It is not often that something airing on a 24-hour cable news network can be considered “poetry.” But then President Barack Obama never took questions from a whole room full of Republicans while the television cameras were rolling.
And he used the word “Bolshevik” at just the right time to make it sound like a swear word(see above). Awesome.
And you know it is good when Fox News pulls out:
Of course those liberal blogs are reporting that Republicans are now regretting having Obama come over — because dude is a great orator, and the GOP has some skeletons shit in its closet.
Here’s the full version:
Honest Shim
Anyone else find obama’s sense of blind logic and realism, regardless of the particular forum its appropriateness, sexy? I’m not the only one am I? xD
Jason
Goodnight Barack. The party is over.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
No More Mister Nice Guy. The Gloves are officially off – partisan rancor until the day after the mid-terms is fully expected!
I find Out Gay Men sexier than Presidents who run from us like we have bricks in handbags!
GayGOP
To make this a lecture on bad behaviour, as if the President was talking to intransigent teenagers, was a bad move on the President’s part. These are not his children, nor his underlings, they are members of a coordinate branch of government. He has no right to lecture or command them. They are not military officers, they are not students. All this will do is embolden intransigence, and turn him into a lame duck come election night 2010.
thom
@GayGOP:
wtf are you talking about? the republicans set themselves up to be treated like children.
Jason
Politics is complete bull-shit. Why do we bother?
Michael W.
@GayGOP: Shorter GayGOP: That boy needs to stay in his place. He don’t belong talking down to them white folks like that.
You forgot to throw the word “arrogant” in there. That’s your team’s favorite adjective these days when it comes to Obama. But you stayed on message for the most part, GOProuder.
Lady Ga-Gasp
Most of the sanest gay men I know come from Republican households. Maybe its that adversity breeds quality. Maybe it that we should stop the partisan hyperbole bullshit and realize that oratory only goes so far.
Republican
@Michael W.:
Oh, please, whether you agree with his position or not, there was nothing racial about GayGOP’s comment. The fact that you apparently see race in everything says more about your own prejudices than it does his.
Dirty Ole Man
President Obama was simply brilliant tonight!
What he did was courageous and risky at the same time.
I hope the rest of the spineless Democrats can take heart from
the bravery shown by their leader.
Man the fuck up Democrats and lets get moving!!
I feel great tonight, I think I’ll
head to the local Adult Bookstore and suck a Black Cock.
tjr101
@GayGOP:
The House Republicans act like children, Joe Wilson is a perfect example. YOU LIE!
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
The Republicans did bend over and take it up the ass on this one! The GOP made a Big mistake as Professor of the Debate team, President Barack Obama really wiped the floor with them. It’s like the day after the elections all over again and I am no company man when it comes to the Dems but if you were keeping score…..we all know who won!
@Dirty Ole Man – will you take your teeth out – Ewww!
Josh
Its been my personal experience that a lot of gay republicans are racists (that is why they are Republicans).
What else could make them side with the anti-gay republicans?
The Republican party and the conservative movement is all about hate (sexism, racism, homophobia, anti-intellectualism, xenophobia, war, torture, anti-poor).
PADude
+1 Obama on this one! Now if action follows words, I’ll be forced to vote for him in 2012.
If not, it’s just another pretty speech.
Time will tell.
Nick
THIS is the Barack I voted for! It was like he was playing Kasparov level chess, and the Reps were playing Candyland! Please, do stick around, new/old Barack.
Dasher
The Repubs foolishly served up a nice slow pitch right over the plate, and Obama hit it out of the park. The State of the Union speech was OK (except for nuclear power, “clean” coal, and drill baby drill), but it was just a warm-up for this one.
It will be ironic if the Republicans save Obama from his (until today in Baltimore) failed Presidency.
