# Why Obama Will Probably Lose **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 28, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352 "2012-05-28T15:50:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Condescending\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@Condescending\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Condescending_Robot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/81 "2012-05-29T17:02:23Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I was agreeing with EVERYTHING you said, up until “which is what a gay person joining the Republican Party is.” > > That sort of sentiment is extremely offensive to blacks, and the many hundreds or thousands of men, women and families who were terrorized and killed by the KKK. I agree that a gay person who openly votes for and supports republicans are actively voting against some of their own interests, but that is not at all the same as a black person joining a group that goes around killing other black people. I hope you realize this and were resorting to hyperbole. Christians/conservatives in America do, in fact, go around physically terrorizing gay people and have for some time. Their goal is, in a sense, far more insidious than the goal of Southerners towards blacks (note: this is not a “who has suffered more” statement as those are stupid and a tactic for turning minorities against each other used by Republicans) in that Christians don’t just want to make gays second-class citizens, they want to annihilate the very idea that they can or ever did exist. Perhaps a better analogy would have been a Jew joining the Nazi Party? You’re not going to get away from the reality about the monomaniacal obsession with destroying sexual minorities that has become the guiding light of the conservative movement in America by playing the “I’m so offended on behalf of black people” card. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/82 "2012-05-29T17:05:39Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > CISPA. R 206, D 42 > NDAA R 190, D 93 > PPACA R 0, D 219 > Hunger Free Kids Act R 17, D 247 > DADT Repeal R 15, D 235 > Tax relief D 139 R 138 What strikes me is how the Republican-Democratic divide pervades so many unrelated issues. [ul][li] CISPA is the plan for the government to invade privacy and share citizens’ personal secrets with Big Business.[/li][li] NDAA is the $660,000,000,000.00 military budget, controversial because it allows even U.S. citizens to be detained indefinitely if suspected of terrorist involvement.[/li][li] PPACA is Obamacare, a watered-down version of GOP proposals from last century that are “too Socialistic” for today’s GOP.[/li][li] Hunger Free Kids is a measure to improve nutrition of schoolchildren. (I’m not sure why GOP opposed it. Fear that immigrant children might become less hungry?)[/li][li] DADT Repeal allows gays and lesbians to serve in the military.[/li][/ul] Why is it that Congressmen opposed to children’s nutrition also oppose gays and support invasion of privacy? I don’t know, but it does seem strange that Republicans take the Evil side on almost every issue. If Americans read and understood the table **gamerunknown** just posted, I don’t think GOP would win elections. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/83 "2012-05-29T17:19:15Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Also, people treat you like shit because you continually show that you want people to do so. People treat you the way you treat them. For someone who doesn’t believe in absolute morals, you sure constantly use them to try and shame people. Until you apologize for treating people like shit and actually show a lack of desire to do it again, you will be treated like shit. > > It’s absolute morality once again. One of the basics: how you treat other people is how they will treat you. And what explains how I am treated here? ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/84 "2012-05-29T17:31:15Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Why is it that Congressmen opposed to children’s nutrition also oppose gays and support invasion of privacy? Lakoff proposes a mechanism [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f9R9MtkpqM). Two other ways of looking at it: just world hypothesis (good things happen to good people, bad thing happen to bad people) or the fundamental attribution error (where I and the ingroup succeed, it’s due to our disposition, where we fail, it’s due to the situation). Other proposals have been based on disgust, but I don’t see how a coherent strand could cause a higher propensity to be disgusted and a lack of desire to appropriate taxes to deal with malnutrition. Then there’s the property rights as sovereign approach, in which case CISPA is necessary to prevent the abuses of another’s intellectual property and taking people’s taxes to feed hungry children is immoral (possible Social Darwinist underpinning or “voluntarist” canard). I can’t link property rights to DADT repeal, but the anarcho-capitalist (or even the pro-business in the Reagan sense/corporatist/militarist) branch of the Republican party isn’t sufficient to win elections alone, so they have to appeal to the economically ambivalent social Conservatives. To be fair, if I took a freshwater approach, a flat tax and zero social spending would make some sense to me, since wealth would represent value and not the valorisation of another’s labour / greater capacity to extract surplus labour. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/85 "2012-05-29T18:58:57Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Ladies and gentlemen, the Republican base: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player\_embedded&v=cUXDKnL4xGE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cUXDKnL4xGE) It is easy to interview stupid representatives of a point of view and present them as typical representatives of that point of view. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, “Republicans fare substantially better than Democrats on several questions in the survey, as is typically the case in surveys about political knowledge.” > **[What the Public Knows about the Political Parties](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2012/04/11/what-the-public-knows-about-the-political-parties/?src=iq-quiz)** > > Overview Most Americans can correctly identify the relative positions of the Republican and Democratic parties on the major issues of the day. But a ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/86 "2012-05-29T19:10:56Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And what explains how I am treated here? You poor dear! Need a moment? Hanky? ---
**Author:** ![Condescending\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@Condescending\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Condescending_Robot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/87 "2012-05-29T20:53:32Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > It is easy to interview stupid representatives of a point of view and present them as typical representatives of that point of view. > > According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, “Republicans fare substantially better than Democrats on several questions in the survey, as is typically the case in surveys about political knowledge.” > [What the Public Knows about the Political Parties | Pew Research Center](http://www.people-press.org/2012/04/11/what-the-public-knows-about-the-political-parties/?src=iq-quiz) The fact that Democrats have pockets of ignorance or malice of their own in particular areas doesn’t change the fact that a squawking piece of white trash who thinks the most important issue in America is putting homosexuals in an electrified concentration camp is, in fact, perfectly representative of the average Republican’s priorities. “Same to you” is not a defense to evil. