Fourth Grader Asks Obama, "Why Do People Hate You?"

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

President Obama, like any other President, has his fair share of critics. Even fourth-graders have noticed.

"Why do people hate you?", a fourth-grade boy asked Obama at a town hall event in New Orleans today. "They're supposed to love you. And God is love."

"That's what I'm talking about," replied the President.

"First of all, I did get elected president, so not everybody hates me," Obama noted, before adding, "What is true is if you were watching TV lately, it seems like everybody's just getting mad all the time. And I -- you know, I think that you've got to take it with a grain of salt. Some of it is just what's called politics where, you know, once one party wins, then the other party kind of gets -- feels like it needs to poke you a little bit to keep you on your toes."

"And so you shouldn't take it too seriously," Obama told the boy. "And then, sometimes, as I said before, people just -- I think they're worried about their own lives. A lot of people are losing their jobs right now. A lot of people are losing their health care or they've lost their homes to foreclosure, and they're feeling frustrated. And when you're president of the United States, you know, you've got to deal with all of that."

"You get some of the credit when things go good. And when things are going tough, then, you know, you're going to get some of the blame, and that's part of the job," he continued. "But, you know, I'm a pretty tough guy."

"You've just got to keep on going, even when folks are criticizing you, because -- as long as you know that you're doing it for other people, all right?" Obama concluded.

The boy's question was the last one the President fielded at his event at the University of New Orleans, his first trip to the city since being elected to the Oval Office.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/20...e-hate-you.html

Edited October 16, 2009 by Lone Ranger

[Peikko 1,575]

Is the question the problem?

Obviously, there is no requirement for anyone to 'love' their president and loving one's president is not going to bring you closer to god (well, only insofar as loving is universally applicable).

Mind you, I don't really expect Obama to address these kinds of differences in such a context.

[KnJ 0]

Is the question the problem?

Obviously, there is no requirement for anyone to 'love' their president and loving one's president is not going to bring you closer to god (well, only insofar as loving is universally applicable).

Mind you, I don't really expect Obama to address these kinds of differences in such a context.

I think the president captured the spirit of the question. It's a pretty empathic question, in a way.

I also like his answer. I can't watch any video at the moment but in text, his choice of words conveys deep respect for the boy's question and ability to understand. Simple answer, but not condescending.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Is the question the problem?

Obviously, there is no requirement for anyone to 'love' their president and loving one's president is not going to bring you closer to god (well, only insofar as loving is universally applicable).

Mind you, I don't really expect Obama to address these kinds of differences in such a context.

It is the first question Charles! would ask.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Is the question the problem?

Obviously, there is no requirement for anyone to 'love' their president and loving one's president is not going to bring you closer to god (well, only insofar as loving is universally applicable).

Mind you, I don't really expect Obama to address these kinds of differences in such a context.

It is the first question Charles! would ask.

nah, i'd ask why does steven love him so much.

[HAL 9000 96]

Lots of angry people. Not healthy.

[Spoom 8]

Good answer.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

A plant. There are no surprises for Obama.

[Spoom 8]

A plant. There are no surprises for Obama.

Yes, because clearly all the people that elected him were just paid off or something.

How's that paranoia going?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

A plant. There are no surprises for Obama.

Yes, because clearly all the people that elected him were just paid off or something.

How's that paranoia going?

[scandal 951]

Lots of people genuinely like Obama. Many more are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt to fulfill his elected mandate, and respect the Office he holds. Relatively few actually hate him.

The haters basically come down to two camps -

a) Extreme right wing opponents in this country, who are determined to attack him and his policies and his government at every turn regardless of what he says or does, even when it's patently obvious that he has the best of intentions for Americans at heart.

b ) Extremist terrorists outside of this country who hate all Americans, Obama included, and are determined to attack us at every turn.

[_Simpson_ 250]

A plant. There are no surprises for Obama.

Yes, because clearly all the people that elected him were just paid off or something.

How's that paranoia going?

I think he is saying that the kid that asked him the question was a plant and I got to say after Obamas water bottle masterpiece I wouldnt put it past him.

Edited October 17, 2009 by _Simpson_

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Lots of people genuinely like Obama. Many more are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt to fulfill his elected mandate, and respect the Office he holds. Relatively few actually hate him.

The haters basically come down to two camps -

a) Extreme right wing opponents in this country, who are determined to attack him and his policies and his government at every turn regardless of what he says or does, even when it's patently obvious that he has the best of intentions for Americans at heart.

b ) Extremist terrorists outside of this country who hate all Americans, Obama included, and are determined to attack us at every turn.

Friday, October 16, 2009

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 28% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -11

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_con...l_tracking_poll

The most consistent and reliable pollster in the industry puts those "Extreme right wing opponents in this country" at 39%, roughly 2 out of 5. Would you put that down as simple mass hysteria, or collective wisdom? That is more than the number of folks trying to be reasonable, which is still greater than the number of true believers. Right now, Obama is ruling with the inherent power of his office and a mostly friendly Congress, and not any longer from a position of popular support.

Shades of GWB, a little more than a year ago?

Edited October 17, 2009 by Lone Ranger

[scandal 951]

Relatively few actually hate him.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -11

Since when does "hate" equal "Strongly disapprove" ?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Relatively few actually hate him.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -11

Since when does "hate" equal "Strongly disapprove" ?

Oh, I see. Love the sinner, and hate the sin? In the minds of the supporters, if you don't like Obama, then it follows that you hate him because he is Black, or a socialist, or some other excuse, because being a "hater" is the only reason you would have for trying to stop the good he is doing for the country.