# Why the demonization of Obama? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 6, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488 "2008-07-06T21:11:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/101 "2008-07-07T21:09:34Z")
[QUOTE=Saint Cad] But being smug also means that he would not be willing to listen to his advisors, and we all see how well that strategy has worked (and I’m a Bush apologist). Smart, smug, and arrogance may all come from the same place, but often lead in different directions. [/QUOTE] That’s certainly a fair reason not to vote for someone. However, it does not appear to be in evidence to me AT ALL with Obama- in fact, my concern is that he is too much of a delegator in some areas- all available evidence is that he is a “hire right and keep your hands off” type of manager. He also is often lauded by his ideological enemies for making an apparent effort to understand their point of view. I’m just saying, you have made some deductions about Obama’s behavior based on his carriage and in reality they don’t seem to hold up. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/102 "2008-07-07T21:18:15Z")
[QUOTE=Saint Cad] Just my point. Most other politicians RIGHTFULLY OR WRONGFULLY would be ruined by having an affair then lying about it but with Good O’ Bill, it’s rationalized. [/QUOTE] It’s not ‘rationalized’; it’s just that most people don’t care. Because it’s not their business, and because Clinton wasn’t known for pretending to be morally superior about sex or trying to control what people did in the bedroom. The Republicans ARE known for that. [QUOTE=Saint Cad] Forget about left, right, donkeys, elephants, and impeachment. There was no way people were going to vote for Gary Hart in 1988 or will vote for Larry Craig in 2008. Their careers were over as decided by the voters. Yet those same voters seem to forgive Clinton for his pecadillos. [/QUOTE] No, it’s about Republicans sexual hypocrisy and the Democrat lack of sexual hypocrisy. “Forgetting” about right versus left is foolish because that’s the core of it. People are far less interested in sex scandals from the Democrats because they lack both the outrage and humor factors due to the lack of hypocrisy. And, I expect that there’s simply less scandal to find on the Democratic side. Fewer closeted gays, less “illicit” set. Gays have less reason to be closeted, and I recall reading years ago how one difference between the Republican and Democratic Conventions is that you don’t have the same sort of national influx of expensive prostitutes towards the cities that hold the Democratic Conventions. As for Clinton specifically; the fact that the Republicans were obviously persecuting him and obviously completely unscrupulous about how they did so made him a much more sympathetic figure. As someone pointed out some years ago, the Republicans are the people who managed to make Saddam Hussein look like an unjustly persecuted sympathetic figure. It’s a talent they have. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/103 "2008-07-07T21:33:24Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] I recall reading years ago how one difference between the Republican and Democratic Conventions is that you don’t have the same sort of national influx of expensive prostitutes towards the cities that hold the Democratic Conventions. [/QUOTE] You never did come up with any evidence of your previous - ahem - terminological inexactitude. How about a cite for the above? > [@Knorf](#): > > Also note that no court of law has found him guilty of anything before or since. Well, apart from the judge in his civil case, who found that he had deliberately made false and misleading statements under oath. And the Supreme Court disbarred him ([cite](http://famguardian.org/Subjects/LawAndGovt/News/ClintonDisbar-011001.htm), as if any were necessary). Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [July 7, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/104 "2008-07-07T21:34:50Z")
So, if it were suddenly discovered that Obama recently had an affair with someone, he wouldn’t drop much in the polls? Yeah, right. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/105 "2008-07-07T21:40:28Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] So, if it were suddenly discovered that Obama recently had an affair with someone, he wouldn’t drop much in the polls? Yeah, right. [/QUOTE] Probably not ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/106 "2008-07-07T21:59:40Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Well, apart from the judge in his civil case, who found that he had deliberately made false and misleading statements under oath. [/QUOTE] Cite for this? I found only a contempt citation. I’m not disputing he was disbarred, for ethical reasons. I’m disputing he was found guilty of a crime or misdemeanor. If Obama were found to have a mistress, with credible testimony, OF COURSE it would hurt him in the polls. Who knows if it would be enough to cause to him to lose the general election. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/107 "2008-07-07T22:07:56Z")