Now all Barack has to do is can Tim Geithner and Larry “I made Harvard lose a billion dollars” Summers. It wouldn’t hurt to get rid of Rahm Emmanuel too!
nancy glue
@Jason:
haha, you guys are gagging!
u can’t take it!
nancy glue
@Republican:
twisting in the wind!
nancy glue
@dontblamemeivotedforhillary:
bend over!
nancy glue
@GayGOP:
haahaha
Chuck Martens
Thank you, Queerty for finally showing something positive about the President!
reason
If you don’t now where to view the 1H 6M discussion you can find it on http://www.msnbc.com or http://www.huffingtonpost.com
This was a good discussion that was not just pleasing oratorical diary but showed that the president has a deep grasp of substantive policy. Only time will tell if it will have an impact on the sordid ways of Washington. As many in the Democratic Party rejoice and independents are wowed by the presidents intellect, presentation, mastery of the intricacies of the problems facing the American people, confidence, and toughness in the lions den, it brings to light Obama’s failure to control the message last year nearly derailing many one of his signature policies. If he is going to be a change agent in Washington he has to conquer the message in order to change the tone to substantive issues instead of daily politicking. His policies have been attacked meretriciously without refutation leading people to take it as truth. Today he stepped up to the GOP and debunked several of there spurious statements to their face and actually fought for the truth and his administration.
I am sure the president finds this sort of thing annoying, but he needs to realize that Washington is not the ivory towers were people are seeking the truth and solutions to advance society. Washington is more primitive using “slash and burn” as a tactic of self-preservation over the interest of the collective or American people. His grasp of the issues is proof that he has been working hard behind the scenes and coming up with solid solutions, but the administration has failed to articulate it, ironically since the president is one of the best orators of our time. I believe that is why sections of the gay community are so upset with him, he has failed to come out and tell us that he is working hard for us and debunk the rumors, so I understand why some would feel like he is playing us like politicians of the past granted that being played is what Washington has historically reinforced. I realized some time ago that there is no substitute to letting someone know that you care, although it has not become any easier to do.
SteamPunk
I just finished the entire thing. Yikes, that was kind of a bloodbath!
I’d be very surprised if Republicans will jump at the chance to do a Q&A with Pres Obama on camera again – ever!
Brian NJ
@ Reason
“I believe that is why sections of the gay community are so upset with him, he has failed to come out and tell us that he is working hard for us and debunk the rumors.”
Most unreasonable, unfounded and unsound, Reason. Reason can not live in a large sea of sweet, gushing sentimentality.
Obama was not working on a repeal of DADT — AT ALL (http://gay.americablog.com/2010/01/pentagon-considering-whether-gay-troops.html) — until the gay community spoke up and demanded that he did it before the midterms.
Now he has agreed to do it before the midterms. He still has to follow through.
You, and all the gay community, need to take the stars out of your eyes and see Obama and the Democratically-controlled government critically, not sentimentally. I am a life-long Democrat. But they ARE the government now, and have to be responsible and stop dumping vets on their asses every single fucking day. To not demand that, but rather to let heart bubbles come out of your ears when Obama speaks, is much worse than not reasonable — it is not American.
G.H.
Hey GayGOP, Obama has taken a lot of heat on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but he’s finally giving it more attention. I’m sure that it was all the leadership by your Republican buddies (such as John McCain) on this issue that has spurred him to action.
Dan
gayGOP translated:
To make this a lecture on bad behaviour, as if this black man was talking to intransigent teenagers, was a bad move on the black guy’s part. These are not his children, nor his underlings, they are members of the white race. He has no right to lecture or command them. They are not military officers, they are not students. All this will do is encourage racial division, and turn out the white vote come election night 2010.
Jason
The will be NO repeal of DADT. We cannot get past the US Senate. When thy introduce the “phasing” idea you’ll understand what a joke it is. It will be a 10-year plan with counseling for straights, separate showers and the ability to reinstate if there are problems.
AB
More bombast from the president is not impressive. Watching someone behave like a pedantic asshole is never beautiful.
Despite being mostly incompetent the Republicans know what they are doing. Being obstructionist has not been a bad strategy. The Democrats obstructed key elements of the Bush administration’s between 2001-2007 (appointment of Federal judges and social security reform). Republicans are just returning the favor, but they have the benefit that the continued statist expansion into healthcare is not popular, so voters are animated enough to get rid of the Dems this time.
Bipartisanship would be a disaster for the country and the parties because it erases the differences between the parties and abrogates principle. If the Democrats went along with Social Security reform they would have lost all face with their constituents and probably would not have made majorities in 2007. If the Republicans supported the pork laden stimulus bill or healthcare bill they would have never won a senate seat in Massachusetts. Most bipartisan solutions usually favor statist solutions which make the nation travel farther down the road of disastrous mediocrity.
