What would you say to Barak Obama if you had the chance...?

April 10, 2007 9:31 PM

So I'm likely going to be in a situation that may allow me to ask at least one question to Barack Obama. What should I say? I'm looking for interesting comment/question not necessarily having anything to do with politics.

My political leanings aren't totally in line with his (I'm pretty darned libertarian) and because of the nature of the visit am not in any way going to be able to ask tough "hard biting" type questions. I guess what I'm really asking is, "what would you ask a possible future president that might elicit a memorable response?"

posted by allthewhile to law & government (33 comments total)

I was thinking about this today. I want to ask Barak Obama "Why should I vote for you over Hilary Clinton?"
posted by hammerthyme at 9:33 PM on April 10, 2007

How about "what's the most important thing you will teach your children?"
posted by dunderhead at 9:34 PM on April 10, 2007

You could do the whole "Boxers or Briefs?" thing.

On a less glib note, I'd maybe try asking him why the country needs him as a president - should ilicit a good mix of what he thinks is wrong and what he plans to do about them. That's really what I take elections to be about - fixing the issues that exist, not the pie in the sky stuff that we all want fixed like taxes and the like.

I still think that something really crap and glib is the way to go, though - these things are set up as platforming stumps, and your not likely to get anything really "honest" from him. He might actually believe some of the stuff coming out of his mouth, but its crazy to think that he's actually going to use some non-coached words now that he's officially running.
posted by plaidrabbit at 9:38 PM on April 10, 2007

Amazingly, this question has been asked before, almost.
posted by jessamyn at 9:43 PM on April 10, 2007

This isn't a fundraiser event. I'm not even sure of the level of press (any?). It's "coffee" for an hour with students from my school on our trip to DC. Not quite sure what to expect, actually.
posted by allthewhile at 9:47 PM on April 10, 2007

Relatedly.
How about: What were your favorite stories as a kid?
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:49 PM on April 10, 2007

Did you ever make any dumb mistakes when you were younger that you regret/that you learned an important lesson from? (you could tailor this to the age of kids at your school)
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:51 PM on April 10, 2007

Ask him what measures he'll take to undo the politicization of every aspect of government enacted by Bush.
posted by scalefree at 9:53 PM on April 10, 2007

When you were [age of your students], what did you think you would grow up to do?
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:53 PM on April 10, 2007

Go for the jugular: "If you are elected, and go to the White House and try to push all kinds of sweeping reforms that upset various entrenched powers, do you think it is possible that there will be an assassination attempt on you?"
posted by Burhanistan at 9:58 PM on April 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

Ask him to respond to criticism that, as a result of his biracial heritage and bohemian upbringing, he won't be able to relate to, or deemed a part of the tribe of, African-American voters, the core constituency of the Democratic party.
posted by notjustfoxybrown at 10:03 PM on April 10, 2007

Why does he support subsidies for coal-to-liquids technology. Does he not fully understand how coal -> CO₂ -> global warming? Most of the rest of the world is subsidising ways to cut CO₂ emmisions.
I'm not an American, so I don't much care about the details of American politics, but if the next president of the USA doesn't get this then it's curtains for a large percentage of the species on my planet.
posted by Canard de Vasco at 10:12 PM on April 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

I agree with Canard. I was going to suggest you ask him how he plans to reduce greenhouse emissions, with as much specificity as possible.
posted by HighTechUnderpants at 10:31 PM on April 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

I was at a small Obama event where someone asked such a poweful question that I was amazed. It was: "when you are elected president, what will you to stop the genocide in Darfur." He gave an ok answer (I think he lost the support of some people for not giving a better one) but that's one he better know. Be direct, aggressive, and don't mince words.
posted by allen.spaulding at 10:43 PM on April 10, 2007

(1) Ask him why his wife (Michelle) just got a new hairstyle. It looks VERY Jackie O. Are they both trying for the Kennedy/Camelot thing?

(2) OK. Kidding about Q # 1. (But it is true. And she does look great!)

(3) Most kids used to be told they could become president when they grew up, and that that was one of the greatest things about our country. I heard a while back that most kids (a) don't believe that anymore, and, (b) don't want to. What will he do to get the next generation excited about participating in government?

