http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8TwRmX6zs4
(Sorry I couldn't upload the link, I faced some problems trying to upload it.)
In the video above, President Obama seems to get his revenge against Donald Trump, who has been making demands to seeing the President's birth certificate. Donald Trump's allegations are that Obama was not born in the United States. This controversy personally reminded me to when Barack was running for office, and he was scrutinized for apparently being Muslim. As to why his race, religion or ancestry is taken into consideration in comparison of what his abilities are as a President, baffles me.
Although the jokes made by the President are quite funny, do you think it's right for a President to defend himself and be socially involved in the media and socialites like Donald Trump? Or should he just stick to his main job, be professional and more involved with more important matters?
I have to agree Obama is quite funny, which is also what makes him more popular than other Presidents in the past. But I felt that he went a little too far with his revenge. Throughout the video, Donald Trump was singled out and openly made fun of, and Trump didn’t look like he took it in a sporting manner. It isn’t appropriate of any president or leader to behave so informally. Yes, it may make him seem cool or funny, but there is a certain decorum and formalness that becomes necessary when you have a high level of authority. There’s nothing wrong with being humorous or to lightly mock someone, but it’s another thing to get carried away and start openly (undiplomatically) seeking revenge and verbally attacking your opponent in front of many important people. It also creates an atmosphere of hatred or dislike between officials. And when someone who has a large amount of power starts to make such comments, it can be seen by others as an abuse of power (looking at it from a different lens). There’s nothing wrong in defending yourself, while not attacking someone as directly as Obama did. He could have conveyed his message effectively by not openly directing his comments at Trump, but I think he chose to openly mock and make fun of Trump just to put on a show for the others. Nevertheless, it does cause a lack of respect and breeds dislike between two important officials.
ReplyDeleteHe also said “Michele (I didn’t get the last name: P) is here, I understand, and she is thinking about running for president which is weird because I heard she was born in Canada…yes, Michele this is how it starts, just letting you know.”
This statement was unnecessary and inappropriate. Why exactly is it weird that she is born in Canada? Is he trying to suggest that people from Canada can’t or aren’t capable of running for President? I’m not exactly sure what he’s trying to imply by that statement but it is definitely inappropriate to say that it’s weird that another person wants to run for President because they were born in another country. Again, looking at this statement from a different lens, it could be seen as a form of bullying or abuse of power. Also Obama isn’t a typical white American President himself, so why should it matter that Michele is born in Canada....
He should stick to more important matters, and learn how to defend himself tactically and diplomatically (which is more implicit, but more appropriate when matters are made public).
Man, obama has snaps.
ReplyDeleteAlso to add insult to injury celebrity apprentice was interrupted by Obama's speech about killing Bin Laden
I think it's more than alright for Obama to participate in these things. His campaign has made him more of a celebrity than a politician anyway. And with the 24 hour news cable shows running, almost anything, no matter how silly, would get airtime.
But think about it, he was given a country in a financial crisis with crumbling infrastructure, and two wars overseas that the public is generally against.
He's got healthcare under his belt, reformed Don't Ask Don't Tell, killed Osama Bin Laden, AND provided his birth certificate.
He should just drop the mic and walk away.
I think it is certainly justifiable that Obama defended himself. Trump has been on several talk shows spreading rumors and doubt about Obama's legitamacy of being president, which according to the constitution, in order to be president of the United States that person has to be be born in the U.S. Also, Trump has a huge ego and I think that by Obama openly mocking him it brings Trump down to earth so to speak.
ReplyDeleteIt was also an event that didn't require any serious debate as Seth Meyers (I think his name is) who is a comedian spoke after Obama did and made jokes about things related to politics and the media.
Obama speaking out about the rumors of himself were essential because it laid to rest any doubt that the population had.
I think that what President Obama did was necessary and it is good that he showed a copy of his birth certificate because this would end all talks of him not being American. I think that Presidents/Prime ministers and any other ruler should be socially involved in clearing out anything that does not apply to them in the media to a certain extent. If they do not clear out what is being said in the media than there are some ignorant gullible people who believe everything the media says until they hear the President clear out the issue them-self. If it is something big like Obama not being American than they should clear that out but if it is something small than they should just ignore it.
ReplyDeleteI think it was necessary on Obama's behalf to defend himself. If he has any desire to continue staying in office, which he does, he needs to win the hearts of his people. And what better way to do this then to make them laugh while at the same time getting even with Trump. Unfortunately if you haven't noticed the majority of America's voters may not be the brightest of people, considering they elected Bush twice. They definitely would react positively to such an event. As a result Obama became more popular then he previously was. Of course in an unrealistic world he should of acted professional, dismissed everything and focused on more important matters, but in the world we live in today, if he hadn't reacted, people may have begun to consider him passive, which would be a terrible thing for a American president to be considered. As a result he may have eventually lost his status. Now in regards to his race and all. I can guarantee you that if Obama was Muslim, and admitted to being so, he would've never been elected. Being Muslim obviously shouldn't effect anything, but after 911 America was victim to a lot of propaganda. This propaganda caused most Americans to become ignorant to what real Muslims are like, and instead to simply consider them to be terrorists. As a result, if Obama declared himself to be Muslim most of America would immediately stereotype him and he would lose a lot of popularity among voters. Being Muslim shouldn't affect your chances of being president, though unfortunately in this world, it does, and in a negative way. In regards to the: “Michele (I didn’t get the last name: P) is here, I understand, and she is thinking about running for president which is weird because I heard she was born in Canada…yes, Michele this is how it starts, just letting you know.” that Simmi previously spoke about, I think that it wasn't actually inappropriate of him to say this. This is because he didn't actually suggest that people from Canada can't or aren't capable of running for president, but rather that because of this, the media will portray her in a negative way. Being able to question her patriotism because of the fact she was born in Canada. He simply told her to expect that this would be used against her by the media, nothing more.
ReplyDeleteI think Obama did the right thing by showing his birth certificate. He closed those people's mouth who were jealous and against him. I think the religion shouldn't be consider for presidential post. People should see the capability of a person about what can he does like when America is in crisis, he is the man who tried hard to get rid of it. He stopped immigrants to come over there so people from America could get proper jobs. So when people can see that he is doing something good then they shouldn't look at where he was born and also what's his religion. I a president should involve in media because otherwise no one will know what is he doing. People always want proof like birth certificate and a person who is at presidential post can't go everywhere and show everyone the proof so I believe media is the good choice to clear things like that.
ReplyDeleteNow seeing what many have you have said and reading your comments, I do agree with majority of you. He should justify himself to a certain extent and defending his identity is necessary seeing as how it's a requirement to being a American born citizen. Thank you all for your great opinions! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for uploading this video. I am very pleased to see that President Obama took some shots at the "Donald". Donald Trump created this ludicrous argument that President Obama was not born in the United States. In my opinion, this was a publicity stunt. Donald Trump is trying to get exposure for his possible Presidential campaign and for his television reality show, "The Apprentice." I also recommend watching "The Roast of Donald Trump." The show featured various comedians making fun of Donald Trump. I am very impressed with Obama's charisma and flair. He is a very good speaker. I'm glad Obama showed proof of his birth certificate. He silenced many of his critics. On that note, I'd like to see the White House release the photos of Osama bin Laden. People would similarly like to see proof of his death.
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