I hope they continue to be partisan and screwing each other over each other so they can’t screw over us.
Same Crap
I generally support the president, but I don’t think this a particularly impressive considering the 99% of the House Republican caucus is comprised of functionally retarded yokels. Of course a Harvard-educated U of C con law prof can make quick work of them.
The real obstructionist assholes are in the Senate (all Republicans and about 10 or so Dems). Work on that, Barack.
Same Crap
@GayGOP:
shorter GayGOP: UPPITY
schlukitz
As my mother used to say “We shall see. The proof is in the pudding.”
Manny
@GayGOP
@GayGOP: even if he did put on his professors hat to teach these kids (and if they actually acted like mature adults with reason and logic) seems condescending to you, do you really think ANY President (i.e. Bush) or Republican for that matter, could EVER do what he did?! at all?! to go in front of a crowd who completely apposes everything you stand for and in front of a national audience debate them on the MERITS of his arguments?
DON’T THINK SO
Whether or not you other Queerty readers believe that this animus against Obama is for any other reason other than the color of his skin have surely been hiding in the cave of white privilege.
Although I admit I did have plenty of buyers remorse throughout some of the past year, his SOTUS and this historic moment have truly reminded me why I was captivated by this man
before you guys start thinking that I’ll turn into a sell-out, just because he is ramping up his offense strategy, doesn’t mean his due criticism when he fails to follow through. As I commented after his SOTUS “THAT was a roller coaster speech. Now let’s see what comes of it…”
I’m a sucker for words, but a die-hard for action (don’t take this to the wrong places, pervs ;))
Chitown Kev
@Manny:
I have a question.
If the GOP opposition to Obama is ALL about race, then explain the GOP bile against Clinton (heck, I could make a case that the GOP would even be more rabid if Hillary CLINTON were in the WH.
You may even want to read a little on the absolute bile that the GOP slammed FDR with…
And I’m not saying that some of it or a lot of it isn’t racial.
I would expect that a political party that, traditionally, stands for low taxes, less government, national defense, and “America First” WOULD be opposed to a President and an Administration that values diplomacy, a larger and better role for government, and being a better partner with the world.
Nothing racist about that and it’s deceitful for you to suggest that the GOP would be different if a white Democratic President were proposing the same policy initiatives that Obama was proposing.
Hell, I expect the Republicans to oppose ANY Democrat on many, if not most matters of policy…
Now is the seeming rabid nature of the GOP’s opposition racist? Some of it? But there are perfectly legitmate arguments based in Republican philosophy that I could throw up against Obama and not be racist.
For the most part, the style of the GOP’s opposition to Obama IS racist.
fredo777
@GayGOP: “He has no right to lecture or command them.”
lol
what are you talking about? he has every right to command them. it kind of comes with his job.
Chitown Kev
Ok, when Obama says “Bolshievk plot” I thought that he was ready to say “bullshit”
His point about Clinton, though, didn’t the Republicans propose that to Bill Clinton because Bill Clinton was shooting for full-fledged universal health care coverage?
It was good for Obama to remind the GOP of that, but it’s kinda like when the homobigots say or promote civil unions when marriage equality is in play…
Josh
McCain is openly against repealing DADT and so is Scott Brown (I can’t believe some liberals and some gays voted for either of them).
I don’t understand why a lot of gays don’t give Obama any credit for the Hate Crimes Bill (the first FEDERAL LAW THAT RECOGNIZES SEXUAL ORIENTATION).
His administration is also trying to apply Title XI to protecting gays against bullying in school.
Do you think a Republican administration would push for that?
Josh
Title IX
NoDoubleStandards
@Josh: They voted for him to send a message to the Democrats about power. That if you don’t do what we want, then there is no reason for us to vote for you. Because we only have two parties in power in this country, it is difficult to send a refined message. So, you get Brown, but the goal is actually to achieve liberal policy ends. It actually seems to be working as Obama feels the need to posture as a populist and the health care bill will either die or become more liberal.
NoDoubleStandards
@Josh: Also, if you can find a way in the two party system for liberals to make their point without voting out Dems, let me know. Because otherwise, without any electoral consequences, why will they ever pay attention to liberals? So, what’s your solution to that particular problem other than the normal telling liberals to suck it up.
