Obama just shat on single-payer and legalizing marijuana.

[Dawgs]

:(

On marijuana; made a joke saying 'I don't know what that says about our online audience', and the group laughed. He then said, 'No. We won't be doing that to help the economy'; like it was a big mistake. The group at the WH clapped.

Very disappointing, although I know it's not a popular political topic.

[Robeysays]

1. yeah i just watched that.

:(

[ellacott]

2. You guys never listen to what he says regarding single-payer

He said it would be his ideal system if he was starting from scratch but believes we can transition into it. Single-payer wouldn't happen for awhile even if Dennis Kucinich were President.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. single payer will not happen overnight

he's got the insurance companies and the healthcare entities hospitals, healthworkers to deal with. He said it would be phased in over the years. A step in the right direction. Rome wasn't built in a day.

[Better Believe It]

45. I know. We've only been working on it since 1965. Please be a little patient.

[redqueen]

56. Who's been working on it?

I know of one recent bill... HR 676. Sanders is working on a companion bill in the Senate.

What were the many other bills that were proposed that I missed, that back up your assertion that anyone in DC has been working on anything with respect to single-payer care?

[ShortnFiery]

3. If Obama is at least OPEN to decriminalization of Marijuana possession (small amounts) that

would be a positive step to stop bogus prosecutions and long jail sentences.

[BeyondGeography]

4. Total BS, dawgs...He didn't shit on single-payer

[Dawgs]

5. He shat on the idea of doing it.

Kicking the can down the road is not why I voted for him.

[ellacott]

8. He has kept the same position that he campaigned on

You were mistaken if you thought he said he was going to single-payer right away.

[Dawgs]

12. I also disagreed with him during his campaign.

That doesn't mean I don't love the guy.

I was hoping it was just a political tactic to get elected.

I thought it would change when he got elected.

[elocs]

49. What if Obama campaigned on something you agreed with,

but in reality it was just a political tactic to get elected and it changed after he got elected? Would that be right?

[Romulox]

7. Obama campaigned against Universal Healthcare--called it "wrong" and "extreme". Just fyi.

[BeyondGeography]

9. That's even dumber than the OP

:toast:

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. You do know that "optional" is not "universal", right?

Obama has been very consistent about his priorities. It's up to us to change those priorities.

[Romulox]

15. Right. EVERYTHING looks bad when you remember it!

[yodermon]

18. he said *government-run health* care-- where doctors are employed by the State-- was wrong.

That's not the same as "single payer" or even "universal healthcare".

(and i don't actually agree with him that gov't run health care is "wrong" either).

[Romulox]

19. He is against Single Payer Healthcare; he advocates mandatory private insurance.

To me, that is "extreme" and "wrong" (and it isn't Universal Healthcare.)

[MadBadger]

26. Obama doesnt advocate mandatory healthcare in any kind, except for children.

[Romulox]

29. Er, what part of "mandatory private insurance" does that contradict?

:shrug:

[MadBadger]

33. The Mandatory part.

[Romulox]

44. Read your own #26. I'm not playing games with you. nt

[MadBadger]

50. What an immature and BS argument you have going here..

[Romulox]

58. LOL. What an illogical, name-calling argument you have. ZZZZZ nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

69. No, but he promised to oppose it when he ran for President

[Thrill]

6. People never actually listen to this man. Did you even hear him on single payer?

[Dawgs]

14. Yes, I did.

He eliminated single payer as an option.

To me, that's shitting on it.

[vaberella]

16. I've come to realize that they don't pay attention. n/t

[redqueen]

24. Many just aren't that good at either interpreting or speaking with nuance.

It's a shame, but what can you do?

[Dawgs]

30. At least we're mature adults.

Why are piggy backing on someone else's ignorant response?

You can't comment directly?

[redqueen]

31. Post 22.

And yes... subject lines about shitting... lots of smilies... substance of the post doesn't even address both the things mentioned in the subject line... yes, very mature. Nice job.

[Dawgs]

38. Whatever.

You're still wrong.

[redqueen]

40. Yes... another excellent, mature, adult answer.

Thank you.

[jefferson_dem]

10. AP is on the case: "Obama opposes legalizing marijuana"

Personally, I have no problem with his answer.