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/88 "2012-05-29T21:03:10Z")
> [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > a squawking piece of white trash who thinks the most important issue in America is putting homosexuals in an electrified concentration camp is, in fact, perfectly representative of the average Republican’s priorities. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/89 "2012-05-29T21:09:47Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Eventually, though, those chickens can come home to roost. If Republicans deliberately set out to woo the extremist rightwing Christian vote, then they end up having to defend the platform the extremist rightwing Christians want, in order not to lose those votes. > > At this point, the Republican Party’s commitment to things like marriage laws discrimination, anti-science views on creationism and climate change, and other causes dear to the hearts of the religious right is losing them the votes of moderates, and the support of religious-right voters isn’t making up for that. IMNSHO, getting in bed with the religious right was the biggest mistake the Republican Party has made in my lifetime. The religious whackjobs have taken the party over, 'cuz Gawd is on their side and all that shit. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/90 "2012-05-29T21:10:22Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > It is easy to interview stupid representatives of a point of view and present them as typical representatives of that point of view. [URL=“[What the Public Knows about the Political Parties | Pew Research Center](http://www.people-press.org/2012/04/11/what-the-public-knows-about-the-political-parties/?src=iq-quiz)”] Would you be willing to step up as the intelligent, well spoken representative of the people who would put all them Gheys in concentration camps for us, then ? ---
**Author:** ![Condescending\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@Condescending\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Condescending_Robot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/91 "2012-05-29T21:13:38Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Cite? The fact that, when a Republican is about to lose an election, he need only start robo-calls insinuating his opponent doesn’t want to smash gays to guarantee victory. That’s how Bush secured Ohio in 2004, and that’s why we have these state constitutional amendments about marriage now–putting them on the ballot brings out the Republican voters in droves when all other issues have failed to motivate them. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/92 "2012-05-29T21:19:35Z")
She seems so pissed at the end… “Sure. Yeah. Thank you so much.” ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/93 "2012-05-29T22:39:59Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, “Republicans fare substantially better than Democrats on several questions in the survey, as is typically the case in surveys about political knowledge.” Did you read that survey? I would have thought “political knowledge” would have to do with different forms of government, etc., but what they define as “political knowledge” was mostly about partisan differences on hot button issues. About all the survey determined was whether more people watched Fox News or MSNBC, the two networks whose mission is to emphasize partisan differences on issues (although IMO, the equivalence ends there). ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/94 "2012-05-29T22:41:52Z")
Shame on you Anderson Cooper, pick’n on the mentally retarded like that. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/95 "2012-05-29T22:46:58Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > She seems so pissed at the end… “Sure. Yeah. Thank you so much.” Justifiably so. Cooper was clearly being patronizing when he pretended to think that putting gays behind electrified fences was a legitimate position worth serious discussion. More proof that the press is in the bag for liberals. My personal theory is that the Citizens United decision has allowed the electric fence lobby to take the gloves off and donate massively to the anti-gay and anti-Mexican movements. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/96 "2012-05-30T00:33:45Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Justifiably so. Cooper was clearly being patronizing when he pretended to think that putting gays behind electrified fences was a legitimate position worth serious discussion. You mean by quoting her pastor, the one whose position she supports? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/97 "2012-05-30T02:14:20Z")
> [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > The fact that, when a Republican is about to lose an election, he need only start robo-calls insinuating his opponent doesn’t want to smash gays to guarantee victory. That’s how Bush secured Ohio in 2004, and that’s why we have these state constitutional amendments about marriage now–putting them on the ballot brings out the Republican voters in droves when all other issues have failed to motivate them. Your cite, even if true, fails to support your claim. Do you see why? ---
**Author:** ![Condescending\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@Condescending\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Condescending_Robot)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/98 "2012-05-30T05:16:21Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Your cite, even if true, fails to support your claim. Do you see why? No. The reality is that when a Republican in a swing state campaigns on any of the other so-called Republican issues—tax cuts, abortion, spending reform, defense–he usually polls behind, but as soon as he starts waving the straight supremacy flag, people who didn’t give a flying fuck about any of the other stuff suddenly wriggle out from under the stove to put him over the top. That is support for my proposition that Republicans only care about that one thing. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/99 "2012-05-30T06:23:37Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > **Why Obama Will Probably Lose** Because there are a lot more of her than we like to admit? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352/100 "2012-05-30T06:27:17Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > It is easy to interview stupid representatives of a point of view and present them as typical representatives of that point of view. You really think they could find a smarter one on **this** POV if they tried? I’ve never seen such a one, in the mainstream media or anywhere else, including the Dope. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-obama-will-probably-lose/623352.md?page=6)