Community | October 15, 2009 | 15 comments

Fourth Grader Asks Obama, "Why Do People Hate You"

source: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/10/fourth-grader-asks-obama-why-do-people-hate-...

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"Why do people hate you?", a fourth-grade boy asked Obama at a town hall event in New Orleans today. "They're supposed to love you. And God is love."

"That's what I'm talking about," replied the President.

"First of all, I did get elected president, so not everybody hates me," Obama noted, before adding, "What is true is if you were watching TV lately, it seems like everybody's just getting mad all the time. And I -- you know, I think that you've got to take it with a grain of salt. Some of it is just what's called politics where, you know, once one party wins, then the other party kind of gets -- feels like it needs to poke you a little bit to keep you on your toes."

"And so you shouldn't take it too seriously," Obama told the boy. "And then, sometimes, as I said before, people just -- I think they're worried about their own lives. A lot of people are losing their jobs right now. A lot of people are losing their health care or they've lost their homes to foreclosure, and they're feeling frustrated. And when you're president of the United States, you know, you've got to deal with all of that."
"You get some of the credit when things go good. And when things are going tough, then, you know, you're going to get some of the blame, and that's part of the job," he continued. "But, you know, I'm a pretty tough guy."
"You've just got to keep on going, even when folks are criticizing you, because -- as long as you know that you're doing it for other people, all right?" Obama concluded.
The boy's question was the last one the President fielded at his event at the University of New Orleans, his first trip to the city since being elected to the Oval Office.

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15 comments // Fourth Grader Asks Obama, "Why Do People Hate You" // Video

  • hunzedog
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  

    • That was a good answer to a tough question. Honestly im glad Obama is president right now. He just really needs to get a burner under some of his more important campaign promises.

    • 2 years ago
  • JohnA
  • fun_size
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  
    • JohnA:

      Whether or not the child could tell the difference between hate and disagreement, Obama's answer showed that he could.

      Too bad a lot of others don't seem to be aware of that difference either since that mistake is made by them trying to cover their hate with rationalizations of disagreements also.

      It goes to extremes on both sides when you don't take things with "a grain of salt"

    • 2 years ago
  • ras_menelik
  • tome_erau
    • 0
      tome_erau  

    • Wow. In only a few years we went from a President who talks to adults like they're children to a President who talks to children like they're adults. Its refreshing.

    • 2 years ago
  • Bombastic
    • 0
      Bombastic  

    • I absolutely love how Obama responded to this innocent little question. He handles himself so well under pressure. It's about time we had a president like that!

    • 2 years ago
  • hunzedog
    • 0
      hunzedog  

    • right back to racism,? really :? it couldnt possibly have anything to do with the half-truths and outright lies told by BO ? huh...i admit america had a short fuse because of "W' but even BO knows lots of people of every color voted tor him.......focus........

    • 2 years ago
  • freshfish
    • 0
      freshfish  

    • To bad he couldn't tell him the truth, that there is still a very powerful and racist minority in this country.
      Was a good answer just the same.
      We have to be louder than the haters of this world.
      Or they will continue to control us.

    • 2 years ago
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  
    • freshfish:

      I think Obama did tell him that part of the truth since I think that was part of what of what he meant by "...everybody's just getting mad all the time...you're going to get some of the blame...But, you know, I'm a pretty tough guy...You've just got to keep on going, even when folks are criticizing you..."

    • 2 years ago
  • artemis6
  • Argon18
    • 0
      Argon18  

    • That was a very thoughtful and comprehensive answer to the question that Obama gave.

      It is good to know that at least he can keep things in perspective "with a grain of salt"

      It certainly should be taken to heart by the media not to taken themselves so seriously with polarizing the appearances of hate just for dramatic effect to increase ratings.

    • 2 years ago
  • FishaHouse777
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