My 11-year old son's friend told him Obama was a War Monger

[berni_mccoy]

And his friend got that information from his mother who read it on... wait for it... Democratic Underground. I don't know the woman well, but I don't believe she is that political. DU is indeed read by many people of all types and it gets a fair deal of web traffic.

I had to explain to my son that Obama did not start these wars, that they are a terrible situation that must be dealt with and that Obama is working on it.

Yes, DU threads here have people believing Obama is a War Monger now and it's cycling back to our kids. Good Job guys.

[DevonRex]

1. DU is the best anti-Obama site going. That's for sure. nt

[bertman]

7. You are either ignorant or trying to start some shit, DevonRex.

Stating opinions that differ from yours is not anti-Obama.

[DevonRex]

10. What's the world coming to when an anti-Obama person is called anti-Obama???

OMG! They should be able to hide behind their pro-Obama forcefields! Nobody should realize that they're anti-Obama just because they think he's not "worthy" of winning the NPP. Or the presidency.

[Xicano]

76. If you disagree with your mother over something does that mean you hate your mom? Of course not.

One of the things I love about being democratic is that unlike repubs we don't blindly give our support just because its "our team." I would still like to think expressing opposition to a policy doesn't brand you as a hater toward our party leaders.

n/t

[Ineeda]

54. Were you here at all yesterday? n/t

[bigwillq]

Damn right!

:bounce:

:rofl:

:P

[BlooInBloo]

42. We're #1! We're #1! We're #1!

[DevonRex]

45. Yes we are! Or something like that.

I have asked that my account be deleted. :hi: Um. That's a bye and not a hi.

[BlooInBloo]

48. :(

[RetroLounge]

91. ...

:applause:

RL

[Iggo]

93. Seriously?

That's kind of a mild flameout.

[madinmaryland]

99. GO USA!!!!

:D

[Iggo]

101. I used to look just like that.

(facepalm)

[proud2BlibKansan]

88. You have obviously not spent much time online

:crazy:

[polichick]

2. LOL - you'd really have to pick and choose around here to get that idea. nt

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[polichick]

8. That's about the MIC - it's true that Obama presides over the biggest war machine on the planet...

Still, he's one of the least hawkish presidents we've had.

(I'm glad there are plenty of threads about the MIC ~ we should be ashamed that the only export we lead in is arms.)

[DevonRex]

19. Any American President will by default preside over the biggest war machine

on the planet. That's a given. Thank you for saying he isn't hawkish.

[kestrel91316]

22. Some people don't know the difference between STARTING a war and inheriting one.

Thank you for NOT being one of them.

[jacko_be]

29. yes but most people know the difference between continuing a

war and ending a war ?

[Tigress DEM]

66. Continuing a war is NOT being a WARMONGER, though.

Continuing a war that is a *itch to get out of is NOT ending a war - TRUE, but it is also NOT being a WARMONGER.


–noun a person who advocates, endorses, or tries to precipitate war.

–verb (used with object) 1. to hasten the occurrence of; bring about prematurely, hastily, or suddenly: to precipitate an international crisis.

[jacko_be]

75. i never told he was a warmonger

is just said he isn't a saint ...

[frylock]

55. big nixon fan?

[jacko_be]

59. no, why ? nt

[Tigress DEM]

63. Ding Ding Ding! GOOD POINT!

[DevonRex]

5. See #3. nt

[polichick]

16. As I just said, it's true that he presides over the greatest killing machine ever....

I hope the prize will help him fight the pressures of the MIC.

[Iggo]

94. Where's #3? Honestly, I can't find it.

I know. I'm lame.

[kestrel91316]

21. Hardly. A glance the Discussion main page on any given day lately will

reveal vast numbers of vitriolic anti-Obama posts. We have an extremely large contingent of ALLEGED Dems who engage in full-time attacks against Obama.

DU is indeed one of the better anti-Obama sites around of late. IMHO the mods need to take action against what is clearly a concerted effort to undermine this sites stated goal of bringing Dems together.

The no-doubt-PAID "divide and conquer" contingent is very busy here.

[HipChick]

32. I have noticed that same tactic used on other left wing sites..

[vadawg]

35. lol what is going to happen if theres ever a dem who you dont like

do you honestly believe that you cant be a dem or a liberal or a progressive if you are not 100% behind obama, thats taking purity beyond the max, there are a lot of people who are dems due to specific policies and no more, others because of certain principles and others because of certain politicians, i dont think you are going to bring dems together by going on stalinesque purges of those without ideological purity..

