Obama: For a Guy Rated as Smart, He’s Pretty Dumb

[Darth Chef]

Obama: For a Guy Rated as Smart, He’s Pretty Dumb

Mark Steyn takes note of Obama’s words about Daniel Pearl:

“Obviously, the loss of Daniel Pearl was one of those moments that captured the world’s imagination because it reminded us of how valuable a free press is.”

Now Obama’s off the prompter, when his silver-tongued rhetoric invariably turns to sludge. But he’s talking about a dead man here, a guy murdered in public for all the world to see. Furthermore, the deceased’s family is standing all around him. And, even for a busy president, it’s the work of moments to come up with a sentence that would be respectful, moving and true. Indeed, for Obama, it’s the work of seconds, because he has a taxpayer-funded staff sitting around all day with nothing to do but provide him with that sentence.

I know that even a lot of my fellow conservatives are still working on the “smart guy Obama” theme, but it simply isn’t true. Yes, I know he attended elite universities, edited the law review and got elected President. But, sorry, he’s dumb as a box of rocks.

There is no one with an IQ above room temperature who would make such a bloodless statement regarding the memorial to a man brutally murdered by wicked men. So weak was the statement that it works out as an insult to the memory of Daniel Pearl – he and his family wound up just a prop in an Obama signing ceremony. A chance for Obama to be on TV in a positive light, nothing more.

Its not like Obama had to get up there and preach a crusade – but some statement along the lines of, “the shocking murder of Daniel Pearl reminded us, once again, that those who search for truth are endangered by those who live by lies”, or some words to that effect. Didn’t have to mention Islam; didn’t have to use the word “terrorism” (though, of course, it was all about that) – a thousand ways present themselves to make a statement which has a bit of vigor, does honor to the fallen and yet goes with whatever is passing for American foreign policy at the moment.

So, as I said, anyone with any sense at all would have immediately seen that the statement prepared was hideous. Obama could not fail to see it unless he’s some sort of mindless puppet who has skated through life. Someone who simply likes to be the center of attention and is happy to let others call the shots. Its either that or he simply must be the most insensitive man alive.

Stupid or mentally deranged, your pick – but its one or the other for Obama.

... or both.

[Len Myers]

Piling on!!

[Hugh Jass]

so what should he have said?

"daniel pearl was a martyr who died at the hands of over zealous wackos. I vow that we will avenge his death by any means necessary."

better?

[NoName]

If he can't think of something logical to say, he doesn't have to make a public show of it. This is an extremely minor law which merely requires the State Department to report on and follow up on violations of press freedoms around the world (not materially different as far as I can tell from what State already does as part of its human rights reports). Nothing forces him to say something stupid or bizarre on the occasion of signing it if he doesn't want to.

In case anyone doesn't understand why people find this odd, imagine there is a KKK group in the US which spreads anti-black propaganda for years, then kidnaps a black person, forces him to make a video talking about his blackness, and beheads him. The ringleader is captured and talks proudly about having killed this horrible black person. Then the president talks about the case, focusing on some completely irrelevant detail about the victim (he worked for an oil services company or he liked playing World of Warcraft or he was a Gemini) and spoke as though the killing demonstrates how many bad people hate oil services workers/World of Warcraft players/ Geminis. People would naturally wonder wtf he was smoking.

[Harry]

Originally Posted by NoName

If he can't think of something logical to say, he doesn't have to make a public show of it. This is an extremely minor law which merely requires the State Department to report on and follow up on violations of press freedoms around the world (not materially different as far as I can tell from what State already does as part of its human rights reports). Nothing forces him to say something stupid or bizarre on the occasion of signing it if he doesn't want to.

In case anyone doesn't understand why people find this odd,...

Oh we understand, don't worry. It's called Obama derangement syndrome.

[Omikron]

I see his intelligence as less of a problem than everybody telling him he's right about government being the one to help folks.

[Guilty Bystander]

What galls me about it is the unbroken string of presidents since George Washington who never, ever said a stupid thing in public. Then this happens. How could we elect a guy who could screw up in public like this???

[lennie]

Originally Posted by Guilty Bystander

What galls me about it is the unbroken string of presidents since George Washington who never, ever said a stupid thing in public. Then this happens. How could we elect a guy who could screw up in public like this???

An even stupider public.

[BigBen]

Originally Posted by lennie

An even stupider public.

I agree, you are not as smart as Obama.

[twig93]

Meh. I'm no Obama fan, but as far as stupid comments go, this one isn't so bad. Wrong tone for the occassion? Yes. But he's said far stupider. (Like pretending the health care bill will actually lower costs.)