Obama opposes legalizing marijuana
Mar 26 11:17 AM US/Eastern

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama had some fun with at least one question at his online town hall, saying he doesn't think legalizing marijuana is a good strategy for turning around the economy.

Obama told the audience Thursday that one of the most popular questions was whether legalization of the illicit drug would help pull the nation out of the recession. The president jokingly said: "I don't know what this says about the online audience."

In a serious response, he said he didn't think that was a good economic policy.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D975QL000&show_article=1

[Dawgs]

17. None of his response was serious.

He laughed when he said, 'I don't think that is good economic policy'.

It's a very seriuos issue. You bouth should be embarrassed by his answer.

[FrenchieCat]

20. He said he didn't believe that it would solve the economic crisis....

and many people on-line do probably smoke weed.

As for single payer, he doesn't believe that we can effectively
dismantle the entire system now in place and simply replace it.
I don't either.

It's called the truth...but some think it is hell.

[Dawgs]

21. "many people on-line do probably smoke weed"

Are you sure you're not a freeper?

[FrenchieCat]

23. I'm speaking for myself and what I know.

Don't know about you. :shrug:

[Dawgs]

27. You realize that almost EVERYONE uses the internet.

It's not just a small subset of the population anymore.

[FrenchieCat]

42. You realize that those who recommended the question

most likely have had an experience with smoking weed, that has nothing to do with medical marijuana, don't you?

[Bluenorthwest]

53. the Tail Gunner Joe in you

shows more everyday.
Tell us all how you know who recommened the question and what motivated them? Be specific. Tell us how you know they are not trying to save their family farm with a money crop. Tell us how you know they do not have a loved one behind bars for taking a toke. Tell us how you know what you say you know, Senator McCarthy.

[Divine Discontent]

63. You make me sick! FrEePeR!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

You're the biggest Pres. Obama cheerleader I know of (not a bad thing most of the time, indeed), and to see you called a freeper warmed the cockles of my heart! You gotta save that comment from them, it's uberliciously hiliarious! LOL Keep on keeping, FrenchieCat!

:yourock:

[ZombieHorde]

61. I don't always agree with FrenchieCat, but there is no way she is a freeper. nt

[LanternWaste]

57. I imagine most people dislike it

I imagine most people dislike it when their sacred cows are eaten in front of the masses.

But then again, I'm under the impression that Sacred Cows are part of the regular diet around here, so I guess it comes down to whose sacred cow is being eaten and whose doing the eating.

[redqueen]

22. I didn't get that he "shat" on single-payer.

That was not my interpretation of his answer at all.

As for the other question - um, DUH.

[cbc5g]

25. Yep he shat on a big voting block that voted for him

Disappointed, might make me reconsider helping his 2012 reelection if he just laughs off a very serious issue.

His answer was very embarrassing and downright insulting.

[FrenchieCat]

28. At least he answered the question.

And his comment was not in reference to medical marijuana.....

but in reference to recreational use.
I didn't realize that folks who smoke pot don't have a sense of humor. :shrug:

he simply stated that he doesn't believe that legalizing Marijuana was the answer
to the economy recovering.

[BeyondGeography]

32. They have a sense of humor

just not about themselves.

[FrenchieCat]

35. I do......and I'm not exempt from the group for which you speak of.

So I guess we are hearing from those without humor.

[Dawgs]

34. It's not an answer if he wasn't serious.

He was LAUGHING when he said it wasn't the answer to economic recovery; which is ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

[FrenchieCat]

37. It's wrong to you. You don't get to determine everything all of the time,

except for for you.

Maybe you need a doobie.

[cbc5g]

36. hundreds of thousands of non violent drug offenders in jail, mostly minorities

isn't funny.

[FrenchieCat]

41. For Marijuana use?

Can you give me those stats?

[dreamnightwind]

65. here are some stats...

Forgive me for posting these in multiple threads, I need to find some more specific stats on pot incarceration, but from my googling they seem to be hard to come by (I wonder why that is?) These stats reference arrests, not how many are actually in jail for use. If anybody has those, I'd like to see them.