[kestrel91316]

60. I am not referring to people who are not 100% behind Obama, lol,

I am referring to the whiners and shriekers who from Day One have been 100% against Obama. You know, the ones who parrot RW talking points ad infinitum.

[vadawg]

62. you also know there are a lot of dems out there who dont like him full stop

either because hes to right for them or two left, or dumb shit like hes from chicago and they hate chicago, people can still be dems and totally hate the leadership of the party....

[vadawg]

3. well unless he stops the iraq and afghani wars then technically what would you call him

he has the power today to end them, not that i think he can or should, but i dont blame the anti war people for being pissed off and feeling that their vote was wasted...

[stray cat]

11. You just said he has the power to end two wars and then that you don't think he can

Either he is all power or not

[vadawg]

14. you misunderstand, he has the power to stop the wars and order the troops home

but what i mean is i personally dont think he can pull the troops out and survive the fallout that would occur.. I dont think he has the courage or that the congress does to unilaterally just up sticks...

[Orsino]

83. The power is there, on paper, and he seems to be using it...

...in Iraq, at least. However, he's proceeding deliberately, balancing his finite supply of political capital against the foolishness of continuing the occupation.

[Gman2]

6. DU cannot be blamed for shit for brains ignant parents.

[stray cat]

9. Is he a DUer?

[Iggo]

12. Nice story.

:eyes:

[berni_mccoy]

24. That sounds like guilt. And yes, it's true.

Deal with it.

[Iggo]

30. No, it sounds like what it is.

I'm calling bullshit.

[berni_mccoy]

37. Inconvenient truths are still truths. Like freepers who deny global warming

You can't handle a reality that fits in your mind so you call the truth teller a liar.

[Iggo]

65. Yeah, but there's evidence for global warming.

The only evidence for or against the veracity of your story is the smell.

[Lex]

26. Exactly.

nt

[Forkboy]

71. +1

[Enrique]

13. of all the Obama protection posts

this has got to be the funniest.

So this poor defenseless non-political mother came to DU and our anti-Obama mojo broke her little mind, so she came to see Obama as a warmonger, and passed it on to her kid, and this kid is probably spreading it around like the flu and soon the whole country will hate Obama.

Well, I hope all you Obama haters are happy for what you've unleashed. :rofl:

[DevonRex]

18. The point is the face that DU presents. Quite often it's anti-Obama, anti-Democratic Party.

That means something to me. It matters to ME that I belong to a board that can be so drastically anti-Obama that it's just dandy for people HERE to echo the sentiments of the pukes: Obama didn't deserve the NPP. Obama isn't worthy. Obama only won because he's black.

And from the opposite spectrum: Obama is a warmonger. Obama is worse than Bush. Obama kills babies.

[niceypoo]

23. Perhaps you can start a board so rigid that everybody who doesnt march in lockstep...

...gets run out of town, like the free republic.

Democrats are like herding cats, tuna will only get you so far....

[DevonRex]

36. Well, at least you didn't spread Obama hate with your post. That's a plus.

[niceypoo]

49. Do you disagree with what I said?

...just curious...

[Enrique]

25. DU has never been more pro-Democratic party

remember what it was like before Obama?

Pre-Obama, if the dems did something like what they did with the Patriot Act, DU would be all over them, demanding heads on poles, denouncing, calling all kinds of names.

Now, under Obama, a little grumbling and that's about it.

Same with the war. DU used to follow the legislation, and there was pretty much consensus against every supplemental, but now under Obama the supplemental came and went with hardly any notice at DU, let alone the invective that used to be here, for good or bad.

[DevonRex]

40. Thank you for a nice, respectful post. nt

[Thickasabrick]

28. LOL....so all our posts need to be mindful of morons that may happen

by and making sure that if that happens, they don't get the wrong idea?

:rofl:

[QC]

31. Clearly, we should stick to puppy pictures from now on.

It's the right thing to do.

[DevonRex]

38. The anti-Obama posts just might drive actual democratic members away.

And then is it Democratic Underground anymore? Or is it something else entirely?

[shadowknows69]

47. Well most Democrats, I think, are smart enough to know they aren't "anti-Obama" posts

They're anti-policy posts.

[berni_mccoy]

69. Most anti-Obama posts are not written by smart DUers.

[earth mom]

78. Obama can easily deserve the peace prize by stopping the wars. Simple as that. nt

[CakeGrrl]

96. Yeah, just fly a bunch of planes in there, pick everyone up and go!

Simple as that.