[QUOTE=Knorf] Cite for this? I’m not disputing he was disbarred, for ethical reasons. I’m disputing he was found guilty of a crime or misdemeanor. [/QUOTE] _:shrugs:_ > [@](#): > > A federal judge yesterday held President Clinton in contempt of court for giving “intentionally false” testimony about his relationship with Monica S. Lewinsky in the Paula Jones lawsuit, marking the first time that a sitting president has been sanctioned for disobeying a court order. [Cite.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/contempt041399.htm) Not the first time I have cited this. It probably won’t be the last. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/108 "2008-07-07T22:14:47Z")
I see you have edited to add the part about contempt. If you want to parse the difference between “found him guilty of anything” and “found him to be in contempt of court”, feel free. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/109 "2008-07-07T22:20:24Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] …Not the first time I have cited this. It probably won’t be the last… [/QUOTE] But if it is the last, rest assured that, somehow, someway, we will find the strength to go on living. It will be hard, at first, of course… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/110 "2008-07-07T22:31:33Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] _:shrugs:_[Cite.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/contempt041399.htm) Not the first time I have cited this. It probably won’t be the last. [/QUOTE] It’s still a civil contempt citation, not a conviction for perjury. Clinton was never criminally charged with anything ---
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/111 "2008-07-07T23:42:09Z")
Ye gods, Clinton has been out of office for 8 years. Nobody cares about a blowjob. Nobody cares about perjury regarding blowjobs. This thread has gotten very boring. Can we go back to Obama now? ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/112 "2008-07-07T23:44:24Z")
[QUOTE=Gozu] Nobody cares about a blowjob. Nobody cares about perjury regarding blowjobs. [/QUOTE] Hey, I _like_ blowjobs, and I’ll say so under oath. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/113 "2008-07-07T23:49:28Z")
How long you plan on being in town, stranger? ---
**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:** [July 7, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/114 "2008-07-07T23:57:47Z")
[QUOTE=Gozu] Ye gods, Clinton has been out of office for 8 years. Nobody cares about a blowjob. Nobody cares about perjury regarding blowjobs. This thread has gotten very boring. Can we go back to Obama now? [/QUOTE] Obama got a blowjob?? Let’s demonize him!! Or should we sodomize him? ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/115 "2008-07-07T23:58:52Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] How long you plan on being in town, stranger? [/QUOTE] Well, that depends, Senator . . . ---
**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:** [July 8, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/116 "2008-07-08T00:00:48Z")
Is that a wide stance you got there, or are you just glad to see me? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/117 "2008-07-08T02:18:03Z")
Wasn’t there a fellow who came out early on with a YouTube video claiming that he had oral sex with Obama in the back of a Chicago limousine? I don’t recall it affecting his poll numbers. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/118 "2008-07-08T02:19:22Z")
The guy was not credible, and no MSM reported it as accurate, if they reported it at all. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/119 "2008-07-08T02:22:26Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] I say I would like to see some evidence that it is true. [/QUOTE] You’ve seen _some_ evidence. You just haven’t seen undeniable evidence. > [@](#): > > I mean, sure, we have already established that the Democrats did try to float this (contradicting the assertion that they only used it as blackmail). But it never got anywhere, because (presumably) there was nothing to it besides innuendo. Honestly, I don’t care if it’s true or not. I think a person’s private life should remain private unless it somehow affects the job they’re being paid to do. IMO the folks who went after Clinton over the Monica affair did a much greater disservice to this country than he did. If the HW Bush affair is true that sure makes them some hypocritical bastards doesn’t it? You say “of course it’s false” but it seems to me that you have no greater reason for disbelief than you do belief other than your personal preference. regardless , there’s no reason to think republicans have any moral superiority in that regard. > [@](#): > > Nobody who ever interacted with Bush believes it for a split second, I doubt this is true and I doubt or you have any solid reason to make this statement. What do you actually know about HW’s character regarding this aspect of his life? either way, it’s ancient history and doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488/120 "2008-07-08T02:27:28Z")
That was somebody named Larry Johnson, wasn’t it? Last I heard, I believe he was planning to hold a press conference at the National Press Club in D.C. (rented room) but got arrested on outstanding state warrants before he could do it. [\* Googles \*](http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15923.html) Ah, Sinclair, not Johnson; and he did hold his pitiful press conference, at which he was pretty much reduced to a smoldering heap of rancid ashes, before being hauled off by the gendarmes. Yes, definitely a death blow to Obama. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-demonization-of-obama/455488.md?page=7)