The arrests alone are staggering. Many people are under the false impression that pot use is overlooked by the law.

<http://www.salem-news.com/articles/october092008/marijuana_100808.php>
* In 2007 there were 14.5 million current users of marijuana in the United States, compared with 14.6 million in 2002, while the number of Americans who have ever used marijuana actually increased.
* ONDCP has not come close to meeting its goal of reducing illegal drug use by 25 percent by 2007.
* There was a marked jump in the percentage of marijuana treatment admissions referred by the criminal justice system from 1992 to 2006, while just 45 percent of marijuana admissions met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for marijuana dependence.

According to data just released in the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report, police in 2007 arrested over 872,000 US citizens - that's nearly one out of every two Americans busted for illicit drugs -- for weed. That is more than three times the number of citizens charged with pot violations sixteen years ago.

Of those arrested in 2007, 89 percent, that's 775,000 Americans, were charged with simple pot possession. Not trafficking, not cultivation, not selling.

[Bluenorthwest]

54. No kidding.

And all the people here who think it is a laughing matter. Amazing.

[Uzybone]

39. Not when its about Obama

then they have to be all serious and shit and make stuff up about what the President said. We usually laugh quite a bit when we talk about weed.

[stillcool]

48. You obviously didn't listen...

before you presumably voted for him in November. Otherwise you wouldn't feel so 'shat on'.

[iamthebandfanman]

43. im officially turned off.

its not funny making fun of sick people.

sorry.

[FrenchieCat]

47. This had nothing to do with medical marijuana.

It had to do with all use of marijuana.

What are you smoking?

[MadBadger]

51. Do you have a reading problem? To be turned off of Obama because you cant read is incredible.

[Cali_Democrat]

60. LOL @ you

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[acmavm]

46. You're right everyone who says he never supported single-payer

health care.

That's why the guy was not anywhere near the top of my list of who I wanted to see in the White House.

[babylonsister]

68. Whaaa. Who was that could have jammed that through?

Yep, no one. But now I understand you better. Your whining makes a bit more sense.

[acmavm]

71. My whining? Well, I never took you for being a Bot. I thought you

were smarter than that.

I was wrong.

[stevietheman]

52. Note that he didn't flat-out oppose the legalization of marijuana. n/t

n/t

[Phx_Dem]

55. Good on HC! And the pot stance was totally expected. Why would he

commit political suicide and be known as the "pot President."

[leftofthedial]

59. The Obama is so wise and clever. He's WAY smarter than those republican

toilet-paper-industry haters.

With just a few simple words, the Obama has single handedly kept the Woonsocket NH Charmin plant in operation!

I just love the Obama!

[SoxFan]

62. OMG! KUCINICH DIDN'T WIN?

:sarcasm:

[boppers]

64. Issue spammers shat on several website polls.

Obama makes joke out of it.

It wasn't *a* question, the polls were being hammered across the categories to bring up the same issue over and over again.

Healthcare issues? Pot questions.
Economic issues? Pot questions.
..and so on.

If Obama joked about Steven Colbert being the country's top issue, because the poll questions involving Colbert were obviously being stacked, I would expect similar laughter.

[dbmk]

67. I think this is it

This question has been voted up again and again in different circumstances, so when it popped up in a supposedly economically focused forum I assume he could not stifle his amusement by that fact.

[BlooInBloo]

66. hahahahaa!!!

[OnionPatch]

70. What gets me ticked about this whole issue

is the stereotype that anyone who smokes marijuana at any time is some sort of stoner, a wasted, loser of a person. Can the same be said about people who drink wine or beer socially after work or on the weekends? Yes, there are marijuana smokers who fit this "stoner" description, but among those who prefer alcohol, there are those who are just as bad, if not worse! And yet no one rushes to accuse everyone who has a drink of being an alcoholic loser and everyone knows that most people can drink socially without it negatively affecting their personal or professional conduct. And yet somehow it doesn't enter their mind that this is possible with those who would rather smoke marijuana to unwind than drink. This "stoner" stereotype slapped on everyone who smokes marijuana is sickening and the worst part is that I see this bullshit stereotype repeated right here on DU regularly. Sigh. I guess we have a long, long way to go on this issue. :(