(4) For the first time in our nation's history, we have a black candidate, and a woman candidate. (Oh, and a Mormon candidate.) Does he truly believe the country is ready for them, and when will the country be ready for a gay candidate? And, will he work to allow gays in the military?
posted by davidinmanhattan at 10:55 PM on April 10, 2007

Ask him what brand of cigarettes he smokes, and how his quitting is going.
posted by stovenator at 10:56 PM on April 10, 2007 [3 favorites]

Why did he vote to renew the so-called "Patriot Act"? Everything else is in the category of luxory, only allowed legitimate government, of which ours is not, so long as that piece of trash is held as law.
posted by Goofyy at 4:14 AM on April 11, 2007

"What do you think of libertarians?"
posted by DU at 4:58 AM on April 11, 2007

Ooh, the Patriot Act one is very good. *votes in favor*
posted by Malor at 5:02 AM on April 11, 2007

From an outsider's perspective, the one thing most politicians seem to lack is an understanding of the scale of the country's problems, domestic and foreign. We're constantly low-balling it and hoping we'll get by. Do you see this problem as well, and what will you do to permanently address it?
posted by jwells at 5:19 AM on April 11, 2007

Ask him how he feels about No Child Left Behind and what his specific goals are for education.

Or what his vision is for the US' relationship to the rest of the world.
posted by Flakypastry at 5:43 AM on April 11, 2007

Ask him how he feels about the White Sox's chances this year -- he's a fan. I knew I could never vote for Hillary Clinton the night she appeared on the David Letterman show and refused to choose between the Yankees and the Mets.
posted by junkbox at 6:08 AM on April 11, 2007

Ask him about reproductive rights.
posted by box at 6:19 AM on April 11, 2007

"what would you ask a possible future president that might elicit a memorable response?"

Assuming that you are elected President, what will historians say about you fifty years from now?
posted by Robert Angelo at 6:25 AM on April 11, 2007 [1 favorite]

I was recently thinking about a question I'd like to ask all candidates:

What is the appropriate response of a citizen to an unjust law?

I think it's unexpected enough that they wouldn't have a prepared response, and a genuine response to this is likely to give us some insight into their views on some fundamental issues.
posted by scottreynen at 7:07 AM on April 11, 2007 [3 favorites]

Ask him what he plans to do to protect citizens' right to privacy, especially in regards to online communications an electronic data.

Hilary (suprisingly) has a very progressive and forward-thinking approach on this issue, and I'd like to hear what Obama has to say about it.
posted by Afroblanco at 7:19 AM on April 11, 2007

Whatever you ask, please report back and let us know what your question was, how he answered, and how the event went overall!
posted by CiaoMela at 7:44 AM on April 11, 2007

Ask him what he's most worried about (in terms of what challenges he faces in becoming the next president).
posted by cashman at 8:17 AM on April 11, 2007

umm... yea I like the "...response to an unjust law"
posted by sauris at 8:40 AM on April 11, 2007

Ask him this because no one in politics discusses it:

"What could you do to stop the epidemic of violence, rape, and AIDS transmission in our state and federal prisons?"

This is an important and very avoided issue in politics and he's probably never heard ANYONE ask him this. It may pique the curiousity of others.

As a libertarian I would assume you would have an ideological bias towards getting the government to at least run their prisons in a safe and humane manner. There's many a lib who find themselves doing time because of a weapons charge (usually conceal and carry) and they dont deserve to come back from prison as rape victims and with the possibility of contracting the AIDS virus.

Up to you of course, but thats my 2 cents.
posted by damn dirty ape at 8:42 AM on April 11, 2007

Agree with the Patriot Act suggestion -- I almost never hear real questions being asked of candidates. Something like "Why did you support a piece of legislation that cuts at the heart of every one of the ideas embodied in our constitution?" would do nicely. I'd also be interested in hearing his response.
posted by inoculatedcities at 12:13 PM on April 11, 2007

I would ask, "What, honestly, is the thing that voters least want to hear and politicians are most afraid to say?"
posted by Megafly at 12:37 PM on April 11, 2007

Ask him about the Drug War and if he plans to continue to waste billions of taxpayer dollars on locking up non-violent offenders.
posted by donknotts at 1:05 PM on April 11, 2007