Or simple-minded as that.

:eyes:

ps - Obama HAS the award and all the disgruntled complaints aren't taking it away.

[earth mom]

98. Delude yourself all you want but Obama needs to earn that prize or it's meaningless.

And all your bitching about those of us who expect Obama to actually live up to his campaign slogan of hope & change ain't gonna change that FACT.

[liquid diamond]

109. Hahaha. Fuck it. Some of these people will never be

pleased. NEVER! If Dennis Kucinich were president, they'd crucify his ass too. Hahaha.

[spoony]

85. Too right. What a ridiculous OP.

I'm embarrassed for them.

[LWolf]

15. If he's not a war-monger, he's certainly a hawk.

I think he gets to own the war on terror now that he's decided to ramp it up in Afghanistan.

I certainly wouldn't tell kids that he's a peace maker.

[niceypoo]

20. Obama 'owns' it?

That is like saying a fireman owns a fire when he can't put it out immediately, thus letting the arsonist off the hook.

Bush = Arsonist
Obama = Firefighter

[LWolf]

27. No, it's not.

Firemen are generally trying to put out the fire, not feed it and spread it.

Really bad analogy, there.

[niceypoo]

50. Who started the war, then let it smolder for seven years?

...and who got stuck dealing having to with it?

Do the math.

[blindpig]

64. Who has the power to withdraw, but escalates?

No math involved.

[niceypoo]

107. Then you shouldn't have voted for Obama

Because he is doing what he promised he would do when he was running.

[earth mom]

79. Obama authorized bombing Pakistan. That's his own doing, not * & Cos nt

[LWolf]

112. It's not a mathematical problem.

Bush started the wars with help from way too many democrats who voted for the IWR. Obama spoke against it at least once when he wasn't in a position to take a stand with a vote, and then voted to continue it throughout most of his term in the Senate, until he was campaigning on being "against" it.

He's had opportunity to begin winding things down. Instead, he's escalated it. He's not responsible for the wars' existence, but he is now accountable for continuing them.

If "dealing with it" meant de-escalation, closure, and a removal of our troops from the middle east, then he'd be cleaning up after Bush's mess.

That's not the case, though.

[Odin2005]

43. Since when does not being a pacifist make one a hawk?

[LWolf]

113. I didn't say you had to be a pacifist

to not be a hawk. :eyes:

Those who consider war, or military action, an appropriate part of achieving international goals are hawks. IMO.

Escalating armed conflict, like we've done in Afghanistan, can be legitimately categorized under "hawk."

[SIMPLYB1980]

17. K&R!

For what it's worth. Some people need to check their BS.

[Iggo]

33. Agreed.

Some people need to check their bullshit.

[bamacrat]

34. We love Obama but...

he needs to be the progressive we all know he is and stop trying to please everyone. He has to be like a parent to this country. Like a parent he needs to do whats best for us and we will thank him in the end. Parents who try to coddle and spoil their kids with everything they think they need usually have shitty unruly children that suck. Parents who do whats best for their kids even if they dont like it usually have better kids. Presidents who bow to immature crazy fears in this country may get reelected but are not good presidents and we are worse for it. Presidents who do what is best and what is needed are the great ones and we are better for it.

I am eluding to Universal Healthcare, legalizing pot, ending the wars, raising the taxes of the richest 1% to at least 45%, reducing our military presence across the world, etc.

[uncle ray]

41. Obama is not a progressive.

but i still support him. so far.

[joeycola]

61. I am with you on that but I will be critical as needed

[Prism]

39. Did it happen in a parking lot?

There needs to be better scene-setting here, imo.

[berni_mccoy]

57. No, he told me on the way home from his workout

He is part of a gymnastics team and one of his teamates said Obama is a war monger. When my son asked him why he thought that, he told him his Mom said she read it on Democratic Underground. My son knows I blog on this site, so he asked his friend was he sure it was Democratic Underground.

[shadowknows69]

44. War continuer would be the more appropriate term

He didn't start the fires, but I don't see the fire brigade rolling up any time soon.

[Mari333]

51. and if he escalates troops and continues funding the occupations

I will call him a warmonger. tough shit. truth hurts.

[Odin2005]

46. Just because someone is a left-winger doesn't make them immune for Moranism.

[Name removed]

52. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[orleans]

53. so we should edit oursevles because other people might read what we write?

um...i don't think so.

