The Worst Answer By A Presidential Candidate In A Debate …
August 8, 2007 at 8:45 am
… was given last night by Barack Obama.
Asked whether, if he were president now, he’d honor Barry Bonds in the White House, Obama said:
“First of all he’s still got to hit one more. .. He hasn’t done it yet, so we’ll answer the question when he does.”
Mere hours before Bonds hit his record-setting homerun, Obama hadn’t figured out his thoughts on whether he’s a hero or a villain? What difference would it have made before or after number 756? How would that additional homerun have affected Obama’s thoughts?
Baseball may seem trivial next to, say, bombing our allies in Pakistan — but the Barry Bonds story does present fascinating and profound social issues for America. Many Americans have strong opinions on him. Apparently Obama is not among them.
A strike out for the Senator.
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Walter B. Funk said,
August 8, 2007 @ 9:34 am
A big AMEN to your comment on the Senator strikes out.
Actually, the more time goes by, the more hapless and not ready for the ‘big job’ Obama seems.
That leaves us with ‘the smartest woman in the world,’ or after last night, should I have said, ‘the smartest GIRL in the world.’ Either possiblity is frightening!
David Paine said,
August 8, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Being articulate and educated are not qualifications enough to be president…you need to be prepared as a leader. As someone said recently, “the Presidency is not an on-the-job training position.” Obama is definitely not ready for prime time.
ann s. said,
August 8, 2007 @ 11:01 am
Perhaps the question was not a good question. Barry Bonds is a pointlessly divisive topic. What would be an acceptable answer to such a question? Would you have Barry Bonds in the White House? I myself am somewhat ambivalent, but I feel that his record should be honored. But don’t worry I can’t run for President as I was not born in this country
.
Banjo said,
August 8, 2007 @ 11:08 am
No one has yet explained to my satisfaction why this freshman senator is seen as a serious candidate for the highest office in the land. Yes, he’s half black and speaks in a deep, sonorous voice like a good peacher and went to Harvard Law. Before that he was a community organizer like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, and then a state senator for a couple of years. The only reason he is in the U.S. Senate is the Republican who was poised to run away with the election got involved in a nasty sex scandal. Please, somebody tell me: why Obama?
Bob Bonsall said,
August 8, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
No one has yet explained to me why I should care about Barry Bonds. Here’s an answer I’d like to hear from a Presidential candidate:
“No, I would not honor Barry Bonds in the White House, nor would I honor any other professional athlete for their athletic prowess. The rewards they get are their salary, endorsements, and fans. The exception would be for Olympic athletes, who represent their country and deserve some recognition for that. The pros are just doing the job they’re paid to do, same as everyone else.”
G said,
August 8, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
He should have just said no. Keep it simple stupid.
bgbear said,
August 8, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
If Obama cannot answer the question because Bonds had not yet hit 756, then by extension, Obama cannot answer any question regarding what he would do as president until he is elected and sworn in. That would exclude the other candidates answering as well, should we cancel the debates?
joe said,
August 8, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
bgbear: no shiite, no questions about future actions please! We’ll tell you when we get there!
Crank said,
August 8, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
I assume he will now answer that the question is moot, since Bonds has hit the homer and Obama’s not president yet.
Fat Man said,
August 8, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
I’ll wager that Obama is a soccer fan.
Bob Miller said,
August 8, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
What’s the bigger fraud:
1. Steroid-enhanced hitting?
2. Pretending to know how to lead the free world?
Johan Johanson said,
August 8, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
What’s the bigger fraud:
3. Mission Accomplished
Reagan's Ghost said,
August 8, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
Well, you know, well, when I was Commander in Chief I met with that communist fella, that Gorbie, even though I hate commies, so, well, you know, this Obamabamba, banjo on my knee fella just should have answered the question like I would have, well, I would have said: “No f-ing way”.
Nick said,
August 8, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Seriously? Come on people. There are SERIOUS issues going on here and abroad and you care about what he said about a fucking baseball record?
