muslim secret police might show up at your door and throw you in a FEMA reeducation camp with all the people who have the true knowledge of the Benghazi Scandal and put you to work making pine coffins for all those who don’t make it past the Obamacare Death Panels. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/728 "2015-02-11T22:26:41Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Watch out. Someone from the Obama Muslim secret police might show up at your door and throw you in a FEMA reeducation camp with all the people who have the true knowledge of the Benghazi Scandal and put you to work making pine coffins for all those who don’t make it past the Obamacare Death Panels. I bet you think you’re witty. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/729 "2015-02-11T22:28:11Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Wrong. Just because they tried to cover their ass with later twitters doesn’t mean that the original comments were not ridiculous. How about the fact that you misinterpreted the “No”, which was a dismissal of the question and not an answer? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/730 "2015-02-11T22:28:23Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > And Terr gets played for a fool by the right-wing media once again… > > They must just love to watch all these legs jerk when they pull on the string. Josh Earnest misspoke/screwed up/babbled and was called out on that fact. The WH was then forced to cover for Earnest. SNAFU. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/731 "2015-02-11T22:29:37Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I bet you think you’re witty. He lives by his wits. Half a living is better than nothing. 😃 ---
**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:** [February 11, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/732 "2015-02-11T22:32:09Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Josh Earnest misspoke/screwed up/babbled and was called out on that fact. The WH was then forced to cover for Earnest. SNAFU. LOL… so the right-wing screaming is because the press secretary had a lousy press conference? Surprising to see you on our side and not **Terr** ’s on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/733 "2015-02-11T23:11:02Z")
Man, they have this scandal nailed. Absolute dead certain lock this time. More of a lock even than Sarah Palin’s Presidential prospects. This time they’re going to be right!!! ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/734 "2015-02-11T23:26:46Z")
Granted, the press secretary could have done a better job explaining. But how is it so difficult to understand that the shootings were both anti-Semitic _and_ random. Yes, the shooter went to the Jewish Quarter, so it seems a given he was hoping to kill some Jews. But to paraphrase Woody Allen\*, “Did he happen to say which Jews?” He could have chosen any shop in the Quarter to find Jews. He chose a deli. Maybe he was hungry (gruesomely, he did make himself a sandwich right after the shooting). There actually were non-Jews in that deli (like the worker who saved people). So he did shoot people at random, didn’t he? Especially as compared to the Charlie Hebdo attack, which had specific people as targets. - Broadway Danny Rose: Mia Farrow: “Angelina once predicted I would marry a Jew” Woody Allen: “Really? Did she happen to say which Jew?” ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/735 "2015-02-12T00:45:32Z")
With Obama it’s just one scandal after another. Like Russian dolls… will we ever reach the teeny-tiniest of all? ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/736 "2015-02-12T01:46:29Z")
From the transcript, it’s obvious what Obama (and by extension Earnest) meant: The people killed in the deli were not individually targeted, i.e. they were random people in a deli. As Earnest clearly explained, they were random targets in a specifically-targeted location. This is a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/737 "2015-02-12T01:50:31Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > LOL… so the right-wing screaming is because the press secretary had a lousy press conference? Surprising to see you on our side and not **Terr** ’s on this one. Sounds about right to me. People misspeak. WHen the record is corrected, I’m good. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/738 "2015-02-12T14:18:27Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > With Obama it’s just one scandal after another. Like Russian dolls… will we ever reach the teeny-tiniest of all? Smile. Like. Thank you. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/739 "2015-02-12T15:21:26Z")
This is just getting more and more ridiculous. Obama is hardly perfect; surely you people can find actual things to complain about. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597/740 "2015-02-12T16:17:59Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > This is just getting more and more ridiculous. Obama is hardly perfect; surely you people can find actual things to complain about. They’re getting desperate. Time is running out. President Blackenstein is making them look like fools. If there was a mercy rule in Presidential politics, the game would have been called several years ago. It’s like 250-0 Obama. Prediction: Before the end of this week, Fox News will have tied the (real) Little League Baseball scandal with the Chicago team to Obama (if it hasn’t happened already.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=36) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-barack-obama-to-stand-for-democracy/709597.md?page=38)