[subcomhd]

84. uh, yes. editing is part of the whole writing process.

[orleans]

106. but it doesn't have to be part of the "process" of posting on a message board

[frylock]

56. won't somebody please think of the children?

<0

[Cali_Democrat]

58. LOL.....nice try man

I laughed.

[Lex]

82. Can't someone think of the children??!!!111one

:thumbsup:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

67. You've got to be frigging kidding me. Why don't we just rename the site Obama Overground

and have every thread sing praises to him......

[berni_mccoy]

68. I'd settle for critical posts sticking to the truth instead of hyperbolic name calling

Most critical posts here just lambast without facts and are riddled with long standing hatred for Obama.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

73. I recommend that you read Skinner's post

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Skinner/304

This is a message board with people with different opinions and if you have to explain to your child why some people have a problem with the President and his policies, that's your problem.

[Thickasabrick]

103. Thank you - I've never seen that before...cute pic of Skinner! nt

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

111. It's an excellent post to have bookmarked. Odd though, I couldn't

find it in a search and as a last ditch effort thought of his journal. When he posted it I had requested that it be pegged to the board. He should have. I think people would play nicer here if it was up there as a constant reminder.

As to the pic of Skinner! He is a cutie (and eons too young for me)!

[Mari333]

70. [phone]

[QC]

72. I'm glad this story did not take place in the checkout lane at the grocery store.

That would have been highly unoriginal.

[Lex]

81. LOL.

:rofl:

[spoony]

86. Or at a gas station. nt

[QC]

89. Oh yes, let's not forget the gas station, where freepers in large SUVs

are always getting told off good.

[SIMPLYB1980]

90. What's the matter not man enough to talk shit in the

actual thread.?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8692488&mesg_id=8692488

[spoony]

97. Lol, I never saw yours.

There is a gas station thread every week or two. It wasn't aimed at you so calm down.

[SIMPLYB1980]

100. You are the one casting asparagus on

peoples sincerity. I say it's you who should calm down.

[spoony]

102. What a laugh

You look like an idiot, charging in with your horns down over something you wrongly assumed was about you, and now you aren't even smart enough to back off. The OP is full of shit. Maybe you are too, I don't even bother with gas station threads anymore. I don't care, either, but this new twist in this OP about DUers causing the ruin of young minds is novel enough to throw fruit at. You aren't. Go away.

[Iggo]

95. Or Target.

[Thickasabrick]

74. Hypothetically, if a random surfer happened upon DU they would

see many arguments being debated between members making for lively discussions, criticisms of our current elected leaders holding their "feet to the fire" no matter how much they are adored personally, a forum that was basically made up of ardent supporters of our president while also allowing for dissenting views, the latest news and topics, and finally - lots of funny stuff.

What they won't see is a daily prayer for our president with people following lockstep behind every decision he makes.

In short, they will get a great sampling of what true democracy is: messy at times but striving to be inclusive and tolerant of everyone that considers themselves members of the Democratic Party.

I see this as a great learning experience for people to see the difference in our party and "that other one".

[earth mom]

77. Well it's up to Obama if he wants to be a warmonger or not, isn't it?

edited to add: If the opinion of children gets Obama to stop the wars, hallelujah!

[newtothegame]

80. This same site was posting pictures of Obama in his sunglasses instead of fighting Prop 8.

And "congratulating" (whatever the hell that means) us African-Americans because the new President would happen to have the same skin tone as us, while millions of Americans were denied the right to love on the same day. This site is anything but anti-Obama.

ed for sp

[spoony]

87. Won't someone please think of the CHILDREN!!!

Sorry we ruined a whole generation, we'll try to do better.

[Iggo]

92. For great justice!

[NNN0LHI]

104. The mother of your 11-year old son's friend could be Larouche cult member for all we know

Just because the woman reads or even posts at DU doesn't necessarily make her a Democrat.

Don

[berni_mccoy]

105. I think there are far too many people who post here who are not Democrats.

[MadHound]

108. So, how did you explain to your son about Obama doubling down in Afghanistran

While stretching the occupation in Iraq indefinitely?

How will you explain it to him when Obama doubles down again?

Yes, Bush started these wars, but Obama is continuing them needlessly. Bring the troops home and let's stop the madness. Explain that to your son.

[Cha]

110. There's so much trash out there..people need mad skills

on how to separate fact from fiction.