SteamPunk
@Josh:
“I don’t understand why a lot of gays don’t give Obama any credit for the Hate Crimes Bill”
If I had to guess, I’d say it’s because lots of people enjoy focusing on the negative and getting angry. As the David Foster Wallace said “Anger is the easiest emotion to create. It’s also the least authentic.” Cynicism is very strong.
Brian NYC
It is idiotic that some people posting here believe we can PUT PRESSURE on politicians regarding LGBT issues. That is not the case. LGBT is a Yes/No issue for politicians and it is based on their local polling data, which means if the voters are anti-LGBT they are too. No matter how many calls, emails or silly protests.
To demonstrate how stupid the whole idea of PUTTING PRESSURE on politicians is – HRC just put this article on the cover of their magazine:
Stepping Up the Pressure on DADT
full of the same useless “call your elected officials” crap. They know it doesn’t work, but they want us to believe they are effective.
Politics is a complete waste of time.
Bill Clinton.
I rest my case.
Jon Martin
Blog with coverage of this story: http://rightwingbleedingheartliberal.blogspot.com/2010/01/obama-visits-gop.html
Manny
@Chitown Kev: To clarify, i said the animus directed at Obama which i consider based in racial undertones. It all began with the insinuations that he was not “like the rest of us” or that he wasn’t even born in Hawaii, whic came out even BEFORE he was elected president which came directly from the GOP opposition.
In case you also forgot the nice “rallies” at the McCain campaign and accusations of him being a “muslim” and “associating with terrorists” ON TOP OF bile coming from conservative circles, makes it a hard case against NOT concluding the undertones of racism in criticizing Obama.
The critics don’t have to call him an out right “n”-word to be called racist.
And where were the Republicans during Bush’s reign of terror? Limited Government? Read: PATRIOT ACT. Low Taxes? For the Top 2% income earners..and it goes on. I understand Republican ideals, I’d just like to know what happened to them.
Brian NJ
LBGT have to start demand that their government work for them, and stop living in the Bush Administration. If words from Obama are good enough for you, check your self-esteem.
I supported Obama, and the Democrats all my life. However, they ARE the government now — and they work for me — I don’t work for them. They are not doing their jobs that I sent them there to do.
Every gay person has the right to demand results. And demanding results can go along way to getting results. re-read that Declaration of Independence — no taxation without representation — governments are only supposed to exist with the consent of the governed. Are you content to pay taxes to a Federal government run by the Democratic party that has carved you out of the Constitution and laws like a turkey? And yes, DADT and DOMA came from Democrats.
And the more love bubbles come out of blogs, they more the Administration takes that as a signal that you are content waiting for your civil rights, and that you can go lower on the to do list. Pop the bubbles, they are useless — and you are useless, the un-earned love make you seem like you have no balls, or self-esteem. Get some self-worth, and start demanding performance from your government.
Rob
it still amazes me that so many gay people follow obama blindly. telling lies and half-truths in a oratorically sincere way does not equal substance. it’s sadly ironic that the only reason this man was elected to the presidency is because he’s black. another wasted opportunity.
fredo777
@Rob:
What amazes me is how many people still act like anyone who isn’t vilifying Obama at every possible chance is somehow following him blindly. The man is a great speaker + he gave a great speech. Period.
fredo777
edit: scratch “gave a great speech”, b/c this wasn’t directly about the SOTU, but in both this meeting + in the SOTU, he handled himself well.
Jason
Fuck politics and politicians. It’s an exercise in futility.
fredo777
@Jason:
Yeah, there are a few politicians that I’d fuck. But I digress…
Chitown Kev
@Manny:
Uh, what part of this did you not understand?
“And I’m not saying that some of it or a lot of it isn’t racial.”
Of course a lot of it has racial undertones…
Mainly becuase you’re right, the Bush Administration was not exactly the greatest keeper of conservative values. Completely agreed with you on that.
But I would still expect any GOP opposition to be opposed to anything Democratic on principle, regardless of the color of the President. That much (though not all) of the GOP undertones are racist indicates how vapid the GOP has become.
Jason
@Chitown Kev: The same thing happened to Bill Clinton and he wasn’t Black. Wait, I think he said he was. Nevermind.
tjr101
Bill Clinton’s time in office was a cake walk compared to the past 12 months for Obama.