Skeeter said,
August 8, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
This is a joke, right? A man isn’t fit for office because he hedges on a completely assenine hypothetical? I think it’s refreshing that there’s a candidate who doesn’t cater to the booger eaters who are still pissed about a black man breaking the home run record in 1974! Lets focus on real topics…not baseball or Paris Hilton.
Javier said,
August 8, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
How can anyone suppose that not giving a decisive answer on Barry Bonds can disqualify a person from the presidency? Obama, I’m sure, has more important things to worry about than whether or not he will honor a cheating and overall terrible person. Baseball would be the last thing I would question our future president, whom ever it is, on.
BV said,
August 8, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
So people are worried about Obama not answering a stupid baseball question? Be more worried about Alberto Gonzales NOT answering serious questions.
Banjo said,
August 8, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Obama is being asked to express an opinion about cheating and refuses. This is not relevant?
Alan Spade said,
August 8, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Barack Obama knows it’s a loaded question for him. The black community loves Barry (and Michael Vick) and views them as victims of the white majority. If he answers either way, he’s screwed. If he correctly says, “No, Barry can’t come to the White House because he’s a cheater… and a poor excuse for a human being,” the blacks will desert him. If he says, “Yeah, sure, he can come,” he’ll get roasted alive by the (white) media.
So he ducked. You don’t like ducking questions? I guess you’ve never met Mrs. Clinton…
Mad William said,
August 8, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
You people are slamming Obama for not being ready. Bush has done a great job hasn’t he. Experience accounts for nothing. Bush has all kinds of training to be president and has managed to screw this country from every direction possible. The government is designed to be run by the people, for the people. We are all qualified.
If being articulate and educated are not enough qualification to be president, how did Bush get elected. He is neither.
I hope to God that the next president has more to do with his time than entertain athletes and celebrities.
This country needs to get it’s priorities in order.
richarda said,
August 8, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
The nearly TWO DOZEN people who bothered to comment on this “issue” need to get THEIR priorities in order!
z said,
August 8, 2007 @ 10:36 pm
Ridiculous. And I’m not referring to Obama’s response to such an inconsequential question.
Neptune said,
August 8, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
..its baseball…get over yourself…l2playlife kthxbainubs.
Bim said,
August 9, 2007 @ 11:45 am
I agree Bush ain’t articulate and he isn’t my favorite president. However, he is a Yale and Harvard B School grad and did better academically than the last two turkeys the Dems offered. In fact, the only reason I don’t regret my votes for Bush is because of the alternative!
Niali said,
August 10, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
My God. He didn’t bother to answer a frivolous question about a juiced-up thug getting an empty ceremony, and we conclude that it -detracts- from his ability to lead the country? It’s about time someone in the Oval Office bothered with a little triage. We’re engaged in a long, protracted war, the victory conditions of which are unknown, let alone unmet, after years of struggle against an ephemeral enemy whose very identity shifts almost as fast as its composition. The infrastructure of the Interstate Highway System has developed the unsettling habit of collapsing into bodies of water without warning, and half the whackjobs in California think it’s because the Earth is a degree warmer than it was. Half the nation is worried that some zealot with a Cobalt-shell nuclear bomb is going to walk into the light in the middle of a Mets game, and we give half a rat’s ass whether Barry effing Bonds gets a gold star?
safety kills said,
September 27, 2007 @ 10:53 am
And now…. It’s time for “Let’s make a big deal about something that matters not!”
Dude, you can’t find anything else to get on his case about? He gives a thougtless answer to a topic that doesn’t make any difference to any thinking person in this country, and you think this shows that he is unable to lead? If you used this same logic with Mr. Bush, you would never be done adding to your blog here. Wow. Very impressive.
“Arbolist… Look up the word. I don’t know, maybe I made it up. Anyway, it’s an arbo-tree-ist, somebody who knows about trees”
~George Bush